敏娣過日子 Mindi's Diary

Yeah, it's been a long time since I last posted something, and I've already forgot what it was. What a shame! Anyway, her I am again.

好友 Terri 除了常常充滿智慧的用冷笑話開示我們之外, 也是位很有創意的藝術家, 大前天向我訂了一個鍋燒烏龍麵的生日蛋糕給她的女兒 Alison 14 歲生日. 哇! 好有意思喔! 鍋燒烏龍麵! 聽說是因為 Alison 很喜歡吃麵, 常吃辛巴樂的海鮮鍋燒麵. 隔天我就去辛巴樂叫了一份來拍照吃吃看!

My dear friend, Terri, is always full of creative and surprising ideas, besides her wise fables. LOL This time, she got me very excited about the cake she ordered for her daughter, Alison's 14th birthday. She asked for a nabeyaki udon cake because noodle soup is Alison's favorite food. Wow! How interesting is that! Since Alison always orders the nabeyaki udon from a Taiwanese snack restaurant, Sing Ba Leh, in Arcadia, California, I went there the next day, and ordered Alison's favorite dish-seafood nabeyaki udon. 

Frances 在 Facebook 裡 post 了照片和評語:

Frances posted photos and comments on Facebook, and she lets me include them in here:

診所的牙科助理 Fiona 訂了一個芋頭戚風生日蛋糕慶祝她婆婆的 76 歲生日. 她說看我想怎麼裝飾都好. 我想長輩應該比較喜歡吉祥如意的祝福吧! 就做一個 "松鶴延年" 的祝福囉! Fiona 說公公婆婆都很喜歡, 蛋糕好吃而且長壽鶴做得很有意義! 老人家喜歡就好, 也是 Fiona 的一番孝心哪! 我也很喜歡,尤其是在 "松鶴延年" 底下的那兩朵如意, 很可愛!

Our senior dental assistant, Fiona, who has been working for Joshua's office for more than 10 years ordered a cake for her mother-in-law's 76th birthday. She wanted the chiffon cake with taro root mousse filling. I'd like to decorate it a little differently than the usual roses with shell border birthday cake, and I wanted it to express the love and best wishes from Fiona, so I decided to make it with a Chinese birthday wish theme.

我真的不是針對中國什麼, 但是他們的電影名字的翻譯真的很搞笑, 好嗎? "怪誕城之夜"! 真是有夠怪蛋的! 是找誰在替他們翻電影名字啊? (英文原名：The Nightmare Before Christmas * 中文译名： 圣诞夜惊魂- 怪诞城之夜（大陆） 圣诞夜惊魂（台湾） 圣诞夜惊魂（香港）)

My sister's co-worker, Marisela, is a big fan of the 1993 movie "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas", and she asked Min-Ling if I could make a cake in the movie theme for her after she saw and tasted the cake I made for the baby shower last time. I really didn't think why I can't, so I took the order, and made her the cake with Jack, the stick figure star of the movie, on it.

我的摯友, Sheila, 問我能不能為她老公, Sam Wu, 的公司聖誕晚會做五個蛋糕. 我怎能不做呢? Sam 是南加州聖蓋博谷地區理想地產公司的負責人, 他們公司在本地已經成立超過三十年, 極具盛名及信譽, 在 Sam 的領導之下業務更是蒸蒸日上. 以前他們是在 Monterey Park, 幾年前搬到現址: 625 E. Main St., Alhambra, CA, (626)289-8888 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (626)289-8888      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 在我還沒和 Sheila 成為好友之前就已經麻煩過理想地產公司幫家裡處理房產管理事宜了呢.

