Happy Hippo Birthday Cake

My first birthday cake made for my son's 5th birthday. Mini - 4" cake.

Every year, I asked my boy what he wants for his birthday cake. This year, he told me he wanted a hippopotamus on his cake for his birthday celebration in kindergarten. Where to find a hippo cake? Can't get it in those common bakery shops and those custom made one may cost me a bomb! After I discussed with my sister in law (she's an expert in cake decoration), she encourage me to make it myself.
And, this is what I have made for my boy... The very first birthday cake that I made for my son ~ A Happy Hippo Birthday Cake and Cupcakes for the kid's to bring home.

Happy Hippo Birthday Cupcakes

My first ever cupcake made for my son's 5th birthday celebration in his kindergarten. I do not have helper at home, doing all the house chores all by myself. The only time I can make his cake was at night after he slept. Took me 2 nights worked overtime until 2am to finish 20 cupcakes and 1 mini birthday cake decorations. For newbies like me....it's really not easy at all although they looks simple...

I am glad that my boy likes it so much! worth the effort and time spent. :)

Mini 4" round chocolate moist cake.

Roasted Almond (no syrup) 自制香脆杏仁（无糖浆）

I like nuts! Almond, walnut, macadamia nut, hazelnut.... They are delicious and nutritious, but I can't eat those pre-packed with seasoning, it makes my skin itchy. Perhaps I'm allergy to some of the ingredients in the seasoning.

I bought some raw almond, thought of making almond dessert but lately I was too busy with my house renovation and making my son's birthday party's stuffs.  Today, finally I had an hour free at home, so I made this crunchy snack for my boy to eat in the car while we drive back to our hometown. My dad and sis like almond too, I'm going to bring back some for them. Hope they'll like it.

Ingredients:


300g Raw Almond 杏仁 300克

100g Castor Sugar 糖 100克

1/2 Tsp Salt 盐 半小匙

1 Egg White 蛋白 1粒

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract 香草精 1小匙


If you are sharing this recipe, kindly attach the link to this blog instead of screen capture/ copy & paste/ use in your blog and claimed as your recipe! Thank you. 
如果您要分享此食谱，请联系这个部落格的相关链接。敬请不要复制或改篇为自己的食谱。谢谢！  

Method:

1. Preheat oven 170'C. Place almond on a lined baking tray in a single layer.
预热烤箱170度。把杏仁铺好。（看下图）

2. Bake 4 minutes on middle rack. Remove from oven and stir.
放进烤箱，烤4 分钟。拿出，翻一翻。

3. Bake 4 minutes on middle rack. Remove from oven, let it cool.
再烤4 分钟。取出，待凉。

4. In a clean bowl, combine sugar and salt.
把糖和盐混合。

5. Mix egg white and vanilla extract.
加入蛋白和香草精。

6. Stir in sugar and salt mixture. Add almond and coat well.
搅拌均匀后和烤好的杏仁混合均匀。

7. Transfer almond onto lined baking tray.
把杏仁铺在烤盘上。

8. Bake 160'C on middle rack, about 30 minutes. 
烤160度，30分钟。

9. Turn off heat. Let it stand in oven till dry.
烤好后等杏仁较干了才取出。

10. Remove from oven and let it cool completely. Keep in air tight container.
待凉后放进密封盒／罐。若喜欢我的食谱，可以LIKE和追随我的面书专页，不要错过最新食谱发布。

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Enjoy!

Some feedback from those who have tried this recipe:

By Angela Yen

By Angela Yen

By Lai Lai 

 By Liza Salleh and Quinta E Bama 

By Liza Salleh

By Quinta E Bama 

By Yufen Tai, made with Macademia nuts and walnuts.

Banana Walnut Bread (with chocolate chips/ Nutella swirl)

...with chocolate chips

.... with Nutella swirl

.... with Nutella swirl

I have made this many times using my air fryer. Last night, I have some over-ripe bananas at my pantry, so I asked my boy what he wants to bring to school for snack. Without a second thought, he told me to make banana bread for him. This little boy really loves this banana bread.



Ingredients: Make 8, with standard muffin cups

2 Ripe Bananas

1 Tbsp Apple Juice 

1 Egg (room temperature)

62g Unsalted Butter (Softened)

125g Self Raising Flour

1/4 Tsp Ground Cinnamon 

1 Tbsp Runny Honey

50g Raw Walnuts

Optional: 

20g Blackcurrant/ Raisin

Chocolate Chips/ Nutella

If you are sharing this recipe, kindly attach the link to this blog instead of screen capture/ copy & paste/ use in your blog and claimed as your recipe! Thank you. 

如果您要分享此食谱，请联系这个部落格的相关链接。敬请不要复制或改篇为自己的食谱。谢谢！ 


Method:

1. Preheat oven/ air fryer 180'C.

2. Mash the bananas. Stir in apple juice. 

3. In another bowl, use a hand mixer, beat butter till creamy and smooth. 

4. Add egg and beat until pale, creamy and smooth.

5. Add ground cinnamon into flour. Mix well.

6. Add in beaten egg mixture and banana mixture into the flour. Stir in honey, walnuts, raisin and chocolate chip. Do not over mix.

7. Pour the batter into the lined paper pan cup. (for Nutella swirl: topped 1/2 tsp of Nutella at the center and make the swirl with a bamboo skewer)

8. Bake for 30 minutes.

* Tips: Use either chocolate chips or Nutella. Do not add both to the bread, otherwise, it may turn out too sweet.

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Old Cucumber Pork Ribs Soup 老黄瓜排骨汤【具有滋阴润燥、清热解毒、祛湿等功效】

A nourishing Chinese soup that's good for the whole family especially on this scorching hot day as it has cooling effect. 

Ingredients: (yield 2-3 servings)
中文食谱：请在网页的右边点击Translate，然后选择中文翻译

250g Pork Bones/ Pork Ribs

1 Old Cucumber

1 Large Fig

2 Dried Scallops 

4-6 Seedless Red Dates 

2 Yu Zhu 玉竹 (optional)

Handful of Chinese Almond 南北杏 

Some salt to taste

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Method:

1. Blanch or rinse the pork bones/ ribs with hot boiling water. 

2. Place all the ingredients (except salt) in the cooking pot. Add 2 litre of hot water. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for 2 hours. Add salt to taste and serve warm.  If you're using a pressure cooker <<CLICK HERE>>  to view my pressure cooker soup recipe.

若喜欢我的食谱，可以LIKE和追随我的面书专页，不要错过最新食谱发布。

If you like my recipe, click here, LIKE & follow Miki's Food Archives Facebook page or follow us on Instagram: mfa_dingoozatfood  to receive more recipe updates. Remember to favourite my pages if you wish to see my post on your news feed. 

Enjoy!