Lately....

I've been busy cooking and baking lately. I love to cook and bake but it's kinda pain in the neck to wash all the dishes.

Futagochan are back in daycare so I have free time during the day.

Auckland view from Devonport

<3<3

with my always-gorgeous-girl Mariska

Make up for Valentine (though I didn't do anything)

Grabaseat was having deal for Auckland-Tokyo for around $800. I'd love to go but I was stuck with visa. Seems I gotta reapply my visa so that I can go to Japan anytime.

For now, I'll continue my job hunting.

Cupcakes from The Cupcake Tree

I had bought 2 vouchers of 6 pcs of cupcake from The Cupcake Tree. I decided to redeem it few weeks ago. I was a bit confused with the location. It said it's located at the Queen Street Market, 239 Queen Street, next to Smith and Caughey. As far as I remembered, MidCity's located next to Smith and Caughey but the I was thinking, what the heck, just go inside and find The Cupcake Tree. Apparently it's located on the 3rd floor. I didn't even know they made 3rd floor..

Anyway, the owner is super friendly!!! He even recommended macarons but I had already got a dozen of cupcakes.

Top: Lemon Meringue, Red Velvet, Catch of the Day
Bottom: Cookies and Cream, French Vanilla, Ginger Kisses

Top: Ginger Kisses, French Vanilla, Red Velvet
Bottom: Peppermint Twist, Lemon Meringue, Cookies and Cream

I only tried ginger kisses but oh my, it's like orgasm in your mouth!!!!

Seriously, it's worth to try. It's perfect for morning/afternoon tea with a cuppa...or even as dessert.

I gave it to futagochan as dessert. Told them the almighty "finish up your dinner and you can have dessert!!!" It worked!!!Futagochan love it too!!!! They keep saying "oiiiissshhhiii"

I'm still thinking to go back there and try the macarons but I haven't had the time yet but if you're nearby, please drop by and try their cupcakes.hehehe

The Cupcake Tree
Queen Street Market
239 Queen St

Lemon Cupcake Recipe

For valentine, I was thinking to make chocolate but it didn't turn out as I expected. My hands were itching to make something and I was asked to make lemon cupcake so I thought, why not????? I used the almighty google and chose a simple recipe.

Here it goes.

Lemon Cupcakes

Lemon Cupcake Recipe
Ingredients

• 100 g butter
• 100 g caster sugar
• 100 g all purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 lemon, finely grated zest of

Directions

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees
• Using an electric whisk, beat the butter, sugar, 1/2 lemon zest until very light and fluffy.
• Add the flour and baking powder then add eggs one at a time, make sure you beat one egg well before adding the next egg into the batter.
• Put the batter into cupcake pan (around 2/3 each pan)
• Bake in the oven for 10-20 minutes until it's cooked.

A few days after I made the lemon cupcakes, I was thinking to make chocolate cupcake but I was asked again to make the lemon cupcakes. In the middle of mixing the dough, I said I had all ingredients to make chocolate cupcakes, so I decided to make chocolate cupcake by putting 1/3 cup of chocolate powder instead of putting lemon, 3 eggs instead of 2, and also 2 tbs of milk. It turned out great. It was yummy!!!!!

Chocolate Cupcakes