My best friend, Sheila, asked if I could make cakes for the Christmas party of the company, IDEAL PROPERTIES (理想地產), of her husband, Sam Wu. This is a realty/property management company that has been long established in San Gabriel Valley. I remember seeing their signs even before I was married, and their office used to be in Montery Park, but has now moved to a more convenient location in Alhambra, at 625 E Main Street, (626)-289-8888 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (626)-289-8888      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. I have used their services for my family's real property needs even before Sheila and I became good friends! I was very glad to have this opportunity to serve them in return by making them the party cakes. Sam, the big boss of the company, wanted to try different flavors of my cakes, and wanted to have them spelled out IDEAL for decorations. (Well, I actually "failed" on the decoration challenge this time, sigh...) Yes, all cake orders are challenges to me! Can I do this? Can I meet the needs of my clients? Well, if I had more time... I could have made it the way Sam wanted it. Anyway, sorry, Sam and Sheila! Next year! I have already got ideas on a perfect cake for the occasion.

自從做了這個巧克力蛋糕之後, 因為廣大食客讚不絕口, (呵呵, 真夠老王的!)就沒再做過別種巧克力蛋糕了! 這個蛋糕很好用, 夾草莓或桃子鮮奶油或慕斯餡, 都很好吃. 其實最早先是做成黑森林蛋糕, 也是極受喜愛黑森林蛋糕的食客讚賞! 以下的做法是依照亞洲人的微甜口味做過調整的, 所以原名 "Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake" 前面又被我再加上 Mindi's:

I have tried many chocolate cake recipes, and have found this one really popular--Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake. Ever since I made this chocolate cake, I have not used any other chocolate cake recipes because all my chocolate lover friends love this chocolate cake the best, plus it is very easy to make.

當我告訴 Crowne Plaza 員工我會帶 Tres Leches 去參加她們的聖誕晚會時, 她們的眼睛都亮了起來! 其實我壓根兒的沒吃過這個著名的老墨三牛奶蛋糕, 更別提做過它了! 於是趕緊問人, 又上網去查做法. 嗯, 好像不是太難的樣子耶! 就是很基本的一個蛋糕浸泡在牛奶汁裡呢! 至於是哪種蛋糕, 似乎從海綿到白奶油蛋糕都有人做. 想到我妹敏玲曾經告訴過我這個蛋糕, 再問她一下, 果不其然, 她吃過的就是個黃奶油蛋糕加牛奶汁.

I wanted to bring a cake to the Crowne Plaza Employee's Christmas Party. When I mentioned to some employees the kind of cakes I was thinking about bringing, I received few responses until I said "Tres Leches", then I saw the eyes sparkling, mouths opening wide, and heads nodding with joy. The funny thing is that I've never tasted a Tres Leches before, not to mention making it! So I asked the cooks, and searched online. Hmm... It seems like Tres Leches is a very moist and very delicious cake, and the best thing is that it is pretty easy to make!

這是我接到位於 San Pedro, California 的 Crowne Plaza L. A. Harbor Hotel 的第一個 300 人大蛋糕的訂單! 好開心但也立刻好緊張! 300 人耶! 我好像都還沒做給 30 人吃過呢! 不過既然有這機會就盡量爭取才能多練習啊!

This is the first event cake order I received from the Crowne Plaza L. A. Harbor Hotel in San Pedro, California. The event is about a non-profit organization, New Beginnings Mai Am, whose ministry involves sponsoring an orphanage in Vietnam, as well as sending out medical volunteers to the same rural area. The organization was going to have a fundraising event at the Crowne Plaza L. A. Harbor Hotel on December 11, 2010, and the hotel GM, Mr. David Lai, introduced me to meet the President/Director of the organization, Dr. Mike Lehoang, for a chance to present my new cake career. Since this is a fundraiser, and it's for the orphans, I then volunteered to make a cake for this event, but Dr. Lehoang was just so kind and was generous enough to purchase the cake from someone who doesn't seem very much a real baker like me.

Had a nice lunch with a friend at the Julienne in San Marino. It was such a nice and clear day today, bright sun-shiny day today, though the air is a little chilly, it is a good weather for a good mood. Felt like to go for a walk, so I went to Lacy Park. No roses today, gardeners were pruning the rose bushes. Came across an older couple holding a brown Siamese cat, what a beautiful cat! It's such a nice day today! It is a special day, a day I'll never forget... Now go back to the studio for my next painting project. I miss Lacy Park. I miss the empty rose garden. I miss a big warm hand to hold.

