joicydoodle♥: February of Promises, Afternoon Tea & Sticky Cinnamon Buns

February, the month of "Love" is typically banana nuts-crazy-busy for me, and everyone in the industry. Look, when I started working, my Valentine dinner consists of double espresso, canned sardines and anything quick to consume in a loooong, tiringggggg double shift. And your Valentine date is no one but your line cooks, your Valentine loot is your fondant, kilos of chocolate couverture and buttercream. This was a nice "reason" to "justify" my overdue post. No exaggeration but I slept 4 hours or 6 hours after double shift for straight 5 days.

Le Petit Cheri's Valentine Production

Mini Salted Mochas

Rubble of 300 pieces petite boxes

TIRED FACES

Something happened this February? Well, a lot of good friends are leaving left and right, which had me wear a red velvet flats with soles that say "You Are Leaving, Too"

I joined the World Wide Walk For Those Affected By Typhoon Yolanda, Yes, few hours after the Valentine rush..groggy!

Few months from now is the start of my brand new journey to rediscover my inner Carrie Bradshaw− I will be leaving home in exchange to a place I never been to but always heard of. Quite unsure and afraid but at the same time complacent, curious and confident... It has been a long time goal, and my family? To my surprise is eagerly supportive.

Welcome to our little English Tea Pantry!

Dark, White and Milk Chocolate Chunks

Found these nice Dried Blueberries and Macadamia halves at Landmark Trinoma


Ia's Truffle Oil

One sunny, humid afternoon that marks the start of Summer, with my dear friends Rianna and MJ, was an afternoon tea party which we held at Rianna's home. Our menu consist of Dried Blueberry Scones with Lemon Curd, Triple Chocolate Chip & Macadamia Cookies, Chicken Pot Pie, Truffled Fettuccini Alfredo, Sticky Cinnamon Rolls and White Raspberry Tea.

Truffled Fettuccine Alfredo

Dried Blueberry Scones

Triple Chocolate Chip & Macadamia Cookies

Chicken Pot Pie

And this entry's featured recipe...

CINNAMON ROLLS

67g Water

240g Sour cream

240g Fresh milk

8g Salt

124g Sugar

960g All Purpose Flour

4g Baking Soda

20g Yeast

120g Butter

Filling:

150g Brown Sugar

To taste Cinnamon, ground

Sticky Bun Slurry:

170g Butter

340g Sugar

135g Corn syrup

1/2tsp Salt

To make the dough, simply whisk together water, sour cream, fresh milk, salt and sugar. In a separate bowl, sift together the baking soda, yeast and flour. Make a well in the center and knead the dough until it slightly came together and knead in the butter.

Sticky buns tend to achieve window pane test longer, my technique is to knead the dough gently, the gluten will develop better compared when handling the dough with much pressure that breaks the gluten strands.

Knead until the dough passes window pane test and shape into a bowl, transfer to a greased bowl and cover.

Ferment for 1 hour or until the dough doubles in quantity.

Prepare the filling simply mixing brown sugar and cinnamon.

To make the slurry, simply combine all the ingredients together and cool down slightly. When the dough is ready, degas and divide into two. Roll out the dough and fill with cinnamon sugar. Make a baston, bench proofing the dough occasionally if resisting, don’t forget to lock the seams and cut around 2 inches thick.

Pour the slurry on a mold lined with foil, and then line the rolls allowing spaces in between for final fermentation. My mistake in this one is that I placed the ugly ones on top of the pan, because you have to invert it later!

Final proof for another 1 hour or when the dough springs back when touched and doubled in quantity.

Bake in preheated oven of 350 F for 15 -20 mins. Once baked, invert on plate and serve. It's also nice to reserve room for sweetness to pair this freshly baked treat with home made Banana Jam or Raspberry Compote

And if there is something I learned that afternoon from Rianna, is her kind thought of spending her remaining month stay in Manila with the people she loves the most; family and best friends.

I'm moved. I felt the sincere tight longing and warmth, how is it to leave home- all the people you love- and be all by yourself in a foreign land? I'm so proud of you and I wish you can spare me the same kind of braveness. Wishing you good luck and certainly no goodbyes Ia! *tight hugs again*

Our Afternoon Tea Send Off For Ia!

Chicken Pot Pie

Triple Choclate Chip & Macadamia Cookies

Dried Blueberry Scones & Lemon Curd

Raspberry White Tea

Truffled Fettuccine Alfredo

Sticky Cinnamon Buns

Sorry for the ugly two pieces, I panned the ugly ones facing up as a mistake :)

If there is something I want to accomplish badly, aside from purchasing my travel/migrating necessities, is to get the most number of hugs from my favorite people in the world. It will take me years to be home, aside from short occasional holidays, but it will for sure feel loooooongggg!

My promises to keep in exchange of my "Good luck, No Goodbyes-Hug"

to call home ALWAYS
to never be LAZY about SKYPING
to take wonderful photos
to write my adventure and future recipes
to be responsible on my studies and work
to catch up with everybody I love before I leave
to keep with my goals when it feels hard and frustrating
to stay in church even I'm away from home
to finish school
to make new friends
to walk with wonderful memories
to go home, in time for good, or for holidays at least.

And this month, I started my goal..