MIB

No, it's not MEN IN BLACK. It is Me In Bakery lesson. Hehehe, it is Malaysian Institute of Baking, must pay tribute a bit lah, after all, people taught us some good secrets.




And at the same time, must thank also lah the organiser in CloveTwo and AMBP.

Okay, now that I am done with the currying (hint! hint! wink! wink! - let me win more contests, hehehe) , let me thank all who are concerned again for the opportunity. Beside learning how to bake (and may I say, wonderously and the result is wonderfully), we got some free gifts to boot. Let me see, what's the best to list down, erm, yah, MIB aprons, caps, Flavour magazines AND loads and loads of self-made cakes, breads and cookies. There goes my diet.....

In the process (will elaborate later), also get to know some bloggers too, chiefly being my partner in crime, err, bake, Loh aka Hurley aka Save The Cheeze (geez, I didn't know cheese needs saving, you probably have to save ME from the cheese instead!!), the ever bubbly and cheerful +sizeKitten aka Miu aka Tammy, aka many other aliases as she is quite popular, it seemed (already green with envy - pass some traffics over here, would'ya!!)

Go and see their blogs, very interesting take and perspective of life. Probably most bloggers have about the same wavelengths, I supposed. Except that mine is like a scrap book, anything that takes my fancy goes inside into the blog....No theme whatsoever....

Okay, now to the event proper.....drum roll please.......

I left home about 7.30 a.m, was expecting traffic jam and not wanting to keep people waiting, that's why I left around that time (from Port Klang, mind you!) Surprise, surprise, traffic is smooth with no hint to jam whatsoever. I guess, not trying to get in other's nerves, in a hindsight, the petrol increase does bring some advantages with less cars prowling the roads. It is good for the environment, lesser carbon print per person then.

When I got there, it was like 8.15 a.m, still too early. I still managed to bank in some cheques, hehehe. Anyway, when it's time, we registered and were given some basic stuffs, ie, aprons, recipe books and caps. There was one auntie in front of me who didn't get a place but came nevertheless, thinking that it is opened to public. The staffers, from The Star I think, apologised and told her nicely that it is not opened to public. How sweet of them...Anyway, I think this persistent auntie didn't give up and I saw her in the lesson, in most probablity, she replaced some participants who failed to turn up. I guess, persistence does pay in the end.

I don't remember much of the lesson actually, except that in bread baking, butter must be the last to be added. That is good enough for me because I am more a bread man than a cake man.

I partnered with my new friend, Loh of Save The Cheeze and my wife, who my partner for the lesson. Loh didn't get his partner to come due to some last minute engagement, so, we have 3 students only in our group. Anyway, to cut long story short, we got creative, played around with dough and make some fancy designed breads and cookies. I must mention that all of it tastes fabulicious. Master means mastar (that's me lah, lol)

Now, to the out of extraordinary part, which could have spoilt our day but being Malaysians, we are "cin cai" - "tidak apa" etc etc, though, inside heart, frust also lah.

First one - our chocolate mix got switched. Ours were so smooth, Loh and I spent a lot of energy whisking it, with TLC. It was switched with someone else's which is clumpy and coarse. It happened when we were busy monitoring the meringue (I got the spelling right thanks to anonymous friend - comments posted as follows, I also don't know who is she since she shy, prefer to keep low profile) at the mixer machine. Even our "sifu" was a bit geram but nevermindlah, all is in good fun and unintentionally.

Second one - one of our cake was given to another table (I think another blogger) because theirs failed in baking, due to some wrong mixture. Otherwise, we would have 4 cakes for the 3 of us instead of one each.

Third one - all our utensils ALWAYS got borrowed, missing, taken etc etc. I guess, in future, do not take middle table, it is so "on the way" and always at the "centre of attention" (hint hint to organiser - we deserve a medal for the most cincai and generous team)

Anyway, all is well that ends well. Our cakes turned out fine despite a bit coarse but still taste fantastic nevertheless. Bread is superb. Cookies are good too. Overall, we enjoyed the session very much and I would suggest to try it at least once. Oh, I forgot to mention one very important thing, you get to STAND ON YOUR FEET for like 4 hours. You don't realise that until you sit down. So, please, be more appreciative of the breads and cakes we buy, people spend long hours on their feet to make it for us. Which actually goes for all the food anyway.

Well, I think for a day, this is some experience and I am glad I joined the AMBP which gave me the chance to let me find out if I have some baking skills in me (I do!!!)

That's all for the day folks, ciao..