Farewell Cake

Category:                            Dessert; Pastry
Style:                                  Chocolate Cake
Special Consideration:        Quick and Easy
Servings:                             8-12 servings

Description:
Ruby, my cousin, is a professional cook and baker. She has made her fortune out of her creativity and skills. I came to learn how to bake chiffon cake through her when I was in third year high school.  Until now I still seek assistance from her concerning baking problems.

I’ve been planning to revive my old hobby since we transfered to our new home.  As I have now a bigger working space to mess around.  I asked some recipes from my cousin lately and she willingly texted it to me. I was laughing during my first attempt as she neglected to send me the instructions.   Last night with 50% confidence, after encountering a major error, I volunteered to bring a chocolate cake for the farewell party.  Thank goodness, they like it.

Ingredients:
­­-3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
-1 1/2 cups  chocolate powder
-3 tablespoon baking powder
-3 teaspoon baking soda
-3 cups sugar (white sugar disolves easily than brown but i still prefer to use brown)
-2 cups evaporated milk
-1 cup oil or melted butter
-1 teaspoon vanilla

Procedure:
Sift all dry ingredients.  Make  a  well and place sugar in the middle.  Dilute it with milk.  Add oil and vanilla to taste.  Mix thoroughly. Preheat electric oven to 180 degrees C. Bake around 40 minutes.

Frosting:
-1/2 cup butter
-3/4 cup chocolate powder
-1 can condensed milk

Procedure:
Melt butter then add chocolate and condensed milk.  Continuously mix until it becomes thick to pour on top of the cake.  Cook around 20 to 30 minutes in low fire.

Australia the Land of Dreams

I’m excited for my friends who are bound to Australia this month.  Roque is going ahead of his wife Cherryl to check out the place and look for good shelter to stay there.  Last night we celebrated a farewell party for both of them.  We expressed our wishes and blessings as they go to their land of dreams.

I asked a couple of questions to know how well they have made their research about this beautiful country. Initially my only knowledge about Australia is that it is famous for Koalas, Kangaroos and my favorite Christian artists Hillsong music. I hope to see them live on stage. From now on, I’m noting it as one of my goals to look forward to.

One must be adventurous enough to explore its diverse culture and unique environment. In the future I wish to experience as slice of life in this three big cities.  Of how it is to bask in the Sunshine State of Brisbane and see its attractions. Take a closer look at the opera house in Sydney, watch Australian Open, see their lifestyle and stroll along Glebe Point Road with my hubby.  Lastly, go down south east to visit my friends in the city of Melbourne, Victoria. To find Nemo and check out their chic boutiques, buzzing cafés and immaculate festivals.

As early as now, I’m checking out the hotels in Brisbane, hotels in Sydney and hotels in Melbourne and include them on my budget list.   Not pretty sure if it’s affordable or not. Well in my thorough search I found the answer from cheaperthanhotels.com.au. Blimey cheap!

In anticipation

Last night we had a baby shower and farewell party for our dear friends Cherryl and Roque Alea.  They are going home to the Philippines to be with their family in a while, then be traveling straight to Victoria, Australia in the coming days.

By the time we arrived, the party didn’t started yet.  So I managed to prepare the chocolate cake that I brought in the table.  I personally baked the cake two hours before the celebration.  I was quite hesitant to bring it because it didn’t turn out perfectly than I expected.  But after dinner I’m so glad that almost all of them commended my labor of love. My kumareng She-ann even suggested that I should start taking orders. Nahhh…I’d rather do blogging than baking. Perhaps, that would be a good alternative though if my ADSL starts acting. 

We had fun during the party, first the mothers were called out to share their experiences.  Followed by the wishes of soon-to-be moms&dads and singles.  Steve rendered a song for the couple entitled "The Warrior is a Child." Next we had a pray over and a hearty dinner with a little guessing game to close the celebration. It was a great night for everybody; simple and memorable.