Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Birthday Cake

This year I made a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (TMNT) cake for my son's 6th birthday. I tried the frozen buttercream transfer according to Wilton's video here (I reduced the amount icing sugar used).  His favourite was 'Raphael' - the one with red eye wrap. I drew a cranky and grumpy Raphael which finally approved by little boss (my son) only after the second version.  We were really excited about it.   My boy did the mixing and selecting the colours and I piped the buttercream on a piece of wax paper.  He was having loads of fun.  In the progress, I also popped the question of what makes green colour and started to discuss about primary colours as home learning.  Unfortunately, we did not manage to get the red colour we wanted.  In the end we decided to abandon and go for blue instead.  So 'Raphael' become Leonardo' instead :P  It was my first try on frozen buttercream transfer.  And because I did not have a steady hand, the outlining was not as smooth as expected.  This was done one week ago and I kept it in the freezer before the big day.

 

A day before the actual birthday, I baked chocolate cake. Yes, it was chocolate cake again! The adventurous me tweaked the receipe by experimenting with top flour, extra dark cocoa powder and chocolate couverture I bought from Phoon Huat Baking Supplies store.  The effect :-

 

• My cake shrank a little (which I did not know why) but did not collapse (Phew)
• It gave a really charcoal black colour just like the oreo biscuit
• No chocolate taste in the extra dark cocoa batter (I thought was a little weird when I tried a spoonful)
• It was not awfully sweet overall with a slight bitterness. 
• The sweetness of swiss meringue buttercream I did later actually complement it
• Texture was moist - happy!

Last part was to frost the whole cake with swiss meringue buttercream and placed the frozen buttercream transfer on the cake.  Prior to that, I have watched many videos frosting a whole cake. Yet, I still got crumbs visible on my cake.  And the more I wish for perfection, the cake crumbs appeared even more.  With exhaustion creeping in and it was past mid-night, I decided to let it be despite the imperfection.

 

 

Ninja Turtle Birthday cake

 

Frozen buttercream transfer

 

 

Since it was the last year with his kindergarten, I bought 17 Aseop fables storybooks during a trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for his class (including my son) instead of goodie bag as remembrance. It was a steal because it cost only $4.90 per book after the exchange rate conversion and Border's member discount.



Left - Aseops fables
Right - my hubby's book

Originally, I planned to celebrate his 6th birthday at the LEGOLAND Hotel and even invited his two Jie Jie(s) for the stay.  However, the trip was cancelled because Nitro, our pet dog suddenly lost his eyesight and was diagnosed with high blood pressure. We need to follow up with the vet for further check up and also, could not bear to leave Nitro at the boarding house. Hence, we gave my son an early birthday treat to Singapore Night Safari instead.  Back at home, I prepared the birthday banners and my son cleverly and creatively hung it on the chairs and we did the usual stuff; photo shoot, sang birthday songs (in 3 languages) and of course, cut and ate the cake.

 

Birthday banners on the chair



My son's idea 

Not the perfect cake
but glad that he likes it as always

Recycle and redecorate
for my hubby's birthday
which was on the next day

Ninja Turtle

# 330

Influenced by Papa, my son's latest lego toy is everything about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.  And his birthday is approaching and the theme he has chosen is of course Ninja Turtle! Originally, we planned to celebrate my son's 6th birthday at the LEGOLAND Hotel, Johor Malaysia.  But there has been a lots of happenings at home.  First, my son came down with fever.  Then, our doggie became blind overnight suddenly and was also diagnosed with high blood pressure.  Mummy was also not in good shape - neck and shoulder pain due to muscle spasm according to the Doctor.  The sharp pain was akin to birth contraction which sent tears rolling down my cheeks on the onset.  So now, I have to abstain from carrying heavy things and less housework.  As a result, we decided to shelve the birthday plans at LEGOLAND hotel.  Instead, we will bring him to the Night Safari in Singapore which he has long wanted to go but have never been materialised.  Perhaps, bake a chocolate cake with Ninja Turtle theme hopefully.

