Festive for the Fourth

Fourth of July Cupcakes

Heres a quick and easy idea for the Fourth of July. Like super easy. And a fun little way to make your cupcakes look extra special without too much effort.

Its like having your cupcakes on parade for the day or for as long as they last before they get eaten up.

I was inspired by all the cute ideas Ive seen on Pinterest using cupcake wrappers. Its amazing how many ways you can use them for things other than baking in them.

Cupcake Wrappers

You just need some red, white and blue baking cups in a couple of different sizes and patterns.

I had several on hand that worked out great.

Jumbo white baking cups
Red and white striped large candy cups
Stars and stripes regular baking cups
Solid red regular baking cups

But you can use any combination of sizes, color and pattern that you want to try out.

Check out bakeitpretty, cakeart, and confectioneryarts for tons more colors and designs.

Cupcake Wrappers

Okay the easy part. But Im sure you already have that figured out.

All you do is spread open the wrappers and invert them so the colors are facing up when you lay them down. Super simple.

Then place the larger size on bottom and a smaller size on top. You can use a piece of double-sided tape to attach them together.

White Baking Cups

FYI the jumbo white baking cups I used are on the left and not the king-size baking cups shown on the right.I dont have the packaging any more but I wanted to show you them side-by-side for comparison. The king size would be too big.

So thats the scoop on the baking cups.

Now we need actual cupcakes.

Jimmies

Jimmies for July!!!

These are going in the cupcake batter.

Cake Batter

You know I think this is the first time Ive added sprinkles to cake batter. How can that be? I mean itt totally makes cake happier.

Cupcakes

I didnt measure how many I added. I know. Not very helpful. But however many you decide to add add more. Its all good.

Fourth cupcake wrappers

I baked the cupcakes in the solid red baking cups and then layered two different sizes underneath. But you can also just use one baking cup underneath like on the right especially if its festive like this stars and stripes design.

Fourth of July Cupcakes

They remind me of bunting and those tissue paper fan decoration thingys you see hanging for the fourth. Thats what I was going for anyway.

And theyd be a great way to put your cupcakes on display for a party.

For the cupcakes:

I used the vanilla cake recipe from this snow cones post a couple of weeks ago (minus the food coloring).

For the frosting:

Beat 1 package cheesecake instant pudding mix, 1 cup cold milk, and 1/2 cup powdered sugar for 2 minutes. Gently fold in 8 oz. COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (thawed).
When combined, place frosting in the freezer for a few minutes to firm up a bit for piping. Or simply spread frosting on top of cupcakes. Store cupcakes in refrigerator until ready to serve. Up to 2 days. Oh and dont forget to add sprinkles.

IMG_5524

Yum. And yes, I could have used a few more of these jimmies inside.

Easy, right?

Well if you want to take the wrapper presentation a step further, try making them into ribbons.

Fourth of July Cupcakes

Cute!

  • Cut red card stock paper in 1.75 inch strips for the rich red border. Fold each strip in the middle to form a V.
  • Print out this pdf artwork on white paper. Cut out the art and use double-sided tape to attach to the red card stock for a layered ribbon look.
  • Then cut out triangle shapes at the end of each strip to finish off the look.
  • Tape to the bottom of the layered cupcake wrappers.
  • Voila ribbons!

Fourth of July Cupcake Decorations

Hope you have a Happy 4th! In a couple of weeks that is.

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Red Lips Kueh Pie Tee Cups with fillings.

My mother is a Peranakan from Melaka, and she is a fabulous cook and we get to eat a lot of authentic Nyonya's dishes.

Kueh Pie Tee is one of them and it has been a favorite Peranakan delicacy for decades.

I remembered my mother used to make the kueh pie tee cups herself but not now !.

Now it is widely available in most supermarket-Red Lips Kueh Pie Tee Cups@S11/for 50 pieces, is one of the best around.

The Pie Tee cup is extremely fresh, crunchy and taste like an ice cream cone.

It is best to savor it with your favorite fillings.

Mine is shredded cooked yam bean, carrot, mushroom, shrimp and cuttle fish in a dark and light soy sauce-filled it up in a Pie Tee cup and topped with a spicy home made chillies/vinegar sauce.






