I’ve never really thought much about them. I do agree it is
a special day/date but I never felt that I needed to tell the whole world “Hey!
It’s my BIRTHDAY!!” I guess that’s just me. I’m a very quiet, low profile kind
of person. I never like to make big celebrations. Only my closest friends and
families are important to me. Hence, I’m more comfortable being around the
people I love.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a big birthday bash or anything
like that. I don’t have any regrets. Sometimes I think birthdays bring a lot of
bad memories for me. Maybe because I have high expectations. So, I tend not to
hope too much so as not to get disappointed. Birthdays are also a reminder that
I’m getting older which is not really a good thing, to me. Despite all that,
there were several birthdays that I was very happy and super contented. It
would one of the birthdays where I get to have dinner with all my friends and
be filled with glorious food and surrounded by stupid jokes, gossips and laughter.
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting |
It is quite ironic that I feel the opposite way when making
birthday cakes for my customers. Making birthday cakes always make me feel
happy and excited. I especially love it when I received orders from husbands
who request to put sweet messages on the cakes or that the order is a surprise
for the wife. I find it sooo sweet and touching and to be part of something so
loving makes me extremely honoured. I'm a sucker for romantic stuffs.
Baking a birthday cake for Yanty has become a yearly
tradition. She is a very good friend that I got to know when we were in
polytechnic. It was weird how our paths met but it is something I never forget.
She was one good friend that I can rely on. Very talented and unassuming and
has a very beautiful handwriting. She can write songs and plays the guitar really well. She is also one of the most patient person I know. She's strong amidst all that she
went through.
So, every year, Firdaus, her brother will always order a
cake from me with a theme or a tidbit that he chooses to be incorporated into
the cake. It is like a birthday tradition for me. This year, it was Yan Yan (pic on left). It is a biscuit treat with chocolate dip
inside the packaging. I didn’t really have that much idea but I know I’ve been
wanting to make this 3 layer cake where one layer is a chocolate cake, another
is a cheesecake and a top layer is a cookie dough. So, I incorporated some
biscuit bits into the cookie dough and covered the cake with chocolate ganache
and chocolate swiss meringue buttercream. I thought it was a pretty cake inside
and out. But I would have improved on the cake recipe. You can find the recipe
here.
Do you have a "birthday tradition"? :)