Not Again!

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Blueghhhhhhhh!

I'm sure those of you who might be following this blog of mine would notice that I've been AWOL for quite some time :-( Not that I intentionally wanted to but guess what??!!!! My hard disk crashed AGAIN ( !! ) & together with it is all my goodies photos that have yet to be uploaded *sobs*

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Basically, I'm not able to post anything on this blog as I've no photos of my goodies to add/share with my post :-( Just continue writing up a post?...Now, who would want to read a post without looking at any photos, right? Boringgggggggggggg!

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Sigh! I guess it's official now that technology & I DEFINITELY can't get along! After my last horrifying experience where my laptop crashed & 'swallowed up' ALL my data, I've decided to invest a good amount of money on a well branded external drive. This with the intention of making sure that my data will be stored & saved properly, without the chance of it ever being lost again. I just can't bear losing my data - it being all my business documents ( my costings, quotations, sales records...yada...yada...yada...) & most important of them all, my life's photos...

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Yet, after all the investment & taking good care of my new hard disk, what happened?!! Of all the worst thing that could happen to me, my 'paid-much-but-didn't-help' branded hard disk ( which was supposed to be my safety net! ) went bonkers on me! It simply abandoned me & crash! Erghhhhhhhh!!

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It's really upsetting that I've lost my data but losing my photos are the worst! Seriously, it's like my history are all wiped clean! All ( yes, all! ) my photos are gone! Photo of families, friends, not to mention photos of my goodies - kaput! *excuse me while I go to a corner & cry my eyes out*

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Haihhhh! I'm still not over losing all my data & photos :'( But I thought I'll let you know on why I'm being off radar here. Wouldn't want you thinking I've abandoned this blog...

Hhhmmm...Nothing much for me to do other than to start all over again from square one, right? Give me some time & I'll definitely be back with some new posts & hopefully more goodies photos to share ;-)

To my previous customers that I'm not able to share your goodies photo on my blog due to my dang hard disk, my sincere apology dearies. I will try my best to post something should I happen to bump into any of your goodies photo on my facebook @ mobile camera. Oh! If you happen to snapped photos of your goodies, I hope you don't mind sharing it with me ;-) Please send your photos to my email - ritzpassion@yahoo.com.  I would really love to blog about your goodies :-)

Much love to all & many thanks for sticking by me ✗o✗o

Happy Birthday Ritz Passion!

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OMG! I just realized today is Ritz Passion's 3rd Birthday! 

I'm over the moon with happiness & I only have you ( yes, YOU! ) for bringing me so much joy with all the love & support you've showered me throughout this journey of mine. I am forever grateful!

My sincerest of thanks to my dearest family, friends, customers, suppliers, followers ( from my Facebook page @ Twitter ) and every one of you who has stood by me & believing in this dream of mine...I honestly couldn't have done it without YOU!

Sending all my love your way, now & always! ✗o✗o



P/S : Putting my celebration to a later time as right now I'm rushing a last minute fancy cookies order ( due tomorrow! )....Erkkkk!

A Huge Milestone Indeed!

Wuhooo!! Who would have thought that my first ever novelty cake would have made it's way onto the page of one esteemed webpage - Cake Of The Day! Not bad for someone who doesn't even know what's the difference between baking soda and baking powder, ehh?...Ermmm, and I STILL don't know the difference! *chuckles*

My First Try At Making Novelty Cake - Burger Cake!

On a serious note, having one of my goodies featured by Cake Of The Day is such an honor for me & a huge milestone indeed :-) Being someone who doesn't even know how to bake a cake or even decorate one before, this is just the cherry on top of my ice-cream! 

My sincere thanks to the people at Cake Of The Day for choosing my goodies & most of all, for giving me the push & encouragement I so much needed to venture more into this new passion of mine :-) Much love to the angels at Cake Of The Day ♥♥♥

To read more on my Burger Cake, please feel free to head here :-)

Much love to all! ✗o✗o

Give-Away Alert!

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Yes, it's so true that I haven't been around here lately to update my goodies news :-( Been buried under layers of flour & I couldn't free myself long enough to update my post here :-P

However, no matter how busy I am, my heart is always with you, my goodies lovers ♥♥♥ So much so that while I was busy baking & rushing out my orders recently, an idea came to mind...Yes, I've decided to have a give-away contest. Yeayyyy!

