[Recipe] Banana bread with coconut & walnut

This is the upgrade version of banana bread.

The original recipe is Banana Bread with Coconut and Pecans 

from the complete Magnolia Bakery cook book.

I only had walnuts so I used it instead of pecans.

I love the magnolia bakery cookbook. I've tried a few recipes and all turned out great.

mashed bananas

I had lady finger bananas

 (I know,, too expensive to buy but I was lucky to have a few thanks to my mother in law)

but it was a bit bitter so I waited for them to get ripe enough for baking.

very moist and soft 

It is perfect for kids' lunch box or for tea time break. 

I love the fact that the bread has lots of goodies like bananas, coconuts and walnuts.

You can make a large batch in one go, freeze it to eat for later as well.

I halved the recipe but I wish I could have made a whole batch because it was so good!

Here is the recipe for you.

Ingredients

3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup canola oil

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 large eggs, at room temperature, well beaten

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas

3/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped toasted pecans( I used walnuts)

3/4 shredded coconut

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease and lightly flour a 10 inch tube pan.

3. In a medium size bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

4. Beat the oil and sugar together.

5. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat well.

 6. Add the bananas and sour cream and mix well.

7. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

8. Stir in the pecans(or walnuts) and coconut. 

9. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. 

Bake for 60-70 minutes, 

or until a cake tester inserted into the centre of the bread comes out with moist crumb attached.

10. Let it cool.

cooling down... Smells great!

 Like I said, I halved the original recipe so my baking time was about 30~40 minutes at 180'C.

The smell was wonderful.. It'll make you so hungry for sure.

  I recommend you to keep this recipe for your family.

When banana price goes down, we can bake as much as we can!

Or if you love this so much, you can try now. ^^

Happy baking, everyone!

Sugar flowers 'Poppy'

Find my sky blue poppy flower..

I adore sugar flowers.. Especially on wedding cakes, 

beautiful hand made flowers give cakes extra wow facts.

I've been learning about making giant sugar flowers at Planet cake.

I've been making peony, magnolia, dog rose and poppy.

I've got one more class to go. ( I haven't completed any flowers yet 

because we've been making flowers step by step..)

my sky blue poppy

I've repeated what I've learned at home every week.

I am supposed to learn combining all elements together next week..

However, I couldn't help myself wanting to see my finished products...at least one.

I decided to complete the poppy..

All elements I made at home were smaller than ones from the class.

I can say.. medium size..

I must say, it is a time-consuming work and 

each elements need to be dried enough.( overnight - 2.3days..)

all different centres of flowers

I used left over sugar paste from the class.. 

it is supposed to be white(for colouring) but I had lots of sky blue paste so had to use it.^^

flower petals

I've used cutters or made samples for petals.

There are some wiring work and 

rolling each petals to make them thin & natural as well.

This is my medium version of poppy. 

I'll post more of my giant sugar flowers soon.

Keep updated, everyone! 

Cupcakes I made for RSPCA cupcake party

Hello, everyone!

Last Sunday(14/08/11), Moochi , natural frozen yoghurt shop, 

helped me sell my mini cupcakes for RSPCA cupcake day.

I've raised $126!!

Thank you, all the supporters!

 I could get the sign from RSPCA cupcake day website.

I printed it for the cupcake party.

Originally, RSPCA cupcake day is 15th of August this year 

but if you are fundraising money and want to be a host for a cupcake party, 

you can do it any time in August.

(If you want to know more about RSPCA cupcake day, 

you can find more from my previous post 'RSPCA CUPCAKE DAY 2011'

 Give your love to animals in need..

You can simply go to my fundraising page and donate to RSPCA directly.

http://www.fundraise.rspcacupcakeday.com.au/kate_kang

Vanilla & Chocolate mini cupcakes

Chocolate butter cream frosting

 I mixed dark chocolate and milk chocolate together and melted them for the chocolate frosting.

The cupcake menu was..

Vanilla Pink / Vanilla Tree : vanilla cake with vanilla butter cream frosting

Vanilla choc : vanilla cake with chocolate butter cream frosting

Double choc : chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream frosting

Choc Vanilla : chocolate cake with vanilla butter cream frosting with maltese

Cookie & Cream : chocolate cake with cookie & cream frosting with cookie flakes

Special thank you for David, Moochi. I can't thank you enough.=D

Thank you so much, everyone for your big support!!

My favourite chocolate cupcakes ready to go!

Pretty vanilla cupcakes with edible flowers

How to make Mochi

Hi. I am posting about Mochi today.

 I made traditional mochi for my parents in-law.

Very soft and easy to make.

This is the basic mochi anybody can make.

It is a home-made style mochi so if you want to give it a go, 

Here is the easiest recipe for you.

I like the freshest mochi!!! As soon as I made it, I tried it. Omg!! so good!!!

I love the red bean paste even though I didn't make it from the scratch.

You can find black sesame paste in Asian grocery shops as well.

You can make about 6 mochi with this recipe.

I recommend you eat them in a day.

You can have the softest mochi !!