這是為畫家 Michael 陳小明老師做的巧克力草莓慕斯夾心的生日蛋糕. Michael 老師的畫室在加州 Arcadia 市, 我常誇他對小朋友和家長都超有耐心的. 他個人也真是一位非常有實力的畫家呢! 我自己很喜歡在他的畫室做畫, 因為我不喜歡讓老師操刀修改圖畫, 但是很喜歡 Michael 老師明確的指點, 然後自行修改, 總覺得這樣對我進步比較大. 如果朋友們自己或是有小朋友喜愛美術想學畫, 可以盡自打電話給 Michael (626)446-7822 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (626)446-7822      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

This is another chocolcate cake with strawberry mousse filling, and it is for my art teacher, Michael Chen, who's art institute is located in Arcadia, California. I always complement him on how patient he is with the students and parents. I enjoy painting at his studio as he does not "touch up" on my painting; rather, he comes around and critique on what he sees not satisfactory. This teaching method really works for me; it helps me see my blind spots, and it is usually the whole painting! Hahaha... If any of you were interested in learning to paint or draw, just give Michael a call at (626)446-7822 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (626)446-7822      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

敏玲訂了好久的小公主 Baby Shower 蛋糕時間終於到了! 這是我第一次做完全翻糖裝飾的蛋糕. 搞了好一陣子才克服了困難, 保持住蛋糕的美味和可愛的裝飾.  這是個巧克力蛋糕體加草莓慕斯夾心餡口味的蛋糕. 近來似乎這個口味還頗受歡迎的, 幾乎都變成我的 signature cake 了呢! 嘻嘻, 真不好意思!

Finally had the baby shower cake made! It's a chocolate cake with strawberry mousse filling and fondant covered decorations.

真不可思議, 這星期接到四張蛋糕訂單耶! 其實很早前我妹敏玲就已經要我幫她做藥房同事的 baby shower cake, 那是第一張訂單, 我妹永遠都是最支持我的, 謝謝, 敏玲!

Ha.. I've received four cake orders last week! Thank you, friends and family, for you love and support! So happy!

我竟然去 Wilton 學蛋糕裝飾, 真是太不可置信了! 11/11-11/19, 兩週的學習非常的緊湊, 也學到了許多以前自己摸索不來的技巧.  之前做的杯子蛋糕的擠花其實慘不忍睹, 只是好友們都只會鼓勵不會批評呢! 還好我應該還算有自知之明吧! 希望以後的蛋糕會比較可看性. 課上完倒是有個好消息, 不過大部分的朋友們應該都知道了, 我根本就是藏不住心情的人, 人還在芝加哥的機場就忍不住 po 在臉書上了: 我的作品被學校拿去拍照了!! 好開心喔! 好像比考上大學時還興奮呢!

I have never dreamed about doing cake decorations. Not that I don't like amazingly gorgeous looking cakes, just that these cakes are usually not tasty. They seem like eye candies only, and I could not understand why take so much effort to produce something that will evantually, and usually very soon, be eaten. But, since I have been baking more lately, I do want my cakes to look as pretty as possible besides the good taste. Especially when there is an occasion, I secretely want it to be a center piece, hehehe... (My evil grin!) So I searched online, going to youtube, trying to learn from what people post about cake decorations. The result was very slim. I did not learn much at all from minutes of demonstrations online. So, I decided to attend a class, and that's when I learned about Wilton School. I remember seeing these classes in local Michael's craft stores, but I rather go to the original school to learn from the teacher's teachers. So I registered at the last minutes, and off I went.

去年女兒 Jessica 買了 Pantages Theatre 一季的戲票, 因此跑了 Hollywood 好幾趟. 我妹敏玲資訊通達, 特別知道許多別緻的餐廳什麼的. 我們請她看戲, 她就請我們去 Cafe Solar de Cahuenga 晚餐. 就是在那裏第一次吃到這個 Triple Berry Cake, 姑且稱之三莓莓蛋糕吧!

