Thursday, December 24, 2009

AN ICE CREAM BIRTHDAY CAKE


There comes a time in your life when age doesn't matter anymore. 

I really don't care how old I am... 'honest';) So there is no need to ask for my age.... because it matters not.

You see...and I'm sure you will agree with me...that at my or our or your age.....it is not how old I or we or you am or are that bothers me or us or you but how old I or we or you appear to be that matters. Agree ? Yes? No?

I assume that is what they mean when they say "Age is just a number".



But when you reach a certain age...where once you took a year to age a year you now take a day to equal that. Unless you were born just 'yesterday'.

Think about it....at what age would you start to check the mirror for a new line on your face? At what age would you start to check the firmness of your assets?  At what age would you start to measure the size of your pores? Or to count the strands of hair that gravitate to the ground? Everyday. At what age.... I ask you....at what age would you begin to measure and to count?
 

And/Or......At what age.... would you start to scrutinize the lines and fats of others in order to provide yourself with some comfort. I ask you.

 'At my age?'. 

But who cares........ 'Age is just a number'.



I wish a very happy birthday to my dearie and wonderful second daughter who is not quite counting nor scrutinizing. Yet. 

We celebrated her __th birthday this very evening.


This picture was taken some light years ago. She's a totally grown up young woman now. 



This is an ice cream cake. A nice creamy chocolate ice cream sandwiched between 2 layers of a very lovely,moist and fluffy Rose Levy's American sponge Cake. Covered with whipped cream, scrolled on and accented with some pink chrysanthemums. The ice cream part requested by hers truly. The rest is history.



It was quite stressful working with whipped cream and ice cream in my warm/hot little kitchen. So the slathering of the cream on the cake and the scrolling was done in quite a rush for fear of the ice cream melting within. 

I used a Wilton no. 6 plain round nozzle for the piping. I wished I had used a no. 4 which would have created a finer line.


Full credit for the design goes to Deeba of Passionate about Baking. Deeba is the Queen of Desserts and the design is her own original creation of which I'm mad about. So simple yet so chic. Thank you Deeba for sharing your Art.


I rushed to the wet market this morning to get those pink chrysanthemums. And I thought they went perfectly well with the pink ribbon that I have had in a corner for ages. 

I also like the fact that art does not equal symmetry. I adore imperfection in art. Deliberate imperfection. Perfectly imbalanced art. 

I hope those are enough excuses for the lopsided ribbon-ing of the cake.

The main dish for the birthday dinner was a spiced shoulder of lamb.


The recipe for the sponge cake.............from Rose Levy Beranbaum's book, The Cake Bible.......

Nancy Blitzer's Classic American Sponge Cake

2 T water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp grated ,emon zest
1 1/3 cups sifted cake flour
1 cup sugar
6 large eggs, egg whites and yolks separated
3/4 tsp cream of tartar


Preheat oven to 350 F or 170 C


In small bowl combine water, vanilla and lemon zest.
Remove 1 T of the sugar and reserve to beat with the whites.


In another small bowl whisk together the flour and 3 tablespoons of the sugar.


In a large mixing bowl beat the yolks and the remaining 3/4 cup ssugar on high speed for 5 minutes or until the mixture is very thick and ribbons when dropped from the beater.Lower the speed and gradually add the water mixture. Increase to high speed and beat for 30 seconds. Sift the flour mixture over the yolk mixture without mixing in and set aside.


Beat the whites until foamy, add the cream of tatar, and beat until sofr peaks form when the batter is raised.


Beat in reserved 1 T sugar and beat until very stiff peaks form.Add 1/3 of the beaten whites to the yolk mixture and fold in gently with a whisk or large skimmer until incorporated. Gently fold in the remaining white in 2 batches.


Pour into pan. Run a knife through the batter to prevent air pockets. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.


The recipe recommended  an ungreased  2 piece 10 inch tube pan. I used a 9 inch round cake pan, grease and lined bottom with paper.

I sliced the cake into 2 layers and slathered softened chocolate ice cream on one layer and topped with the other. Then I whipped two cups of whipping cream to cover the cake completely and to pipe the scroll design all over.  







41 comments:

Elin Chia said...

Hi Zurin,
Happy Birthday To your daughter...a grown up young lady now...haha what a wonderful momsie you are...a beautiful ice cream cake. I love the icing you piped on the cake. Artistically done :) Thanks for sharing the recipe Zurin. I want to try this making this cake for one of the Piggies birthday :p but I am afraid that I may not do a good job on it. I sucks when it comes to frosting a cake :p. Btw thanks for the Xmas greetings. I hereby wishes you and family A Happy New Year too!

