My First 2 Tier Wedding Cake

White Roses, colored using airbrush.

The final result of my 1st 2 tier wedding cake. Top cake using airbrush and 2nd tier, I piped the roses and did some simple deco on the cake.

* My trainer, wished to remain anonymous for reason only known to her I wish to thank her for the guidance and help throughout the 2 days session.

Rin's Cuppies

Colors of the World

Sweet Pea

My New Home

It is not my intention to discard my blog. I have few stories in line but not able to post it just yet.

Off late, I found a new interest in baking cupcakes. Those days, when I was in KL, I used to bake and sell my moist chocolate cake. I used to get hundreds of orders especially during festive seasons. I stopped baking about 11/2 year ago since I moved back to Kuantan. It is quite tough to sell my cakes in Kuantan because of the pricing. I am not able to meet the customer’s demand of reducing the price when the prices of raw goods have gone up.

With the support and encouragement from my friend Ayu (she started her cupcakes business about 3 months ago) I decided to try. I have no problem when it comes into cooking, so with this little knowledge of mine, I baked my first cupcakes using my normal recipe but transform it into small cups.

My only problem was I am not good in cake decorating. I had problem using the nozzle (as I am not used to it). I tried few designs and wasted a lot of butter cream and cakes as my work didn’t come out the way it was supposed to be which is sweet and nice. My choice of color is awful and it didn’t blend in. At the end of the day, everything that I did went into the dustbin.

I bought books on Cakes Decorating, bought all sizes and shapes of nozzle, dozens of piping bags and my nights are filled with my new found hobby. My husband and I will be busy trying to materialize our talent on the cupcakes. At the same time, we tried new recipe every forth night until we get the one that we really satisfied (only yesterday after 3 weeks of trying we managed to find so-far-the-best cupcakes recipe)

So I am getting better in managing piping bags. I have improved my decorating skills on the cakes. My choice of colors has changed (I have bought bottles of new smashing icing coloring); I have got my call card printed, flyers printed and my cupcakes website is running. This weekend I got to deliver 15 boxes of cupcakes, I got pre-ordered cupcakes for August; I am starting to promote my cupcakes for the coming Aidilfitri ( I am about this close to close one deal, which is the Aidilfitri Food Hamper worth few thousands ringgt, wish me luck). And I can see myself very busy for the next few months. Wish me luck people.

I am not sure whether I am able to update my Terompah World as I will be busy mending my cupcakes website. Anyway, if I am not here, you can find me there. Do feel free to drop by at www.madamecupcakes.blogspot.com. I welcome your honest comments on my designs (I am still learning the tricks. I managed to do the roses without having to do petal by petal). If you’re from Kuantan, and you need a change from normal cake to cupcakes, you know where to find one.

The STORM IN A CUP has ARRIVED in KUANTAN……

Get your Cuppa cakes crème, cream de la dream from Madame Cupcakes …..

THIS IS MY STORY

Arranging for a family gets together is not an easy assignment. It made it more difficult when you need to accommodate with 35 different characters, personalities and necessities. It took a lot of your time, energy, internet bills, and hand phone bills and in my case my prepaid dries out really fast. And one must be very good in sourcing, organizing, bargaining, manipulating and cursing.

And currently we, The Hashim’s tribe are organizing our due family holiday (we missed out last year holiday because some of us fall sick and were confined to the house arrest the entire school holiday). As usual, since day one I will be the main person who will do all the ground work. Crack my head searching for the right venue, the right date, the right budget, the fun in the sun itinerary and so forth. I need to get all the name list, put them in groups, arrange for their rooms, make sure that the surrounding is safe for the children, make sure food is good, service is good, aircond working for all the rooms, toilets are in tip top condition, with astro and of course internet connection. And above all I need to make sure that it is within the budget of our generous Paymaster. And every year she never failed to come out with a holiday suggestion.

“Let’s do the family holiday thingy. Last year tak boleh buat, everyone kena sampuk hantu. You’re free right, so, you go and look for a place for 3 days 2 nights, you come out with the itinerary and let me know how much. Haiya, I pay lah or I get my Latok to pay. See lah sapa yang kena. Hello friend, you think I got no money? Haiya you. You do the arrangement. I sponsor mah; don’t expect me to do the work. I just want to know the figure. You’re very good at this, you do lah.”