It has been a long time dream of mine to share some of my favourite things with my goodies lovers but due to time constraint & unpredictable baking schedules, I've been postponing it far tooooooo long! Decided that it's been wayyyyyyyy to long, so here I am announcing it ;-)

There's a catch though for you to be able to win yourself my give-away...*Yup! Who says it's easy to get free goodies!* :-P

The catch - you will have to be a 'Liker' of my page, Ritz Passion to be eligible for the give-away contest. Easy peasy!

So head on to my page & check out the give-away contest updates as I will be running the contest from my page ;-)

Part Of The Give-Away :-)

Some ( yes! there's more! ) of my favourite things & what you'll stand to win ;-)

♥ From My Ultimate & All Time Favourite Store a.k.a My 2nd Home, Ikea - A Set Of Whisk & Spatula ♥

♥ From My Favourite Book Store , MPH - Easy Baking Cookbook ♥

♥ From My Favourite Supermarket, Cold Storage - Fackelmann Brand Muffin Pan ♥

You know how sometimes good news is always followed by bad news?...Ermmm, well, this is one of those times :-P

Sad to inform that the give-away contest is only applicable for those staying in Malaysia only *glum face* My sincerest apologies to all my oversea's goodies lovers for not being able to share my favourite things with you. As much as I would love to, I found out that the cost of shipping my gifts overseas are wayyyyyyyy so much more than the cost of all the items in my give-away basket :-P Sorry my dear sweeties! Maybe next time I can think up of another give-away that includes you ;-)

Hope this news of mine will bring some happiness & smiles your way ;-) Much love to all! ✗o✗o

Welcoming The Year 2012

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Wowwwww! How fast time can fly by! Day in & day out, without realizing it, we are now entering the second week of the year 2012 already...

The new year starts of with a hectic baking time for me & I didn't manage to sit down long enough to type up my new year wishes to all my goodies lovers...I hope it's not too late to send each & every one of you a very 'Happy New Year 2012'!

The year 2011 has indeed been a great year for me & there are just so many things that I'm thankful for...I'm thankful for all the support & love rendered to me by all my family, friends, customers, loyal supporters & followers...I'm thankful for all the new clients & followers that came my way, be it via my blog, Email, Facebook or Twitters. I'm thankful for all the great cake artists that I have the honour of knowing through their blogs & Facebook accounts. I'm thankful for all the great things mentioned & highlighted about my goodies by all the bloggers & web-owners out there, be it locally or internationally...I'm thankful for all the encouragement & well wishes offered to me by all of you through-out the year 2011...Most of all, I'm thankful to Allah Almighty for blessing me with such great health, wisdom & patience to continue with my journey in this passion of mine. It was indeed a great year for me & I thank you all!

I pray with this coming year of 2012, each one of you will be blessed with much love, good health & lots of happiness. Hopefully you'll get to fulfil your new year's resolution as well ;-)

What's my new year's resolution? Why, to make more yummylicious goodies of course! :-P And to learn more of those cake decorating skills & tricks, which I know I still have tonnessssssssss to learn :-P

Sending much love to all & a Happy New Year! Hugs!

Much L♥ve To Those Who Shared...

As a novice baker who know zilch about cake baking & decorating, having others acknowledge my goodies is the best feeling ever...What more when it's being shared around the world by other bloggers & goodies lovers :-) 

To those of you who shared & highlighted my goodies, you have no idea what a huge deal this is for me *mushy moment* Not only does it strengthen my desire to excel in this new found passion of mine, it also encourages me to be a better baker, one who'll find ways to produce & create much better goodies in the future :-) 

'Mickey & Minnie Mouse' Cupcakes As Highlighted In

http://www.thecupcakeblog.com/pastel-mickey-and-minnie-mouse-cupcakes/

Lollipop Cupcakes As Highlighted In

http://www.thecupcakeblog.com/rainbow-lolipop-cupcakes/

A Surprise 'You Tube' Video Made By A High-School Friend...A Nice

Surprise Indeed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7XVgmYgFgc

From the bottom of my heart, my utmost thanks to each & every one of you...I am truly humbled by your kindness. Much love & hugs! ♥♥♥

Practice...Practice...& Practice!

