What's for Hari Raya?

I have no idea what to cook initially, except for the Sambal Kacang. But takkan nak makan Sambal Kacang aje kan?? So I have to cook some other dishes. Asked dearest hub for his wishlist. I hope he won't ask me to cook any difficult dishes.. Finally he settled for Sambal Goreng Pengantin. I have not cooked this before but am willing to give it a shot. I hope it works tomorrow. Another dish that I chose for the kids will be Ayam Masak Merah. So 3 dishes should be enough.

I should have expected that my mum, mum-in-law & aunts will be contributing on the kuih-muih part. I only made 3 - Triple Choc Chip Cookies, Fruitee Cookies & Cheese & Prune Cookies. Now altogether I have 15 types of kuihs & crisps. Can you believe that?! Oh and that's not inclusive of 2 types of fruit cakes.

I guess it's fine cos I'll be giving birth soon & I anticipate that friends & relatives will be coming over. The kuihs will be served as I don't think I'm up to cook anything else for the guests.

Well got to stop here now. Preparing for breaking fast & after that got to deliver Pineapple Tarts to a friend & Rempeyek to in-laws'.

Will update on my Raya cooking soon..

Wazz Up?!

So what have I been up to lately?

Since my July entry, I have taken some orders (despite being very tired) because I just couldn't bear to disappoint some contacts like Yatie, who for the second time requested for 2 dozen Blueberry Cheesecups; Eleaza, who requested for 2 dozen Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecups & a whole Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake; Liyana, who requested for a dozen Oreo Cheesecups, 2 dozen Blueberry Cheesecups & a dozen Chocolate Mousse for a gathering; last but not least Marshmallow Brownie for Siti.

Blueberry Cheesecups for Yatie

Eleaza's Chocolate Hazelnut

Liyana's Blueberry & Oreo Cheesecups & Chocolate Mousse

Marshmallow Brownie for Siti

I continue to receive requests from repeat & new contacts, but so as not to jeopardise the quality of my goodies because I was starting to feel really lethargic, I didn't accept them. I hope they will understand. Insya'allah when I'm better after the delivery I'll take the orders (probably earlier than 1st February '08).

Today, I am 2 weeks away from my expected delivery date (I'm due on 20th October). My gynae has advised me to standby my hospital bag in the vehicle while house-visiting during Hari Raya.

I've not started my Maternity Leave yet, although everyone has been asking me when I'll be resting, why am I still working etc...

Firstly I don't have that much Annual Leave left (although the temptation of taking Unpaid Leave is there). Secondly, what will I do at home if I'm on Leave?

Well for a start, I've made some cookies for Hari Raya during my OFF days. I managed to make triple Chocolate Chip cookies, Fruitee cookies & Prune & Cheese (soft) cookies & given some to both my mum & mother-in-law. I'm contemplating whether I should make my Brownies for them too. I'll decide next week.

I'm glad that I already bought clothes for 'Ufairah & Zinedine. Plus some stuff for the house too.

I've yet to buy tablecloths & flowers for the house. I hope I still have time cos my next antenatal appointment is on Tuesday & I have to go to the maid's agency for my new one; I have to send the cookies over to my mum's & get some from there too; I have yet to decide what to cook for Hari Raya although one is already confirmed - Sambal Kacang, so I need to go to the market to get some stuff & spices. There's like so many things to do in such a short week.

I'm only starting my leave the week after Raya, which is the week I'm due for delivery. Maybe I shouldn't get too ambitious in doing so many chores for this Raya. Well, I see what & how much I can do.

Talking about maid, I've 'booked' for a new one to come in after Raya & during my Maternity Leave so I have enough time to teach her what to do, especially caring for the newborn. The current one is due to leave end January while I start work in the early month. After much thinking & to avoid stress in teaching the new maid, I've decided to send the current one home 2 months early. If I were to wait till the current contract ends, I can foresee I'm going to get stressed out not having enough time to teach the new maid & God knows how she will take care of my newborn.

The new maid does not have any experience in Singapore & this will be her first time here. I have stressed that I'm going to be very particular especially in taking care of my children, so I hope she will be able to adapt to my style.

Alright peeps, time to go. Got a birthday party to bring the kids to later (my boss' daughter's birthday). Will update more on the Hari Raya preparations next week.

Selamat Berpuasa!

Update

I haven't been blogging for a long time; probably due to the morning & evening sickness plus my body has been takig a toll on me. I get tired easily nowadays & appetite to eat has just started.

Now that I'm in my 2nd trimester, I have been cutting down a lot on my orders. I do not wish to jeopardize the quality of my goodies if I'm not up to it. But of course there are some orders which I just can't refuse.

I'm planning to temporarily stop taking order between September '07 & January '08. Reasons being:

1) September we'll be ushering the month of Ramadhan & I don't think I can stretch myself to accepting orders for Syawal;

2) Making preparations for my delivery after Hari Raya (in October);

3) Will be recuperating between November & January & bonding with the baby.

Although I feel a little sad that I have to stop taking orders soon, I have to do what I have to do. Like what dearest hubby said, it's only temporary & it's for my own good. Otherwise I'll get too tired for the delivery day itself.

Though this is the 3rd time I'll be giving birth, the stigma of going through labour makes me scared. I'm afraid to go through pain. All I can hope for is shorter labour time, really.

Anyways, for the latest updates on my goodies you can visit sistabrownie site.

Cheers!

