Duo-Trio Layers Cake (Lapis Surabaya) - The Economic Version!

Some preggo crave for something during their pregnancy. Some are lucky enough to get what they wanted for. I was one of them. When pregnant with Bianca, 4years ago, I craved for this specific cake which require a lot of egg yolks, known as Lapis Surabaya. I do not know where it got its name from and why they pick Surabaya, a city in East Java to name it. Anyway, I got someone kind enough to make it for me at that time.
And when we moved to other town, I have no one to bake this cake, so I decided to try it on my own. But since, it was my first trial, I did not dare to use a lot of egg yolks, so I chose this economic version.
Oh, I got the recipe from here.

Ingredients:

A:
- 8 egg yolks
- 9 egg
- 300g fine granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 150g all purpose flour
- 1 tsp ovalet/emulsifier

B:
- 150g all purpose flour
- 25g corn starch

C:
- 250g melted margarine

D:
- 1/2 Tbsp rum
- 1 tsp chocolate paste

Filling
- strawberry jam

Directions:

Mix and whisk A until fluffy. Add B and mix it under low speed. Add C and mix it well. Divide into 2 or 3 part (as you like, you may use just 2 layers or 3). Take one part and add D into it and mix it well. Pour the batter into 22x22cm cookie tin/tray which was lined with parchment paper before (you may use 2 0r 3 trays according to how many layer you like). Bake at 175C for 25min until done. Cool it off. Take one layer and spread the filling and arrange another layer on top of it. Cut edges to complete.

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Green Tea Frappucino - would you do anything for love?

Many people say they would do anything for love, but how far would you really go? Some are willing to go to the ends of the earth for their significant others (read: I gave up my comfort zone in Australia and moved to a cold place called "Can I duh?" to unite w/ my ex-boyfriend-now husband), while others are not so ready to give up their freedom and still make a way to keep the relationship strong.
Found a nice quote about it recently: Do everything with so much love in your heart that you would never want to do it any other way (Yogi Desai).
Okay, I would not say much about this love and sacrifice things, instead I would like to share our drink related experience.

One of those hot summer days, we went to Starbucks to get something cool to drink. I got this green tea frappe, and husband got something else, dont remember what it was. Then he took a sip of mine, and since then he loves this drink. We then often go to Starbucks just to get this particular addicting drink. Since he loves it that much, I thought I would try to make it on my own (and I've already stocked up some green tea powder before) just for convenience, so that I can make it every time he wants it (am I doing anything for love here? you may say so). I browsed around on the net, and found many recipes, quite similar though. Thus I tried mixing and combining, and here is my version of green tea frappe. Would you do anything for love?

Ingredients:
- 1.5 tsp green tea powder
- 120ml hot water (not boiling)
- 2Tbsp of sweet condensed milk (may be replaced with granulated sugar)
- 120ml fresh 2% milk
- 60ml cream
- ice cubes
Optional: vanilla flavoured syrup

topping:
whipped cream

Directions:
Dissolve the green tea powder in hot water, add sweet condensed milk and mix it well. Transfer it in a blender, add milk, cream and ice cubes and blend it until smooth. Pour it in a tall glass and spray the whipped cream on top.
The recipe is good for 2 tall glasses.

Note: you may blend it without ice cubes, then keep it in a freezer until half frozen. Take it out and blend it again briefly. The result will be smoother.