3D Dinosaur Cake - Children's Birthday Cakes

The lockdown in 2020 meant I didn’t post anything on my blog for several months, as I tried to juggle a full-time job with a toddler at home every day for nearly three months while nursery was shut. So I’ve only just realised that I never posted anything about her birthday cake in spring of 2020 – better late than never!

Sophie is a big fan of dinosaurs, and from a young age has been able to correctly identify dinosaurs to the extent that I think she already knows more types than I do! We have encouraged her love of dinosaurs through toys and books and also a green dinosaur-patterned beanbag for her room to counteract some of the pink! If I recall correctly, she actually asked for a dinosaur cake for her second birthday, and I was happy to oblige!

We held her birthday party at My Gym, where we go to a class every week – it’s a cross between gymnastics, exercise, games and play, and they do brilliant birthday parties where you get an hour of gym-based games and half an hour in the party room with food and drink, and of course cake. I had the option of providing my own cake so of course that’s what I did.

I wanted a cake that would actually look like a dinosaur – I saw some lovely ideas online of round cakes with dinosaurs on top (either made from icing or plastic toys), where the cake itself was decorated to look like the dinosaur habitat. But I wanted instant recognition and wow factor, and decided it had to be a three-dimensional dinosaur. Luckily, it was easier to make one than I thought, thanks to this brilliant tutorial on WikiHow!

I baked a round vanilla sponge cake and then cut it up according to the tutorial instructions, then covered it in green roll-out fondant. I used yellow fondant to add some spots, and a darker green modelling paste – a kind of icing that is stiffer, so better to use when you are making something that needs to stand up – to make the spines along the dinosaur back. It wasn’t difficult or even massively time-consuming at all and I was really pleased with the finished cake, and I think the kids at the party all enjoyed it!

Read More

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings, Buffalo Chicken Wings in Sweet and Sour Sauce

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings, Buffalo Chicken Wings in Sweet and Sour SauceTry this Crispy Fried Chicken Wings, Buffalo Chicken Wings, in sweet and sour sauce, Pinoy style. Any other chicken parts may be used.Or just buy fast-food fried chicken, and just cook the sweet and sour sauce. Ingredients:1kilo medium to large size chicken wings, trimmed1 large size red onion, chopped, big pieces1 large

Read More

Cheesy Pork Kalderetang Batangas Style

Cheesy Pork Kalderetang Batangas StyleThis Cheesy Pork Kalderetang Batangas Style was based on an old post form Overseas Pinoy Cooking But instead of beef I used pork.Kaldereta is cooked in a thousand ways which defends on available ingredients and personal preference, maybe some secret ingredients.This is also true with Kalderetang Batangas.Some may not like it cheesy, some may want it with

Read More

Pork Chop Bistek Tagalog with Fried Eggplants Fried Potatoes or French Fries

Pork Chop Bistek Tagalog with Fried Eggplants Fried Potatoes or French FriesThis is another version of Pork Chop Bistek Tagalog, with pritong talong at pritong patatas or French fries.This is usually a carinderia recipe, the fried eggplants and fried potatoes are extenders.Ingredients:5 to 6 pieces pork chops2 medium size eggplants, sliced diagonally2-3 medium size potatoes, sliced1 bowl, frozen

Read More

Pinoy Style Home Cooked Pork Spare Ribs with Tausi

Pinoy Style Home Cooked Pork Spare Ribs with TausiHave you ever wonder what is inside with that Pork Spareribs with Tausi Rice Toppings served on those popular Chinese food inspired fast food restaurants?Years ago I have tried to re-create that that Pork Spareribs with Tausi, based only on taste and how it looks.Visit the link above to check that post, for the original recipe.Ingredients:1 kilo

Read More

Pork Sinigang sa Kamias with Gabi or Taro Root

Pork Sinigang sa Kamias with Gabi or Taro RootI used kamias or kalamyas for the souring ingredient.The use of gabi adds another level of richness to the usual sinigang clear broth.In addition the gabi or taro roots make the sour broth of the sinigang creamier or mas malapot and make the broth more opaque.Ingredients:1/2 kilo pork, any cut with bones and skin1 medium size gabi, taro root, cut into

Read More

Pork Chop Steak, Bistek Style

Pork Chop Steak, Bistek StylePork Chop Steak, Bistek Style is not new.Pork chop cooked Bistek Style is very common especially in most carinderia and canteen or similar turo turo restaurants.This is because pork chop is one of the most favorite pork cut of most Pinoy who loves pork.Pork chop in turo turo restaurant is very easy to quantify or measure, it is served by piece therefore it is priced

Read More

Fried Chicken Adobo

Fried Chicken AdoboThis Fried Chicken Adobo was inspired by Chef Ricky Ocampo's Chicken Adobo Recipe on the Food Safari TV episode of SBS Australia’s Filipino Food Episode, way back when I was in Australia.I was fascinated by his cooking method of chicken adobo which involves frying the chicken first before adding the soy sauce, vinegar and other aromatic ingredients. Ingredients:1 kilo chicken,

Read More

Buridibud Ilocano Vegetable Recipe

Buridibud Ilocano Vegetable RecipeBuridibud Ilocano Vegetable Recipe, made up of Upo, Malungay and Kamote RootsBuridibud is a variation of dinengdeng, it is simply boiled with bagoong na isda and best topped with grilled or fried fish.Buridibud is usually cooked with a choice of vegetable, like upo, malungay and other leafy vegetables or any other similar type of vegetables or in combination, and

Read More

Pork Menudo with Hotdog and Ketchup

Pork Menudo with Hotdog and KetchupMenudo is commonly served at carinderias, canteens and eateries.It is also one of the more popular Pinoy handaan dish.Ingredients:1/2 kilo pork, cut into cubes1/4 kilo pork liver, cut into cubes4-6 pcs. large cheese hotdog, cut into cubes1 large bell pepper, cut into squares2-3 medium size potato, cut into cubes1 medium size carrot, cut into cubes1/2 cup

Read More

Classic Chicken Tinola Recipe with Tanglad, Papaya and Malungay Leaves

Classic Chicken Tinola Recipe with Tanglad, Papaya and Malungay LeavesI am sharing today the Classic Chicken Tinola Recipe with tanglad, papaya and malungay leaves.There are countless versions and ways to cook and prepare Chicken Tinola.You may try this simple version on your next tinola dish.Ingredients:1 kilo chicken, tinola cut2-3 thumb size ginger, sliced or cut into strips1 small size green

Read More

Pork Sarciado, Sarciadong Baboy, Kinamatisang Baboy

Pork Sarciado, Sarciadong Baboy, Kinamatisang Baboy “To most Pinoy sarciado refers to a fried fish, usually leftover fish, recycled by cooking it with a lot of tomatoes and sometimes with scrambled eggs… I myself did not know that meat can also be cooked as sarciado until one colleague has cooked a dinner for us, in fact it was one of the few dishes that he can cook because it is so simple that

Read More

Ginisang Munggo with Pork and Fried Fish, with Green Vegetables

Ginisang Munggo with Pork and Fried Fish, with Green VegetablesI always wanted my ginisang mung beans cooked till the beans are disintegrated to form a thick soup dish.As much as possible I try to remove the bean shells that usually float at the center of the boiling beans by scooping them out.There is no special procedure in cooking this dish, all I had done was used two thumb size ginger and a

Read More

Passion Fruit Curd Mother's Day Cupcakes

Read More