Received another order from Nizar for Oreo Cheesecakeon 18th May. Apparently his wife has been taking in orders for me from her contacts & colleagues. Really appreciate it. As he's been ordering quite a number of Oreo Cheesecake from me, I try to come up with different designs. This time, it's Hersheys with choc chips.

Oreo Cheesecake

On the 22nd, Lynda requested for a premium brownie birthday cake for Esman & Fazli, who are celebrating their brithday on the same day. Toppers request - Rochers & Hersheys.

Premium Brownie

After transferring the brownie into the cake box, hurried down to the polyclininc for dear son's final jab - the 18th month DPT jab. After this jab, he'll 'graduate' from all jabs until he's 3 years old for his development assessment.

Although the appointment (at 10.45am) was his nap time, I was relieved that he was very co-operative. The only unco-operative about this whole thing was the polyclininc system, which was so slow. Zinedine had already shown his restlessness while waiting for the payment queue to flash. By the time everything was done it was lunch already. Lucky this is his final jab.

In the afternoon, I thought of preparing for mafiaprinses' order - 4 dozens of cheesecups. But was too exhausted from the polyclinic trip that I thought I should have a rest first before going for my antenatal check-up at 2pm.

The waiting time was short this time. I guessed not many patients like to come in the afternoon. Furthermore, doctor did not have any emergencies at the time.

Baby is now 14-15 weeks old. I was surprised that the growing rate this time is slow compared to the last check-up. But doctor assured me that everything is fine. Will be doing my blood test in 3 weeks. Gender? It's still not clear but I kinda suspect which gender baby is. Even hubby agreed with me.

When we arrived home, I quickly whipped up the cheese mixture for mafiaprinses' orders to be collected on 23rd May afternoon. They were all finally done by midnight, which is not too bad, considering the slow pace.

An array of Oreo, Blueberry & Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecups

Of which, one set is for a friend's birthday....

Coming up will be a newcomer to the cheese family, which I will be 'launching' soon.

Stay tuned.

Update

After putting off updating my blog for a while, here's a summary of what I've been doing...

For the 30th April, I made Oreo Cheesecake for Nizar:

M&Ms Brownie for Syarifah for 1st May:

A premium brownie for Shida's solemnization ceremony on 4th May:

Shida's request was a bit stressful for me as I have no idea how to make my brownie look like it's appropriate for a solemnization ceremony. As you know, weddings, engagement, solemnization cakes usually make use of those icings. Although I'm a keen baker, I don't quite fancy those icings actually.

So if you are wondering why there isn't any of those icings on my cakes, well, simply because I don't fancy them although they look gorgeous on cakes.

Anyways, for Shida, I decided to add on more almond flakes on the sides of her premium brownie. (It's a shame that I didn't have time to bake extras for her to taste as this will be given to the guy's side).

Then just today, 11th May:

M&Ms & premium brownie with marshmallows for Tini, which she shared with her colleagues as it was her last day at work. I really hope you & your colleagues enjoyed them.

So there you go, a summary of what I've been doing besides getting used to the bloating tummy & handling my headaches.

While updating & since I'm already logged in I remembered an incident last month which concern one of my customer's request I receive by email. I don't know how she came about to know sistabrownie but her request was to have chocolate cupcakes for her baby girl's cukur rambut. She asked if I could bake eggless cupcakes as well.

So far I've not tried eggless ones but was willing to take up this challenge.

Further to her request, she would like to taste some samples, plus look at samples of individual packaging for these cupcakes which would feature a girl's theme.

I did the cupcakes with egg & eggless & emailed her the packaging samples. And I asked her to come over to collect the cupcakes samples (only).

First she said she might be able to collect them that night. I waited & no sign of her. She SMSed me & said she might be able to collect the next day in the afternoon. So I informed my maid to hand the cakes over when the lady turned up.

No sign of her. I SMSed her to check if she was coming at all cos I'm not going to keep the cupcakes for another day as it might compromise the taste. She said she will come after 7pm, around 8pm.

No sign of her until 10pm. As I was exhausted & had to work the next day, I went to sleep but asked my maid, who's still up, if a lady were to turn up, to hand over the cakes.

The next day when I checked with my maid, she told me that the lady turned up at 11.10pm. Well at least she turned up to collect the cakes.

Two days later, she SMSed me to say that her hubby does not really like the taste of the Double Chocolate Cupcakes & therefore will not proceed with ordering from me.

That's fine. But why I brought this up is that although she is the customer, I do expect a little bit of consideration. In her case, from the beginning right to the time when she collected the cupcakes. Although I am running a business my goodies are home-made & I'm not running a store or a bakery or a confectionery.

Fair enough if she wants to sample first, but not to turn up at the said time? If she has an idea of what type of packaging she wants perhaps she could have told me what exactly she wants instead of having me to come up with ideas, post the pics & after all..... her husband did not like the taste.

I felt a little demoralized, not angry, that these inconsiderate people exist. To add, this is my own people. But I'm grateful that I have the chance to 'know' these people so I know what to expect & how to handle should I come across them again.

I've kept her number in my mobile, so I know that I shall not accept her request/s in future. If you think that I'm being overly sensitive over this I don't think I've over-reacted, cos I went all out for this request.

(Sigh!) Some people..... Well, at least I learnt something from this experience.

Okay, change subject. I've just registered my website but.... but I've not updated anything yet. I think I need my sis-in-law's help in this. Cos I'm so screwed at IT stuff.

When it's up & ready, people, I'll let you know.

Cheers!