Speechless ( serious, I was just lost for words! )...

Jaw dropping ( my jaw spent most of the time being on the floor, literally! )...

Over the top excitement ( and I mean, REALLY over the top excitement! )...

Yup! That pretty much sums up what I'm feeling for the past few days. Thanks to the magic of internet & Facebook, I had spent most of my time admiring the work of so many great cake artist/maker from all around the world. I was even blessed with the opportunity of making friends with some of them, much to my delight! A big thing when you're a newbie like me *glee*

Honestly, I just can't find the word that best describe their talent other than EXCEPTIONAL! Their goodies are just sooooooooooo incredibly superb that I can't help feeling envious ( in a good way of course! ) of their skills. It's just awesome! Heck! Even thinking of their goodies now STILL leave me speechless!

I would really, really, REALLY love to be able to make such beautiful goodies like them. Yet being a newbie in cake decorating, I know I still have a longgggggggggggggg way to go before I even have half of their talent :-P As the saying goes, practice makes perfect & I guess that's where I'll start ;-) Practice...practice....& lots of practice ;-) Wish me luck!

Practising On My Rose Swirls :-P

Made This Red Velvet Cake Just So I Have An Excuse To Practice My Icing Skills :-P

Ritz Passion Turns 2!!

Yes!!! Ritz Passion turned two last 15th October!! Yeayyyyyyy!! Can you believe it?!! I can't! Feels as though it's only yesterday that I quit my 9-5 job to pursue this passion of mine :-)

What stemmed from my undying love for food & baking two years ago, Ritz Passion is now a full swing home based business and I owe it to all of you!! 

My 1001 thank you's:-

THANK YOU to my honey bunny for allowing me to pursue my dream...For always being there for me through the ups & downs :-) Thank you for being so patient with me each time I'm having those 'baking tantrums' :-P You've been so great & I heart you! Love...love...love you always baby! Muahhhhh!! :-x

THANK YOU to my dear family for all the encouragement & support...For believing in me :-) I am so blessed to have such a great family...Muahhhhhhh!!

THANK YOU to my friends, whom never fail to push me on & for always having faith in me even when I'm unsure of myself :-P I wouldn't be where I am today if not for all your support & love. I love you, now & always! Friends forever! :-x

THANK YOU to all my clients/customers for their undying love :-) For being so generous in rendering Ritz Passion your faith & trust to create your goodies...For giving my goodies the chance to share your special day & celebrations...Most of all, thank you so much for your business. I'm forever grateful!

THANK YOU to all my blog followers & readers for the love you've showered me with...For giving me the opportunity to introduce my goodies to you...For taking the time to read my posts...For all the comments, inquiries & wishes you've sent to me...I love it all!

THANK YOU to all my Facebook friends & followers/fans for your continuos support & love...For all your recommendation, 'likes' & comments...Thanks too for being so kind in sharing me your photos :-) I just love it all! Hugs!

THANK YOU to all my Twitter friends & followers for making each day a bright & sunny day for me with all your tweets :-) Thank you too for sharing your love & prayers...Much love to each and every one of you!

THANK YOU to YOU ( Yes, YOU! ) for your love & support...Having you visiting my blog is such an honour & I do hope you'll visit again soon :-)

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Ritz Passion would have been just a dream of mine if not for all your support. You've made Ritz Passion what it is today & for that, I'm forever grateful :-) May the coming years be as great as the one I just had :-)

Once again, thank you all & much love to each & every one of you! 

Cooking Itch

Wow! It had definitely been a hectic week for me :-P Too hectic to even prepare a home cooked meal, not even to fry an egg or cook instant noodles! That's how busy life was for me lately...Been wishing I have more than 24hours a day :-P Even then, I doubt that I can get everything done *sigh*

For the last few days ( or was it weeks? ) I've sort of put my cooking session on 'pause mode'. So many errands to run, orders to fulfill, appointments, yada....yada...Yet, as hectic as I was, I just couldn't ignore the 'cooking itch' that has been bugging me mostly everyday :-P I just need ( yup, NEED with capital letters! ) to whip up something, anything. Seriously, when my baking/cooking bug hits me, it really hit me bad! 

I was sooooo in the mood to cook something local...I'm not sure why the sudden itch for local dishes, as honestly, local dishes aren't really my forte *blush* Just ask my family & friends. I'm sure they'll agree...Ha! Ha!