Pie Tee Cups with my favorite fillings.




Penang Wynns every time


Fru-T-Pop @ Hartamas

It's easy to feel one's heart melting for this cheerful, charming popsicle pit stop, one of 2012's nicest new nooks.

Fru-T-Pop peddles in popsicles that it calls "fruits on sticks" _preservative-free,gluten-free and dairy-free _ handcrafted completely with fruits, without added sugar, water or coloring.

This family-run cafe favors local farmers as far as possible; the price of RM4.90 per stick might seem steeper than the average aiskrim potong, but the natural flavors of Fru-T-Pop's creations ensure they're refreshingly worthwhile.

One's banana and coconut, the other's dragon fruit, rosewater and grape. Both make for the perfect pick-me-up for these hot, humid afternoons. Other flavors, which differ from day to day, includ! e mango, pineapple, watermelon, strawberries and lychee.

Fru-T-Pop also serves healthy, hearty flat bread wraps, a real steal for RM9.90 each. The Mexican one is filled to bursting with creamy avocado, peppers, tomatoes, coriander, sour cream and cheddar cheese.

The Indian one, stuffed with boiled kampung chicken eggs, tofu, cashew nuts, red onions, parsley, cucumber, tomatoes, curry paste and mango chutney (phew!).

All wraps are accompanied by a house salad, hot sauce, olive oil and raspberry vinegar.

Cameron Gold Blend tea with saffron and organic honey. Only RM3.90.

Weekdays are calm here so far, with a Coldplay CD playing softly as customers stroll in and out, curious to see what popsicle flavors are available. But strong word of mouth should kick in soon.



Fru-T-Pop,
22, Jalan Sri Hartamas 8 (next to My Elephant Thai Restaurant),
Taman Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.
Open 10am-5pm, closed Sundays.


Abalone in Chicken Soup

Soup Name: Abalone in Chicken SoupTraditional Chinese Name: (bo y qng jtng)Introduction:This soup is a powered up version of the Chicken Herbal Soup. Packed with the natural sea-sweetness of ...


Travel Blitz #6 Like A Recurring Dream : A Mini Hakka Food Tour @ Melaka

Is this a Museum or a Temple, you asked?

Talk about irony. Just a few days after writing about Hakka Rang Restaurant in Kota Damansara; a Chinese restaurant specializing in Hakka cuisine with a formidable line up of backing from media exposure and fan base, here we were again; dining at Hakka Zhan Restaurant. But this time about 150km down south in the historical town of Melaka, within a short distance away from Pak Putra; the Tandoori & Naan specialist.

Four dishes for 2 pax. And yet still left me hankering for more. I am a natural when it comes to auditioning for an ogre character.

Hakka Zhan Restaurant @ Taman Kota Laksamana, Melaka

After the umpteenth visit to Melaka within the past half year (try digesting the two chapters of Malacca History. Diversity. Gastronomy series, and a subsequent 2D/1N saga to be posted soon), I could really use some help from the locals or gastronomic extraordinaire with a strong penchant for hun! ting dow n the best street food within the region.

Hence, the short notice prior to this business trip left me incapacitated from proper planning (work+leisure comes together, no point separating them ). But a colleague of mine whos a local brought me for dinner at Hakka Zhan Restaurant, same row with Asam Pedas Claypot (which I have not tried, but had our lunch at Asam Pedas Selera Kampung @ Plaza Mahkota on the same day), and a stones throw away from Pak Putra; what many had claimed to be the best Tandoori in Melaka.

Some went to the extent of crowning this the best in Malaysia.

Regardless, the dinner at Hakka Zhan was satisfactory; though how we wished we had gathered a larger crowd to sample their signature Traditional Mutton Steamboat; or the variant of Duck Claypot Steamboat.

The Mui Choy Pork (RM15/USD5) and Steamed Jenak Fish Teochew style (RM19/USD6) were both evidences of excellence in the culinary department; transforming homely dishes into delicious feasts served in this restaurant. The Claypot Eggplant with Basil Leaves (RM8/USD2.70) was my favourite dish of the evening. Doused in a sweetish gravy and kept warm in the claypot, the slices of eggplant (brinjal/aubergine) were packed with an explosive myriad of flavours; and textures from fried garlic, chopped scallions and aroma from the basil leaves.

