Lixin's reflection on YMCA baking for beneficiaries @ 11:16 PM
At the start of the activity, we were split into groups of four. Different groups were assigned to different task, for example one group had to weigh the given mass of the flour while the others had to weigh out the specific mass of the almond powder or icing sugar and so on and keeps them in a plastic bag.
After the ingredients were weighed and kept, it was shared among the different groups such that every group got the required amount of all the ingredients required to make the tart shells.
After sorting the ingredients, the Chef showed us the steps for making the tart shells before we proceed to try it out ourselves. For my group, everyone got a fair share of kneading the dough and lining it on the aluminum cups. The lined dough was then sent into the oven for baking.
baked lined dough
Meanwhile, the Chef showed us the next step for making the Fruit tarts, which is squeezing the custard into the tart shell that was already baked and laying the fruits nicely on top of the custard.
Stirring the custard and placing it into the plastic for squeezing
beautiful, fresh fruits as decorations
After that, we split work among ourselves. Some got themselves busy with the custard, while some were in charge of the decorating of the fruit tart and I basically tried everything. We got to interact with YMCA volunteers too. Soon, our fruit tarts were packed into plastic containers and were done!
Fruit tarts
We were split into different groups again for the visiting and distributing of Fruit Tarts to the beneficiaries. Each group was assigned to visit 5 – 6 families within 1 hour. The families lived in a one room HDB flat. To most of us, it was our first time 亲眼 seeing a one room HDB flat.
Initially, we did not know what to say and how to start a conversation between the beneficiaries and us, however as we visit more families, we were better at that and everything seemed more fun and enjoyable. The whole YMCA event was very meaningful and not only did I learnt how to bake fruit tarts, I learnt to communicate with people.Labels: Feelings, Friends
Zhen Ying's reflection on YMCA baking for beneficiaries @ 11:14 PM
Our squad had successfully accomplished our baking workshop, earning ourselves plenty of meaningful and beautiful experiences with YMCA. We learnt how to bake delicious fruit tarts from an expert baker, and had ourselves personally deliver our fruits of labour to the elderly. I find this workshop very meaningful as it has developed and increased the skill sets and it was an excellent time to bond with my squad-mates.
The workshop are designed to make cooking accessible, easy and fun for novice, like most of my squad-mates. It started off with the precise and detailed step-by-step teaching from our Chef. He makes it a point to go round the tables to check if we are doing the right thing, and lend a helping hand when students run into difficulties trying to roll out the dough. As an experienced baker, the way he made and kneaded the dough makes it seem very easy. Instantly, the workshop was filled with enthusiasm and everyone could hardly wait to start with the dough. However, my group over-kneaded and causing irreversible effects to our dough, making it hard and inflexible. Nevertheless, our group still enjoyed ourselves, despite the fact that we made the same mistake again and again…
After kneading the dough and lining it on the aluminium cups, the lined dough was sent into the oven for baking. During the process of baking, we gathered together again to proceed on learning how to make instant pudding mix for the custard cream. We then learnt about decoration and layout for the fruit tarts. Everyone started to assign jobs to themselves, some were in charge of squeezing the custard into the empty tart shell, while some decorated and glazed the fruit tarts with mirror gel. We got to interact with some of the YMCA volunteers and our efforts were paid off. Our fruit tarts were well-made, despite the fact that some of our tart shells were burnt. The workshop ended off with a high note and everyone had a wonderful time.
smiles on our faces while we’re decorating the fruit tarts
Our beautiful fruit tarts!!!!
After lunch, we were split into different groups for the visiting and distributing of our self-made fruit tarts to the beneficiaries. I had to agree with Li Xin, as children of well-off families, it was our first time witnessing a one room HDB flat. At first, we were feeling rather awkward to knock on a stranger’s door, hand them the fruit tarts and to start a conversation. It was interesting to see different backgrounds of these beneficiaries. I personally feel that many were rather pitiful. Some looked very distress over taking care of their crying children, some looked very lonely. There were language barrier between the beneficiaries and us. However, this did not stop us from trying to show our care and concern to them. Instead, we used sign and body language and would be extremely delighted to hear any words that we could understand.
basically, we enjoyed the whole day!
Thank you Mei yi!
and Nick!Labels: Feelings
@ 10:54 PM
testing smth
lalalal lalalal lalalal lalalal lalalal
