Gong Xi Fa Cai 2011!

The brief was simple - cake covered in buttercream and decorated in buttercream for Chinese New Year but... I have been so used to working with fondant that all the ideas that popped into my head were "fondant-ideas"!

Googled around for CNY images to get inspiration - shortlisted some that could be done using buttercream but still not satisfied. I wanted something special, something different...

Then, on Chinese New Year eve itself (the day the cakes were due), I got inspired by some pretty ang pow packets and decided to recreate the peony flower using a method usually done using royal icing on a fondant cake - brush embroidery!

And's here's the result!




Can anyone guess which ang pow packet I referred to for this flower design? Drop me a line and the first person to guess correctly gets a 25-pc box of cupcakes!


This cherry blossom design was inspired by a pretty picture I saw on the web.

Cupcakes for CNY

64 big baby cupcakes with a hexagonal pattern (8 sides for luck!) with CNY colours of orange, yellow and red.





A different design for 36 kiddy cupcakes:

Gong Xi Fa Cai 2010!

Wih the economy as it is, here's lots of wishes for prosperity!


And more prosperity... (edible fondant gold coins)


...and even more prosperity... (chinese oranges = "kam" = gold)


...and much much more prosperity! (edible fondant gold ingot)


A pretty fondant cherry blossom touched with gold and surrounded with silver...


...and a tiger (edible) to complete the box of...


...16 Mummy cupcakes filled with either chocolate chips or toasted walnuts for a yummy CNY gift!




If 16 cupcakes are too many, how about 9?
Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Cupcakes in Cookie Boxes!

You usually get cookies in these round plastic containers but I've used them here to pack 4 cupcakes as CNY gifts!


Design 1 with a painting design of the tiger.


Design 2 with a paper cutting design of the tiger and fook (prosperity) chinese character.

A pair of mummy cupcakes in a gift box - a yummy way to say Gong Xi Fa Cai. My namecard is attached and used as a gift tag.

The front view of my name card.

25 kiddy cupcakes RM57.

Please click here to see prices of other cupcake sizes and other cakes.

Cupcake gift box with 4 mummy cupcakes.

A twin pack mummy cupcake gift box. How's my piping of the "fook" chinese character?

16 mummy cupcakes RM51.
Please click here to see prices of other cupcake sizes and other cakes.

I also did hampers! Filled with nuts and cookies - it's a yummy gift that's also more environmentally friendly as I packed the cookies & nuts in gift bags which you can also re-use.

One of my customers does very pretty gift hampers which are personalised with many elegant touches... do check out Marvé when you are looking for something special and surprising. Their ideas are endless, from the simple card making to exclusive mementos to show someone that they are specially thought of.

Thanks a bunch!

In the midst of compiling all the orders with a big smile on my face!

Many thanks to all who ordered!

With last year's experience fresh in my mind, I decided not to wait until the order deadline to get my ingredients. So, earlier today, I rushed around and got all the things I needed! What a surprise - no major out of stock... when one supplier was out of flour, I manage to buy from another one.

Had a few extra orders today so will just buy the extra needed then it's non-stop baking for me.

My cookie baking stops on 21 January so that still leaves me plenty of time to do cakes or cupcakes or brownies that you can pick up from me on the eve of CNY to share with your loved ones.

Most cakes & brownies last for 3 days at cool room temperature which is great since I know most families will have their fridges stuffed with CNY goodies! Only the carrot walnut & macadamia suji needs to be in the fridge the day after you get the cake from me. Then if your fridge has space, it's always nice to have a light cream filled sponge cake - strawberry mascarpone, tiramisu or chocolate mousse.

Cafe Latte Walnut cake with minimum frosting decoration

Chocolate cake, again with just a little frosting of cherry blossom design

Click here to see the cake menu!

GONG XI FA CAI!

FESTIVE MENU - CHINESE NEW YEAR
Order deadline : 8 Jan 2009

Time for family reunions...
Giving & receiving ang pows...
Visiting relatives & friends!

When visiting, it is customary to present the hosts with mandarin oranges ("kam" = gold) and sweet treats to wish the hosts a prosperous and sweet new year.

