Sweetheart Brownie - Arnya Bday Hearty Cake

My niece's name is Arnya Cait. Her actual birthday is on 13 August but parents decided to celebrate early on 9 August 2008. She's 2 years old this year & I decided to make special cake for her.

Honestly, this is my 2nd time making icing cake. It took me about 4 hours plus the overnight drying including the baking itself to make this cake. I'm glad that people appreciate my work especially Arnya who kept saying "It's mine!!It's mine!!" (due to her picture on the cake. What a smart girl). All other small girls wanted to touch the cake but Arnya really kept an eye on her hearty cake :D

Arnya with dad & mom

Her birthday cake (which her parents bought from a shop) is big enough to feed more than 20 people. It's 3-layered sponge cake.

Coconut Ice

This sweet stuff was also made for my niece, Arnya, for her 2nd year old birthday.

I made the noodle box decoration myself. My niece loves purple & brown.

Custard Meringue

This is my third time making meringue. I already know the secret how to make stiff meringue :) You need to mix it for longer until the egg white becomes stiff. Actually this recipe is for lemon meringue. Since I have the leftover of custard filling, I just substitute the lemon with it. Not bad, it's nice too.

Spanish Cream

This dessert is an adaptation of the Spanish baked custard known as creme caramel.
It is like jelly pudding.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 2 tsps vanilla essence
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsps gelatine
• 1/3 cup hot water

Method:

1. Whisk egg yolks, sugar & essence in large pan until creamy; whisk in milk. Stir over heat, without boiling, until sugar is dissolved; bring to boil, remove from heat. Sprinkle gelatine over hot water, stir into milk mixture.
2. Beat egg whites in small bowl with elextric mixer until firm peaks form. Fold whites into milk mixture in 2 batches.
3. Pour mixture into wetted mould (4-cup capacity), or into 4 individual dishes (1-cup capacity); refrigerate until firm.

Serves 4

Lemon Meringue

(25.5 cm diameter)

Everybody loves Lemon Meringue. The delicious thing about this is the lemon filling. It's so lemony...My husband can finish the whole cake :D !!

It is believed that the meringue was invented by a Swiss pastry-cook called Gasparini in 1720. It quickly became a favourite of the French court & Marie Antoinette was apparently so fond of it that she used to make it with her own regal hands!

I like to play with the meringue itself. You can make the topping like that style or just use knife to make it swirly & pointy.

I also make it in different shape like these pictures below. It's more personalised, cuter and just enough for a single serve.


(6 cm diameter)

(10 cm diameter)

(inside of lemon meringue before topped)

The big round-shape is 25.5 cm diameter & 3 cm base-height. Serves 6-8.
The single serve is 6 cm diameter & 2.5 cm base-height. Serves 18.
Another single serve is 10 cm diameter & 2 cm base-height. Serves 10.