of muff-cakes and whimsical names

With the new presence of the muffin tray (brought over from sg by kai) our baking experiments have since revolved around making muff-cakes. Muff-cakes as the name entails are something in between a volcano-erupting muffin and a small but decadent cupcake, layered with often too sweet icing. While muff-cakes are decadent, they usually do not rise as high as muffins ought too. Nonetheless, the amazing thing about muffins, cupcakes or muff-cakes is that you get to be extra creative.. throw in all sorts of ingredients to see what works and what doesn't. Best of all, you'll be the first to taste your new product - now that's what I love about experimental baking :)

So, since we have been making a lot of them, i've decided to dedicate a post just to my beloved muff-cakes! so far, we've made good ol' banana muffins (our crowd favourite+voted by 'part 3' of our clique as his top favourite, ), strawberry cupcakes with delish icing (adapted from martha stewart) and our latest experiment: whimsically named after one of Shakespeare's best plays - in my opinion at least- A Midsummer Night's Dream. Why the name? With our vanilla based cupcake, with dark chocolate filling and framboise icing, everything just seemed to fit. The dark chocolate was clearly reminiscent of the night and raspberry, the epitome of summer fruits. Hence, the Midsummer Night - our successful first experimental muff-cake (below)!











the strawberry cupcakes were made in honour of yan neng's 21st birthday celebrations. armed with a recipe and a box of strawberries, we set of to discover the miracle that 'pink things' are edible! with a pseudo horror story from jia about her pink cookies, the pinkish looking muff-cake batter turned out to be ultra-delish with subtle but yummy strawberry infused into the atoms and particles of flour, butter and sugar. so the pink muffin with strawberry muffcake not only turned out to be edible, it also turned out to be v. good. so yay!to us, for making another pink thing, but this time much more accepted by the 'taster/tester' group!















These little cakes are delightful things packed full of calories and definitely not one for a girl on diet. but hey, whoever said that yummy things that can induce happiness with just one bite were not sinful? happiness here indeed comes with a price, non?