Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Tribute to Mum


I took these photos last year to pay tribute to and honour my mum. I hadn't ventured into Blogland yet at that time, so I'll show a few of them here this year seeing that Mother's Day is only a few days away.
Roses, lace, dresses, hats, pearls, fragrant soaps, ......... these are some of women's favourite things.My mum is like a friend who understands, who prays for us, who taught me Godly values and many practical things in life. Her tenacity and hard working qualities are an example to me.

Mum was the one who taught me "Ice cream is not for breakfast", she taught me how to type, sew, smock(not smoke) and do cross-stitch embroidery. Mum was always the fastest typist in the world when I was little, she used to type all dad's business letters and it was such a familiar sound and scene when mum would just tap tap tapping typing away on the typewriter some time during the day. Mum is a great orchid gardener, she used to grow these amazing and exotic looking orchids. I also remember doing some cushion embroidery projects with mum and she would be the one to finish off projects for me which I'd started but never finished.
Mum believes in prayers, she's a prayer warrior and she prays without ceasing for all of us. Once I had pre-term painless labour which was rather worrying as it was intense and continued for quite some time, then as sudden as it came, it stopped and everything was fine again. I found out later that mum was woken up out of her sleep that night and felt the intense need to pray for me, so she did, she prayed and prayed until she felt that she could go back to bed again. We compared notes and I asked her the time and date, it was exactly the same time when I had the preterm labour attack that she was praying for me. She's encouraged me to believe God and contend in prayers and we've seen God work miracles in ours and many others' lives.I learnt a lot of things just by watching mum do it. I learnt how to cook by standing next to mum while she was cooking. I learnt how to clean by watching mum clean. Her philosophy still resounds clearly in my ears, "If you clean your kitchen every time after a meal, you won't have to do a big clean up". She's also a great believer of cleaning while you cook, so you don't end up with a big mess. I have to say mum was and is right. I do that too today. People often ask me if I cook around here, as they don't see dirt on my stovetop.The best part of all is I've got a friend in mum. She's one of my best friends. My mum comforts me when I don't feel great. She's always encouraging and she lifts my spirit up with words spoken in faith and love. I'm now striving to be that kind of a mum to my kids. I'd love my kids to call me their best friends when they have grown up.Also I baked and decorated this gateau(which is cake in French) the other day. It's for all of you mums. It looks like a lady's hat when served on this cake stand. I think it looks very feminine, it's oh-so-berry-rosy too! I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you sweet lovely mums a truly blessed and happy Mother's Day. May your lives shine and may God smile on you! Have a sweet sweet day on Sunday.

Edit Thanks to all of you sweet ladies who left your lovely comments here. Some of you have requested the recipe to the above gateau which I'm more than happy to share, here it is:

First, you bake this "Floating on Air" Sponge, you can get store-bought unfilled round sponge, but this recipe is so easy and homemade sponge definitely tastes better. It doesn't even ask you to seperate an egg and it's fail-proof. It's also very good for all your other desserts which call for a sponge, or some which don't necesarily need one. For example, we have this sponge with stewed pears (peeled, cored and sliced) and hot custard for a simple after dinner winter dessert.

Ingredients for Sponge:

4 eggs
3/4 cup Caster Sugar
1 cup self-raising flour
1 tablespoon cornflour
4 tablespoons boiling water
2 teaspoons butter

(1) Beat eggs with an electric beater in a medium-sized bowl until frothy.

(2) Gradually beat in sugar.

(3) Beat until sugar has dissolved and mixture is very thick and creamy-- about 10 minutes

(4) Sift flour and cornflour together. Gradually fold into creamed mixture. Do this lightly, making sure it's not added all at once.

(5) Combine water and butter. When butter melts, blend lightly into mixture.

(6) Pour mixture into 2 greased, floured and baking-paper-lined 20cm round cake tins. Bake in a moderate oven (180C) for 10 to 12 minutes or until cakes begin to shrink from the sides of the tin and is springy to touch.

Ingredients for cream:

250g punnet strawberries, hulled and diced
1/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (or any other berries)
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
300ml tub thickened cream
2 x 250g tubs mascarpone cheese
3 x Flake chocolate bars, crumbled (I got a 100g box of readily crumbled Flake from the cake mix and home baking goods section, cheaper than 3 Flake bars)

(1) Whip the cream in a large bowl with an electric beater until soft peaks form. Add the mascarpone, vanilla and sugar, then beat on low speed till thickened slightly. (This part only takes seconds)

(2) Add the diced strawberries to cream mixture.

(3) Sandwich about 1/3 of cream and strawberry mixture between the two sponges. Spread evenly. Top and cover sides of sponges with more mixture.