So, here's some yummy COOKIES, NUTS and CAKES & CUPCAKES for you to share with your loved ones!

2 sizes available, an oval box and a square box. Filled to the brim without any bubble wrap, you really get a box full of yummies!


Oval box is 16cm x 9cm x height 4cm
Square box is 10cm x 10cm x height 12cm


COOKIES

Vanilla Bites
Scented with vanilla, this cookie is for those who like it simple!

RM9 - Oval box
RM19 - Square box



Peanut Bites
Chopped peanuts make this a crunchy treat that’s a little different from the traditional ground peanut cookies.

RM10 - Oval box
RM21 - Square box


Choc Bites
Some like their cookies without nuts and this is the one for you!

RM10 - Oval box
RM21 - Square box



Pineapple Sweeties
A buttery light crisp tart shell encasing the pineapple jam. This is my 2nd best seller and I get requests for it even after CNY!

RM12 - Oval box
RM25 - Square box



Almond Chocs
The best selling cookie! It’s light, crunchy and filled with almonds and chocolate chips – a favorite with adults and children alike.

RM12 - Oval box
RM25 - Square box


Cashew Crunchies
A light cookie topped with half a cashew nut, this cookie is a favorite among my non-chocoholic customers!

RM14 - Oval box
RM29 - Square box


Macadamia Chocs
For those who like macadamias, this extravagant chocolate chip cookie has a piece of macadamia nut crowning a cookie bursting with nuts and chocolate chips.

RM16 - Oval box
RM33 - Square box


Cranberry Chewies
US dried cranberries not only lend this cookie a delightful chewy texture but look so pretty with the berries embedded in the golden brown cookie.

RM16 - Oval box
RM33 - Square box


NUTS

I roast the nuts myself without using any oil and adding only a touch of salt or sugar to bring out the natural flavour of the nuts - much healthier for you and just as delicious! Just open the lid and it's ready to serve with a can of beer or glass of wine!

Salted Pistachios (with shells)
RM15 - Oval box
RM30 - Square box

Salted Cashews
RM16 - Oval box
RM33 - Square box

Candied Almonds
RM16 - Oval box
RM33 - Square box

Spicy Cashews & Almonds
RM17 - Oval box
RM35 - Square box

Salted Macadamias
RM30 - Oval box
RM65 - Square box



CAKES & CUPCAKES

Cakes and cupcakes are also perfect gifts as I can decorate it with a chinese new year theme.

Just click here to go to the menu to choose the cakes or cupcakes that you want.

91 cupcakes with Cherry Blossom design for a big CNY party last year!


TO ORDER,
just drop me an email by 8 January 2009 (Thursday)
with the following information:
1. Your handphone number
2. The quantity you would like for your chosen cookies and nuts
3. Your preferred pick up date (please choose from 21, 22 or 23 Jan 09)

Buy 10, Free 1

For customers who order in bulk, here's a special promotion for you to consider. For cashew nuts and pineapple tarts, I get much more savings if I buy these raw ingredients in bigger volume so I will pass those savings to you!

1. Pineapple Sweeties
RM12 - oval box
RM25 - square box
Pineapple is "wong lai" in cantonese which sounds like "prosperity come" ("wong" = "prosperity", "lai" = "come")


2. Salted Cashews
RM16 - oval box
RM33 - square box
The shape of the cashew nut symbolizes the ancient chinese gold ingot!



Seeing red...

A pretty red fabric bag with velvety textured pattern - a fast way to dress up your gift when you go visiting!

One square box of yummies inside...
(with room for some mandarin oranges too!)

Two oval boxes of yummies inside...
(also with room for some mandarin oranges too!)

Two square boxes of yummies inside...
(can probably add 2 mandarin oranges too!)

Six oval boxes of yummies inside...
(only a few tiny mandarins can fit in here too...)

As easy as 1-2-3!

RM5.50 each for total purchases below RM100
RM4.50 each for total purchases RM100 and above
RM3.50 each for total purchases RM300 and above
while stocks last, please order by 8 Jan 2009

GONG XI FA CAI!