Taiwan 2012: 新北投 Xinbeitou & 淡水 Danshui

One thing on our list to do during our vacation in Taipei this year includes visiting a sauna. The cousin and I popped by Xinbeitou first for a visit to a hot spring on the way to Danshui (they are located on the same metro line). There are several hot spring hotels in the area, and apparently, the last of the sakura flowers were supposed to be in bloom (it was in April). Sad to say, it was raining the day, and all I saw of the sakura flowers were on the below pitiful tree branch.

 新北投 Xinbeitou

Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Here are some quick snapshots of how the festive season has been so far through my iPhone. I find that it is so much easier to upload photos from there instead of my camera cos I'll already have done all the photo editing on my phone anyway when I upload on Instagram/Facebook.

First gift exchange of the year on 15 Dec 2012

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

A while ago, I was, for some weird random reason, in a cupcakes phase. I was dreaming about cupcakes non-stop, googling for recipes, and fretting over which flavours I should make first to satisfy that urge. I know. It's really weird yeah. I've never been much of a cupcakes person - I'm more of a cake girl (or rather, an entremet girl) most of the time.

I stumbled upon the loveliest sunshine yellow cupcakes at Shirley's site > here. And I knew I just had to make it. I absolutely love all kinds of citrus, especially lemon. And though I'm not a fan of meringue in general, I knew I had to make these. Oh yes, I must. And yes, I did.

 Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

Japanese Strawberry Shortcake (イチゴのショートケーキ)

It's been a sad weekend. I mean, I had a great time at work on Friday in the afternoon, primarily because we had a carnival of some sort, and everyone basically just chilled out playing some simple childhood games, and nomming on ice cream, popcorn, candy floss and kachang puteh (the theme was "Childhood Carnival"). But, I had been feeling a lil under the weather since Thursday, so I reckon the activities on Friday just pushed me over the edge and I was seriously sick by Saturday morning. I must have gone through a whole tissue box, and my nose was still dripping like a faucet. Sigh.

Anyway, enough on moping. I made a strawberry shortcake again last month for the Dad's birthday (that's four straight years). Sigh. I know. And after all that I had said I wouldn't be baking it again this year...

 Japanese Strawberry Shortcake (イチゴのショートケーキ)

Purple Sweet Potato Mantou (紫番薯馒头)

And this post on homemade steamed buns should conclude my mass baking sessiona with purple sweet potatoes. How unfortunate. I mean, just look at the vibrant pop of colour below! In fact, everything that I had made previously with these awesome purple sweet potatoes had a really rich vibrant deep purple hue, refer here, here and here.

Purple Sweet Potato Mantou (紫番薯馒头)