NORBAINI CAKES: Class : Pillow Cake

Showing posts with label Class : Pillow Cake. Show all posts

Saturday, February 5, 2011

PILLOWCAKE HOMECLASS on JANUARY 30th, 2011

Yes, dear friends, Chef Baini is back once again with another pillowcake homeclass, one of the many popular classes here at Norbaini Cakes. You may have noticed that the setting is a little different than the previous classes. You see, Chef Baini has moved her homeclass location to a new home...the covered terrace , a sort of Lanai, is an extension of her new baking studio of her home, which is also directly connected to the garage! Not to fret, though, as the colonnade springs arches that frame the space nicely with the garden wall a little extruded to allow natural light and ventilation in. Plus the potted plants lend a soft touch to the ambiance!

Today Chef Baini hosted 5 students who dropped in to learn about the craft of making pillowcakes. Typical of Chef Baini, she encouraged each individual to explore their own creativity and so at the end of the class, each student would have produced a cake that is unique to her own; each cake being different from the rest. Naturally this would mean that Chef Baini would have to spend more time on teaching, because each cake is unlike the others. However, that has never discouraged Chef Baini because at the end of the class, each student can see 4 other options available to them. The variety of designs are endless!

As the instructor/ teacher, Chef Baini is always heartened to see the interaction of the students whereby they learn by observing the others. Chef Baini has said it before many a time: She learns as much from her students as they do from her. Education is a two-way street, with no traffic lights, stop signs or speed limits! And there are no 'NO ENTRY' signs, either! Absolutely not!

So let us meet today's fab five....unlike the fab five of WESTLIFE, or if you're a little older, DURAN DURAN! (Ugh! Now you know Chef Baini isn't as young as she looks!)

This lovely lass is Lia, from Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor.

Would you have ever guessed that she is a dentist?

Then this cute young lady is Suraya,
a newbie to the Norbaini Cakes fraternity of sisters...

Next up we have the pretty Huda,
who lives in Tropicana, Selangor.

She too is a newbie to Norbaini Cakes.

She has just moved to this neck of the
Malaysian woods from Johor Bahru, Johor,

After Huda, we have the diva Kak Leen, from Kuala Lumpur.

She is a senior member to the Norbaini Cakes sorority sisterhood.

Then we the baby of the group Ida, who is 'cozy-ing' up to Suraya.

Its an old habit of hers from her working days as an in-flight stewardess.

Look at this picture; can you imagine Ida sneaking behind Suraya

and whispering: "Excuse me, Ma'am, Beef of Chicken?" Hee-hee!

Now it wouldn't be a Norbaini Cakes blogspot if it didn't have a picture or two of the cake making process, now would it? So here are 2 pictures of the pillowcake just after it was wrapped in the fondant.....

You may have noticed that the one above already has the pattern textured on its surface......where thereafter, the cake is embellished with flowers, leaves, stars, buttons and other what-have-you-s.

Now we have the final piece-de-resistances from today's participants...

Pillowcake by Suraya (above).

Pillowcake by Kak Leen (above).

This one above is by Ida....

Huda's pillowcake is this picture above....

While Lia's pillowcake (above) tops-up today's collection of works...

So that;s it for today's blogpost, dear friends. Just another day in the goings-on here at Norbaini Cakes. What delights Chef Baini every time is how all her students get along famously with one another, even if some of them are a little shy at first. Like a recently posted blog (you remember, the one on the EZYMIX BAKERY class) making friends is a blessing in this business.

And so on that score, Chef Baini signs off this blog,

Thank you for dropping by!

Uh-oh! What's this, you ask? Yup, you guessed it, Yessiree! Chef Baini returned to her annual family getaway to Malacca....its another Malacca Holiday Adventure and very soon she will share that holiday adventure with all of you! Stay tuned!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING

Salam Once More, Dear Friends!