Ju (The Little Teochew) said...

Happy birthday to your princess!!! Does she look like you? :) Am trying to imagine what you look like ;) But yes, I agree with you, Zu ... it's how old you appear to look that matters. Hehe! Well said! As for that cake, it's an evergreen. I think 10, 20 years from now, when your daughter looks back at this cake, it'll still be as beautiful as it does today. Happy holidays!

food with style said...

age doesn't matter when you have talent like you do... oh my, what a great post! works of art, from your daughter, to her cake, all perfection! i could live to 100 and never have your culinary skills, yep what does age really matter, its how you life your life~

simply gorgeous~

happy holiday and thanks for sharing you gorgeous pics!

La Table De Nana said...

She is a princess:) And the cake is beautiful..I hope she still looks so happy:) Even w/ age:)

Age is apparent..but the spirit of your age is not:) Antoine De St-Exupéry said it best~
"What is essential..is invisble to the eye"~

Gorgeous cake..wise words..beautiful flashback of your daughter..Joyeuse Fêtes~

Marysol said...

Zurin, I thought that precious little girl was you!
Happy Birthday to her, the lucky recipient of a truly beautiful ice cream cake!


In regards to my age, I'm still 21.
And the fact I've replaced most mirrors in my house with artwork helps solidify that 'fact.'

Happy Holidays to you and yours dear Zurin!

Pam said...

Happy Holiday Zurin, and Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter!
She looks so grown up and self assured in this photo. I bet she loves the cake and the remarkable woman who wrote those insightful words.
Your cake is so beautifil I can taste it. I too enjoy Rose's Cake Bible. You did a lovely job on the piping and yes the flowers and ribbon look perfect together.
A Joyous New Year to you and your Family! Pam

Pei-Lin said...

Your daughter looks so gorgeous! So as your gateau!! Simply breath-taking!

Merry X'mas & Happy 2010 to you!!

Pei-Lin

Nadia said...

i love natalia's pics..always..so cute!!!!!!!!!!! and i see nik in the backgrd there too LOL chubby chubby nik!
mummy, she lets you put this on your blog? LOLOLOLOLOLOL
btw LOVEEEEEEEEEE the cake!! love the pink!!! love the half swirls!!!!
and please hug natalia for me.
hugs

Mari @ Once Upon a Plate said...

What a darling daughter! Truly a princess, and so lucky to have a mom that made such a gorgeous (and I'm sure delicious), cake for her.
Fit for royalty! You are so talented.

Happy Birthday to your princess (and you, too, mom... it was your "birth" day too!)

And I agree, age is just a number. :) Happy holidays sweet Zurin!

Deeba PAB said...

OMG Zurin, thank you for trying out my art & making it look ever so beautiful. It is an inspiration to me that I have inspired you. I love your post, your thoughts & how beautifully you created the cake. My daughters _th birthday is around the corner, and I think I want to try this sponge recipe! Your daughter is gorgeous, and I can well imagine how beautiful she must be now!Happy Birthday Natalie!
Thank you my friend, and hoilday wishes to you & your beautiful family!
Much love xoxo

Kate at Serendipity said...

Zurin, your daughter may be grown up on the outside, but inside I bet she's still the one we see in the photo. After all, she still wants an ice cream cake, doesn't she?

Merry Merry Christmas, Zurin. I'm glad I found you this year.

Kitchen Butterfly said...

What a beauiful, beautiful cake. Inspiring....like your chicken soup which shall grace our table tomorrow!

I'm sure your daughter had a fantastic b'day. What a blessing...

Have a great Christmas and a super blessed 2010. Love, Ozoz

Angie's Recipes said...

Happy Birthday to your LOVELY daughter! Like daughter, like mother...I imagine that you look as beautiful as your princess!
Wish you and yours a Merry X'mas and Happy New Year!

Nadji said...

Wonderful cake. BRAVO!!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

terri@adailyobsession said...

absolutely beautiful! would make a perfect wedding cake too. i think the loop-sided ribbon makes it even more whimsical. n ur girl looks just like you did when u were small:DD i can see the resemblance!

merry christmas zurin!

KennyT said...

Happy birthday to your daughter!

Merry Christmas!

Nitsie said...

Happy Birthday to ur daughter.I loved ur blog,the cake,the icing n the decoration....loved everything abt ur blog:)Happy Holidays:!

ClearTear said...

happy birthday to ur girl, i just give birth 20 days ago to a small little girl too. I hope i have ur talent and one day bake my daughter a cake, my hubby saw me looking at ur blog and he ask me "this blog is chef/pâtissier???

