Gong Xi Fa Cai !!

I would like to wish all my Chinese friends and readers 

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Have a healthy and prosperous year!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!

GONG XI FA CAI

May this year of the Mighty Horse brings you good health, good fortune and prosperity to all!

See you in a week's time! 

Joyce

A Day Of Baking Class at Taylor's University Lakeside Campus

I was deeply honoured to be invited by Ms. Samantha Mah of Taylor's University Lakeside Campus to attend a hands-on classic cake and pastry class on 24 June 2012. Naturally, I said yes, as it is such a wonderful opportunity to be invited to a class and to receive a hands-on baking lesson by a talented Pastry Chef by the name of Chef Karam. 

As a brief introduction, Taylor's University Lakeside Campus is a prestigious university located at the Klang Valley, and is the first in Malaysia to host a tropical, ecologically friendly theme. Built around a 5.5-acre lake, and with a 27-acre self-contained campus, this prestigious university is extensively landscaped to harmonise with nature.

Here are a few photos which I took :

On the morning of 24th June, I was quite nervous as well as super excited since I've never attended any baking class before. Upon reaching Taylor's University, I was warmly greeted and welcomed by the friendly and pleasant Samantha, who is the Business Development Executive at Taylor's University. As we head towards the building where the class was held, Samantha briefed me on how the baking classes at Taylor's University are conducted and what are the courses available. I was very impressed with the overall campus as the administration and academic buildings are all very modern and new, and the landscape which includes a lake gives a clean and peaceful feeling. 

Soon after, we reached our destination where she led me to the Pastry Kitchen. Wow, this was the first time that I had stepped into a real, professional Pastry Kitchen! The Pastry Kitchen here was rather huge, and there were a number of Kitchen rooms dedicated specially for Pastry as well as Culinary classes. The pastry kitchen comes complete with all the equipment like heavy duty stand mixers (Kitchen Aid), refrigerators, big ovens, a pantry room, stoves and big sinks that make washing up a breeze! 

Chef Karam, the pastry chef for my class, was already in the room busily making preparations for the day when we entered. Several students for that day were already there as well. While we wait for the rest of the students to arrive, Samantha introduced me to Chef Karam. I was just happy and relieve to see that Chef Karam was really friendly and nice. After the introduction, I was given a complimentary bag filled with notepads, pen and apron to use, which really came in handy. As soon as all the students had arrived, Chef Karam started the class by conducting a demo and then followed by our very own hands-on experience.

Chef Karam, Pastry Chef

Demo in progress :  Students crowding around Chef Karam, as he showed us how to make Pavlova, sharing the techniques and tips.

Back to the places, everyone!  Now it is our turn to make our own Pavlova!

Next, Chef Karam taught us how to make Banana Sponge Cake for the Banana Mousse. And once again,  everyone went back to the own places to make their own. It was interesting watching everyone concentrate and engrossed in their own individual tasks, and at the same time, I can tell that they are enjoying it too.

Here are the bakes that we have learnt from Chef Karam :

Tarte Tatin. A delightful apple tart, I took mine home to bake so that it is warm and delicious when eaten minutes after baking!

Banana Mousse Cake. This is a lovely Banana Sponge Cake, cut into thin layers and layered with a generous amount of delicious Banana Mousse. A perfect dessert that would please anyone!

Pavlova. This is simply delicious. The Meringue Shell is so crispy and yummy, eaten with some Chantilly Cream and Fruit Compote. Chef Karam decorated the Pavlova with a couple of Macarons which he made earlier, aren't they gorgeous!

The Group Photo 

It was a truly wonderful experience for me, and thanks to Chef Karam who is a wonderful teacher, his friendliness and sense of humour puts everyone at ease and I can see that it is reflected in the way the students are enjoying and helping each other. The pleasant environment and fully-equipped kitchen definitely made the class an enjoyably complete learning experience.

If anyone is keen to find out more about the upcoming pastry and culinary courses by Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, please feel free to contact the university at :

Taylor's University
Lakeside Campus

No 1, Jalan Taylor's

47500 Subang Jaya

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tel : 603-5629 5000

Fax : 603-5629 5001

Email : cpe@taylors.edu.my

website : www.taylors.edu.my

Lastly, I would like to thank Ms. Samantha Mah and Taylor's University Lakeside Campus for the invitation, thus giving me this wonderful opportunity to experience a hands-on classic pastry and cake class. And a special thanks to Chef Karam for making the class an interesting and enjoyable one. 

