These Muffins are meant to be Eaten, or for Easter

It is just one thing to buy muffins from the store, and another to have them as surprise treats presented to you (and the family).
I am a fan of muffins, well, kind of anyway, as like most of the things that I like, I am quite particular with the types of muffins and how I really want them to be like.
I don't appreciate sweet stuffs; I really do not, and I could even feel nauseous if it is just too sweet for me.
I don't like it to be too mushy either; you know the kind where it is an in-between of stale hard and squished soft with that extra moisture, especially moisture, I could throw the whole thing away if there is that moist because it just makes me feel sick to the stomach.
Yes, I can't stand it when my pastries are just too moist; especially when it comes to muffins, but that's me.

It is again, really hard for me to find a place which sells or even bakes really good muffins, but there is this girl who is just so passionate and spends her time learning and perfecting her baking that she saved me that effort from the search.
She is really busy with work too, and that itself brought more meaning to the lot she specially prepared and baked for occasions and even occasionally, just to share her passion with everyone.
I love that the muffins were baked with careful thought put into it, and that itself scored higher than most off-the-shelf muffins I bought from bakeries and confectioneries.

This year's Easter was made special with this special batch of muffins; and I loved the flavors and theme altogether.
She just knows how to tug at my heartstrings and my picky tastes.

Now, how could anyone not fall in love with such a warm combination of colors; vibrant and just screaming of exuberance while appearing temptingly soft in that just-out-of-heaven kind of appearance?



Starting off with this Carrot with Walnut Muffin, which is just so adorably sized (and shaped)!

Bright orange with that smooth reflective top is just striking indication of the softness of the muffin sparingly filled with little walnuts in it.
The dome-shape is just a unique presentation of this simple appearance of the muffin.
Never judge the muffin by its dome shape, for the tiny threads of carrot strips line the insides of the muffin with the little beads of walnuts embedded in them.



There is just no photo to show the inside of the muffin (I should have snapped one before it was devoured), but it was perfectly justifiable for the petite size just makes for a few bites before it just disappears down the trachea.

The Carrot muffin was a warm starter, but my heart was truly captured by this Green Tea Muffin with Red Beans!
I am just so obsessed with anything in this combo; it is just perfect to melt my heart - of course, if it was done right.




Everything in this muffin was handmade, and done from scratch; including that gorgeous top overlay of red bean paste.
If there is anything I could accept mashed, it's definitely this red bean paste.
It is so hard for me to find this muffin baked with the exact combination and the ones I have found were somewhat lacking in that satisfaction factor for my personal tastes.
This aspiring baker definitely found that tweak in her recipe to make it tailored to satisfy that picky taste buds in me; with that moderate texture of the green tea muffin complemented by the sweet and thrilling taste of the red bean paste.
It was not too sweet, and there were no additional sugar or sweetener added into it.
I would love a little more green tea packed into it and just a little softness or slight percentage of moisture perhaps?
But that's just me.



It was just so good, that I even tried to save one for the next day, and I was just so disappointed when I got home and the only one left was the carrot muffin.



I am sorry, you do look a little sad but I just cannot help it.
Alone you may be the star, but next to the other, you are in second place.


No offense, for I don't hate the carrot muffin; I just wanted and craved for that green tea with red bean version.

Yes, it is definitely good enough to "Share and Enjoy"



I think I need to request for another batch of muffins, personally for me and keep them away from the rest of the family?

Just kidding....or Not...






Note: I don't bake these, they are baked by a talented baker who is someone very dear to my family.
If she is accepting orders, I will let you guys know.

This is not exactly a review, but more of a sentimental post dedicated to my new muffin love.
Even muffins got to have some love, and of course, thank you dearest baker; that beautiful girl who always bakes for our family for this wonderful treat, for Easter.

It is definitely meant for Easter, and to be eaten....