(Pillowcake Homeclass 11th December 2010)

Yes, winter is upon us and the yuletide cheer is here! Here at Norbaini Cakes' Winter Log Cabin, its chilly whenever the brisk winter breeze gusts from between the woods. You may say to yourself, since when does it snow in December in Malaysia? The answer is whenever someone opens the magic wardrobe in the attic that transports you the storied kingdom of Narnia! Chef Baini has discovered that the blogspot need not be rooted in Malaysia, it can travel to magical lands as well!

Chef Baini begins today's blog post with another poem by Robert Frost. It's called 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening', and it's probably his most famous poem of all. The poem tells of a traveler whom stops for a little while on his journey to his destination in order to admire the falling snow on a grove. Lost in Nature's beauty, he suddenly remembers his obligations when his horse shakes her bells, and so flicks the reins and continues on his journey while reminding himself of the promises that he has to keep.

Lately, Chef Baini has been very busy not just with work but with other obligations of a filial and personal nature; nevertheless, Chef Baini has promises to keep: promises to all her friends, students and customers. That promise is to give the best professional service possible and to constantly strive to improve herself in order to give her best to all her cherished friends. This poem is a constant reminder to Chef Baini of all the people who have made her journey possible; horse, sleigh and bells!

Today at Norbaini Cakes' Winter Log Cabin, 7 travelers braved the snow to learn about pillow cakes: Saibah. Kak Ju, Yantie, Kak Darina, Zu, Kak Leen and Zira. Where are their horses and sleighs? Why, out in the yard on a carpet of snow, of course!

Within the cozy confines of Chef's cabin, this are what they hatched.....

All too soon the seven had to go, for they all have promises of their own to keep. Chef Baini is glad because today, she has managed to keep her promise to seven of her friends. Though none made promises to return, Chef Baini is certain of seeing them again. While it may be cold outside, its always warm inside; inside the cabin and inside the heart too!

Thank you for visiting today;s blog post, dear friends!

Until next time. take care and love always,

Chef Baini

Saturday, December 4, 2010

PILLOWCAKE HOMECLASS 28th NOVEMBER 2010

Salam once again, dear friends!

If you watch TV, you may have seen reruns of some old TV series on the local channels....Well, one of Chef Baini's favourite shows is The Waltons (this programme was shown in the 70's, before colour TV was introduced in Malaysia. It features the trials and tribulations of a family that lived in Virginia. Chef Baini remembers very well the hunky lead character John-Boy Walton, played by Richard Thomas. The TV series was a spin-off from a movie called Spencer's Mountain, released in 1963 starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara. Being in a nostalgic mood, Chef Baini thought she might open today's graphic that reminiscences the Virginian countryside.

The people of Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Vermont i.e. in the region of the Appalachian mountains have something in common with Malaysians: They love to show off their food because food is one of the apogees of their culture, their way of life. Chef Baini is sure many of us can relate to this. Whenever guests show up in our homes, the first thing we do is offer them food and drink. For special occasions, we take the extra trouble to make the food extra presentable in keeping with the occasion.

And so it is with the pillowcake, a very popular presentation cake that has caught the fancy of many people. It isn't that difficult to make really, see for yourself:

Some people might say "Why show the step-by-step process? Then people might figure out how to make it and have no need to attend your class." Well, Chef Baini believes in sharing knowledge for the common good. Its a fundamental tenet of education which will bring about greater benefit to all, not just a few.

Take a look at one of Chef Baini's friend's blog. Check out Mari...you'll see that this incredible lady shares everything with her friends: not only does she list the recipes, she shows pictures of every step of the process....painstakingly tedious work to put in a blog and all for free. Chef Baini certainly took a leaf from her friend Mari...she is Spanish, by the way, so please set google translate to English if you want to read her blog.

Today's ladies are experts at cake making. Check out their work and see......

Pretty good, huh? Notice the sheen on the cake; it imitates the sheen of vinyl material of cushions....

So today's Hall of Fame are as follows... First is the Jitra Jane, Ms. Cheah...

Next up is Naz...

Followed by Kak Ema....

Remember: YOU LOSE NOTHING BY SHARING. For if you share, you will flower in the most adverse of situations, very much like an oasis in a desert. Many will come your way and all will benefit in some form or another.

See you soon, dear friends!