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

Wow, you so cannot tell that you did the decorating in a rush. It looks perfect! I bet she had a wonderful birthday! :D

nuhaafnan said...

oh wow. my daughter looked at this cake and said wow. she wants a cake just like this. i sure do hope i don't have to wait until she's all grown up to be able to make this for her.

happy birthday to your 5 year old (she'll always be 5 to you, doesn't she?) I love the part where you mentioned about 'imperfection' :)

Deana Sidney said...

What a beautiful sentiment and a lovely cake... I bet it was perfect!

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Happy Belated Birthday to your princess, and you are just a good mother, your daughter lucky to have you. And the cake look so pro. and nice. Happy Holidays!!

pigpigscorner said...

Happy birthday to your daughter! and I agree with you, age doesn't matter, always stay young at heart =) the cake is beautiful!

Melanie said...

Beautiful!!

Dominique said...

The cake is beautiful! Happy birthday to your daughter!!! For me it's sometimes difficult too, to see the mirror each day... My youngest son (I've 3) turned 20 this year! But it does'nt matter now, age is just a number for me...
I wish you and all your family a happy new year!

Nat said...

Whatever with d past has gone, the best is always yet to come. I've learned that simple things are the most valuable. I count my blessings and treasure each & every kind wishes that I've received tis day & the day before and maybe tommorow to come. This tops it up to 200 bday wishes received this year :-)

And thank you mummy for everything. Fyi, I have been secretly scrutinizing & complaining to friends about all the wrinkles entering into my life now. This is officially the end of the glory era for me. *Panic attack*

Thanks Kak Juli *Hugs*. Happy Hols everyone!

Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful ice-cream cake! She is lucky to have you as her mum. Totally agreed with you that 'Age is just a number'. Merry christmas and happy new year to you and your family!

Velva said...

Age is a state of mind....
The birthday cake that you made for your lovely grown-up daughter is beautiful.

Anonymous said...

i LOVE ice cream cakes! heh.
design is simple and elegant. mmm.
happy birthday to your little one.
she looks gorgeous!

Linda said...

That is a spectacular cake...
What a lucky girl...she must be a beautiful young woman now!
Happy Birthday to her!
L~xo

Pierre said...

hello zurin
this is nothing bbut a masterpiece
congratulations
i wish you the best for the season holidays ! Pierre

2 Stews said...

What a beautifully decorated cake...so full of love! Your daughter was such an adorable child. In so many ways it must seem like yesterday she was sitting there.

Aging gives us a depth that youth will never know. Now if we could just do it all without the wrinkles ;-)

Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter!

Diane

fimere said...

this cake is sublime, it is a work of Chief
Merry Christmas New Year

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful cake!

zerrin said...

I completely agree on what you say about age/aging. And I find it unnecessary to check mirrors for a new line on my face. I can't remove it, can I? And I don't want to do it, either. We must be happy at any age.
Happy birthday to your daughter. She looks so lovely in that picture.

And the birthday cake is so mouthwatering. Happy new year to you and your famly!

Zurin said...

Thank you all for your generous and kind wishes and comments. We are so blessed to have 2 wonderful, kind and beautiful daughters, one after another, and then 3 wonderful young men. Thank god for all of our blessings.

Have a good year ahead. MAy we all have better and more promising times to look forward to.

Shirley @ Kokken69 said...

What a beautiful cake! I do believe we are now living in an ageless era...ironically, sometimes I feel the young ones are more mindful about aging than the ones who have already crossed the sill...

Zakiah said...

Hi Zurin
Happy Birthday to Princess N.....belated though. Gosh! Talk about age?? I am with you all the way! But I am 10% when it comes to baking..mmmm..but yr cakes r always PERFECT!!HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

charmaine said...

hello Zurin!

Wow, your little girl is beautiful! Happy belated Birthday to her. that cake is is just lovely! very pretty. i wish i had those skills. i wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy New Year! i wish you and your family a healthy, blessed, happy and prosperous year! thank you also for your New Year's wish.

God Bless,
Charmaine

choi said...

The sounds was very amazing. The cake looks very unique.. I like it. And the color seen very clean. Keep it up. Thanks for sharing. Temporary Walls nyc

Unknown said...

What a beauiful, beautiful cake. Inspiring....like your chicken soup which shall grace our table tomorrow!

I'm sure your daughter had a fantastic b'day. What a blessing...

Get the Best Bakery Shop in Gurgaon

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails