Orange Chiffon Success

Well, I said I would try again and so I did! It turned out so well that I literally jumped for joy the moment I took the cake out from the mould. I could not contain my smile for hours on end! Silver Bullet loves it. Even the neighbours love it! I love it when they love it!

The taste was awesome, it was springy, super soft, really light and not too dry. No butter, too. Just perfect! Come to think of it, it wasn't that difficult to make. My initial suspicion of just too much mixture in the mould resulting in my cake being half-baked the other time seemed to be true. This time, I halved the portions of the ingredients below just to confirm my theory. Besides, I only have a small oven, so adjusting the temperature down a little did help for it to bake and brown quite nicely.

Honestly, all this started as I got was inspired by another blogger, and since then I have this annoying little craving at the back of my mind. Thanks for the nudge, Boo! Now I'm hooked and Strawberry Chiffon Cake will be next on my list!

Here's the full portion recipe of the Orange Chiffon Cake (taken somewhere off the internet and I honestly can't remember where!) if you ever wanna give it a go:

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs, separated plus 1 additional egg white
• 2 1/4 cups (225 grams) sifted cake flour
• 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) superfine white (castor) sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil or safflower oil
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice (2 - 3 large Navel Oranges)
• 2 tablespoons (10 grams) orange zest
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (use to stabilisr whipping of egg whites and allow them to reach maximum volume)

Note: To make superfine sugar, process 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) of granulated white sugar in your food processor for about 30 seconds or until finely ground. Superfine sugar is used as it dissolves easier in the batter.

Method:

1. Separate the eggs and place the whites in one bowl and the yolks in another. Cover with plastic wrap and bring them to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
2. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C (for a small oven like mine, I dialled it down to 150-140 degree C) and have ready a 10 inch (25 cm) two piece tube pan (ungreased).
3. In the bowl of your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, place the flour, sugar (minus 3 tablespoons (42 grams)), baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the egg yolks, oil, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Beat about one minute or until smooth.
4. In a separate bowl, with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining 3 tablespoons (42 grams) of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. With a large rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter just until blended (being careful not to deflate the batter).
5. Pour the batter into the ungreased tube pan and bake for about 55 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. (When lightly pressed the cake will spring back).
6. Immediately upon removing the cake from the oven invert the pan and place on a bottle or flat surface so it is suspended over the counter. Let the cake cool completely before removing from pan (about 1 1/2 - 2 hours).
7. To remove the cake from the pan, run a long metal spatula around the inside of the tube pan and center core. Invert onto a greased wire rack. ( I used an already detacheable mould for easy removal of the cake)
8. Can store in an airtight container for a few days at room temperature or for about a week in the refrigerator. This cake can also be frozen for a couple of months.
   

Enjoy!

The award goes to...

Fudge has successfully claimed her title of world's most affectionate lap cat (at least by my standard!). She's just the sweetest when it comes to snuggling up. I have honestly never seen or known such a lovely cat who could never get enough snuggling with her humans at any time of the day.



That's just Fudge in her usual routine of settling into any small spaces or "holes" she could climb into. She's too damn cute that I just cannot stand it! makes me want to ruffle the fur on her face and pinch her cheeks. :D She really is just too cute!

Is it or is it not?

I'm sad. My heart breaks into pieces when I see animals being chained up in people's home. Especially if they look like house pets to me.

You see, every morning I walk past rows of houses on the way to the office. There's this one house at the corner of my street where everytime I walked past it, I see 2 dogs hanging out at the front porch. One is a husky, the other looked like a mutt. The mutt is being caged up and the husky is being chained-up. Both are really huge dogs. From what I can tell, the space of the front porch ain't really that spacious, with all sorts of other junk being dumped in there. By the looks of it, the front porch is a mess!

Recently, I caught a glimpse of the husky up-close. I had to do a double take as I thought the husky didn't look right for a husky. A proper-bred husky usually looks majestic, alert and oh-so-handsome. This one though was rather skinny, his eyes were red, and his coat, unflaterring. He has the saddest eyes and the most defeated look I have ever seen in a husky. I was about to "talk" to him while standing on the outside of the gate, but as soon as I did that, a man of about 50 year old of age came by and gave me quite the stare. I assume he is the owner and probably doesn't quite appreciate strangers looking into his home. I had to walk away.

Honestly I haven't seen the dogs being walked or be allowed to wander freely on their porch. Each time I pass by that house, which is everyday, I see the same dogs in the same positions. It saddens me, esepcially after noticing that the husky doesn't look very healthy. However, I also do realise that I probably don't know any better. Perhaps the owners do take very good care of their pets and that I just happened to see the part where they have to be caged up because of behavioral problems.

It saddens me...if what I see and think it's true, it does border on animal abuse. Whatever it is, I hope I am wrong.

I'm thinking that perhaps we should make a report. To whom, I have yet to figure that out...

Rush rush

It's almost year end with November seeing the last of its few days as December creeps in. So far, it has been nothing but a hectic work schedule for me which shows no probable signs of slowing down anytime soon. The rush and insane demands at work has literally suck the strength and life out of me that I feel so drained at the end of the week. I'm hoping that things will slow down in a couple of weeks. I hate being busy especially when the December holiday mood starts creeping in.

Absolute Lamp

Say what you will, but I wouldn't mind one or a few of these cool looking illuminators which I discovered at one of the newer night-spots at Thonglor, in my living room.

At least they do look much nicer than all of the lamps we have ever seen at the stores here while trying to look  for a couple of decent-looking corner lamps for our living room.

Ok. I half lied.  I actually want it in my living room mostly because of it's cult status. But it's true that for the longest time, we have not been able to find a decent looking lamp around here...probably a matter of taste. And this lamp is just so absolutely cool. Cult cool.

From the inbox

[WARNING: A RATHER LENGTHY  POST]

Finally finding time to clear my inbox again, I came across a forwarded mail from Vicvanvinkle and decided to read it thoroughly. I have no idea how true this story is, or if it's true at all...but it is a humbling story. It did occur to me that we do live in a selfish world. Social graciousness almost non-existent as we get pre-occupied, even obsessed with getting ahead in the quest for material acquisition that we may just forget to live for the moment.

"It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule.


Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.


Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo , a state in Brazil
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants
3. Stockholm has 500,000 people
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA


The first time I was in Sweden , one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the
entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot."

To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door.. Don't you think? Imagine my face.


Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.


Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British.


Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%.. This slow attitude has brought forth the US 's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".


This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time.


Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living.


It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.


In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.


Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment.

As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".  (that's what I said on my blog title too! :p)
Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalized world."

In my world,  the no rush rule can be written on a piece of paper and be flushed down the toilet without remorse.In my world, social graciousness too, might just happen when pigs learn to fly.

But, but, but..in my own little frenzied world, I think appreciating the small moments in life is not too much to ask and it is something that I have, over the years, learn to value.

The lioness wants a ride too!

If I was the one in the car experiencing this while on a safari, I wonder if I would piss in my pants or try to pat the big, fluffy cat and make friends with her...