Thursday, July 28, 2011

My Blog is 1 year old and I am having hell of a rolling time.

Before I share with you my disappoinment, let me share with you my joy! My blog is one year old yesterday. I am amazed myself for being able to sustain one year blogging because I could not imagine I will have readers to want to read my posts. Like I have said before, I don't write good English nor I have any writing style, but I know I will always write from my heart. I am not shy to share my joy and my disappointments with you and be sincere in what I share. I am sure Quay Po Cooks is still here today because of all the encouraging words from you all.  Each and every comment and visit means a lot to me. I know many visited me but did not comment but I know you are there. Thanks for dropping by. I appreciate the love and support from all of you.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!  HUGZZ and LOVE to you all. 


My disappointment is self inflicted. It is the result of being stubborn not wanting to use the sponge cake recipe to make swiss roll. 

I had a lot of egg whites in my fridge and also some berries which I wanted to use up. I thought I could use them to make the swiss roll.  So, I found this meringue swill roll recipe and give it a try. The meringue sheet came out nice but then, the moment I roll it, it breaks.  Yes, another failure and I ended up with a wrapped meringue cake instead of swiss roll. My Quay Lo did not like the taste of this cake because he said it is too “eggy” for him and it is too heart"achy" for me because I failed again! My maid likes it and said it tasted good so I gave the whole cake to her after I photographed it. 

I am running out of time to send in my entry for the Apsiring Baker #9.  Tomorrow, I will give one more try and this time I HAVE to use the sponge cake recipe and keep all my fingers crossed! Looks like I am having hell of a rolling time this July trying to roll out a REAL swiss roll. Quay Po, don't give up, read this quote:

"You must do the things you think you cannot do."
by Eleanor Roosevelt

Meringue wrapped cake
Adapted from taste.com.au with modification


Ingredients:
5 egg whites, at room temperature
2/3 cup caster sugar
3 teaspoons cornflour
150g fresh blue berries
150g fresh strawberries
2/3 cup mascarpone cheese
2/3 cup thickened cream

Method:
Preheat oven to 190°C. Grease a 2cm-deep, 25cm x 38cm (base) baking tray. Line with baking paper, allowing a 2cm overhang at both long ends. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition until dissolved. Sift corn flour over egg mixture. Using a large metal spoon or spatula, fold corn flour into egg mixture to combine. Spread meringue over prepared tray. Bake for 12 minutes or until just firm and pale golden. Meanwhile, place a 40cm piece of baking paper on workbench. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Carefully turn meringue onto paper. Remove lining from meringue. Allow meringue to cool.Place one-third of the berries in a bowl. Using a fork, roughly mash. Set aside. Whisk mascarpone and cream in a bowl until soft peaks form. Add mashed berries. Gently swirl through cream mixture. Spread berry mixture over meringue, leaving a 1cm border on all sides. Wrap the berry mixture with the meringue. Wrap baking paper around the cake and place, seam side down, on a tray. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until well chilled. Remove baking paper from cake. Torch the top of cake and top with berries. Slice and serve.

49 comments:

  1. Happy one year blogoversary my friend...your blog is always a delight to read :)

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  2. Happy 1 year anniversary!Love reading your blog.And Gambateh on your swiss roll project :)

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  3. congrats!!! Happy first anniversary and wishing you to have more..

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  4. Happy Anniversary, Quay Po! Your posts always bring a smile to my face. I love your enthusiasm and your joy in cooking for your family. I'm sorry your cake did not turn out as beautifully as you had hoped. You DESERVE a perfect one tomorrow!

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  5. Congratulations on a year of blogging...Keep up the good work! Even though you didn't like the cake...it looks great to me!

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  6. Veron, happy blog birthday!! It's great to have known u and let's toast to many more great years to come :)

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  7. Congrats on your milestone. That is so fantastic. I say who cares what the cake looks like as long as it tastes delicious. And I've seen your cooking on here so I can surely say I bet it tastes divine. It looks pretty good to me.

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  8. !!HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!!

    I'm sorry your cake gave you a hard time, but I'm glad to see there is someone else who posts their failures as well as their successes.

    I figure it might give someone else an idea, or they might have a suggestion for you ... or you might just make someone else not feel so bad about their own mistakes. Keep it up! :)

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  9. Congrats on reaching one year! With the number of recipes and posts you have, I had serious doubts if you were just one year old!

    Anyway I'm glad that you posts your "failures" (although they are too pretty to be failures) as well, it spurs me to continue baking after I meet my own failures too!

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  10. Congrats, Quay Po! You have such a lovely blog!

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  11. Congrats! May u have many yrs to come :) Great shots, as always! Looks yummy too :)

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  12. Your pictures are amazing, Veron. And, a big congrats to you for going 1 year strong and wishing you many more years of happy blogging. Love you!

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  13. Congratulations on reaching your year mark! Your site is lovely, and you are obviously a joyous and happy and lovely person. Thank you for sharing this.

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  14. Congrat on your blog 1 year old birthday. The cake looks lovely.

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  15. Congratulations!!!!
    and Happy 1 year anniversary。:)
    this Meringue wrapped cake look delicious and nice!
    +U

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  16. Happy 1st anniversary. Keep it up. Such a pleasure to read your blog.

