3D Canvas Art

A simple project for the kids. It makes a perfect gift too!

What you need:

1 canvas

Acrylic paint

Fabric paint in tube

A starfish

Paintbrush

Craft glue

(All these can be bought from art friend)

First you need to paint the canvas. I like using acrylic paint. 

It's thicker and it becomes water resistant when dry.

Use a hairdryer to dry the paint quickly. 

Alternatively, you can also leave it overnight to dry.

Once dry, start dotting the canvas with a fabric paint.

I make Ryan practice on a blank paper first (kiasu... hehe...)

Once he mastered it he was ready for the canvas.

Fill in the dots and leave it blank where the starfish would be.

Same goes for this. Aidan's little finger couldn't press out the dots, I had to finish the art for him.

All done and just waiting for it to dry.

Glue the star fish down with craft glue and TADAH!!!! A beautiful 3D art!

Have fun!!!!!

Strawberry Mango Trifle

Trifle is a dessert dish made from thick (or often solidified) custard, fruit, sponge cake, fruit juice or jelly, and whipped cream. These ingredients are usually arranged in layers.

When we were living in Kuala Lumpur, I had one of my best trifle in Intan's house during her party and I craved for it this weekend. Since I can no longer call her to whip up this yummy sinful dessert for me.... I tried to make it myself..:(Normally this dessert is layered with custard and topped with fresh cream but I was too lazy to go through that hassle. Instead I changed it to Mascarpone cheese. My favourite!! 

Trifle is a sturdy dessert that can be made successfully by even the most inexperienced cook. They keep well and can be made ahead of time.

Strawberry Mango Trifle

• 2 large mangoes, cubed
• 3 cups strawberries, halved
• 1 Sara Lee Pound cake
• 1 cup Apple Juice
• 50g caster sugar
• 250g whipping cream
• 500g Mascarpone Cheese
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

In a large bowl, combine mangoes and strawberries with 1 tbsp sugar. Let sit for at least 20 minutes to create juices.

Beat the mascarpone, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk whipping cream until it is softly whipped. Fold mascarpone mix into the whipped cream then set aside.

Cut Sara Lee pound cake into cubes and lay them in the bottom of a trifle dish or glass bowl. Drizzle apple juice all over the cake and let it soak for 5 minutes. Top with a layer of mango, strawberry and mascarpone cream. The trifle will keep in the fridge for up to a day. Decorate it with strawberry and almonds just before serving.

Calories worth putting on weight for!! 
(Sorry I didnt take a nicer pictures of this trifle. Will try the next time I'm making this and it's gonna be soon!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Happy New Year 2013!!!!!

Lemon Drizzle Cake with Poppy Seed Glaze

This Lemon Drizzle Cake is a brilliant cake to have in the house. A very tangy and citrus cake to accompany a cup of coffee or tea. This is quite a simple recipe and it is really quick to make. It has the same concept as Orange Moist Cake. I love the glaze bits cause it's sweet and sour at the same time. It will definitely look very pretty dressed up in a beautiful banner and some ribbons. Great for a tea party!

Lemon Drizzle Cake

125g unsalted butter

 175g caster sugar

2 large eggs

zest of 1 lemon

175g self raising flour
pinch of salt

4 tablespoons milk

For the Syrup:

Juice of 1 1/2 lemons

100g icing sugar

For the Glaze:

juice of 1/2 a lemon
150g icing sugar

1 tsp poppy seed

To Make The Cake:

Preheat your oven to 180 C

Cream together butter and sugar and add eggs and lemon zest, beating them in well.

Gently fold in the flour and the salt, mixing thoroughly and then add the milk.

 Spoon the batter into your prepared tin and bake for 45 mins or until cake tester comes out clean.

For the syrup:

Put the lemon juice and icing sugar into a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves.

As soon as cake is out of oven, puncture all over with skewer and pour over the syrup.

Leave cake to cool before removing from the tin.

For the glaze:

Combine lemon juice, icing sugar and poppy seed into a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves..  Make sure your cake is completely cool before drizzling with the glaze. Prepare glaze when you're ready to drizzle because it will harden if left aside for too long.

Happy Baking..:D

Banana Puff Pastry with ice cream

I guarantee you!! This will be a winner in any party and it is one of the easiest and quickest dessert you can make! We've served this on many occasions and it's always quick, simple and most importantly, very well received. Do try it out and give me your comments.

Ingredients

2 rolled Puff pastry sheet

4 bananas

1 egg yolk

sugar

Remove puff pastry from the freezer and lay on a cutting board. Cut sheets into 8 squares (of your desired size) and place on baking tray

1. Cut 32 2cm strips (or longer) and place them on all 4 sides of the pastry.

   
   

   

   
   

   

   Brush them with lightly beaten egg yolk 

   
   

   

   
   

   

   Place sliced pieces of banana in the centre of each pastry and dust them with 1/2 tsp of sugar on top of the bananas. 

   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   Bake them in preheated oven 180C for 15-20minutes or until puffed and golden.

   
   

   

   To serve, place a scoop of ice-cream on top of the pastry.

   
   

   

   Yummy, delicious, quick and easy!

   
   

   

   
   

   Happy baking!

   
   

Birthday Cake Banner Tutorial

I love elaborate and decorated cupcakes/cakes. I've been enquiring about personalized birthday cakes lately and the prices for them are sky high and I seriously think it's a little too much to pay for a cake. It's something the birthday boy/girl can't keep and most of the time.. the quality of the cake is not as good compared to a freshly baked butter or marble cake.. or even a good old fashion Lana chocolate cake. 

Recently my good friend's sister celebrated her 25th birthday and she requested for Orange Moist Cake.  I was thinking hard how I should decorate the cake without adding any fondant and buttercream to it and I thought, why not a birthday cake banner?! Here's a tutorial to show you how easy it is and how it can change the whole look of the cake.

What you need:

2 lollipop sticks / coloured straw
Ribbon for the banner

Scissors

Craft Glue

Sticker letters

Patterned/Scrap book paper

Choose the papers to create the banner with and cut it into strips, they do not have to be all the same length, you can vary them if you choose to. Cut as many as you need to create the word you are spelling out. Fold the paper into half and cut a triangle out of the bottom

Cut out small squares with the paper and then just stick your letters on the paper.

Stick the square paper with letter onto your prepared patterned paper. Fold your patterned paper in half and put a dab of  glue in the center and fold over your paper so that the points meet.

Tie the ribbon to the end of straw/lollipop stick

 You can make additional flags with toothpicks or if you want longer, you can use satay sticks.

Dust your cake with some icing sugar

Stick the banner and flags to your desired place

And there you go.... a gift baked and decorated with love with minimum effort.
A simple cake that's 'dressed' up for the occasion.
Most importantly, you have personalized and decorated it for the VIP's party. 

Happy Birthday Liz!! May every Birthday remind you of the huge number of people who love you and can't do without you. I'm one of them!..:D