Baked Lechon

When C got his job offer to Qatar one of the question was is pork sold there? Nope it's not. And when we all move to Dubai that question pop up once again. Yes it is available in selected stores here. 

Bye-bye Bottle Nanan

In four months little V will start kindergarten. We have been slowly preparing him for the big day since he turned two years old. He was potty trained and completely weaned off breastfeeding before we celebrated his 2nd birthday. It was a full dreadful drama month with V (and me) crying whenever he pleaded to breastfeed and me about to lose my patience cleaning after every pee accident. All of those is a thing of the past and V would refer to those memories as "when I was a baby."





He's a little boy now and it's once again time to let go of something - toddler cup.  I would know that he's tired and sleepy when he asks for a "bottle-nanan" this is also what he asks for upon waking up. "Nanan" by the way is breastmilk or bottle milk, it's not a Filipino word but something we just came up with. V would wake me up at 3am and ask for a bottle nanan and some nights he would sleep without having one. 


C calls him a baby whenever he asks for one, V then replies "Daddy bottle nanan just helps V sleep" and we would always give in. Yesterday we told V it was time to say bye-bye to his bottle and be a big boy drinking milk in a cup like how Mum and Dad enjoys coffee. Last night he finished 2 big cup of milk before going to bed and slept through the night....ohhh bliss!


While preparing breakfast V cried in his sleep.
"Mommy I want bottle nanan please. Please mommy bottle nanan." 
"I will carry you and we can drink milk in the cup." 
"No mommy I want my bottle nanan" - he went back to dreamland


After an hour V once again crying went out of the bedroom asking for his nanan. I have to be firm and I'm the boss! "Look love mommy is cooking nuggets for breakfast and we have warm water for your milk. Will make you one chocolate milk in a big boys cup."  Still crying I lay him on the couch he asked for his blanket and went back to sleep. 

Bye-bye Bottle Nanan

In four months little V will start kindergarten. We have been slowly preparing him for the big day since he turned two years old. He was potty trained and completely weaned off breastfeeding before we celebrated his 2nd birthday. It was a full dreadful drama month with V (and me) crying whenever he pleaded to breastfeed and me about to lose my patience cleaning after every pee accident. All of those is a thing of the past and V would refer to those memories as "when I was a baby."

Delivered: Bag & Shoe Cake

I accepted a cake challenge for a friends birthday with a red and black color theme. G had a particular cake design in mind-a red shoe and red bag with some black outline on top of a carrot cake. With two weeks to prepare I searched net and found lots of help watching youtube and blog tutorials on how to carve a bag cake and shape a shoe. PinkCakeBox tutorial on high-heel shoe and ChefGRFX bag tutorial helped me to complete the cake as well as the lovely cakers over at CakeCentral. 

A week before my deadline I made some practice cake and shoe using a homemade fondant . First I had a hard time with my usual fondant recipe it just won't hold it's shape, after I cover the cake I see holes on the side of the bag it seem that the fondant was melting. As the deadline came closer and my warm hands and fondant wont just work together I decided to buy a ready rolled fondant and gumpaste mix at Tavola. 

Another challenge was to keep the high-heel shoe stand up, I shaped 6 shoes and as soon as the heel is attached and dried it breaks. So the night before the cake was due carefully I laid the shoe on top of the cake turn my back and brewed a cup of tea a minute after guess what?! Yes the shoe gave up on me once again. It's 1 am and I knead my gumpaste color it red and shaped shoe #7 and #8 and whispered a prayer to fondant fairies for please let it dry. G's party was at 7pm the sole and heel had enough time to dry I have to stick them together 4 hrs before we head out to give it some more time to dry. 


The next day in between preparing food, entertaining V and cleaning I attach the heel to the sole and let it rest hoping and wishing luck was on my side besides it was Friday the 13th. 

Slowly I lift G's red shoe from the mat and place it beside the bag, stared at the shoe for a minute grab the camera and snap photos to have some proof that I did finish the cake as required now on to the next challenge of travelling the cake from Al Ghusais to Al Riqqa. 


I'm happy to announce that the both shoe and bag stayed on top with no signs of falling. G's  happy reaction was priceless! Other guests loved the design as well.  

Happy Birthday Gladhies!

More of my cakes at WhatToEatMom

Next challenge will be at #BakeFestDXB - read more about it here and here


***
Dubai Cake Decorating Stores:
Tavola
Mirdiff City Centre, Mirdiff
Tel: + 971 4 284 35 48


Century Plaza, Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1, 
DubaiTel: + 971 4 344 56 24 


Cake Decorating Center
Tel: + 971 4 268 1196

Delivered: Bag & Shoe Cake

I accepted a cake challenge for a friends birthday with a red and black color theme. G had a particular cake design in mind-a red shoe and red bag with some black outline on top of a carrot cake. With two weeks to prepare I searched net and found lots of help watching youtube and blog tutorials on how to carve a bag cake and shape a shoe. PinkCakeBox tutorial on high-heel shoe and ChefGRFX bag tutorial helped me to complete the cake as well as the lovely cakers over at CakeCentral. 

Searching for Pandan

0513 update


I found Pandan! well I didn't buy it but a friend gave me her stash :) She bought the leaves at Karama Fish Market.


***
This is my final work week to finish a Girly Cake for my friend. And in between finishing the cake I have strong craving for Buko (Coconut) Pandan dessert and Ube Cake. 


Pandan is one leaf that's hard to get by here in Dubai. Oh so please help me find one :) or a whole plant! and I promise to share my produce.

Searching for Pandan

0513 update


I found Pandan! well I didn't buy it but a friend gave me her stash :) She bought the leaves at Karama Fish Market.


***
This is my final work week to finish a Girly Cake for my friend. And in between finishing the cake I have strong craving for Buko (Coconut) Pandan dessert and Ube Cake. 


Pandan is one leaf that's hard to get by here in Dubai. Oh so please help me find one :) or a whole plant! and I promise to share my produce.