Random Thoughts but Let's Go Places!

Hi ya you all! After almost a month in hiding, well sort of but done unintentionally, I wish to pen down some thoughts...a lot took place in a month period....thoughts change and new goals set!

...you know that apart from taking food pictures I love to capture moments...no not the wedding kind of moments but those moments that one cherish forever...I have tried doing that after I came back from my Zero to Pro workshop with Saiful Nang...but I really wanted to shoot newborns, babies, kids...my children! That opportunity came along when I was given a slot by KamaliaKamal of thephotolicious. She has a team of all ladies photographers under her belt and she had just given birth! Her baby (whom I have forgotten to ask what his name was) was our subject! I learnt about colour harmony, lighting and angles....the technicals In have learnt from SN's classes....and the result was.....tadaaaa

...this picture was not edited...well I never edit my pictures...and I was ecstatic with what I could do, sure there were only very very few shots that were ok. But, I also learnt more than photography...Kamalia forced me to think BIG, beyond what I could think I would be capable of! So, I have reset my goals and will execute them! Am I excited? Of course I am!! I am not revealing what next on my sleeve, but taking pictures of newborn will remain a hobby as for now...

Well, it was never my intention to travel outskirts and have my baking classes elsewhere than in Klang Valley. However, I was invited by a dear friend to fly to Kota Bharu to have my maiden class there. It was darn hot there I downed loads of water and didn't eat much, but hey...the market in Kota Bharu is untapped! The girls who came for the demo class were angels...and I learnt that if you think your life is hard, there are others whose lives are harder than yours. I encouraged the girls to go for it in the baking arena, offer more choices to the people of KB! And about Kota Bharu...I must say that despite the fact that there is no KLCC nor nice favourite grocery shops like Hock Choon there, I fell in love with the slow pace and simplicity of the life there....will definitely go there to have more classes!

...saw this on the plane...really got me thinking to go places!...and have more ovens and assistants.....

I had Nasi dagang for breakfast at Hover before my class on Friday.

Their satays were yumss!

This was taken at pasar Siti Khadijah...

...as the name says, most of the sellers were ladies wearing chunks of gold bracelets on both arms! ...Funny when I wanted to buy some jewellery, I was not entertained maybe because my purchase was a meagre one hehe ....the ladies were buying at least rm4k worth of jewellery at one time...whoaaaa!

...red torch ginger...

...take a look at my attempt at royal icing lace embroidery...

My first commission for macarons dusted in lustre powder, an order by Yong, and I loved this!

...hey, look at my handwriting, think it has improved, done this the old school way without using any nozzle...less washing for a maidless lass like me!

...and this the current cookie craze..Almond crunchy which is super duper easy to make...just mix 250g of Florentine mix with 500g roasted nuts, spread in a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake at 165C for about 20 minutes. Cut them while they are still hot and leave them to cool before storing away in cookie jars!

...and why I paste this video here.....I never thought that anyone would care that I leave this organisation, but one of the senior management this morning was shocked to find out that I have a few days left..."we will miss you for you have been so patient assisting us with your legal opinions and drafting and amending contracts in accordance with our tempo!" ...haha yeah all work needs to be done yesterday with this peeps...I shall miss this lot, too!....and immediately this song into my head..why oh why I don't know.....but it reminded me of my last few days in uni when my future was really not certain...it's different now

...for now I just have to focus and make this baking adventure a success, fullstop!

tra, xoxo yani thekitchenguardian

The Baking Series....What I have Learnt!

I recreated the cymbidium orchids that I learnt in Bangkok! I'm not afraid of doing wired petals anymore!

Hi you alls! Yup! I call the classes that I have had so far, the Baking Series....I have started having the classes way back in March, April and May. I will have 2 classes in June, one of which will be in Kota Bharu, and another one possibly in Kuantan, before I break for Ramadhan, Syawal, Aidul Adha. I hope to have new sets of classes, different modules after the break...you can't be serving your customers the same desserts all the time, right!..and I'm all excited to work on a master cake for my very own fondant series, you know from my cakes that I suck big time in buttercream, I'm only bothered with how the cakes tastes, so, I'm happier working with fondant hehe... 

Been thinking a lot about this Macadamia White Chocolate Cake and I shared this in Premium Chocolate Cake class, the cake was da bomb!

Actually, from the baking classes so far I think I have learnt so much more from the knowledge that I gave away...the students were very inspiring, they only inject positive vibes to you! Most of them have established their own caking business and I must say that they all are doing very well...so doing business is definitely the way to go!

All the classes will end this way, we all had fun!

.,..and for us who came to the classes, it was like our "me time", learning new recipes and techniques and making new friends and sharing of good and not so good times stories! We all became friends! I can't ask for more than that, right!...and for knowledge, the students came all the way from different states, north, south, east and west..and I couldn't believe that Rozana actually flew all the way from Brunei! Alhamdulillah!

Sarah, my intern , a second year medical student, whom I'm confident will have a very bright future as a medical practitioner, photographer (like me) and baker (like me too)!

I have also had young aspiring bakers who are now studying in college ....and there were a few who had just finished their secondary education, who are doing very well in their studies and who will take up culinary  studies when they completed their degrees! These kids know what they wanted and where they wanted to go...oh I can only be pleased and be encouraged to work harder!

All this brought me thinking, why didn't I do this all earlier....the Almighty knows best and only directing me to this path now...

Gotta go, no recipes to share but am thinking of baking something with bananas and salted caramel, what say you, hehe..

Cheers, take care, be happy and please be productive :p

xoxo Yani thekitchenguardian.