Today packed lunch was a Ninja turtle rice ball (onigiri flavoured with teriyaki sauce) with a strip of Japanese cucumber as the eye wrap.  On the sides were teriyaki chicken, strawberries, edamame and Japanese cucumber.









Banana man



# 329

 

I hope this banana man will crack you up a little.  It was a simple and healthy snack box I prepared for my son. 

 

These are some of his favourite lunches; Japanese egg salad sandwiches which receipe can be found here and penne pasta in creamy cheese sauce topped with roasted chicken drumstick meat and Japanese fish roe.

 

What is your kid's favourite food?

 

Have a nice weekend ahead!

 



 

 



Pluto

# 328

As you can see, I have not been making any bento(s).  The little man has outgrown the cute cute lunch box I prepared previously.  However, I'm still very much inspired by fellow bento mum/blogger.  So I decided to make for myself instead.  My first karaben!!   Pluto was made of pumpkin mash and its face was cut out from crabstick and seaweed. In the box, I have cold soba (dipping sauce separated), blanched cauliflower/green pea, dumplings, mandarin oranges.  I'm still not used to eating cold food....haha... 

I have a dog at home too.  Nitro is his name and going 7 years old this October.   A shih tzu breed yet, an active one. He loves his food to the extent that I could only describe him - tamchiak! (hokkien for greedy for food).  He will patiently wait for his turn when he saw me cutting fruits for the family or when we had it in our mouth munching away.  Yes, our dinner place is his favourite place.  He might get lucky to pick up some crumbs when my son accidentally dropped his food at times.  Nitro, unlike some dogs, does not chew my shoes or cabinets. Sharing some of the characteristic of my dear Nitro here.

Things Nitro does for fun (or probably out of frustration) that I find it peculiar
Fiddle with small insects till dead
Shred tissue paper
Scratch the wall (resembles a dog digging on the ground)
Lick and eat the hairs off the floor
Chew his paws
Pee on my son's bed/mattress (out of jealousy)

Things Nitro fears
Lightning and thunder!  First he will sniff, then shiver/tremble and last, look for place to hide.  It's annoying during the raining season.  We could not get a good night sleep and always rudely awakened by his incessant scratching at our bedroom doors (note - we do not sleep with our dog).  He will also pee and poo in front of our doors.

And recently, he is scared by the sound came from our brand new water heater which is powered by gas.

Things Nitro loves and enjoys
Squeaky toys
Balls (we kept my boy's football away from Nitro)
Tug of war with toys or my old t-shirt
Food - boiled meat, fruits, treats, bread
Walk in the park

Things Nitro dislikes
Bathe time
Hair drying with a blower
Medicine

One of his sleeping position with one paw covering one of his ear. Nitro is a good companion and adorable like a baby at times.  However, he is a alpha male!

Nitro!

Superhero - Puppet Iron Man made from cereal box



To cheer up my son who was recuperating from his fever last week, I made this Iron Man from cereal box with reference from the following sites:

 

1. http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/11939/1/1/how-to-draw-iron-man-easy.htm
2. http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/11939/1/1/how-to-draw-iron-man-easy.htm
3. http://idrawgirls.com/tutorials/2012/05/12/how-to-draw-iron-man-mk-5/

 

Looking at the sketches, it was very daunting to work on the details.  I started with the mask and followed the step by step instructions closely.  Remarkably, the tutorial No. 1 above made it easy to draw.  However, I improvised a simple version for his body and limbs. Painted with yellow and red paints with the help of my boy who did a few pieces (thereafter went for a nap due to drowsiness caused by the medication).  Finish with outline in black marker. For the glow, I used aluminium foil.  Finally, Papa assisted by stapling the joints to allow movements of the limbs. 

 

Materials used :-

 

• A large cereal box
• Aluminium foil
• Black marker
• Red and yellow paint
• Staples

 

Hi, How do I look?



