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Gong Xi Fa Chai & Happy Valentine's Day!

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Posted on Sunday, February 14, 2010 | By: Iron Chef Shellie

Category : , ,

Wishing you all a very happy Chinese New Year... and Valentine's Day!
There will be more posts to come involving these two events. We had 22 people at my place last night bringing in the year of the tiger, with food coming out the wazoo! I will also be cooking a romantic meal for Hamsley as I for Valentine's Day, as part of the cookbook challenge's "love" theme.

I was going to make a few things for the new year's eve feast. I wanted to make coconut chicken wonton cases; but they seemed more work than they were worth. I was going to make Poh's coconut lace pancakes after seeing them on Not Quite Nigella... but mum was no longer making curry. Then there were a few desserts I wanted to try, but had never made before. I didn't want my dessert to fail, and I really just wanted to make some Chinese New Year cupcakes. I thought I'd make tiger cupcakes, but I didn't want them to be tragically ugly. So after a bit of google-ing around, I stumbled onto Simply Cake and found my solution. I was already planning on baking red velvet cupcakes for Valentine's Day, so I just thought I'd whip up a double batch whilst I was at it. I've made them before, and the recipe can be found here. I couldn't find buttermilk at the supermarket for the first time ever, so I made my own with 1 tablespoon white vinegar (or lemon juice), then fill it up to the 1 cup mark with milk. Leave it for 5 minutes, then use as the recipe requires.

The red represents health, the gold represents prosperity.

I did however steal Not Quite Nigella's idea of putting Aldi jam hearts on top of red velvet cupcakes. I baked the cupcakes in heart shaped moulds I picked up on sale at Sportsgirl just before Christmas!

16 comments:

Hannah said on February 14, 2010 at 8:02 AM

I love the idea of contrasting the red and gold (aside from the meaningfulness of it all, that is :P) And who knew Sportsgirl sold cooking implementy things?!
Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse) said on February 14, 2010 at 10:23 AM

Heart-shaped cupcake moulds from Sportsgirl?! I need to get out more =p

Happy New Year!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said on February 14, 2010 at 12:19 PM

Happy Chinese New Year Shellie! :D Your cupcakes look awesome, both sets! What a sweet way to ring in the New Year! :D
Jo - SecondHelping said on February 14, 2010 at 5:00 PM

Happy Chinese New Year!

Beautiful photos - the cupcakes look amazing.
BuBbles said on February 14, 2010 at 5:19 PM

Oooh, the cupcakes look fabulous and I bet they were tasty!

Happy Chinese New Year to you too and hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day.
Jeanne said on February 14, 2010 at 6:44 PM

Just sooooo cute Shellie, and very romantic. You have really got that winning touch, with everything you cook up, :-) Have a wonderful 'Chinese New Year' and a 'Happy Valentines Day' with Hamsley, hoping you both had a wonderful day.
Hugs,
Jeanne.x :-)
Sarah said on February 14, 2010 at 7:20 PM

Love those cupcakes! So cute.

Happy new year!!

xox Sarahc
Anonymous said on February 14, 2010 at 7:28 PM

Beautiful styling! Happy CNY and Valentine's to you!
Conor @ HoldtheBeef said on February 14, 2010 at 8:20 PM

Haha, after my pirate party last night I'm sick of the sight of gold coins, but these cupcakes look awesome. So cute with the hearts too. Happy CNY and Valentine's :)
Cakelaw said on February 15, 2010 at 9:29 AM

These are gorgeous cupcakes - I like both the one with coins and the ones with the hearts. Interesting about the significance of the red and the gold. Happy Chinese New Year and hope you had a great Valentines Day!
emma said on February 15, 2010 at 11:43 AM

you've been a busy bee and it all looks fantastic!
i want one :(
Anonymous said on February 15, 2010 at 2:06 PM

what a great idea! the cupcakes look fantastic
penny aka jeroxie said on February 15, 2010 at 10:42 PM

Gong Xi Fa Cai! I love them all. So cute. Must be super yummy too
Iron Chef Shellie said on February 16, 2010 at 12:21 PM

Hi Hannah - Thank you! I had no idea either!

Hi Mademoiselle Delicieuse - haha it's the only thing I've bought from them in a while!

Hi Lorraine - And to you too! Thank you :)

Hi Jo - And to you too! Thank you!

Hi BuBbles - Thank you, they sure were!

Hi Jeanne - Thank you!

Hi Sarah - Thank you! You too :)

Hi Ellie - Thank you! I bought the bamboo steamer just for it ;)

Hi Conor - Oh no! Hope it went well though!

Hi Cakelaw - Thank you! And to you too!

Hi Emma - I certainly have! Sorry darl :(

Hi I'm A Sugar Junkie - Thanks! I tried my best!

Hi Penny - Thank you! They certainly were =)
Esz said on February 18, 2010 at 3:21 AM

Oh they're so pretty! (sorry about the late comment, I am so behind on my blog reading lately!). I hope you had a fantastic New Year celebration and a great V day too :-D
Two fit and fun gals said on February 18, 2010 at 9:38 AM

lovely presentation Shellie :O)

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