Thank you!

There is no recipe posting today. This post is all about "THANK YOU" for the following awards and gifts that I have received from my blogger friends! And also a big "THANK YOU" to everyone (YOU!!). It is great knowing all of you through blogosphere and I really appreciate your valuable time, precious comments and constant visits! 

THE GIFTS :

From Louise of Months of Edible Celebrations
During the month of October, Louise has organized a Cookbook Party and I was glad to participate in the party. Did you know that October is a month full of delicious celebration? Well, to add icing to the deliciousness, Louise has some prizes in store! I was one of the winners and received these wonderful cookbooks from Louise! Thank you, Louise! Do stop by and visit Louise over at her blog Months of Edible Celebrations, you will find lots of interesting information on "months of celebrations". EVERYONE knows that February is all about Valentine, but did you know that February is also the month for "Potato Lover's Month, Chocolate Month", and lots more! Do check this out over at Louise's!
Thank you, Louise!! (meant to post about this months ago!!)

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From Parsley Sage of The Deep Dish

In the months of December 2011 and January 2012, Parsley Sage of The Deep Dish has done a series of "Taste of Cayman", featuring restaurant reviews and all about food, delicious, mouthwatering food, right from the beautiful Cayman Islands! If you are not familiar with The Deep Dish, then it is time to pay Parsley Sage a visit! The Cayman Islands will be on your next vacation destination! It is already on my list! (hope hubby will read this!! )

"Taste of Cayman" series comes with prizes for some lucky winners, and I was one of them! I won this wonderful Caribbean Rum Cake, which I received just a couple of days ago. IT WAS DELICIOUS! The best rum cake I have ever eaten! The cake is soft, buttery and moist with the wonderful aroma and delicious taste of the rum, distinctly over the top of the cake!! My mission now, is to find out whether this cake is sold locally over here in Malaysia. Hehe!! 

Thank you, Parsley Sage!!

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The Awards :

Winner Award

From Rebecka of At Home With Rebecka
Rebecka has organized a Fish and Chips Challenge. And  Rebecka has been wonderfully sweet to forward the Winner Award both to me and Shirley's Luxury Haven. Rebecka is one multi-talented lady, she's an opera singer and has performed in many professional productions. And Rebecka is very creative in creating new delicious dishes, she has some videos showcasing her creations. Rebecka was chosen as the first dessert winner in the Real Women of Philadelphia Cookbook Competition! Her winning entry will be featured in the next edition of Real Women of Philadelphia Cookbook! How cool!
Thank you, Rebecka!

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Liebster Blog Award

From :

Jen from What's Baking

Chris from Yummy Bakes
This lovely award has been forwarded to me by two lovely ladies, Jen from What's Baking and Chris from Yummy Bakes. Be sure to stop by these lovely ladies blogs to see their delicious bakes and mouth-watering dishes!!
Thank you, Jen and Chris !!

The Versatile Blogger Award

From : 

Jasline from Food Is My Life
Kajal from Purple Chronicle

This lovely award has been forwarded to me by Jasline from Food Is My Life and Kajal from Purple Chronicle. I am honored that both Jasline and Kajal has forwarded this award to me. Both ladies have beautiful sites with lovely recipes and musings, be sure to stop by and say hello.
Thank you, Jasline and Kajal !!

In accepting both these awards, I'm forwarding both the Liebster Blog Award and The Versatile Blogger Award to the following wonderful blogs, each is unique in their own special way. Please do accept these two awards and forward them to 10 other  blogger friends of your choice.

Abbygail from Abbygail's Kitchen
Jeannie from Baking Diary
 Emily from Emily's Cooking (Makan2) Foray
Elpiniki
Yummy Chunklet
Hamareerasoi
Edith from Precious Moments
Radhika from Tickling Palates
Alice from I Love. I Cook. I Bake
Eva from Kitchen Inspirations

Thank you, everyone!!

GONG XI FA CAI !!

Here's wishing all my Chinese blogger friends 

and readers  GONG XI FA CAI. May the year of the dragon brings you good health, happiness, prosperity and longevity!  And Happy Holidays to all!

