Basic Vanilla Cupcake

I was told the night before the party. My boyfriend's bother called him after 9pm that he's having gathering at his mother's place to celebrate his son's 1st birthday. I was planning to buy some present to give his little son, Joshua, next week. But I felt that going there with empty handed is just not right. So, on the way home late night I decided to make some cupcakes. Cupcakes is the easiest to make and not to mention pretty as well :) Pretty cupcakes are ideal for emergency *hahaha*

Once again, before going to bed I opened my magic book *hihihi* and the most basic vanilla cupcake picked because I have all the ingredients. The question left was "how am I supposed to dress these cupcakes beautifully?" I like pink, I have Pink Cooking Chocolate in my magic box and left over whipping cream. Also I wanted to combine with Cecilia's. So, pink is perfect. I picked Chocolate Buttercream for the frosting. Also decorated with melted chocolate. All edible for the cupcake :). I didn't think about Joshua supposed to have blue colour :p It was too late already when it ran across my mind when I was about to leave *hihihi*

Basic Vanilla Cupcake
Source: cupcake creations


Ingredients:
5 oz (150 g) Butter, softened
5 oz (150 g / 2/3 cup) Superfine (caster) sugar
6 oz (175 g) Self raising flour *I substituted with 1 1/2 cups flour + 3/4 tsp salt + 2 1/4 tsps baking powder*
3 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla extract
*I added 5 tbsps whipping cream, cuz I panic when seeing the mixture is too thick :p, lucky it turned out just fine*


Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).
2. Line a 12 cup cake pan, with cup cake papers.
3. Crack the eggs into a cup and beat lightly with a fork.
4. Place all ingredients in a large bowl.
5. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until light and creamy.
6. Divide the mixture evenly between the cake cases.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes until risen and firm to touch.
8. Allow to cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
9. Allow to cool fully before icing.


Frosting:
Pink Cooking Chocolate, coarsely chopped *I didn't do any measurement just appx. at least double the size of the cream :p*
1/4 cup Whipping cream
1/2 cup Icing sugar *I use caster sugar and blend until it becomes like powder*
1/2 cup Butter


Bring the cream to just boil, pour into the chocolate. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool. Beat butter and chocolate, add in icing sugar. Beat until smooth.

Banana Cake

At the first I just wanted to relax at home or go for body treatment. Hm... message.... :) I really need it. Especially my legs screaming out loud for the last few days. The effect of 5 minutes running catching my bus to office hehehe... *Quick Excercise, that's what my boss call it from seeing me trying to catch my breath every morning* hahaha. It's been a while i don't go to that place. But I don't feel like driving that morning, maybe next week I'll call up to schedule :p


So, this morning my mom step into the kitchen. She always does that when my grandmom not around. She hates seeing many things and unused sitting on her kitchen. And she was about to throw some over cooked banana into the bin. My baking sense instantly jumped in and stopped her *hihihi* I took the banana and ran upstair flipping my recipe book. And I picked this recipe cause I have all the ingredients in my magic box *hahaha*, that's where I put all my baking needs, away from my grandmom's reach *hahaha* She loves to move thing and misplace, and by the time you need it you'll have to go into each cabinet. And since they're alway not in your sight you forget and they're just stood there until the expiration date :p



The banana cake was a hit. Even my mom who usually comments "so so" for every cake I've made so far, this time she said this is good and just like the one sold at the cake shop *I put up my happiest smile ever to her :)* The is very soft and not to sweet. And it's even tastier if you serve with grated cheddar cheese :) Here's the recipe.

Banana Cake

Source: sahabat nestle

Ingredients:

250 g Banana, mashed *I mashed about 3 bananas, that's what left :)*

3 sdm Nestle milk CAP NONA *I used other brand of condensed milk*

150 g Butter

175 g Powdered sugar

4 Egg yolks

4 Egg whites

Sift together:

200 g All purpose flour

25 g Nestle Dancow Fullcream

1/2 tsp Baking soda

1 tsp Baking powder

50 g Sliced almonds for sprinkle *I skipped this one*

Directions:

1. Mix mashed banana and condensed milk, set aside.

2. Put butter and sugar in the electric mixer and beat until soften. Add in the egg yolks one at a time and continuing to beat.

3. Add in the banana mixture alternately with flour mixture. Mix well.

4. Using the electric mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold into the mixture and mix well.

5. Pour into the greased 22 cm loaf pan. Sprinkle with almonds.

6. Bake in the oven with 180 C for 45 minutes. *my oven takes around 10 minutes longer* So be sure you keep checking the cake maybe your oven takes shorter or longer baking time.

7. Take out from the oven and let it cool.

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