Wednesday 31 December 2008

Another Year of Baking

Somehow the clock seems to tick at a faster pace in the cyberworld than real life. It has already been two years since I started this blog. In fact, I'm two days behind my 2nd Blog Anniversary ;')

Looking through the photos of my homemade bread, cakes, cookies and tarts, I realised that I have made lots of stuff over the past 12 months. Without this blog, I would never ever be able to document the joy and pleasure that I have experienced over the year.

I have never known that home baking can bring so much nice feelings throughout the entire process. I treasure the peaceful and serene moments when I go about the preparation...be it whisking a bowl of egg whites...or working hard on a lump of wet and sticky dough. I enjoy each 'aroma therapy' session when the cake is baking in the oven while I went about doing my other daunting chores. What a bliss to be wrapped around with the sweet scent emitting from the oven...be it coming from the chocolate, banana, vanilla or lavender...but of course, there's always the occasional burning smell which would send me dashing into the kitchen ;'p

It brings me immense satisfaction whenever the cake came out nice and fluffy...or that loaf of bread turn out a perfect square when I slide open the lid of the pullman tin. Not forgetting the excitement when I unmold a chiffon cake; and the overwhelming stress of having to swipe the palette knife over and over and over again to make the frosting appear as smooth as possible on a birthday cake. I guess the most rewarding part of the whole process is the great pleasure it brings when I see my loved ones wolfing down my 'labour of love'.

Even failures or kitchen disasters of any kind, have taught me several good lessons...although I have to confess, it takes more than a day for me to get over the great sense of disappointment from any failed attempts.




To mark the occasion, I have compiled my baking repertoire into a little slide show. I find this the best way to condense a selection of some of the better cakes & bakes that I have done over the past year...into a one minute video clip.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has dropped by this blog, especially to all those who have taken the time to leave behind their encouraging words and lovely comments. I also appreciate readers who have asked me questions...I try my best knowledge to answer them...and it is through the process of finding out the right answers, it has widen my knowledge and insights into the world of baking. Since it is the season of giving, I have decided to send a little gift to a fellow blogger pal. It is a small way to show my appreciation, and I hope I will be able to do the same thing next year.

And here's to another wonderful year of baking and blogging!

Happy New Year!!!

42 comments:

Bakeling said...

Keep it up ! And ,bake more cakes and bread !

Wishing you a Happy New Year !

Anonymous said...

happy new year to you and your family! (:

~Ling~ said...

Happy and a Blessed New Year to you and your family! (^^,) I enjoy coming here.

ICook4Fun said...

Happy New Year to you. Looking foward to more of your wonderful baking from your blog in year 2009.

Anonymous said...

Hi Happy Home Baking

The video is very well done! Congratulations for achieving some much in a year.

Wishing you and your family a good start to Year 2009.

Cheers

Florence

Kitchen Corner said...

Hi HBB, I absolutely understand your feeling. Looking forward to read more on your baking diary. Happy 2009!

Jessica Lawlor said...

I loved that video! I've never commented before but I really love your blog, and can't wait to see what you bake in 2009!

Aimei said...

Hi HHB,

Happy Birthday to your blog and Happy 2009! :D

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you and your family. Keep it up

Small Small Baker said...

HHB, your each and every post always amazes me. Love your cheerful descriptions and beautifully-taken photos. You are a genius! Thanks for the joy that you bring to us. Happy 2009! :)

bakeAstory said...

A blessed new year to you and family!

Continue baking .. you continue to inspire us.

Cheers.

CY said...

Happy New Year HHB! May 2009 bring much joy & peace to you and your family! Keep the bakes coming!

Happy Homebaker said...

dear all, thank you for all your well wishes :)

花 花 宇 宙 said...

I love to read ur blog. Did a pumpkin bread follow to ur recipe for new year. Wish u happy 2009 & really looking forward for ur 'art' in 2009

Anonymous said...

Happy new year, dearie! May the new year bring in much love and joy to you and your family :)

Passionate About Baking said...

Hi HHB,
Happy New Year! And hope to see more of your posts in 2009. Thank you for your sharings too! :)

Baking Fiend said...

Hi HBB,

Hope your new year will be filled with more wonderful baking adventures! Happy 2009 to you and yr loved ones. :)

youfei said...