I'm stronger



Don't mess with me

Staple between the joints to allow movement

Unique horse craft

Fever is a very common childhood illness that every parents has a fair share of experience.  When my boy was down with fever, we will bring him to see the doctor.  Many a times, we came home with a bag full of medicine, including antibiotics sometimes.  I decided to allow my son's body to fight the fever last year thinking he's older now.   And he did healed and recovered pretty well in a few cases without medication.  Just by drinking plenty of water and letting him rested and slept as much as possible.  It was a difficult decision at first despite I had read a lot of articles about fever.  It is also harder to convince the old folks that it is not serious and alright to let the child fight the virus.

This time my boy's fever soared to 39.7 degrees on the second night which I felt it was a high grade fever that warrant a visit to the doctor.  Yet Papa did not agee and still insisted to continue sponge him was good enough. In the end, we consulted the doctor for fear the temperature would continue to rise and the diagnosis was upper respiratory infection. My boy was prescribed with medicine for his congested nose/dry cough and fever as well as antibiotics.  It's the fourth day now; stuffy/blocked nose and loss of appetite.  During the period, my son was still able to do things sensibly, play on his own and fairly alert.  He even could laugh and joke about the latest lego movie we watched in Malaysia.  On top of which, he sang "Everything is awesome" to our amusement.  Was he seriously ill?  Would he be able recuperate have he not gone to see a doctor despite a high fever?   At that point in time, I only have one thought in my mind i.e. better to be safe than sorry. 

On the lighter note, we made this horse craft together to kill his boredom at home.

• A kitchen towel toilet roll (body)
• Blue felt (mouth, face and ears)
• Light yellow crepe paper (crest)
• Wiggling eyes
• Buttons for the nostril
• Dark blue ribbon (Harness)
• Ice cream sticks (neck and legs)
• Different colours of threads (tail)
• Green and black colour papers (saddles)
• Tapes and glues
• Needle and threads

And unexpectedly, he drew a 'Do not Touch' sign to be displayed.  The signage is still there.

I did most of the parts since he was sick.  The unique of this craft was my son wanted a horse with not one but three saddles!

Updated 23 February 2014 - my son has recovered from fever on the 6th day.


Front view

Rear view

Close up

Linking up with :-



Valentine Day

#327

A belated post about Valentine Day.  Coincidentally, the western Valentine Day and Chinese Yuan Xiao Jie 元宵节 happened to fall on the same day this year 2014.  It's also know as Chap Go Meh in hokkien dialect. Chinese believes it's a celebration of first full moon on the 15th day of lunisolar calendar  and also marks the end of Chinese new year. 

For lunch, I cooked spaghetti topped with minced meat/Portobello mushroom with basilico sauce which I made a heart shape using a mould.  Plus a dollop of mozzarella cheese.  I also planted two tiny petals that I cut out from the green part of spring onion.  The basilico sauce (I used Barilla brand) was really yummy.  Having said that, my boy wiped clean the plate although he did hesitated at the first sight of mushroom. (To note, my son was not a mushroom lover).   That was after I explained that mushroom is like sponge and absorbed all the delicious sauce that he would not even taste the mushroom at all.  On the sides were blanched broccoli and Japanese cucumber.

For dinner, I attempted a mini hotpot at home and layered/arranged the ingredient inside the Chinese claypot.  For the soup base, I cheated using the Maggi chicken stock :P

• Wong bok (Chinese cabbage)
• Carrot
• Japanese pumpkin
• Spring onion
• Chicken breast (marinated with soya sauce, sesame oil, pepper and cornstarch)
• Fishball
• Fish fillet ((marinated with soya sauce, sesame oil, pepper and cornstarch)
• Crabstick
• An egg

You could add any types of food you like.  Lastly, generous splash of garlic oil (very important and makes a lot of difference on the taste).  It's ready to serve.  In addition, we had udon and glass noodles.  An easy one dish meal yet simple and delicious onValentine day.  I was pleased that both the boys like it so much!  Thanks to 五姑 who is so encouraging and taught me how to do it.

Layer vegetables at the bottom of the pt

Top layer - meat and egg