Happy Valentine's Day 2015

Hubby says that I should "take a break" from blogging today since it's Valentine's Day... so instead I shall just post photos and videos to spread some love ♥♥♥

So how did you celebrate Valentine's Day?

Hubby made this "flipagram" for me :)

You can check out more "love" photos on Instagram under hashtag #babysumolove :)



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Recipe: Honey Cornflakes Cup

This week, I have been baking lots of pineapple nastar rolls... about 400 of them, all nicely packed to be gifted to good friends as well as serving to guests visiting us during the CNY period. My kids will also be bringing some to school for their CNY party - my daughter brought some to school the other day, which she shared with two of her best friends, and they have been asking her to ask her mummy to let her bring more during the party. :D

Other than pineapple tarts, I also made these honey cornflakes cup for them to share with their classmates. I chose this because it's really easy to make and kids love them! This is based on my almond honey joys recipe but this time I've cut out the sugar completely, using only honey and butter and then mixed in some chocolate chips and almond flakes. Oh and topped it with a heart since it's Valentine's Day on Saturday ;)

Crispy, crunchy and sweet - hope the kids will enjoy their treats in school.

Honey Cornflakes Cup
Recipe by Baby Sumo, adapted from here
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10-12 minutes
Makes 28-30


Ingredients
150g salted butter
6 tbsp honey

A pinch of salt
8 cups cornflakes (500g)
1 cup almond flakes

2 tbsp chocolate chips


1. Preheat oven to 170°C (no fan). Line 2 muffin trays with paper cases. 

2. In a saucepan over medium low heat, melt butter, honey and salt until it is bubbling. Remove from heat and stir in cornflakes and almonds until well coated. (Note: You can do it in 2 batches for ease of handling)

3. Spoon cornflakes mixture into paper case lined muffin pans, then sprinkle with chocolate chips.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Cool completely in pans before serving. Store in airtight containers to keep them crispy and crunchy.


Note: If you're making these for CNY, you can make them in mini muffin cases and bake for 6-7 minutes.

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I am submitting this to the "Cook & Celebrate: CNY 2015" event which I am co-hosting with Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Diana of The Domestic Goddess Wannabe. To join, simply cook or bake any Chinese New Year recipes for the whole month of February 2015.

Your post must be a current post i.e. posted in February 2015 - please do not link older posts.Please mention our "Cook & Celebrate: CNY 2015" event in your post and link back to Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids, Diana of The Domestic Goddess Wannabe and Baby Sumo of Eat your heart out.

Happy cooking! Do check out the other bloggers recipe below:

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10 Restaurant Quality Recipes for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Have you got anything planned? If you're planning on cooking your loved one a romantic meal at home, here are 10 restaurant-quality recipes you can easily recreate at home. Guaranteed to impress ;)

Click on name of dish for the full recipe.


1. Ham and rock melon
This is popularly served as a starter in Spanish or Italian restaurants, we had this numerous times while we were holidaying in Marbella.

To make this, no cooking skills are required. All you need to do is buy a rock melon and good-quality Jamon Iberico or Jamon serrano or Prosciutto. Cut the melon into slices and drape the Prosciutto over it. You can also make them into canapes (recipe here). Lovely with a glass of champagne.

2. Pan seared scallops with cauliflower puree and bacon crumble
This is my favorite scallop recipe, which I have cooked many times in my humble kitchen for my man. Not only does it taste fantastic, it looks really great on the plate too. A sure-fire way to impress your date, yes?

3. Chunky mushroom soup with truffle oil
Who doesn't like mushroom soup, especially when it's made with several different types of mushrooms and then finished off with a drizzle of truffle oil. You can make this early in the morning and then just reheat before serving.

4. Tenderloin steak with pumpkin mash
Steaks are incredibly easy to cook at home. You can also use rib eye or sirloin (these will not require a meat thermometer) - simply cook a 1 inch steak for 2 minutes each side for medium rare doneness.

5. Spaghetti with zucchini and king prawns
If your other half is a fan of Italian cuisine, make this pasta dish and reenact that kiss scene from "Lady and the Tramp". ;)

6. Risotto with scallops, asparagus and bacon bits
Another great Italian dish to recreate at home is risotto. It does require a little more effort, but nonetheless a simple dish to make. Creamy, rich and comforting, your other half will be most impressed and give you an A+ for your effort and the love that goes into making that risotto.

