Strawberries, lemon and Expresso...

Graduation Day

I'm happy when others are happy. Especially when its something that I have made an effort in an act of love to them. Yup, the graduation cake for the 3 grads turned out to be a success. Its actually my first attempt using moulding paste and I'm pretty much happy with the results. Still definitely lots of room for improvement too. I made a mocha expresso cake soaked in Hazelnut flavoured Kahula and Lindt buttercream, and a lemon layer cake with lemon curd and raspberries filling covered in home made lemon curd buttercream. It took a while for me to decide on what to make since I really want to try baking something more adventurous but yet want it to turn out well the first attempt. I'm kind of greedy that way, wanting to have the best of both worlds all the time.

Lemon layer cake with lemon curd and raspberry filling...yum!

Anyways, this cake idea was inspired by Su,Malaysian cake decorator who did this cake a couple years back for a joint 21st birthday celebration. Since I really am not prepared to handle food dowels and staking cake, this was indeed the perfect to go about making a huge cake.

My masterpiece which took a fair few hours to assemble

The cake took about 2 trays of 12 punnets strawberries to cover and took me 6 hours to assemble. Good thing I was in the air conditioned study room of my in laws or else the cake would be a melted mess of blob in our current hot and humid weather. All right now.....pictures please....By the way, I did not take lots of pics while I was assembling 'cos I was under too much stress and to engross in putting the whole thing together that I forgot about my camera (tho it was right in front of me the whole time!). Taste verdict: the cakes went down really well with the guests and everyone thought the sweetness and richness of the cakes were perfectly balanced by the strawberries. The recipes are definitely keepers!!

This lil doll is Cat (one of Becky's good mate from uni)who is a girly gurl and adores her roses and cupcakes.

And this lil doll in the pink dress is Becky with her little nurse hat and a cute stethoscope. And of cos, can't forget to put a flower in her hair since she loves looking like an "earth child" as she puts it. =)

And here is my darling beloved who I can't think of anything better than putting him with a laptop coming from a microelectronics engineering background. I thought of making semiconductors which he did a final project on but thought otherwise when I saw a picture of it.

I made a little path which lead from where the little dolls were sitting to the graduation hat and scroll out of crushed peanuts wlanuts and millet puffs (which I thought looked like little pebbles). The effect turned out better than I thought it would too. It also added a nice texture and taste to the cake and what more, nuts and grains good for you too. For this cake, I did almost half the butter and sugar added to it and the buttercream. Used only unbleached all purpose flour. Even with decreased amount of butter and sugar, both cakes still were moist and fluffy. My goal for my next cake will be to use wholegrain flour and to use agave syrup instead of sugar. And that porbably for Tashy and Meg's cake which will be due this coming sunday. Would be fun making another cake! =) Can't wait cos i'm already bursting with ideas of what to make for them!

Tashy was very intrigued by little "baaaaabe Joshy"

J being beheaded by one of his many sisters

And last but not least....HAPPY GRADUATION, GUYS!!!!You made it....finally!!!