Baking kind of afternoon

Initially i was going for a loaf of bread based on a recipe i found here, but it turned out i don't have that fancy kind of dutch oven, and unwilling to purchase one just for the sake of an impulsive baking session on a Saturday afternoon, i switched gear and went with a fast and easy lemon sponge pie. I get to prepare, bake, and eat them all within 2 hours. Yes, efficiency is the key ingredient in my cookbook.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, separated
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup milk
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked

Preparation:

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, lemon zest, lemon juice, milk, and egg yolks. Gently fold egg whites into mixture. Pour mixture into pastry-lined pie pan. Bake lemon sponge pie at 350° for 40 minutes, or until done.

Here comes the lesson I learned:
beating egg white with a pair of chopsticks are just morally wrong.
Do you know how long it takes to beat the white to "stiff peaks form"
After more than 30 minutes of intensive workout, my arm is sored, my neck is tense, and honestly, I just don't care about stiff peaks form at that point. I think it looks good enough and dump it in the mixture, but we all know well it would take another good 15-20 mins of good beating to get to that stage of perfection. I gave up voluntarily and told myself there will be no more baking until I steal an egg beater from my parents' house next time.

How does it taste, though?
texture was ok. For an inexperienced person like me, i wasn't sure what a sponge pie looks like, so i take what I can get, and it doesn't look bad, either. However, for some odd reason I forgot to add the sugar, and I didn't find out about this missing ingredient until half way through the baking. Since it is too late to fix anything, i sprinkle some brown sugar on the top to make it sparkles. All I can say is better luck next time because i will be sure to add the sweet.



all set up and ready to for their steamy bath at 350F.


you will be so much better with sugar. *sigh*

Spring is a great time to try new things

After that shocking morning snow on April 1st, i want to say that winter has officially ended. Today is the first day I can actually open my screen door and feeling that lovely spring breeze coming by. I can't wait to enjoy next 6 months of sunshine ( actually, only 3 months of spring, summer is more like a heat wave) here is Yak.

Spring symbolizes a new beginning. It is also great time to try out new things. Economy as bad as it is, there is no better time to shop, shop, and shop. Crazy sales has become my new best friend, and I get to buy more things, and try out new products more than ever.

Mary Kay Cosmetics
One of my co-workers hosted a skincare party a few weeks ago. Because my facial lotion is running low, there is no better time to attend this kind of party. After trying their entire line from cleanser to moisturiser, I ended up with their night gel solution, and anti-aging facial lotion.

Lotion is something I always use, but this lotion absorbs a lot faster than shiseido I am currently using. As soon as i put it on, lotion immediately disappeared. It makes me wonder if my skin is too dry, and therefore it is crying for a stronger dose?

The night solution is serum that is used right before lotion. It is a bottle of nutrients that provides all the vitamin needed for maintaining beautiful skin. It feels wonderfully to put it on right after my toner, and this will be a great addition to my current skincare routine at night.

of course, neither of those products is on sale, and i probably shouldn't be buying name brand that costs a fortune. What can I say? I am a sucker when it comes to skincare products.