My Oven

This is my humble oven that I use for baking cookies and cakes :)

Jerome bought it a couple of years back. The in-built oven in the condo kitchen was spoilt as I didn't use it often enough. The repair guy came and said that we need to change the heating element in the oven and that cost a few hundred dollars. Of course we didn't change it as I didn't use the oven often then. But I've always thought that an oven is an essential piece of equipment in the kitchen. Well, at least for me. On the other hand, I don't have a microwave at home. Had wanted to get a smaller oven, but Jerome kept saying no as I don't really use it.

Then on my birthday, when I returned home from work, Jerome said he got me a big present and led me to the guest room. There on the bed was a huge box covered by the blanket. There was a 'birthday card' right on top. It was an A4 piece of white paper with "Happy... Birthday, Babe!" written with a black marker. He was grinning and wanted me to guess what he got for me...

I looked at him, smiled and said without hesitation, "An oven." 

He said I know him so well...

I thanked him for getting me a present that I wanted...

I like my oven. It has served me well. It's still in very good condition. 

I like it... but not really as a birthday present... 

Ermm.... it's like the rice cooker is spoilt, your husband bought a new one and said it's your birthday present...

I've been telling him that I like a Cuisinart Kitchen mixer. 

Now I doubt he's gonna get me one for my next birthday. 

Life's not perfect, but it's still good...

My Wilton Cake Decorating Tool Box

Actually invested this tool box last year as I got into cake decorating. Was thinking of signing up for a Wilton Cake decorating class but spent the $ on investing on the tools instead. Jerome has his toolbox for fishing and I've got my own toolbox too!

The box came with some basic tips and food colouring... 

More room for expansion...

I need to practice more on my own...

Wilton's Cake Leveler

This is the Wilton's Cake Leveler that I bought ((below $10) from Phoon Huat. I used it mainly to help me cut the cakes horizontally before sandwiching them with cream. The stainless steel string is adjustable in height. There are markings on the 'legs' so that you can adjust the string accordingly. I find that cutting the cake is a breeze using this simple tool. Just place the cake on a leveled surface and place the leveler on the table and guide the tool and hence the string through the cake to get a straight & even cut. Minimal crumbs, especially if you allow the cake to chill in the fridge first. I've also discovered a new use for this- cutting up cheesecakes!

Wilton's Cake Leveler Tool

Markings on the legs to adjust the height of the string

The Skewer

Stainless Steel Skewer

I bought this stainless steel skewer from Phoon Huat a few years back and it's really one of my essential tools in my kitchen. An inexperienced cook & a bad time-keeper, I've performed countless "Skewer tests" with this small but mightly tool. I'll poke it through all kinds of food to see if they're cooked.

1) Poke through potatoes to see if they go through easily.

2) Poke through a cake and check that it comes out clean.

3) Poke through a chicken thigh to see if it pokes through easily and that no blood flows.

4) Poke through fish to see if it pokes through easily.