Celebrate Mid Autumn with Gartien's Pineapple Cakes

Mid Autumn, celebrated on the 15th of the 8th Lunar month in the Chinese calendar is one of the important festivals observed by the Chinese community; marked by the appearance of a full moon on this auspicious date every year.
Like all festivals, the Mid Autumn centers on the reunion of families and friends, gathering to enjoy quality time and sharing goodness through gifts of food, love and laughter.
The Mid Autumn is traditionally celebrated with the baked pastry; a carefully carved mould of a light brown cake with sweet fillings which are known as a delicacy and fondly referred to as the moon cake; with respectful connotations to the theme of the festival.

Moon cakes are soft moulded pastries, baked to golden brown and are available with the various types of fillings; from red bean to lotus paste, and even nuts or the prized yolk to tempt the spirit of festivities among the celebrating folks. The tradition continues until this very day, with variants of representatives of the moon cakes or even pastries, stemming from the creative minds of the new generation to spice the traditions a little with a more refreshing twist.

If you are looking for an interesting gift or a fresh way of celebrating the Mid Autumn, Gartien's Pineapple Cakes may just be the answer for you.



The traditional home recipes of these handmade buttery shortcakes, filled with luscious amounts of fresh pineapple fillings harvested from nearby plantations are just wonderful additions, if not replacements to the usual moon cakes during the festivities.




Gartien is a household name originating from the island of Penang, having started their business there a few years ago, specializing in homemade pineapple cakes. A delicacy which many may have experienced with the Taiwanese version, is now available in our very own turf, and Gartien weaves them all together to give these pineapple cakes their very own identities with their home recipe.



From the fresh and real pineapples, which are delivered on a weekly basis, these are cut into small pieces, manually, by hand; which is a necessary process to maintain the natural tastes and qualities of the fruit though it is time-consuming. The pineapples are then cooked for 12 hours, slowly and steadily to its golden brown perfection and rich in texture, and is an excellent companion to the buttery form of the shortbread pastry.
Together, the pastry is then baked to produce these luxuriously decadent cakes wrapped beautifully in their individual parcels.



I was delighted to be a part of the reviewer team to enjoy these famous pineapple cakes which many have raved about around the island.
The pineapple cakes arrived in a festive packaging, along with a paper bag suited for gifting purposes among friends and families.





Each pineapple cake is carefully wrapped and sealed, whereupon the light aroma of butter fills one's nose when the package is unwrapped.





The pineapple cake is solid, yet gentle with one's grasp as it firmly holds the generous amount of fresh pineapple filling held together in that highly dense mixture.

There is definitely more than enough of the paste which paired well with the buttery shortcake; and can even shake off the odd feeling of overwhelming dairy aftertaste for those who are less than enthusiastic about dairy tastes.




I like that the pineapple paste was rich in its ingredients; where I could actually taste the distinctive tastes of the pineapples, and yet, it was not overly sweet in its flavor.
It would not have been good for me if it was tad a bit too sweet than it is, as I am not one with a sweet tooth and this did it well for me; a perfect blend between the pastry and the filling.



One piece would have been satisfying; with its compact size and high density of power-packed ingredients made with love and I bet many would still reach for another piece.
It is definitely a perfect treat for any festivity, or even throughout the whole year; paired with a hot cup of tea and a great companion to enjoy a friendly banter under the sun, and of course, the moon.
After all, we are talking about their latest Mid Autumn theme, aren't we?


Gartien's Pineapple cakes are available all year round, as these babies are the pride of their bakery.

The signature pineapple cakes come in a box of 10 pieces; priced at MYR45.00 per box.

Gartien is currently proud to launch their Mid Autumn promotion; which comes in an attractive festive packaging in conjunction with the celebrations.
Also, early birds who are interested in purchasing these cakes for the Mid Autumn festivals can enjoy more privileges and value for their pineapple treats.

For 5 Boxes and Above, ordered BEFORE the 4th of August, will be entitled to ONE Box for FREE.

Bookings AFTER the 4th of August, subject to the availability, for 10 Boxes and Above, will be entitled to ONE Box for Free.


The price per box is at MYR45.00, for collection and Direct purchase from the Box.