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  17. Congratulation to your 1st year blogging anniversary. I enjoy reading your blog very much and this cake is fabulous for your celebration!

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  18. Happy 1st Anniversary! I m sure there are many more to come... :D

    You are already a winner in every sense by just never giving up and continuing to pursue yr passion for cooking!!

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  19. Happy 1st Blogiversary! And many many more to come!

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  20. Happy 1st Blogiversary! Your food and pictures are always very beautiful. Don't give up! “加油”!!

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  21. Happy 1st Veron:D Time flies huh! Blink of an eye and another year just flew by! Well, that's how I felt anyway...that white meringue cake looks delicious even if you don't think so, I just wondered, what do you do with all the yolks? I have plenty in the fridge and don't know what to do with it! Maybe we could just swap, I give you the yolks and you give me your egg whites lol!

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  22. Darling, when you wrote: "So, I found this meringue swill roll recipe" did you mean to use "swill" or was it a typo? The L is at opposite ends of the keyboard from the S, so I am guessing that you meant to write "swill" as in the food they feed pigs. In either case, it made me laugh out loud.

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  23. Happy 1 year Anniversary!!! Whoo hooo! I was wondering what kind of disappointment, but relieved to hear it's about this "beautiful" cake! It already looks great. Trust me, all you need is me baking next to you. =D You will feel 120% better guarantee. ;-) Congrats on 1st year!!!

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  24. Happy 1-year Anniversary!!! And hope many more to come ^_^

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  25. Congrats on your 1st Blog Anniversary!! Well Done and keep it up! Keep Writing Keep Smiling! :D I thought your special dessert looks delicious. Love all filling. Must be very delicious. I don;t mind to eat all for you...hehe. Take care and hope you have a great day! MaryMoh at http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com

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  26. Veron, Congrats on your 1st Blog anniversary, nice to know you via blogging, hope to see more yummy and nice creation from you. Looking forward to your 1st success of Swiss roll.

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  27. Congratulations on a year of blogging!! I am so looking forward to many new yummie recipes and lovely posts! And the cake- for me it looks soooo good, would love to have one slice of it with my coffee now :)

    Have a wonderful day!

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  28. Happy 1st year of blogging! You're doing very well, so keep it up.

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  29. It's been great getting to know u.
    Haapy blog birhtday.
    More to come :)

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  30. Happy 1st bloggyversary! Aww .. don't be too disappointed. I'm sure a lot of great creations started out by an accidental failure. Btw, your cake looks fabulous! Looking forward to many more years.

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  31. Happy one year anniversary. Keep it up!

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  32. Happy 1 year blogging!!!! It still looks pretty.. keep trying!;)

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  33. Congratulations! 1 year only? I thought more. Wow! Look at what you have achieved in 1 year time. Inspiring!

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  34. Congratulation on a year of blogging. Looking forward to many more years. Cheers!

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  35. Congratulations! Happy Bday to your blog!

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  36. What a great year you have had and I have loved every minute of it. Congratulations. The disappointments are minor, just smile at all the good things :-) I am so glad to have 'met' you. Diane xx

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  37. oh, i didnt know that you only started blogging a year ago. Am so glad to know you!

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  38. Happy First Blogoversary to Quay Po Cooks! And as for the cake, it's part of learning, I guess. I've had my share of flops, too. Don't let all these put us down! Also, Veron, thanks you so much for being so supportive of me and for showing your concern for me. Thank you. Life hasn't been easy for me now, but I promise to try to visit with you and Gary whenever time allows. Tell Gary I'm thinking of making German chocolate cake for him and you! I just made it last weekend, and it got positive feedback! =D

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  39. HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY, Veron! Your roll looks good. I believe you can do it.
    best wishes,
    Kristy

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  40. Congratulations! Happy 1 year blog anniversary. Don't worry about the Swiss roll. I have not managed to roll mine as well. My last Swiss roll end up as Swiss fold :)

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  41. Congrat! Happy 1st yr blog anniversary!

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  42. Veron, congrats on your one year anniversary. I am very impressed with you, and all that write in English when it's not your first language. You do it so well, I really enjoy reading, and can catch your personality in your writing. I like it when your fails are shown as well as the successes, as it helps all of us. I think we are our own worst critics :D Your cake is beautiful!

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  43. Happy one year blogoversary Veronica!!! wishing you many more happy posts and finding wonderful friendships along your blogging journey.

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  44. Thank you all for your lovely notes. It is great knowing you all and I value our friendships and hope we will celebrate together for many more years to come! I am very thankful for all your support, encouragement and love. Hugs and love to all!

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  45. Sorry I'm so late in wishing you. Happy blog anniversary! May there be many more to come ;-)

    Btw, Merdeka Open House 2011 theme has been announced. I hope you can participate, also do inform your food blogger friends too :D

    http://babeinthecitykl.blogspot.com/2011/08/merdeka-open-house-2011-announcing.html

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  46. @babe_kl
    Don't worry about this. I really appreciate you dropping by and the invitation to join your Merdeka Open House 2011. I am now cracking my head for the entry:D Hope I can come out with one to submit on time.

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