Hi HHB,

Happy New Year and wonderful 2009!
Thanks for ALL the help, advice and comments you've given me whenever i leave comment on your blog. =) really v v happy and honoured that you take much effort and time into answering every single comment in so much detail =) keep it up and looking forward to more yummilicious bakes from you this coming year =D

Wanna thank you as well as you sorta inspired me to turn my microsoft baking diary into a virtual one (blog). Like you and many out there, it's really a pleasure whenever any of our bakes turns out pretty =)

regards,
youfei

Papilles et Pupilles said...

happy new year !

thecoffeesnob said...

Happy new year, HHB! Here's to many more years of wonderful bakes and gorgeous cakes!

jacquisbakingsomething said...

Blessed New Year... I love your blog and sharing. Happy Baking!
Jacqui

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year HHB! TQ for sharing all your baking experiences with us & those wonderful recipes. A toast to the new 2009 year & may you have more great bakes :)

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Congratulations on another blogaversary! Everything you make is so beautiful. Thanks for all the inspiration! Happy New Year to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year HHB!!

May you bring us more good bake in year 2009. I look forward to it.

Jo said...

Happy New Year!

Congrats to your 2nd blog anniversary. :)

I enjoy reading your blog and your recipes are easy to follow. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Hi HHB,

just want to let you know that I've learnt so much from your blog. Your bakes had been so inspiring and your easy to follow step-by-step instructions had helped me from a "know-nothing about baking" into one who is now able to bake a rather presentable cake.

TQ so much. Would like to share with you my bakes if I have enough courage to showcase them one day.

Happy 2009
Baking Daze :)

Yuri said...

Hi HHB, Happy 2009! Here's wishing you joy and happiness in the new year ahead.

MH said...

Hi HHB!

My elder boy had been sick for the past few days...... :( Hope not too late to say Happy New Year to you! Keep all your beautiful photos & bakes coming. :)

PiggyMummy said...

HI HHB!

I really enjoy reading your blogs. Lovely photographs and irresistible bakes! When my fingers itch and am not sure what to bake, I will drop by your blog to get some inspiration =) Love your buns and breads! Otah bun reminds me of home ... how I miss food from Singapore ....

Here's wishing you and your family all the best in the new year!

lk =)

Snotty McSnotterson said...

I found this blog because I Googled 'baci di Dama' and it linked to your '07 post. I just started a baking blog of my own (cakeriot.wordpress.com) because I love to bake, and I will definitely come back so I can get inspiration from you! :) I loved the Domo cake! (my own son is going to want that, too, I'm sure)

TheDaughterOfTyr said...

Happy New Year!
I'm eagerly anticipating everything you create in 2009.

Bless.

Cookie said...

Wishing you another bake-full year in 2009!

Cheers
Cookie

Sunshinemom said...

Wish you a very happy new year!! Its a little late, but better late than never:)

Boringtazz said...

Hi HHB

Happy 2nd Anniversary to your Blog. The video are so professionally done. Kudos and also keep up with those lovely cakes, breads and photos you have made.

Bakertan said...

hi happy homebaker

happy 2nd anniversary to your blog and happy 2009. would love to see ur new bakes in 2009. happy baking!

Anonymous said...

Best wishes to you! I do so enjoy reading about someone who enjoys baking as much as I do!

Do you do your own photos? Very nice!

Mhel said...

Happy New Year! Congratulations on your 2nd year...What an accomplishment. I always enjoy reading your blogs and visit it frequently. You inspire me when I see the beautiful photos on your site. I notice you changed your template, nice! I just started blogging in December '09 and hopefully I can have the same determination as you do. I was wondering if you took some baking and pastry classes coz all your works look very professional. Or is it just a passion and turned to hobby? Whatever it is, great job! I'm a fan :)

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Mehl, thanks for reading my blog :)
So far I have not attended a single workshop or baking class, not even demo classes. Everything is self-taught mainly thru cookbooks. I am no professional baker, that is why I am always worried that I am the blind leading the blind!!

Ana said...

You have a lovely blog here. Your joy is emanating towards you readers :) .

Amy's Baking Diary said...

Hi. Happy Home Baking.

I just started to bake and blog 2 months ago. I enjoy reading your blog and have learnt a lot of things from there. Your blog is my source of inspiration.

I would like to link your blog to mine and just wondering whether should I seek for your permission to do so.

I'm very new to blog. It was my sister-in-law who suggested that I set up one to diary my baking journey.

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Amy, welcome to the blogging world, and thanks for linking me up, it's my honour :):) I look forward to reading your baking journal, cheers!

Amy's Baking Diary said...

Hi Happy Home Baking,

Thank you. If I bake anything from your recipe, I'll make a link to it too :)

Please bake and share more.