Since this pandemic started, everything was affected. Literally, everything had changed. New normal, policies and all. Especially in terms of education, leaving us with only distance learning or online classes as the only choice.
Because of this sudden change, not only the student suffered, but also the educators and the higher departments as well. In order to continue the education despite this pandemic, they made an option in which students only had two choices, either to stop or to continue studying through distance learning since face-to-face wasn’t allowed yet.
I, as a student, can really tell and differentiate the two. I grew up with face-to-face learning, and I can say that even if it was already an actual class it doesn’t mean or guarantee that hundred percent of the student can really understand the lesson and discussion well. How much more with this distance learning in where educators only give the modules and that’s all. We pass the quizzes, we pass the exams, we comply with all of the requirements, but we don't even understand what the course is all about. Just for the sake of compliance. Well, at least we strive hard to pass anyway.
So this is about one of our courses, the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE). For our final requirements, we opt to make and design a cake by group instead of individual to at least lessen the expenses. We are only three in our group and we decided to make “Steamed Ube Condensed Milk Cake”.
Well, at least in this subject we can learn through our experiences since some of the activities are actual and we only need to take a video of ourselves while doing the activity. Some of those activities are about the proper measuring of ingredients and how to properly use the cooking tools and equipment. Baking and designing cake may be a bit difficult and complicated for us beginners but after everything it was indeed satisfactory.
So, originally, my teammates and I decided to cook Steamed Ube Condensed Milk with Ube Yema Frosting, but instead of Ube frosting we used natural condensed milk as an alternative since we’ve got short of ube condensed milk. At first, we doubted if it would be still like what we have planned but luckily it came out well. The three of us collaborate to make the cake, maybe not perfect, but at least almost perfect. Neither of us has the most experience in baking, so the three of us are considered as beginners.
Throughout the process, the first thing we did was to prepare all the ingredients. We measured all the dry and wet ingredients and set them aside separately, both for the cake and frosting. Even when we’re just started mixing the ingredients, we can’t contain our excitement because for sure at the end our efforts and hard work will be paid off. We don’t have an oven so we use an alternative for it, a steamer.
When the cake is already cooked, we let it cool down first and then we work on the frosting. Then after the frosting was made, all of us three brainstormed to think of what would be the most suitable design for the ube cake with a milk frosting. So, we choose the minimalist one. Just like the saying ‘Simple but beautiful’ and it really turns out well. We also add grated chess at the top as a toppings. We are more amazed when we slice the cake because on the outside it didn’t show that it was actually an ube colored cake. It was really a wonderful, fun, and yummy experience.
Aside from that, we did really have fun since it’s been so long that we last saw each other. So even if we only saw each other yesterday just to make the requirement, it doesn’t matter because we learn to appreciate that little amount of time but gives us ample happiness.
