The revived Cupcake Culture

I know I know... the blog's been dead for a good 3 months! It's been a pretty tough 3 months for the chief baker. Why? Because during the past months:

1. she got promoted
2. she conducted baking classes for a group of out-of-school youths
3. she went through some ups and downs in her personal life
4. she took on some new additional roles that takes away some more of precious personal time

1. Yes, I got promoted at work. And that means more work, and more work, and more work. They say promotion is based on past performance, but more so on future potential for additional tasks. 'Nuff said.

2. Ahem! The chief baker is also now a chief teacher! *grins*...so how did I become a chief teacher? Ok. it's gonna get messy, so here goes: a church friend whose sister-in-law has an ex-colleague who works at a student care centre for out-of-school youths. She (the ex-colleague) text her (the church friend's sister-in-law) one day, asking her (the church friend's sister-in-law) if she has any contact of someone who can conduct simple baking classes for a group of out-of-school youths to inspire and interest them. So the sister-in-law asked the sister-in-law (my church friend) for a name, and the latter mentioned me!

After some hem and haw and much liason with the ex-colleague, I finally took on this challenge. I've never had contacts with out-of-school youths, so it was a jittery 1st lesson. To my surprise, this group of 9 youths were so well behaved. Though they may come from complicated family backgrounds, they were such nice people to teach. To see their face light up at a small encouragement just makes my day.

You see, many have told them that they cannot make it in life after dropping out of school, and I believe there are umpteen times these words have hurt them to the extent that they too may think likewise of themselves, causing them to be dejected towards life. But through the 2 lessons I had with them, I see potential chief bakers, wonderful caretakers and exceptional public relations executives! My parting words to them is that though they may not be good in their studies, they may have other skills that they can explore. I also made a point that I hope they can understand, and that is they are termed as out-of-school youths because they can't study while scholars are termed as such because they excel in their studies. However, if they can look at themselves from another point of view, they can be chief bakers while the scholars may be helpless-in-the-kitchens! It's just looking at things from a different perspective.

The baking classes are going to be a quarterly affair with the student care centre, and I'm looking forward to them!

3. *Private & confidential* If I tell you, I will have to kill you.. *nah, just joking*

4. as above in point 3


Now that you know what's been happening in my life, don't you think I should be forgiven for not posting? :P

Despite the schedule I have, I managed to squeeze in some orders:

Ordered by mummy for her girls

100 chocolatey chocolate mini-me's

The same mummy who ordered the above.

Her girls loved the cupcakes so much they requested

mummy to order again in the same week.

Some experiments I made.

I call this sloppy chocolate tower.

*Delicious*