This is officially the most stressful week of all my entire semesters in NUS. After the presentation today(which thankfully I did not have to present), I have 2 essays pending, one 500words and one 2000 words, and both of which I have no idea how to tackle them. I have a report to compile and edit, and another report to compile and edit. I have to come up with some 3 print advertisements by next week and also a breaking news story in which I have to conduct interviews and organize by story such that it is news worthy. Oh, and thats not forgeting another assignment for that same module which also involves some advertisment..blah..

I am very very stressed. And what do I do when I am stressed? I bake of course. Which is a surprising that I managed to find time to. It was a very easy recipe which was basically done in 20mins, but just at that crucial moment when I put the pan into the oven, I hit my head hard against the cupboard and dropped my pan, and thus spilling some of the batter, which resulted in some curse words, a bump on my forehead, and 40mins later, thankfully still an edible cake. The warm smell of the cinnamon was comforting, and the cake was soft and moist and not very sweet, with hints of coffee and chocolate. But it was quite an ugly cake due to the smash,but oh well. It'd do for my supper tonite and my breakfast tmr. I shall bake muffins tmr when I am in the mood to do so.

For those who are interested in making the cake, here's the recipe. Its quite a healthy cake as I omitted the chocolate glaze, but it was still pretty yummy and super easy to make.

Cinnamon Chocolate Squares
(from bakingsheet)
Cake:
1 1/4 cups + 2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp + 2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp instant coffee/espresso powder
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
10 tbsp butter, melted and cooled(unsalted)
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Glaze:
6 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 1/2 tbsp butter, soft

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Butter an 8-inch square cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2.In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon and the espresso powder. Set aside.
3.In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, the remaining cinnamon and salt.
4.In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla and slightly cooled, but melted, butter.
5. Pour into the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
6.Pour half of the batter into the prepare pan, spreading it evenly over the bottom. Evenly sprinkle on sugar/espresso mixture and mini chocolate chips, then top with the remaining batter, spreading it evenly.
7.Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350F, just until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and remove the parchment. Let cool completely before frosting.
8.For the glaze, melt together the chocolate and the butter either in a double boiler (or on low power in the microwave, as I did) and stir until smooth. If it is runny, let it stand for a minute or two, but otherwise the chocolate should be thick, smooth, shiny and spreadable. Spread on the top of the cake (the flat bottom side should be facing up, which makes it easy to frost) and allow the frosting to set up before serving.

the before...no afters.. I was too traumatized by the fact that my cake turned out ugly 

I wish I can sleep so peacefully too 

Weird sleeping position of a very sleepy dog 

Birthday surprise part 3 & 4

This is a real late entry, but better late than never eh..work is busy as every, getting stressed out over never ending projects, with endless presentations and assignments and essays. 2 more weeks before everything is due and I can finally relax abit before studying for exams. I had facilitation today, and after not wearing heels for so long, it was so hard wearing them again. By the end of the day, I suffered from multiple blisters and was dragging my feet and limping quite badly and wondering when I would reach home

Anyway, about my birthday...the big 21...wasn't so big after all. My parents are still the same, and I still feel the same. Not like I get extra freedom or anything..hah

The actual day of my birthday itself was quite a boring one as compared to the excitment of the party on saturday. I actually spent the day doing work and I got my birthday surprise at night. I drove the car and he directed...me to lavender, and I was wondering what the hell we were doing it when I saw this restaurant tucked in a corner called the Lighthouse Bistro. The food was pretty good and the ambience was nice. But what impressed me was that he had actually done his 'research' and brought me to somewhere new(that I had never even heard of) and nice.

I loved their clam chowder in a bread bowl and their chicken fajita and most of all the very interesting dessert. I also got my birthday present from him....

It was something from Max Brenner.....

And it was a suckao.

Now I can drink hot chocolate whenever I want, especially during the stressful period of exam. Thats not all. I got a tin of chocolate powder too..and it made the best cuppa of hot chocolate..mmmmm.

Thats not all the surprise he had in store for me. On fri, he brought me to the chocolate buffet, where after a long and stressful week, I ate chocolate to my heart's content. Oh the joy of letting the chocolate from the fondue flow over the juicy strawberries. And when no one was looking, I took a clean cup and dipped it inside..and drank it. I almost fainted from the chocolate high. He also arranged the staff to sing a birthday song for me, and presented me with a cake. I was so so so touched by all the troubles he went to to make this birthday such a special one for me...

It was lovely. But like all good things, it ended all too soon. And I had to face another long week ahead. But oh well, this week doesn't seem to be that bad, though I know I have many things to do that has yet been done, and a presentation tmr..blah

At the choc buffet 

Us and the mini bday cake 

chicken fajita 

Me and mb 

These are the pictures I promised to post from my birthday party. A proper post soon..

The spread of food, all homecooked. The highlight of the day was my mother's fried rice..really superb 

The candles creating a nice ambience 

From left: my chocolate swirl cheesecake, breadpudding, durian cream puff, tortilla chips with salsa, mango pudding and a fruit platter in the centre 

my male cousins who gave me the beautiful flowers and his gf 

The aunties and uncle and mum and me 

me with two big strong men ;) 

me and brennan 

Steph and me..he was da man of the party 

The mad gang...yumin abit high that day 

My mum and me 

My family in full force 

AC peeps  

THe cutting of the cake 

Cg peeps 

the ac gang 

Kaetna 

Kaetna girls