With that I am her official Machai. And there will be hundreds of phone calls from her chasing me and pushing me. I can never have a really good night sleep until it is over.

I still remember our first family holiday. My dad was still around and that was our last gathering. My dad passed away a month after our holiday. We rent 3 units of bungalow at A-Famosa Melaka with small private swimming pool each.

My parents never stayed up late, but that night we went to watch the Parade after dinner at the Cowboy town. My dad was sitting at the 2nd front row smiling from ear to ear. I managed to capture him in my camcorder.

A year after my dad passed away, we organized a surprised birthday bash for our dear mother. We invited my mum’s siblings, all her nieces and nephews, drove all her good friends from Kuantan to KL, put all of them in the hotel and booked a seminar room at Sheraton Subang. We put up performances for her. She was so happy and deep down I wish that my dad is around.

I also helped my brother in law organizing a supposed to be a surprise birthday bash for my sister. Well she knew from the start since everyone came and stayed at her house that weekend. But she didn’t know that I have actually invited all her classmates, her school teachers, her ex officemate and all her closest friends (I had to go all over the world to look for their hand phone numbers and email addresses). Again, we asked her children and husband to put up a performance for her. And it was worth all the pain and sweat.

Our last family trip was a 4 days 3 nights trip to Kalumpang Resort, Tanjung Malim Perak. We rent 7 chalets and I really like the place. My room was facing the pond. We organized a karaoke competition and my husband and I won 2nd place. We received a watch each sponsored by my brother in law. We spend our evenings at the mini waterfall splashing water at each other.

The highlight of our gathering was a trip to Mekah & Madinah. Even though some of my siblings are not able to join us, but we had a great time. To sat eyes on the majestic Kaabah (the house of God), I felt that I was so small, so tiny and how God has blessed me with this opportunity. I never stopped asking for HIS forgiveness for my deficiency, my sins and grant me with stronger faith, good health, a happy home and blessed my marriage and grant me with healthy kids.

I thanked Him for giving my sister extra ‘rezeki’ and May God blessed her and her family (our whole trip for the whole family was paid by my generous sister) with more fortune so she could do more good things for other people.

Just recently we organized a Birthday Gathering for my mum. But this time is on a smaller scale than before. Coincidentally, my mum’s birthday fall on the same day as the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW so we performed Solat Maghrib, Isyak, Hajat a short Taskirah about the Prophet Muhammad SAW legacy, His last request to his followers, His hopes to all his people, moments before He passed away.

The story was told in a very beautiful ways. It touches many hearts including mine. It made me realized the sacrifices that our Prophets Muhammad SAW has to go through. Praise to God, I am among the chosen one. I am lucky to be borne as a Muslim, to be raised as one and I pray to God that when it is time for me to go, I will go as a faithful and devoted Muslim. Islam will remain in me until the day I die.

Anyway, it was a very meaningful event. Quite a number of people turn up. We had a roast lamb and it finish off quite fast compared to other food. As usual my sister never failed to satisfy our ‘tummy’ with delicious food.

And now, I am working my ass off for our new Family Holiday Projects. Few places has been chosen but I decided to go for somewhere nearer, not that expensive (I do not have the hearts to spend her money on lavish holidays), easy and not a burden to anyone without international passport (my brother will have to fork out about 2K for his family if we decided to go overseas).

So it has been decided that the Eagle Ranch Resort, PD will be our next destinations. It has lots of outdoor activities for the children, teenagers and adults. And the best thing is I can go on horse riding … oh dear, I hope the poor horses would be able to sustain my weight and carry me around with pride. Sha...la...la...la…la…

Note: I shall write about my family holiday experiences in my next write up.

~*~ KEBAHAGIAAN INI ~*~

Bingkisan rindu dari seorang anak....

Aku bukan dilahirkan di dalam keluarga yang kaya raya, punya harta menggunung tapi aku kaya dengan kehadiran Emak dan Abah yang amat menyayangi kami, ditambah pula dengan kehadiran adik beradik yang agak ramai dan meriah. Kehadiran anak-anak saudara ku yang selori menambahkan lagi kemeriahan kami sekeluarga. Melengkapkan lagi label keluarga bahagia ku. Aku kaya dengan kasih sayang, kasih sayang dari seorang ibu, seorang ayah. Kasih sayang yang disemai dalam diri aku sejak dari aku mula dilahirkan lagi.