Chinese New Year - AnitJi.com

Will be back end January, see you soon!

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Kitchen Flavours 2nd Blogoversary & Happy New Year!!

Kitchen Flavours is 2 years old today! I just cannot believe that I have been blogging for two whole years! Thank you for all the support and encouragement from all my blogger friends all around the globe! I really appreciate all your visits and valuable comments. Here's to another year of wonderful cooking and baking! Cheers!!

Thank you, friends!!

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I would like to wish everyone

A HAPPY NEW YEAR 

AND

A GREAT 2012!!

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A Tag and An Award

The 7-link tag game has been circling round the bloggerland and this time I have been tagged by Julie from Tasty Treat and Food Glorious Food from My Personal Food Journal to carry on the game.

The blogger who is tagged in this game must select the most appropriate posts from her blog for the categories below.

1. The most beautiful post

2. The most popular post

3. The most controversial post

4. The most helpful post

5. The post that was surprisingly successful

6. The post that did not get the attention it deserved

7. The post I am most proud of

Here goes :

1.
The most beautiful post : Pineapple-Rosemary Sorbet .  The pineapple gave a gorgeous and beautiful colour to the sorbet and it makes a really delicious, flavourful and refreshing sorbet. Looking at the delightful sorbet make me want to dig right in!

2
2.
The most popular post : Kenny Rogers' Corn Muffins. I have never expected this muffin to be the most popular post!

3.
The most controversial post : I could not find any that fits this!


4.

The most helpful post : Butterscotch and Hazelnut Pudding. The most helpful tip that I've learnt while making this Pudding, is to never pour water in a baking pan that has joint corners, as the water can seep out from the joints! I have learnt my lesson, something that I would not forget easily! 

5.

The post that was surprisingly successful : Chocolate-Caramel-Banana Upside-Down Cake.  Surprisingly, this post has the most comments. And I have baked this three more times as a gift to friends and family.

6.

The post that did not get the attention it deserved. Pumpkin Cake. This is a difficult one to choose, as there are more than one! But I'll just settle for one! This is a really delicious, moist cake, with full flavours from the pumpkin. At the time when I posted this, my blog do not have that many followers or readers, so I guess that's the reason it did not get the attention it deserved.  Pumpkin lovers would love this cake!

7.

The post I am most proud of : Choo-Choo Train Birthday Cake. Made this for my son's birthday. This may not be the most beautiful but certainly the one I am most proud of as this is the first time I've ever attempted a cake like this! There are lots of room for improvement, but my son thinks this is super! :)

To follow the rules of the tag game, I'm supposed to name 5 more blogs to continue on with this game. So, here they are :

1. Sonia from Nasi Lemak Lover
2. Yummy Chunklet
3. Chris from Yummy Bakes
4. Deepa from Hamaree Rasoi
5. Duxa from Cozinhadaduxa

Have fun!

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I would like to thank Jay from Tasty Appetite who has graciously extended the following two awards to me. If you have not visited Tasty Appetite, its time you do! Jay has a fantastic blog with lots of delicious recipes. Stop by Tasty Appetite, you'll be amazed by the many fabulous varieties of Indian cuisines that Jay has shared!  Thank you so much, Jay!

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5 Recipes to Celebrate Easter

Lena from Frozen Wings has invited Kitchen Flavours to join in an Easter Party by suggesting 5-10 recipes, upload the photos with respective links. We are supposed to tag 10 other bloggers to do the same, but since this is a rush, I'm just gonna join in the party and bring these along to the virtual party!

Steamed Lotus Roots with Minced Meat

Balti Chicken

Pulut Inti

Chicken Burgers with Garlic-Rosemary Mayonnaise




Pineapple-Rosemary Sorbet


HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE !

HAVE FUN!

Stylish Blogger Award & Happy Chinese New Year Wishes

This special award has been forwarded to kitchen flavours by the lovely Melynda of Mom's Sunday Cafe.

In accepting this award, the following applies:

1. Post linking back to the person that gave you the award.
2. Share 7 random things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered bloggers
4. Drop them a note, and tell them about it!