Gartien does deliver to the whole of Malaysia; so for those who are interested in these pineapple cakes but are not residing in Penang need not worry for orders can be placed and you will receive these via courier.
The delivery charges do apply:
Additional MYR10.00 for Peninsular Malaysia  (MYR45.00+MYR10.00)
Additional MYR40.00 for East Malaysia    (MYR45.00 + MYR40.00)


Spice up your Mid Autumn with a little more variety, with this special edition and packaging from Gartien's Mid Autumn Pineapple Cakes version and enjoy sharing these cakes with your loved ones, while watching the surprises when you spring these famous pineapple cakes besides the traditional moon cakes at the parties :-)

Company: Gartien 小田佳园
Address: 380, Jalan Penang, 10000 Penang, Malaysia. (next to Kek Seng Coffee Shop/格成茶室)
Contact: 604-229 0068Business Hours: 9.00am-6.00pm dailyGPS: 5.416298, 100.329380



Gartien will be relocating to their new premises on Penang Road, right next to the famous Kek Seng Coffee Shop.






































Their official opening is set on the 20th of July 2014!

















For more information on Gartien, check out their website here

It is definitely going to be a very unique Mid Autumn, it's not going to be all about the moon and the traditional moon cakes, but pineapple cakes may be creeping into the trend soon, and you can be the trend setter! ;-)

Lunar New Year Food Diary: Festive food and meaning (Part 2)

The Chinese take their festive seasons seriously, and take pride in incorporating the auspicious items as part of the celebration as symbols of the good fortune. The Lunar New Year; or more commonly known as the Chinese New Year in this part of the world, is one of the most important celebration observed by the Chinese for it signifies the arrival of Spring and is where the brand new year starts. The Chinese is very superstitious too, especially when it comes to the beginning and they take particular attention to the details to ensure that everything resets and that all bad things are to be cast away or put at the back of the mind as part of the past and they look forward to a good beginning. Therefore, everything must be meaningful and can only bring good omen; even the names of the food are all given to signify prosperity, well-being, happiness and all positive wishes.

Following my earlier post on the cookies and the platter of goodies displayed at home during this festive season, in this post, I will just share on a few auspicious items often seen during the Lunar New Year and the reasons behind their appearance. Not really a dictionary or wikipedia, but just a simple sharing of the photos and meaning to the Chinese community during this auspicious occasion.

Mandarin Oranges (柑) are the most common and important fruit/symbol during this season.
The Chinese name; Kan, is similar in its sound to the other word (金 ); which means Gold. It is supposed to be a symbol of prosperity and wealth. Also, this fruit typically ripens as it approaches Spring and is naturally introduced to the festive celebration. Furthermore, the color of the fruit and the round shape make it even more appealing to the Chinese as an auspicious symbol.

While it is similar on the exterior to the oranges, the mandarins are only slightly smaller and its skin can be easily peeled to reveal its inner fruit. This is another important factor as the first day of the Lunar New Year does not allow the use of sharp objects; knives and scissors and therefore this can be easily consumed with just a peel away.







Pomelo is usually seen during the Mooncake festival, but it is still an auspicious symbol for its name in Cantonese, 'Lok Yau' means have; and can be associated with being able to have anything one wishes for.


A fresh pomelo; or the preferred type of pomelo is with its stem and leaf attached as it usually means that it was freshly plucked from the tree. Also, the leaves from the pomelo tree are often used for its medicinal and also religious properties. From the religious aspect, the pomelo leaves are believed to be able to cast away evil or ward off bad luck. It was rather common among the Chinese community and was even depicted in the movies, where the unlucky folks will always be swept with the pomelo leaves or encouraged to bathe with the pomelo leaves in the water to wash off the misfortune.
For medicinal properties, I was told that the thick skin of the pomelo can be dried and then can be used to treat ailments (though I am not sure what type of ailment).



We were quite lucky for the pomelo appeared to be a 'navel' type, lol, with a tiny pomelo grown inside the pomelo itself.





