sesame street

december is a month of many shows going on at many shopping mall. so we have to be selective about cos we definitely don't have so many weekends to go for  all the show. i grow up with sesame street, they are the classics. new generations kids still love them. we brought the kids to the sesame street show at takashimaya.

 

told darling to pick them up from school before coming to pick me and we head down to takashimaya right away for dinner and the show after dinner. we joined the queue at 6:20pm after our dinner. the show only starts at 7pm. though its was a good 40 minutes wait, the kids didn't grumble much as they want to watch elmo show (its not sesame street to them but elmo show). we were within the first 5 who were in the queue.

 

 

i must say that this is the best show that i ever watch. or is it cos i can relate to the characters very well. i feel like a little kid enjoying all the singing and dancing too. yu ze is more responsive to such show now. is it cos he is older or he is more open to go up on stage? he was a bit sad that he was not selected too participate in the activities.

 

 

we enjoyed this show very much. since we are in the queue early, we also get to take photo with the character which make us all so excited about. after this, i'm very sure that they will enjoyed themselves when we go to uss to have our breakfast with sesame street characters.

review for cast

yu xi went back for her review. i was hopeful that her cast can be removed. i was a bit shocked when the doc told me that she actually had a fracture and needed a new cast for another 3 weeks. the poor girl's hand was so dry and the skin broke due to the casting. its was so bad that it was actually bleeding. so heart pain to see that.

 

 

yu ze was very sweet. he helps to fan yu xi's hand cos its actually very painful due to the broke skin. i promised her a lollipop after she put on the new cast and she is not to cry. of course, i expected her to cry and will still give her the lollipop. asked her what colour she wants for her new cast and she mentioned orange.

 

 

 

though i keep telling her and prepared her for the next cast but it doesn't help at all. she cried so badly and keep saying that she don't want when they clean up her wound (broke skin) before putting on the new cast. this new cat is suppose to be better and more breathable for the skin which i really hope so since its going to be on for 3 weeks!!!! anyway, i was tearing with her when i have to hold her down for the cast. 

 

 

after making payment, i brought her to get her lollipop. we also took the shuttle service available at kk to square 2 for lunch and more fun. brought them to the lego fun at square 2 and tomica fair at united square.

 

 

first cast

we were out to jacob ballas after berries class. upon reaching then we realize the water play area was closed for maintenance work. well, we can only play at the playground then. both were happily playing till yu ze came running to us and say that mei mei cried. darling went over to see her and all she said was she fall down. clean her up, change and pacify her. she keep saying her right hand is painful and doesn't want to move much with her hand.

 

we leave her as she is and quietly observed her behavior with her right hand. she is very careful with it and handling it with care though she didn't cry in pain. we left around 12 noon to head for lunch. we keep looking at her in the car and decide to bring her to kk to see doc for just in case.

 

as usual, long queue at kk a&e. after we registered, i notice we are still far away from our turn. went to check with the nurses if we can go take our lunch then come back. she check our records and told us to take x-ray first and better not to let yu xi eat or drink in case there is really a crack and they need to do some procedures for her.

 

i went in with her to do the x ray and we continue to wait at the waiting area till she complain tummy pain (she is hungry). i went to check with the nurse again, they told us to wait while she get a doc to look at the x ray. we manage to jump queue and see the doc pretty soon. doc mention there is nothing shown on the x ray but she proposed to cast yu xi up for just in case. in case there is any hair line crack that can't be see and if she move too much, it will make it worse.

 

yu xi started crying when the doc try to touch and assess her. doc told us to come back later when she calm down and was able to follow her instructions. we asked if we can go take lunch and she say its fine. we went for lunch and back in the clinic within 30 minutes. back there, yu xi still doesn't really want to move her hand much. and so we proceed to put on the cast for her.

 

she cry the whole kk down while the cast was on. keep repeating that she want it. and she ended like a broken recorder, cry and stop, cry and stop all the way. back home, i remove the sling for her to make her slightly happier. her crying still comes occasionally but she does slowly get used to the idea.

 

i bribe her with a lego friends. told her if she is good, don't touch and don't cry, i will buy her the lego friends soccer practice and she agreed. 

grandparent's day concert

its year end. their childcare is having their usual grandparent's day concert for the kids again. yu xi has her very first concert performance this year cos she missed hers last year with her fever. i was very sad then. looking so forward to their performance. i think i'm more excited than them.

 

like yu ze, i keep preparing them about the concert. keep telling her not to cry, not to wave or shout at mommy even though she sees me. i will wait for her after the concert ends, so she don't have to cry.

 

as a first timer on stage, maybe cos she is older now. i must say she does a good job. i still remember how yu ze cried at his very first concert. of course, yu ze then was a year younger then yu xi now. its was a good experience and good exposure for them.

 

 

some concert pictures for yu ze performance. 

 

 

 

yu xi's performance pictures.

 

nutella swiss roll

i wanted to try to make a swiss roll last christmas. hoping that i can make it and be able to do up a christmas log cake. however, it didn't happen till now. i did my very first swiss roll. found happybaking recipe and started with it.

 

well, i didn't make it this time. i don't know how to roll it nicely. it actually crack inside and its too thin. i think my pan is too big though its just a bit bigger than what she recommended. darling say its actually taste nice though somehow its a bit crispy. i don't understand the crispy part but who cares. its a failure. need to work on this again.

ingredients:
3 eggs, bring to room temperature
65g caster sugar
80g cake flour
20g unsalted

butter, melted
2~3 drops vanilla extract

method:
1. sift cake flour, set aside.