After much deliberation ( with myself! ) on which local dish I wish to cook, I decided on Nasi Lemak with Sambal Udang Petai...Just feel like eating something spicy :-P To those wondering what this dishes are, Nasi Lemak is actually rice cooked in coconut milk, which is usually served with other accompaniments, such like Beef Rendang, fried chicken and more. Sambal Udang Petai is a local dish where prawns ( udang ) are cooked in chili paste & mixed with stinky beans ( petai ).

Okay..okay...Less babbling & get straight to the photos, rite? :-P

Nasi Lemak ( Rice Cooked In Coconut Milk ) & It's Accompaniments

The Accompaniments ( From Left To Right ) - Hard Boiled Egg, Cucumber,

Blanched Kangkung ( Water Convolvulus ) & Sambal Udang Petai ( Chili Prawns With Stinky Beans )

A Spicy Dish Indeed - Chili Prawns With Stinky Beans

I Think Andrew Zimmern Of Bizarre Foods ( TV Show )

Should Really Give These Stinky Beans A Try :-P

Ohhh! I unintentionally cooked quite a large quantity of rice ( enough to serve 6 person I think! ) & was cursing myself what a waste it's gonna be :-( My worry was short lived as to my surprise & delight, my honey bunny finished everything! It's just so great seeing others enjoy what you've cooked & it sure felt great seeing my honey bunny enjoying his meals :-P

Verdict for this dishes, think I'll say 'mission accomplished'! *patting myself on the back* ;-)

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

A different approach from my usual post...Just going to let my photos say it all.

Steamed Fruit Cake inspired by my late mum...Yeah, I'm in my sappy & sentimental mood ;-)

Another Treasured Memories

To me, there's simply nothing better than the joy of sitting around a table with great friends & enjoying the food I cooked for them! I love being in my friends' company & despite my busy schedules, I do try my best to meet up with them as much as I possibly could! I especially love it whenever I have the opportunity to cook for them ( much more so IF & when they enjoyed the food! ha..ha.. )

Last week I get to 'play Chef' to a few good friends...It's been a while since we last met so everyone agreed to meet up at my place for dinner. I got so excited over the prospect of cooking for them that I ended up making a 3 course dinner :-) Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it when I get to play 'Chef' for a day *giggle*

Garlic Bread

Loveeeeeeee The Snap Shot! :-P

Creamed Mushroom Soup

Wrapped Beef Steak With Capsicum & Gouda Cheese Plus Trimmings - Mashed Potatoes & Buttered Veges

Love Having My Mashed Potatoes With Black Pepper Sauce :-P

RYSC's ( a.k.a My 'Son' ) Portion...Boy! He Sure Does Loves His Black Pepper Sauce! :-P

Baked Parmesan Chicken

Yeayyyy! Highlight Of The Dinner - Pavlova With Cream Fruits

My 1st Try At Making Pavlova :-)

Love...Love...Love It! :-P

To my dear friends ( you know who you are..wink! ), I had such a great time with each & every one of you! Thanks so much for allowing me to cook for you :-) Hope you've enjoyed the food as much as I've enjoyed cooking ( and baking ) for you...Another memories treasured :-) Muahhhhhhhhh!!

Fever Vs. Passion

Poor me was down with a fever yesterday...I hate being sick, don't you? All achy & feeling weak is just not a good feeling :-( Tried as I might to have a good rest, being me, I just couldn't sit still.....I just want to be in my kitchen! :-P

After much tossing on the bed & being so restless ( plus my mind keep thinking of all the things I just want to cook & bake! ), I decided that I'll feel much better doing some cooking...Simple Chinese dishes was somehow on my mind :-)

Pep Me Up Dishes ;-)

Deep Fried Sweet Sour Pomfret

Broccoli & Shiitake Mushroom

Really, spending a few hours in the kitchen & cooking is all I need to feel much...MUCHHHHHHH better! I think I've found the best cure for fever - sweat it out in the kitchen :-P

Creme Caramel With Vanilla Beans

Those of you who had been following my baking experience via this blog of mine, you'll know that I've recently 'cured' my phobia in using Vanilla Beans :-P Have to admit that I'm still going ga-ga over the usage of REAL Vanilla Beans! No more using essence for me ;-) To those who have missed out on reading about my new experience, do check this link to read more ;-)

As promised, here are the photos of my Creme Caramel which was infused with Vanilla Beans...It took me about 40 minutes to bake & one night to refrigerate it, yet the Creme Caramel was gulped down by three of my loved ones in a matter of 15 minutes! I kid you not!