I love this fruit, and as you can see, this is a type of citrus fruit. While there are many who loves sweet fruits, this unique fruit is best if it is of the sweet, sour with a tinge of light bitterness at the end and it can be a refreshing and cooling treat to combat those heat from the consumption of all the cookies during the festive season.

For those who prepares for deity worship, the following are also the items which they usually like to prepare as offerings to the gods and deities for blessings over the family throughout the year.

A cake; any cake will do actually, although most of the time, the butter pound cake is seen at most of the shops during the festive season. It doesn't cost much, and it is usually packed with a red ominous character stuck on top of the package.



Another type of cake is this Prosperity Cake; or Huat Kueh (in Hokkien) and Fat Kou (in Cantonese) - pretty much means prosperity in short.



This cake is also commonly seen during the celebration of the the 1st and 15th of every lunar month as offerings to the deities on these days, and therefore is also an auspicious item to be consumed even more so in the first month of the brand new year. As its name suggests, it is to wish for prosperity and the good fortune to come into one's life and also their family's throughout the year. It would be even better if they can prosper and grow rich; the common wishes/thoughts which go through the minds of those who consume it.



Hope you have enjoyed the sharing on the festive food and their meanings, and while the festive celebration of the Lunar New Year has ended last Friday, there are still more goodies and photos coming your way in my blog.

To a great new HorseY year ahead!~~

Lunar New Year Food Photo Diary: Goodies to share around

The Lunar New Year is coming to an end, and I am going to compile a list of the festive goodies seen during this season; especially those appearing in my sight (home).
While there are those who may not be in the mood to celebrate due to various reasons, or unable to celebrate, it is still no reason not to fill ourselves with the festivity and cheer to make ourselves happy. The festive mood this year was probably slightly dampened due to economic situation and also anxiety everywhere around the world, but there is still that glitter of hope and one can make a change. It may seem like a rough road, but do not let our spirits down. What better way to build up our hopes than to usher in a brand new year with the arrival of the Lunar Spring, shortly after the celebration of the grand New Year on January 1?
Indeed, the days WILL get better, and the very first thing we should do is to make ourselves happy and spread the love and joy to those around us. It could be a stranger, or our loved ones, but it will make a difference. Happiness is indeed a choice.

Now, back to my post, in conjunction with the last day of the Lunar New Year celebration and I am about to wrap up the festive food diary series (there is probably only one or two posts left!), I have compiled a round of goodies/snacks typically found during the festive season where they are made to share around.
Of course, I couldn't possibly compile the full list for there are just endless varieties of cookies and snacks out there! The following are just the interesting ones I have captured from the comforts of my own home and those from homes I have visited, just to share and spread the festive cheer around!
(I am NOT responsible for any craving or misbehavior over the hunt for these goodies, LOL!)



The typical platter of goodies prepared at every home filled with an assortment of sweets and cookies for the visiting guests during the festive season.



Sweet candied gummies; which are usually the most commonly spotted in most of these platters appearing at almost every home. Reason is simple enough; these are obviously the treats for the little ones. Children just love sweets, especially these soft and chewy gummies which are flavorful, colorful and even smells of the fruity scent when one bites into them.
If you have noticed, most of the festive food are always sweet, and for the Lunar New Year, the Chinese believe that the sweet food can bring a year of happiness, filled with sweet and lovely things ahead.



Kuih Bangkit (Tapioca cookies)
These are one of the must have cookies for the festive season; and one of the traditional cookies which is on almost everyone's favorite list. The best type? Those that are fragrant and crisp on the outside but 'pops' and melts in the mouth.





Peanut cookies




A variety of preserved and candied fruits









Roasted nuts


Kuih Kapit or the traditional Love letters
Thin and usually triangular-shapped; this is another traditional must-have during the festive season.




Kok Chai (Mini Crispy dumplings filled with peanuts, or also known as mini peanut puffs)




Hong Kong Egg Rolls





How was your platter of goodies like?
Perhaps you had more?
Do you usually maintain/refill the same goodies, or do you replace with others periodically throughout the 15 days?




More Goodies coming up next....