Baking my to way to Christmas

I must apologize...I am one day late.  Nevertheless, please allow me to still greet you all a 'Merry Christmas!'.  Hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday and are very much looking forward to the coming of a brand new year.

It's been a full-on baking week for me.  Made boxes and boxes of red velvet cupcakes to give away to family friends.  I've made this kind of cupcake several times for different occasions in the past two months and it has always been a big hit.  Topping the cupcakes with green coloured cream cheese frosting made them even more Christmassy!

For my brother and his family, though, I opted to bake something new and more special...

Chocolate/Green tea cupcakes!

It was my first attempt baking these. The cake was very light and moist, just the way I wanted it.  However, I did not put enough melted chocolate and so the chocolate portion turned out pale and lacking in flavour. I'll share the recipe next time when I perfect it, ok?

But here's one creation I am mighty proud of...

My Christmas pandan chiffon cake!  For an amateur cake decorator like me,  I think I did a pretty good job!

Here's what the cake looks like without frosting (but dusted lightly with icing sugar)...

I super, super love this cake!!!!  Discovered the recipe here sometime ago and have baked it several times.  Look no further because this is the best out there! 

Guess what I got for Christmas?  This... 

...a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer in beautiful candy apple red!  Am I lucky or what???  Well, lucky is not exactly the right word...but blessed...I am so blessed to have a family who supports me in what I love doing.  Remember when they gifted me with a sewing machine on my last birthday?  It's not so much about having these material things though.  I am a stay at home mom with four kids and I know that my husband, most especially, wants me to be fulfilled in whatever I choose to do, even if I am not working for pay outside the home. 

Well, that's it for now.  I must take a break from baking and sew something for a change.  Will be back real soon with some project, promise!

Have a great and safe new year ahead!