Ingredients

150g glutinous rice flour

 3 table spoons of sugar

 pinch of salt

150g warm water

Potato starch for dusting

Red bean paste 

(I bought a pack of red bean paste from Asian grocery shop)

1. Mix flour, sugar, salt and water and stir till smooth

2. Microwave it 3mins and mix it through. 

     Microwave 30 second to a min again.

3. Dust potato starch on the bench and knead the mixture( be careful, hot!)

4. Take one mochi size(up to you!) from the mixture 

and put a teaspoonful of red bean pasted inside of mochi

5. Make a round ball shape and dust with potato starch.

Why don't you make some mochi for your family and friends today?

Enjoy, everyone~

RSPCA CUPCAKE DAY 2011

Hello, everyone!

15th August 2011 is the RSPCA cupcake day.
I am fundraising money for RSPCA.
What's RSPCA cupcake day?

Cupcake Day for the RSPCA is the biggest bakeoff in the Southern Hemisphere and involves Cupcake Cooks around Australia baking cupcakes and hosting a Cupcake Party to raise vital funds for the RSPCA. By participating and online fundraising for Cupcake Day for the RSPCA, you are making a direct difference to the lives of the tens of thousands of surrendered, abandoned and neglected animals that come to the RSPCA each year. 

I am going to bake cupcakes and sell them. All profits will be donated to RSPCA.

You can support me by Eating cupcakes!!!

"EAT & DONATE!!"

I'll prepare mini cupcakes for everyone who wants to EAT & DONATE!

When : This Sunday. 14th August 2011

Where : MOOCHI, frozen yoghurt shop

Shop1/7-9 Churchill Avenue, Strathfield NSW

Thank you MOOCHI for the support.

If there is anyone who loves to make a donation for RSPCA,

 you can simply go to my RSPCA fundraising page and be supportive.

Share your love to the world.

I just entered the RSPCA cupcake competition this morning.
Please vote for Mycupkates!
You can simply click HERE and vote!
Thank you.
xox

Let's Eat cupcakes and Donate, everyone!!

See more about my puppy cupcake topper, Here

Lady bugs & Flowers Cupcakes

Flowers cupcake

Mini red velvet cupcake

Lady bugs & Flowers

Happy Birthday to my friend, Allie

Last Tuesday was my friend, Allie's birthday.

We've known each other pretty much for over 18 years..

I've been so excited and happy since she came to Sydney for her studying.

I am so glad that I have such a good friend like her.

We didn't have a chance to meet to celebrate so 

tonight we went to Outback steak house for dinner together.

I'd love to share some photos of food (maybe I can make you hungry..)

and memories we had.

Allie's cocktail

Outback signature free bread with a house salad

My hungry husband=D

A full rack of ribs with a dressed jacket potato

I love the sour cream inside!

I made a cupcake for her.

Happy birthday, Allie!!!

I love you!! xox

Rubber Ducky Cupcake

Rubber Ducky Cupcake for Jason's 20's birthday.

Happy b-day Message for him,too!

See more about Jason's b-day cupcake gift box

Jason's birthday Cupcakes

Birthday Cupcakes

24 mini cupcakes and a regular cupcake in the middle.

These are all vanilla cupcakes.

The rubber ducky cupcake.. I posted how to make a rubber duck with sugar fondant before.

Baby girl's cupcakes

Baby themed 24 mini cupcakes 

I made a few baby rattles, a pram, a milk bottle, shoes and a few flower toppers.

I love the ribbon. It is so cute!


Thank you for visiting Mycupkates, everyone!
Lots of updates coming soon =D

Planet Cake

Hi, everyone! 

I've just started a course for Giant Flowers at Planet cake.

I've been so waiting for visiting 'Planet Cake' which is located in Balmain.

They make awesome cakes and do lots of cake decorating classes.

I always love to improve myself in many ways.

 For cupcakes and cakes, I don't hesitate to learn more.

I've been baking a lot at home and found myself falling in love with cupcakes...

(so now I am studying at TAFE to learn in professional ways and I love it!!)

After getting into these cupcakes and cakes, I've found more exciting things in cake decorating.

I love working with sugar fondant because it creates big fun and joy.

The limit is endless. You can make anything you can think of.

I research and read a book about sugar craft. I've pretty much learn by myself.

Many people asked me, 

" Why don't you do cupcake classes?" " Can you teach me how to make ___?"

I am so thankful for them loving my humble work.

That's why I want to learn more and to be better myself.

When I believe I am ready, I hope I could share my knowledge and skills someday.

I haven't got any photo from my Giant flower class because I am not allowed to during the class.

In fact, I also was so busy making flowers.

Once I finish the course, I'll post my Giant sugar flowers 

so wait for my beautiful work, everyone^^

I have some pictures from Planet Cake for you.

These cupcakes are so adorable. I love the simple design with good colour matching

The gift box cake

Very vibrant colours.. Love it!!

I can't imagine myself eating this cake. It is such an incredible work!!

The wedding cake with humour. I love the fun fact!
Do you want to see more about Planet Cake? ->http://www.planetcake.com.au/

If you'd like to see my updates, you can click subscribe to post on the top of the side bar.^^

Thank you for visiting Mycupkates.

Have a great day!!!