Pink Lips 2012 - My Lotus

One beautiful Sunday late afternoon, I found my lotus "Pink Lips" poking it's head in the shade between it's large fanned warrior lotus leaves.    I said, "Oh Wow!, when did it show up?!"   I have been waiting for the sign of blossom pod since May.    No sign on any of the lotus this year.  Chawanbasu and Pink Lady did not show up at all this year.   And here it is, the single one and only Pink Lips.     Since it is already late afternoon, I knew I will have to wait for the morning to open up.   So the next day, I waited and waited.    Enjoy!  Namaste.

 Around 5:30 am

 Slowly the Pink Lips started to unravel its petals like the YOGA stretch.

 All the leaves are stretched wide like the radiant warrior. 

 As the Pink Lips started to open up, it filled the air with its unspeakable wonderful fragrance.

 Soon, a bee found it's way.  Dancing happily in it.

 It flew up and out for a few seconds and I noticed it sent a loud buzzing sound.  Then a moment later, another bee showed up, and it went right into the lotus to exchange with the other bee.  It too started to dance happily in the Lotus.

 At the end of the day, it closed gracefully in resting pose of Shavasana

 That very evening, the wind kicked up.  I knew that was the last time I would see it the next morning.  The next day, when I returned home, the Pink Lips started to fade - releasing all it's energy to the mother earth.

Today, the single stem of beautiful Lotus pod continue to grow.  It's seeds are growing larger and ready to rebirth.

2012 Tomato-Day at Morningsun Herb Farm

 It was quite an experience when you thought you have seen and tasted all the tomatoes there is in the world, yet to find out that there are over 90 varieties.     Tomato Day 2012 at the Morningsun Herb Farm is my first experience to taste all these tomatoes one at a time non-stop.   I thought I was turning into a tomato afterwards.

   

 

This one is an interesting peach - sweet, crispy, and beautiful golden yellow.  I thought it was a nectarine I was tasting for a moment.

Pandan & Persian Chiffon Birthday Cake with Crane Over the Sun

August is a special month this summer.    Very busy with school, family gatherings, volunteer work at the local event, and a wonderful vacation with my grandchildren.   For my mother's birthday this year, I was not too sure what pattern I would like to decorate the cake with.    Or maybe just order it from the bakery.     While I was at the office working, several images came to mind - Turtle, KOI, Dragon and Phoenix, and Crane.    I did some Internet search, and I came upon one of my favorite art on the "hanafuda" Japanese game card - a Crane over a Sun.     I was not sure if I want to make it into a 3D shape or just use a gel to decorate it on the cake's surface, etc.   As I was putting the cakes together, I saw the extra scraps.   I decided to use them just enough to raise the design on top of the cake to make it stand out.  

Prepare - 1 Pandan Coconut Chiffon Cake; 1 Persian Love Cake    Sliced across into halves

Whip 1 Cup Heavy Whip Cream with 1 Tbsp sugar.  
Mix enough apricot preserve with butter knife in a bowl to soften it.  There should be enough to cover one layer of the cake

Frosting:  
3 egg whites - Bain Marie
1 stick butter - Soft
1 Cup Sugar - divided into 2/3 Cup for egg whites and 1/3 cup for butter; use 'fine' sugar if you have it

Beat egg whites over bain marie and add sugar gradually while a stick of butter is beaten in a mixer with 1/3 cup of sugar.   Once the egg white has reached meringue consistency - stiff peak but still "shiny" remove from the heat.    Butter should be pale and fluffy.   Place the butter bowl over a bowl of ice with ice water to keep it cool (especially in summer where the kitchen temperature is above 75'F).    Scoop 3rd of the meringue into the butter and mix.  Then, add the next.   Set it aside in a refrigerator while you are assembling the cake, whip cream and apricot preserve into layers.
Frost the cake with butter cream and decorate.