Cake Books.

January 30, 2012 in Books by somethingboutrenes | 7 comments

With him all interested in baking bread, I have a sudden urge to pick up baking cakes too! My cake baking experience is an embarrassment of the century. I’m mortified by my edible but slightly lumpy Oreo Cheesecake (I call it Chunky Cheesecake), slippery strawberry cheesecake (that never set and turned into yogurt once I removed the cake tin) and my recent fruit cake episode (which was all burnt on the top).

But I am still determined (at least for a short while) to try my hands on baking again!

After a quick research online through various forums and top cake recipe authors, I’ve a list of authors who are popular among cake bakers. The “+” means the number of people who said it is good in a forum I read. After I read the reviews in eBay, Amazon and a few others, these authors are mostly good. If there is 1 person who said it is bad, I will strike it off my list. So what’s left is here, some of them gave a specific book title that is good some just listed that the author is good.

I have top 4 books which I am really interested (which I have included the pictures) but I should check it out at Kino before buying them, some of the books are really old so I got to see if the language is easy to understand. Haha.

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Nick Malgieri – Perfect Cakes (+ 5) Someone called him King of Cakes

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Tish Boyle – The Cake Book (+ 4)

Dorie Greenspan (+3)

Carole Walter – Great cakes / Perfect cakes (+ 3)

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Marcel Desaulniers – Desserts to Die for / Death by Chocolate (+ 2)

Maida Haetter (+ 2) The someone also called her the queen of cakes

James Mcnair (+ 1)

Rose Levy Beranbaum (+ 1) She wrote The Cake Bible which is well received by experience cake baker.

Anyone tried their recipes? Any other recommendations?

Bread. Tea. Fondue.

January 29, 2012 in Books, Shopping by somethingboutrenes | No comments

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We went shopping today and bought a couple of stuffs!

(1) A book on making artisan breads in five minutes. No prize for guessing who the book is for. I prefer my sweet treats! Haha.

(2) An English teapot. We are both tea lovers and we were using our wedding teapot previously which was tiny! Now with this huge English teapot we should be able to serve up tea for four!

(3) A fondue set. Always wanted a fondue set for our guests! Won’t it be nice to have a sweet wine with some chocolate fondue strawberry at our mini alfresco dining space. Haha.

Mustard and French Toast.

January 29, 2012 in Miscellaneous by somethingboutrenes | No comments

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In a Mustard top ready for church! I’m glad I went church today after 3 weeks of missing service because of work commitment! Praise the Lord!

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He made us French Toast and pan fried chicken fillet for a light brunch before heading out! Thank you dear!

Secrets to a Happy Marriage

January 28, 2012 in Love by somethingboutrenes | 6 comments

I read an article on Telegraph about a research done on 2,000 happily married couples which identified the key factors in maintaining a blissful marriage.

Here are some key factors which the 2,000 couples shared. As a newly married couple, we do have a lot to learn. I have dissected the article and break them down into categories. Have fun reading!

Make time for one another

  • Go on a short break together twice a year [We maintained this practice too!]
  • Eat out in restaurants at least three times a month [Baby, see it’s not that I’m a glutton!]
  • Arrange for at least five movie nights at home instead of spending the usual evening fighting over the remote control or disagreeing about what to watch [We disagree over what to watch on cable TV all the time! I love my CSI, NCIS, Hawaii-5-O, Criminal Minds and he loves all the food related channels. Perhaps a movie night might solve this problem!]

Show Physical Affection

  • Share a lingering kiss six times a week [We try to kiss each other goodbye every morning]
  • Have sex twice a week [No comment. Hah.]

Give words of affection

  • Say “I love you” up to nine times a fortnight [We do that via whatsapp, does that count?]

Have meaningful conversations

  • At least one healthy argument a week to ensure they resolve anything which is bothering them [Healthy is the key word in this sentence.]

Give each other space

  • Allow a night out with friends instead of their other half

Little Romantic Gestures

  • Cook a nice meal, take their spouse a cup of tea in bed three times a month [I should do this more often!]

Give and Take

  • Never go to bed on an argument
  • Try to turn a blind eye to irritating habits and accept each other’s fault [HEY BABY, LOOK HERE]
  • Know when to say sorry [I know sorry it’s the hardest word to say, but it is also the magic word. If you can use it to turn things around, you are a magician!]
  • Share household chores equally [I’m the lazy one, so yes, this is for me.]
  • Compromising on television schedule [I’m also the TV addict. Shucks.]

Other factors

  • Friendship with your spouse is more indicative to a successful marriage than the initial love at first sight [We are building our friendship daily, he is like my irritating roommate. HAHA.]
  • Support each other and being kind
  • Being honest
  • Retaining a degree of secrecy [A little conflicting ya. Haha.]

What about yours? What makes your relationship successful?

January 28, 2012 in Owl Obsession by somethingboutrenes | No comments

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We went shopping and I found a cute owl earring to add to my collection! Hoot!