I'm just happy that they have enjoyed it :-)

Creme Caramel With Vanilla Beans

Vanilla Bean Phobia - Cured!

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Ohhh! At the time I'm typing this it's 3:38 am & I've just put my Creme Caramel into the oven :-) It's never too early to bake for me :-P

To tell you honestly, I'm just TOO excited right now! *grinning like a fool at the moment!* No, it's not my first time baking Creme Caramel...I've baked it thousands of times before as it's one of my family's favorite dessert...The only difference this time is that I'm using real Vanilla Beans!!! No more using the Vanilla Essence like I always do...Ha...ha...Some of you might say it's nothing to crow about, right? Believe me, to me, it's a biggggggggggggggg thing as I've always felt so intimidated by the mere idea of using Vanilla Beans :-P Call me silly, but I considered Vanilla Beans as a luxury item in baking....Being a novice baker, I've always been too scared to use it in my cooking @ baking...Not that I don't love it ( cause I do! ), but I have this idea planted in my head that Vanilla Bean is an item used only by the professionals! :-)

Each time I watched those cooking programs & saw the Chefs using Vanilla Beans, I was filled with envy...Seeing them scrapping the beans & adding it to their cooking...Sigh! I can always imagined their food tasting soooooo delicious!

I do have Vanilla Beans stocked up in my pantry...It's been sitting in a jar, just waiting for me to gather enough courage to use it :-P You might be thinking what a silly thing for me to be so scared in using Vanilla Beans, ehhh? Let me tell you why...Not only do I think it's an item fit only for professionals, but the price here in Malaysia is quite expensive! Roughly it's RM20 per pod ( equivalent to USD6.36 per pod )!! Imagine me using it & screwed up my recipe...Gosh! What a waste that would be!

I was cleaning up my kitchen just now when I suddenly felt that it's time for me to face my phobia of using Vanilla Beans...After all, if you want to succeed, you have to be willing to make mistakes, rite? If I don't try, how else would I know what Vanilla Beans can do to my cooking, rite?

Gosh! I'm sure glad I've faced my fears in using Vanilla Beans! I can't believe what a difference a pod of Vanilla Bean could make to my Creme Caramel! Not only  does it releases such an inviting aroma while I steep it in boiling milk, but it also intensified the taste of Vanilla in the Creme Caramel! Even right now, the smell that's whiffing through my oven is sooooooo yummylicious! I really can't wait to taste it later, but of course I need to cool my caramel first :-P

Now that I've faced my phobia of using Vanilla Beans, I'm sooooooo looking forward to adding it in my other recipes! Owhhh!! I can already imagine tonnes of recipes that I'm gonna alter ;-)

To those facing similar phobia as I did, I do encourage you to try the Vanilla Beans! Go ahead & give it a try ;-) If I can do it, so can you...And if you are still pretty unsure, buzz me & I'll be more than happy to help you out :-P

It's nearing 5:00 am already & I guess it's time for me to hit the sack...Nighty nite all!! ( or should I bid good morning instead? )

**Psst! Hopefully I'll remember to snap a photo of my Creme Caramel with Vanilla Beans before it is being 'attacked' ;-)

Body System Down

Geez, what a terrible start to my year 2010...To all my dear family, friends & customers, I humbly apologize for being out of radar. I was down with a terrible high fever recently - a fever so bad that I was actually bed-ridden for nearly a week or so! My sincere apologies to those whose calls & messages was left unanswered...I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.

Great news though...I'm back on my feet already & eager to bake...bake...bake....Yeayyyyy!! Infact I'm actually on my way to the kitchen to bake cup-cakes, ordered by my strong supporter Mr. M but I thought I'll send this note first to explain for my MIA ( Missing in Action ) status recently...

Once again, I humbly apologize for all the inconvenience caused by my ill-health recently. Thanks for your attention & continuous support for Ritz Passion - Comfort Food.