Ketika kedatangan hari raya rumah pasti akan sentiasa penuh dengan hilai tawa dan gelak tawa. Cuma semenjak kepulangan Abah kesayangan ke Rahmatullah rumah ini makin kurang serinya. Tunggak kekuatan kami telah pergi meninggalkan kami.

Namun, sisa-sisa kehidupan ini masih perlu diteruskan. Walaupun sedikit pincang tapi kekuatan, kecekalan, kasih sayang Abah dan wajah riang Abah sentiasa memenuhi setiap ruang di rumah kami. Hati kecil ini sering merindukan gelak tawanya, rindukan peluk ciumnya. Alangkah bertuahnya jika dapat bertemu dengannya semula walaupun hanya sesaat. Dan kerana kasih sayangnya juga kami tetap tabah meneruskan hidup tanpanya.

Entah kenapa malam ini terasa sungguh syahdu. Tidak mungkin aku melupakan wajah itu, senyuman itu, suara itu. Setiap selesai solat, setiap kali bayangan wajahnya melintas di kotak fikiran, setiap kali hati ini terdetik teringatkannya, pasti aku alunkan ayat-ayat suci Al-Quran buat hadiah sebagai tanda kasih sayang aku kepadanya. Sentiasa aku panjatkan doa agar rohnya di tempatkan di kalangan mereka yang beriman, memohon agar Allah SWT memberi keampunan di atas segala dosa-dosanya, di ringankan hisab kuburnya, di besarkan dan di terangi kuburnya dengan kebaikan yang pernah dia lakukan ketika hayatnya.

Ingin aku titipkan buat rakan-rakan yang masih mempunyai ayah dan ibu, hargailah saat-saat bersama mereka, sayangilah mereka, kasihanilah mereka, martabatkanlah mereka, dan kenangilah jasa-jasa mereka walaupun tangan-tangan itu tidak pernah membesarkan kamu, tidak pernah menyuapkan makanan ke mulutmu dan tangan-tangan itu yang pernah memukul kamu satu masa dahulu, mulut itulah yang pernah menghalau kamu keluar dari rumah, dan kaki itulah yang pernah singgah ke badanmu.

Ingatlah takkala mereka menutup mata, disaat Allah menjemput mereka kita hanya mampu berdoa agar dosa kita diampuninya, susu diberi dihalalkan oleh mereka, dan betapa sunyinya kehidupan ini nanti tanpa kasih sayang mereka.

Alhamdullillah, aku di beri rezeki oleh Allah SWT untuk berada di samping arwah ayah ketika dia masih sihat, menghantarnya ke hospital ketika dia sakit, mengucup pipinya dan memegang tangannya sambil membisikkan kata kasih sayangku padanya, memohon keampunan di atas dosa-dosa aku, meminta Abah menghalalkan setiap keringatnya yang tumpah untuk membesarkan aku, membaca yassin buatnya ketika dia sedang bertarung nyawa, membisikkan kalimah Syahadah di telinganya, melihat ombakan terakhir nafasnya, dan menyaksikan kepulangan anak Adam kepada penciptaNYA.

Aku menyaksikan semuanya dengan rasa penuh kesyahduan dan keinsafan. Aku kehilangan tapi aku puas kerana perginya abah dengan kehadiran aku di sisinya. Perginya Abah dengan kasih sayang aku yang di bawa bersamanya. Perginya Abah dengan doa restu dari isteri dan anak-anaknya. Perginya Abah setelah mengampuni dosa-dosa isteri serta kami anak-anaknya. Perginya Abah setelah menatap wajah isteri, putera serta puteri-puterinya. Perginya Abah dengan iringan kalimah Syahadah di satu subuh yang sunyi dan hening.

Walaupun tangis kami mengiringi pemergian Abah, tapi, itulah kebahagiaan yang akan aku bawa hingga ke Akhirat nanti.

Al-Fatihah buat Ayahanda Tersayang Haji Hashim bin Abdul Rahman. Semoga roh Abah ditempatkan di kalangan mereka yang soleh dan beramal, Amin. Anak-anakmu sentiasa merindui mu.