7. Roast lamb loin chops with rosemary and fries
Go to the supermarket and get 4-6 lamb loin chops and a packet of frozen fries and pop them in the oven. In 20 minutes or so, dinner is ready! How is that for easy?

8. Strawberry mille-feuille
Mille-feuille is an elegant and impressive-looking dessert. But guess what, it's soooooo easy to make. Plus Korean strawberries (the best kind!) is in season right now.

9. Passion fruit meringue
Meringues can be made ahead of time (ie make them the evening before) so all you have to do on Valentine's Day is to whip some cream and scoop out the passion fruit onto the meringue. More time to spend with your love!

10. Chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream
Chocolate is considered as a powerful aphrodisiac, so you can't go wrong with chocolate brownies on Valentine's Day. Another dessert you can make the evening before, top it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and you have a winner!

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Recipe: Valentine's Mini Heart Cakes + Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! Have you got anything planned for this special day? Hubby has been busy in the kitchen this morning making these gorgeous Valentine cakes for us all.

Valentine's Mini Heart Cakes

The cake is made using Delia Smith's all-in-one sponge cake recipe, which she describes as "the best sponge of all and will work even if you've never made a cake before in your life". It was indeed easy to put together, and the cake came out from the oven looking very beautiful. The recipe makes 1 large sponge cake, but for Valentine's we opted for 4 mini heart-shaped ones. The cake is sandwiched with fresh whipped cream and sliced strawberries (heart-shaped ones, no less), and then finally topped with a pink fondant heart with the words "I ♥ U". For the special someone you are presenting this cake too, I am sure they will definitely get your "love message" ;)

Everyone adored the cake, not only does it look fantastic and soooo sweet, it tasted delicious too. For us, this tastes just like butter cake - rich with a nice crumb. Thanks to Hubby for making these for us, with so much love :) We love you too!

Pretty and delicious! We definitely feel the love

Handmade Valentine crafts - origami heart and roses

Here's a very sweet card I received from Hubby for Valentine's Day 2014

Valentine's Mini Heart Cakes (All-in-One Sponge Cake)
Recipe by Baby Sumo, cake recipe adapted from Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Makes 4 mini hearts

Ingredients
110g self raising flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
110g butter, at room temperature
110g caster sugar
2 large eggs
2-3 drops vanilla extract

1 cup whipping cream
6-8 fresh strawberries
Pink fondant
Snow powder (or icing sugar), for dusting

Special tools:
Heart-shape cutter (large and small sized ones)
Cookie word stamp


1. Preheat oven to 170°C (no fan).

2. Lightly grease two 7 inch (18cm) sponge tins and line with baking paper.

3. In a large mixing bowl, sift flour and baking power, holding the sieve high to give the flour a good airing. Then, simply add all the ingredients to the bowl and whisk them - preferably with an electric whisk until thoroughly combined.If the mixture does not drop off a wooden spoon easily when tapped on the side of the bowl, then add 1 or 2 teaspoons of tap warm water and whisk again.

4. Divide the mixture between the two prepared tins, level off and bake in the centre shelf of the oven for 30 minutes. Once ready, leave them in tins for about 30 seconds, then loosen the edges by sliding a palette knife all around and turn them out onto a wire cooling rack. Peel off baking paper carefully and allow to cool completely.

5. Meanwhile, roll the pink fondant out as thin as possible, then cut using the small heart-shaped cutter. Stamp with your choice of words - we picked "I ♥ U" - onto the fondant and set aside.

This is the tool for stamping the words onto the fondant

I love you :)

6. Using an electric whisk, whip the cream until stiff. Cut off strawberry tops at an angle (V-shaped), and slice into thin heart-shapes.

One of the perks from helping out in the kitchen - getting to lick cream off the whisk

Slice the strawberries into attractive heart-shapes

7. Each cake will yield 4 small hearts, hence 2 cakes = 8 hearts. Cut out using the larger heart-shaped cutter. Spread cream onto one layer of cake, top with sliced strawberries, then top with another piece of cake. Place heart-shaped fondant in centre, then dust lightly with snow powder. Repeat for remaining 3 cakes. Serve immediately or place in fridge (as cake contains cream).

Your kids can help spread the cream onto the cakes

Note: If you do not have any fondant, you can replace with a single sliced (heart-shaped) strawberry on top.

Love is in the air

I am submitting this to Cook-Your-Books #9 hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours .

If you enjoyed reading my posts, LIKE me on Facebook! You can also follow me on Instagram (@babysumo) for more photo updates. Thanks :)