Here goes :

Thank you, Melynda of Mom's Sunday Cafe, for this lovely award and your sweet words. Some of you may know Melynda, and some maybe not, if you have not been to Mom's Sunday Cafe, then drop by her lovely site, you will be glad you did. Melynda has a way with words, she has a style of writing that will leave a smile or two, and sometimes it will linger in your mind even long after you're read it!  Her stories and anecdotes about her family and those around her are a joy to read. And of course, she has a tremendous talent in the kitchen! Drop by her blog and see all the delicious food and treats that her family enjoys. Thank you, Melynda. 

Seven things about myself !

1. I have a habit of reducing sugar in most dessert or cakes recipes which I think that some of you may noticed! I do not like stuffs that are overly sweet!
2. I always wished that cheeses are more affordable here! 
3. I try to restraint myself from buying more cookbooks! But sometimes, when I'm at the bookstore, I can't help it! Perhaps I should attend a "Cookbookshopoholic Anonymous"! He! He! I'm not that bad actually! But then, "Baking With Julia...by Dorie Greenspan" is on sale now, at a very low price... hmmm.... !!!!
4. I'm still waiting for Book 4 on the Eragon series, though, by the time when they do publish it, I've got to start all over from Book 1! Memory is not as good as it used to be! Signs of getting old? Nah.......!
5. Love to visit all your fantastic sites! There are many recipes that I have bookmarked, goodness knows when I'll be able to make these. Time and ingredients are mostly the main "obstacles"! 
6. Love spicy food, the spicier the yummier! I eat chili almost everyday, either in a spicy dish or as an accompaniment! 
7. I failed miserably at growing my own chili plants! They never survived after the first flowers! Perhaps they saw a 'hungry chili eater' who is always "staring" at them, and that gave them a scare! But I'm still trying!

The 15 recently discovered bloggers are as follow, most of them are recent, some not, they are all lovely blogs: 

Zoe - Bake For Happy Kids

Gloria - Canela Kitchen Recipes

Barbara - Cucina di Barbara

Lena -her frozen wings

Magda

Victor - Random Cuisine

Love2Cook

Kitchen Boffin 

Marta - Minhas Receitas dia a dia

Alisha - The Ardent Epicure

Rhondi - Big Mama's Home Kitchen

Karen - Tasty Trials

Lena - Lemon n Spice

garlutti - Sabores & Olores

Michele - Sweet Luvin' InThe Kitchen

Please drop by and say hello to these lovely blogs. Each of them have something different and special to offer,  with mouth-watering delicious yummies and beautiful photos.  Thank you!

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I would like to wish all my Chinese foodie friends, family and readers,  

GONG XI FA CAI

May this year of the RABBIT brings you good health, great happiness,  wonderful love, joyful laughter,  sweet contentment, lots, lots, lots of prosperity, and all the good things that life can offer! 

Will be away for a week, see you when I get back!

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Christmas Greetings From Malaysia!

To all my foodie friends, blogmates and everyone!  Here's wishing all of you ,

A MERRY CHRISTMAS 

AND 

A HAPPY NEW YEAR

* HAVE FUN AND ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS *

Hello Ladies! Aren't We Beautiful!

My sister sent me this email and I simply got to share it with all you beautiful women out there! Yes, this is for you!

Hi , Ms . B e a u t i f u l !!!  Did you know that it's Beautiful Women Month?  Well , it is and that means you and me.  I'm supposed to send this to FIVE  (or more) BEAUTIFUL WOMEN , and you are one of them!!!  ~~ Beauty of a Woman ~~  The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears ,  The figure she carries , or the way she combs her hair.  The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes ,  Because that is the doorway to her heart ,  The place where love resides.  The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole ,  But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.  It is the caring that she lovingly gives ,  The passion that she shows.  The beauty of a woman  With time , only grows..  The I mages of A Mom  4 YEARS OF AGE Y My Mommy can do anything!  8 YEARS OF AGE Y My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!  12 YEARS OF AGE Y My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.  14 YEARS OF AGE Y Naturally , Mother doesn't know that , either!  16 YEARS OF AGE Y Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.  18 YEARS OF AGE Y That old woman? She's way out of date!  25 YEARS OF AGE Y Well , she might know a little bit about it.  35 YEARS OF AGE Y Before we decide , let's get Mom's opinion.  45 YEARS OF AGE Y Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?  65 YEARS OF AGE Y Wish I could talk it over with Mom.