(4) Sprinkle top of the gateau with Flake and icing sugar(if desired).

(5) Garnish with raspberries or any other berries of your choice.

You can of course garnish with frosted rose petals if you like. Simply dip your washed and cleaned rose petals into some lightly beaten egg white, then into caster sugar and you'll have Frosted Rose Petals. Have lots of rosy fun, ladies!






19 comments:

Unknown said...

Thankyou for sharing with us your heartfelt dedication to your Mum. She sounds like a truly wonderful woman. I am sure that she would be extremely proud of you as you continue to follow in her footsteps.I am also sure that you will be best friends to your children too. You have provided such a warm and inviting home for them in which to grow up...beautiful surroundings, delicious home-baked food and Godly principles. In a world where so many do without such wonderful Mums you truly shine..happy Mums day to you, Angela.

Alison Gibbs said...

What a fabulous tribute to your Mum.
Mmmm... yummy looking cake.
Hope both you and your Mum have a wonderful Mother's Day
Alison

Leisa said...

Thank you so much for your beautiful words and thoughts for Mothers Day. Your photographs are just beautiful once again. Just another delicious dessert from your kitchen - I wish I lived closer!!!!

Sweet Designs said...

What beautiful praise you have for your mom! I also enjoy so much your photographs of your wonderful roses, since I don't have much sun in my yard I can't really grow them, so for now I will get my rose "eyecandy" from you. Oh yes, and your food looks fantastic too!!

Kelly said...

Those pics are just beautiful. That cake looks so divine, would you mind sharing the recipe?? I would love to make that.

Kelli

Miss Jean said...

You may be lucky to have a Mom like you do, but she is equally as fortunate to have a daughter like you. You are both to be commended for your relationship with each other. It is something precious indeed.

As always, your flowers are magnificent and that cake! What can I say. Put the tea kettle on, I'm on my way!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, that cake looks exquisite. Any chance of the recipe?

Kate

Linda said...

What a lovely tibute to your Mum, you are so lucky to have such a wonderful relationship. The cake that you baked for all the Mums on mothers day looks devine YUM. Hope you have a wonderful week.
Cheers Linda

Anonymous said...

Beautiful tribute.

Also, I have something nice for you on my blog! :)

Rosy Inspiration said...

Kelli and Kate,

Of course I don't mind sharing the recipe, I'll just post it on this blog.

Donna Lynn said...

What a beautiful tribute to your wonderful mom! The sweet words about how she raised you will stay with me. I loved the story of her praying for you like that, I am a strong prayer warrior too and know what it means to have someone you love pray for you like she did!
You are blessed!
The pictures and the cake are gorgeous! I have the same cake plate that you have...what good taste you have!!!:)
Donna Lynn

Art by Ronda Juniper Ray said...

What a wonderful Mum you have, and you are an amazing daughter. How blessed you both are to have each other.

And how blessed WE are that you keep sharing those awe-inspiring roses! Your gift for styling your photos is breathtaking!

Rosy thoughts to you, Ronda

CIELO said...

Hi Rosy.... this is so lovely; the roses, the cake, the warmth that irradiates from your lovely virtual house.... thanks for sharing; I would love to have your post linked to my "Homage to Mothers".... come see. And a Happy Mother's Day to you!

Blessings, and much happiness

Hugs

Cielo

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

What a lovely, heartwarming post! Your cake looks fantastic...thanks for shariong the recipe!

CIELO said...

Just came by to say hi.... hope everything is good! Miss you! :)

Cielo

Donna Lynn said...

Missing you! Hope you post soon, I am having Rose withdrawls...HELP!!!!

Hope you are having a lovely day and your weather is great!
XXOO,
Donna Lynn

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing - what a beautiful blog. I love roses but am afraid to grow them...only have one little tea rose which, each year I wonder if it will make it through our harsh winters.
I simply must try your dessert, but wonder what is thickened cream? Is there a substitute for mascarpone? (hidiously expensive here)
Curious

Rosy Inspiration said...

Sara:
Thanks for your compliment. Roses are actually tougher than you think, someone even likened them to "tough old boots". Thickened cream is fresh (pure) whipping cream with a thicker texture and holds its shape well when beaten. You can use normal whipping cream instead of the thickened cream. As for the substitute for mascarpone, you can use:
16 ounces (455g) cream cheese
1/3 cup (80ml) sour cream
1/4 cup(60ml) heavy whipping cream
Blend all the above together until smooth. Hope that works out cheaper for you.

Anonymous said...

Rosy...thank you so much for taking the time to answer my queries and for stopping by. I can't wait to try this recipe :)
Once again - beautiful site!!