Baby Talk (No, I’m not pregnant).

January 27, 2012 in Rants and Opinions by somethingboutrenes | No comments

How did your Chinese New Year house visiting gone? For us, we broke our bank giving red packets for the first year and combat nosy aunties asking personal questions.

As per every year, every one of a certain age group and various life stages will have to combat these nosy aunties who swoop around like a hawk asking personal questions.

  • When you are 18 years and above, single without a partner in sight, they will ask “Hey boy, where is your girlfriend?”
  • When you are 25 years and above, attached but not married, they will ask “Eh, ah boy, when you all getting married?”
  • When you are 25 years and above, married but without kids, they will ask “Eh, when you all having a dragon (may change depending on the zodiac sign) baby?”
  • When you are 28 years and above, married with one child, they will ask “Not planning for a second one?”

They have endless of questions and until you met their expectations of being married with two or more children, they will come hounding you down!

This CNY, we also met and talked to his cousin who recently conceive and is three months pregnant (congrats! And yay, all attention on them for the first 15 minutes and the glare came back to us swiftly!), made us think of our baby making plans. *STOP WONDERING* we are not ready to have a child just yet! But they got us thinking to start prepping our body for the future! According to them, it is not as simple as, “Let’s make baby”, “pssszt”, “Ooo, I’m pregnant!”. It’s unlike what’s shown on TV, people don’t just get pregnant that easily and by the time you are “ready” to have a kid, your body may take another 1 year to be ready, then another 9 months to put the baby together in your tummy and you have just spent two years before the baby is ready for collection. So this year, I will be busy exercising ( I hope!) and eating healthy for a baby perhaps 1 to 2 years down the road.

For the record, I don’t want a baby now, at this very moment, because we still hates each other at home with all the annoying habits we each have. It is taking a long time to get use to each other. I say give us 2 years, no, maybe 20 years. Also, for some selfish reasons, I want to maintain being hot and desirable (I’m assuming I still am. HAHA) and he is still very much a child inside! I can’t handle a big baby (he will say the same of me) and a tiny baby at a time!

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen.

January 27, 2012 in Bridezilla Talk, Friends, Wedding Pictures by somethingboutrenes | 2 comments

We took some group pictures at The Armenian Church with our bridesmaids and groomsmen and I must say, the girls are hot and the guys are funny! Haha. And I have pictures to prove it! On a side note, I love Armenian Church and the greenery and yard in front of the church!

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// All pictures by Gabriel, OEC

Pre-Gate Crashing Preparation

January 27, 2012 in Bridezilla Talk by somethingboutrenes | No comments

There are two preparations involved before gate crashing, (1) myself and (2) the torture!

While I was dolling up myself pretty in my room (which my sister swiftly converted into hers within weeks after I officially moved my stuffs over), the eight bridesmaids are busying themselves in the kitchen!

I’m glad my sister converted my room to her room that quickly because the colour she picked for her walls blends into my theme! Yay for that! Also, she made it looks much better than before! A save for the picture perfect moment!

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This picture captured two things I love! The ring and the wedding dress!

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And I’m all doll up and ready to meet the groom! While I was almost being bored to death waiting in the room, the girls had so much fun with the food!

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It actually looks yummy!

// All pictures by Gabriel from OEC.

The Wedding Shoe

January 27, 2012 in Bridezilla Talk by somethingboutrenes | No comments

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Gabriel, OEC

I went shoe hunting with my sister before our wedding and I’m glad I did! She has a lot more patience than guys when it comes to shopping! Haha. I can hear you guys going “Yes!” in unison!

I got my wedding shoe at Pazzion and I had some simple guidelines for picking my shoe! I know you must be thinking Serene has guidelines for every decision she makes. Haha. I’m sure everyone has a mental note in making decisions just that it is rarely spelt out.

Guidelines for Picking Wedding Shoe

  • Comfortable: You need to stand in them for hours! This pair of heels is not as comfortable as my work shoe Crocs, but it is as comfortable as a heel can get. The height is just right and the front platform gives it a lift without arching my heels too much.
  • Peep toe: Definitely peep toe period!
  • Bling-a-jing: A little subtle bling which is just right.
  • Versatile: It can go anywhere and I can easily match it with my other outfits after wedding!
  • Affordable: I personally don’t see much value in spending three thousands dollar for a pair of shoe as I rather spend it on a bag or a good holiday! Haha. Reason? I don’t have much opportunity to wear expensive shoes and it will probably gather dusts and starts disintegrating before I wear them more than ten times. Also, I’m not a careful shoe wearer! I stick them in mud, stomp around in puddles and even rub them against walls, stairs or each other! This pair of heels costs slightly below a hundred and it’s all good!

January 27, 2012 in Love by somethingboutrenes | No comments

I’m on leave today and I’m glad he put down the curtain so I can sleep till 10.30! It is these small loving acts that make you feel special!

I’m going to upload some of my favourite wedding pictures taken by Gabriel from One Eye Click! Stay tuned!

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