Jess bought seasonal tickets to the Pantages Theatre last year, so we had quite a few visits to Hollywood in 2009. We enjoyed going with my sister, and that's how we discovered the Triple Berry Cake. Min-Ling, my sister is always knowledgeable about things, she invited us to have early dinner before the show at this really unique little place in North Hollywood called Cafe Solar de Cahuenga. It is a very charming place, and the food is nice, too, but, what's amazing is the Triple Berry Cake they serve. The cake first caught my eyes because of it's elegant design. It's a tall 4-layer yellow cake filled, and frosted and decorated with whipped cream and lots of berries: strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. It looked so delicious, and I simply could not resist it. So, we ordered a piece for dessert after the meal, and it was sooo goood! The next time we visited the same cafe, I ordered nothing but the cake for dinner!

昨天診所的 Julie 說廖醫師台灣的叔叔來看牙, 還帶來了在台中追思禮拜拍的照片. 雖然這些照片真會讓人再度慯痛起來, 還是很謝謝他的好意. 於是決定烤些小蛋糕帶去拜訪他和嬸嬸. 由於一做就是 24 個, 就也送些給小叔家和姑媽家. 他們對於收到這些蛋糕都蠻開心的, 希望也覺得好吃.

Today I baked some cupcakes for an uncle and aunt from Taiwan. The recipe makes 24 such cupcakes, so I decided to give some of them to other relatives. Since these chiffon cupcakes are sort of a new item in the local bakeries, my relatives were surprised and were happy when they saw the cakes, and I hope they really enjoyed them.

1) 前天烤的麵包今早一嚐更酸了, 不過還是好吃啦!

1) Getting more sour!

The bread continues to get more sour every day! I guess if you prefer to have it more sour, you should let it "ripe" over time after it's baked...

昨天用機器攪和的比前天稍成形的麵糰今早烤的:

這樣寫不知對不對? 酸麵包聽起來好奇怪, 好像壞掉了似的. 其實是天然發酵產生的酸味, 夾帶著很獨特的香甜味, 個人認為很好吃, 有的愛好者還非此麵包不吃呢!

Anyway, 最近開始做這酸麵包, 原因是葡萄種天然酵母培養成功了! 這真是大喜訊呢! 好久以來就想養天然酵母, 一直都沒勇氣開始, 這回還要感謝教會的李基藏牧師娘呢! 上上主日在教會遇到她, 她很熱誠地送我她自己種的很甜的葡萄一大串, 很甜又有機, 但是顆粒小了點, 籽也大了點, 吃得有點辛苦. 靈機一動, 何不用來養酵母呢? 還是有機的葡萄ㄟ, 成功了的話就可天天有酸麵包吃了, 比光吃葡萄更開心呢!

好像應該寫中文的貼文吧! 只是打得好慢又好會打錯字. 不過試試也好. 噯, 真是英文也差中文也差差!

World peace, Lord! The big world and our little worlds at home for my sisters and brothers, Lord! Touch the hearts of those troubled souls who struggle to stay peaceful by their own will... Lord, please reveal to them that we are nothing without you, only by your power that we can overcome the hardship in our lives...

Maybe I should not trade at all! Not making money at all this year... Well, only made 6.9% this year, and that's nothingness... What lame performance...

I thought that LVS was going to pull back! Well, all in all, that long expected September pull back of the market never happened, and that stinks! Ugh!

Two Sundays ago (10/17/2010) I ran into Mrs. Lee (李基藏牧師娘) in church, and she gave me some of her house farmed grapes. The grapes were deliciously sweet; however, they were a bit small and the seeds were big, so I decided to make better use of them-to grow wild yeast. I've always wanted to try "capturing", "culturing" or "growing" wild yeast for quite some time, but have never been brave enough to start.

Tada! After a week of keeping the yeast alive, I made my first sourdough bread this morning with the wild yeast I harvested last night.

謝謝小瑛的啟發, 讓我也勇敢地踏出耕耘 blog 的第一步. 不過夜已深, 剛開張就要去睡覺了! 晚安.