HAKKA ZHAN RESTAURANT (non-Halal)
76, Taman Kota Laksamana
75200 Melaka, Malaysia.
Tel No : +6012-331 3611
Business hours : 12pm 3pm, 5pm 11pm.

Avillion Legacy Hotel (www) @ Jalan Hang Tuah

This was the first time I was put up at Avillion Legacy Hotel on Jalan Hang Tuah, a short distance away from town. A blessing for those who want to escape the claustrophobic streets and alleys within the major tourist area. That being said, this supposedly 4 stars establishment definitely has seen better days.

Checking-in took me a good 15 minutes although I was the only guest. Towels came with stains (dont ask what), and with holes. Thankfully, the bed was comfortable and clean. The room reeked of an unpleasant damp smell and broadband/Wifi does NOT come complimentary, but at RM20 per day is still very reasonable.

Ill probably stick to the newer boutique hotels or even budget ones around town (there are a dime a dozen!) if Im travelling next time.

A Hakka breakfast of Fish Ball Noodles with Yong Tau Foo @ Jalan Kubu, Melaka

On the very next day, breakfast was at this corner coffee shop on Jalan Kubu that screams old-school. Only one stall selling fish ball noodles, yet the premise was packed on a weekday morning. Signs of good things to come?

The kuey teow (flat rice noodles) resembled Chee Cheong Fun quality of rice noodles instead; a thicker and dense strands unlike Ipohs version. Tossed in a rather bland concoction of sauces (soy sauce and dark soy sauce being the prominent ones), and finished up with fried shallot and chopped scallions. The fish balls are definitely the draw here; larger than the generic ones sold elsewhere, with a bounce thats not unnatur! al. Serv ed with a combination of chili and sweet sauce, the YTF here had none of the wow factor that will draw tourists by the busloads, yet has definitely touched many hearts; especially those growing up in Melaka town.

KUBU YONG TAU FOO
@ junction of Jalan Kubu and Jalan Tan Chay Yan
,
75300 Melaka
GPS Coordinates : 2.200013,102.245812
Opens for breakfast til early lunch


Segura Viudas Winery and Vineyard

Segura Viudas Winery and Vineyard

A fitting finale to my run of posts covering a rather excellent trip to Barcelona and Freixenet is this panorama of the Freixenet owned Segura Viudas Winery; nestled as you can see in a valley under a range of fertile hills. Clicking on the image should load a larger version. The photo is a patched together run of six individual images, resulting in a huge sweeping expanse.

Segura Viudas Winery and Vineyard the latest in the regular Sunday Wine Snapshots series highlighting photographs with a wine related theme, whether bottles, glasses, vineyards or the back scenes of wineries.

Panorama of Freixenet Winery and Vineyards

Spittoon.biz - A UK Wine Blog - We Spit... So You Can Swallow



Restoran Taiping Ho Chiak for Nyonya Food @ SS2 Petaling Jaya

This dinner was special for me. I actually cycled 22km from home to Taiping Ho Chiak ,SS2 Petaling Jaya to savour the food.As I was passing by Section 14 PJ, I remember I got a newly found old buddy since primary school staying in this area and checked my data base for his address. Bingo I got it and decided to surprise him. I was lucky he was at home. He would never thought of me going to his house uninvited like this but he was definitely glad to see me. Rohaizad I shall see you again.
The management of this eating place has changed, the colour scheme of the interior too has changed and we were told the taste has also changed for better.

Bow you see is green wall previously it was red, see my previous posting of this Taiping Nyonya outlet.

Normally pie tee is served ready to be bitten andate, here you need to prepare yourself before you can eat. A bit o.f work but interesting.

The final pie tee ready to be savoured.
Roti Babi - Pork sandwich was good I have not had this food for a long time.

Assam Pedas fish cutlets was enticing & delicious.La La Chien instead of the normal Or Chien. Replacing oyster to La la clams.Spicy vinegar trotterAyam PongtehSambal petai prawnsJu Hu CharKangkong belacanNyonya BrinjalTau Yu Bak - soy sauce pork with eggs.
Restoran Taiping Ho Chiak

28, SS2/10
Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7876-6648
GPS :3.115175,101.617296