 

2. line a 9" x 12" (23 x 30cm) swiss roll tray with parchment paper, set aside.

 

3. pre-heat oven to 180 degC.

4. whisk eggs and sugar on HIGH speed for about 5 to 7 mins, until the batter double in volume and is ribbon-like (stiff peak). turn to LOW speed and whisk for another 1 to 2 mins. Whisking at low speed helps to stabilise the air bubbles in the batter.

5. add sifted cake flour into the batter in 3 separate addition. with each addition, use a spatula, gently fold in the flour until well blended. take care not to deflate the batter.

6. add the melted butter and vanilla extract, fold with spatula until well blended.

7. pour the batter into the tray. spread and smooth out the batter evenly.

 

8. bake for 10~15 mins*, until the surface turns golden browned or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

9. remove tray from oven. remove sponge layer from tray (with parchment paper still in tack), place it in a plastic bag**. tie the plastic bag and leave it to cool. (instead of using a plastic bag, i remove the cake and put on a cooling rack and cover the sponge layer with swiss roll tray.)

10. upon cooling, remove the parchment paper, and turn the sponge layer with the 'skin' side down on a sheet of clean parchment paper. spread with nutella (or any filling as desired) and roll up the sponge layer by lifting it up with the parchment paper. Place the rolled cake seam side down.

note:
*do not over bake the sponge layer, otherwise it will turn dry and may crack upon rolling.
** The reason for doing so is to keep the sponge layer moist for easy rolling.

kueh lapis

i have been wanting to bake kueh lapis but haven't have the courage to it. looking round the web for recipe. this one looks good to me. copy down the recipe first and hopefully i will get to bake it soon.

 

this recipe is from http://wlteef.blogspot.sg

Ingredients:
(17cm square pan - mine is a 6" which is 15+cm, hopefully it will work too)
250g butter at room temperature
60g + 60g + 30g castor sugar
10 egg yolks
4 egg whites

66g cake flour

1 tablespoon rum/brandy
2 tablespoon condensed milk
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Method:
1. preheat oven to 170C - 180C. line the baking tin with baking paper and grease it well with butter.

2. cream butter with 60g sugar till creamy.

3. beat egg yolk with 60g sugar till thick. stir in rum/brandy and condensed milk.

4. sieve flour, baking powder and mixed spice onto a plate.

5. mix butter and egg yolk mixture well. fold in flour mixture by thirds and mix well. (I use the beater on low speed to mix this).

6. beat egg white till big bubbles form, add in cream of tartar, beat till white in colour then add in sugar and beat till stiff (about 7 -10 minutes).

7. fold egg white into egg yolk mixture and mix well.

8. turn on the top fire only, grill baking pan for 1 minute and spoon 2 tablespoon batter into baking pan. spread the batter evenly, put to grill at top fire in the oven. Grill for about 4.5 - 5 minutes or till brown. remove from oven, use a cake tester or toothpick to prick holes on the top of cake. repeat this layer by layer till batter finish.

9. unmould cake immediately and turn on to wire rack to cool.

 

notes:
1. best to use oven with top and bottom fire. adjust oven temperature and check cooking time required for each layer according to your oven.
2. do not grease the sides of the baking tin.
3. make sure the lined paper fits the baking tin exactly.
4. do not put too much batter for each layer, else the centre of the cake will not be cooked.
5. adjust sweetness and flavour of cake by increasing or decreasing amount of sugar and spices.
6. make sure you use the same spoon and same amount of batter for each layer, so that the layers will be even.
7. bake each layer till quite brown before adding new layer. this way when the whole cake is baked, the layers will be explicit.

cheesecake

in the past, i make those non-baked cheesecake. darling always complained that its not nice, too cheesey. so i never really succeed in the making of cheese cake. i saw this very cute cheesecake from facebook (thanks to angela chia). i'm determine that i must baked them too. another reason for baking them is also cos this will be the first cheesecake that i make that requires baking. i'm glad i did and its was well-received.

 

 

cos my cupcake cups are bigger so i only can baked 4 with this, number of cookies, biscults and chocolate chips are adjusted accordingly.

 

ingredients:
1 block (250g) of cream cheese - cubed and softened (i used philadelphia)
65g of fine sugar
4 oreo cookies (in original form and retaining the cream)
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
6 Ritz Bits biscuits - separated and cheese removed (as décor)
tiny handful of chocolate chips (as décor)

methods:
1. put the oreo cookie into the cupcake cases. Set aside.

2. beat cream cheese and sugar until combined.

 

3. add the egg and vanilla essence and continue to beat until just combined*.

4. scoop and distribute the mixture evenly into 4 cases, decorate as shown in picture or your own creation.

 

5. bake in pre-heated oven at 150deg for 20mins**.

6. leave baked cheesecake to cool at room temperature before refrigerating. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before consuming (best over-night).

*do not over-whisk after beating in the egg. It will incorporate lots of air into the mixture causing the cake to crack easily during baking.

 

**do not worry if the cheesecakes still crack during baking. Any cracks will fuse after cooling in room temperature and a chance that it will disappear completely after chilling. Even if it did not disappear completely, it wouldn't look obvious after chilling.