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Monday, June 25, 2012

Sakura cookies 桜花饼& Giveaway, and a warm bloggers gathering



I was so happy when i spotted this preserved sakura (桜花漬(おうかづけ), selling in a small shop in Kyoto (will provide where to get these in the later post, no time to sort out the information)..One of the item i was planning to use this beautiful sakura is to make a swiss roll. But when i saw dailydelicious posted her beautiful Sakura cookies, i just could not wait and immediateky try it out..I also brought this cookie to a bloggers gathering yesterday, they all just love it.

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They just look gorgeous!!

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Sakura cookies
(recipe source: adapted from Dailydelicious with minor changes)

90g unsalted butter, room temperature
IMG_4312 copy 50g fine granulated sugar
1/4tsp vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
1 egg yolk
120g cake flour
20-30 Preserved cherry blossoms (Sakura)

Super fine sugar, for sprinkle on top of the cookies

Method
1. Preheat the oven 200 °C
2. Put the salted Sakura in a bowl, cover with enough water, leave it for 2hrs or more, to reduce the salt from the Sakura.
3. Drain the Sakura and discard the water. Also very lightly squeeze the water using finger.
4. Beat the butter with salt until soft, add the granulated sugar and beat unto light in color add the vanilla extract and egg yolk, beat to combine.
5. Pour the flour into the bowl, mix it well. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge for 1 hour.
6. Line the baking sheet with baking non-stick paper or Silpat.
7. Roll the cookie dough until 3-4mm thickness, cut with cookie cutter.
8. Place on a prepared baking sheet, and put Preserved cherry blossoms on each cookie.
9. Reduce the oven temperature to 170°C.
10. Put the cookies into the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown, sprinkle with superfine sugar immediately.
11. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes then let it cool completely on a wire rack.
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IMG_4203 I bought extra pickled sakura, and I would like to giveaway to my readers who currently residing in Malaysia and Singapore only (sorry to other country's readers because the distance and postage cost)..To enter, just leave your comment in this post and closing date is on this Friday 29th June 2012. Please identify yourself if you are under Anonymous. Two winners will be selected by random.org.
Gift will be sent using normal post delivery.
Good luck !!


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A warm bloggers gathering

Yesterday i just attended another bloggers gathering. Why this time i said this is a warm gathering, because i feel so warm and feel so good when chatting with them. Even that was my 1st time meeting them, but like i know them long ago. Our gathering started with enjoying nice dessert in the shopping mall that connected to the hotel. Helena from Perth, five of them (Eileen, Angie, Mandy, Joceline and Casey) came from Penang, MYME and Vernice all the way from Singapore and Shan from Puchong..After taken dessert, we were heading to the hotel room as Helena taught us on how to make decoupage. After this, we were out for shopping a while and took dinner in one Chinese restaurant..After dinner, we went back to the hotel room to celebrate Mandy's Birthday. Too bad, I have to leave early because next day is schooling day and rest of them continue to have fun..

Who are they?

6. 恩空间 (Casey)
7. 最爱的 (MYME) Irene
9. 珊言慧语 (shan)
10. Helena's best fried from Melaka
 
 
Everyone was so hard working making their own decoupage plates.
 
 
See the end result, all these plates look so beautiful after added the flowers and fruits print..My plate is the one round with orange flowers

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Mandy celebrated her Birthday (sorry Mandy for this poor quality of photo)..



See so many lovely gifts that they gave it to me..Even Jane not joining, also tumpang Helena to pass me some chocolate and fruit candies, Thanks Jane..Every gifts that they gave me is with much consideration of what i like, i really feel so touch to receive all these gifts..I was even surprised that MYME gave me the small metal cups (with holes) as she noticed my comment left in a post that posted by Jane who using the same cups to make paper steamed sponge cakes, I was so touch 好感动 !
**Eileen, i just noticed that your special chili can not seen clearly in this photo, sorry girl..I going to make steamed yam cake tomorrow and enjoy with your chili sauce, also with a cup of tea using Helena's beautiful tea cup ^_^..


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Thanks to all 美女, I hope to see your all soon..


117 comments:

  1. haha... Today i am fast...

    A nice gathering ya... hehe...

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  2. Hi,i'm Liu from Johor Bahru. i learn a lot from your web and to me you are so great. thank you for sharing your precious recipes. can i check with you, why i can't read joceline blog anymore?did she change her address?

    thank you.

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  3. cantikknya bunga sakura ni...harap-harap Cm berjaya ni hehe.

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  4. Liu, her blog has some problem and she is still trying to rectify the problem..try later.

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  5. This is Chris from Singapore. Very interesting pickled sakura.

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  6. it's heart-warming to have so many great buddies who make the efforts to attend the get-together despite the distance.
    the cookies look so beautiful ,wish i can have a bite :)

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  7. The cookies are soooo pretty!!! It's good that the lovely color doesn't fade during baking.
    The girls did a great job on the decoupage plates! Very nice!

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  8. preety cookies...good for hari raya :)i will try.

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  9. The cookies are lovely. I never knew about preserved sakura flowers. And the decoupage plates are so pretty too.

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  10. Oh the sakura cookies looks very lovely. Yes, I saw this cookies in one of the blog and I am so envy that she has this sakura flowers to make into cookies. Wish I can have this sakura cookies too.

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  11. Oh Ellena (Cuisine Paradise) was looking for 桜花漬! These cookies are so pretty! And it seems like you had a blast at the get-together with bloggers. I wish I can meet you one day!

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  12. Oh Ellena (Cuisine Paradise) was looking for 桜花漬! These cookies are so pretty! And it seems like you had a blast at the get-together with bloggers. I wish I can meet you one day!

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  13. Lovely looking plates, would love to learn how to make them.Too bad i am not a blogger so can not join the gatherings. Wish i was your neighbour so i can try all your yummy food

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  14. wow looks like all of you had great fun at the gathering! and the amount of gifts is 0.o i bet the decoupaging session was great fun!

    and i love that the sakura cookies not only look delicious, but are sprinkled with sugar for that contrast in taste! i would love to win it to try!!

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  15. wow looks like all of you had great fun at the gathering! and the amount of gifts is 0.o i bet the decoupaging session was great fun!

    and i love that the sakura cookies not only look delicious, but are sprinkled with sugar for that contrast in taste! i would love to win it to try!!

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  16. hope I could win some sakura cookies.
    last time when I was in Japan I tasted the sakura ice cream and it was so delicious...
    seems like a girl party.. hehehe..

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  17. Cookies with Sakura flowers on top look very elegant. I wish I have the luck to bake with it :)

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  18. thanks sonia for accompany us for all night long, it was such a wonderful gathering with lots of laugher and fun, this cookies were super delicious and u really a great baker.

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  19. Wow, you really are so blessed to have many good friends through blogging! the cookies look so beautiful & delicious!Wish I am the lucky one to win! thanks!

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  20. wow that's gorgeous! lucky you!

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  21. I returned from Korea thinking that the fallen sakura I collected on the ground would survive the trip back to KL. Alas, none of them turned out pretty. In fact, they all became a brown mess. What a dismay.

    Your cookies look too pretty to eat!

    -amanda-

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  22. 我要我要:)
    饼干加入了美丽的花儿
    看起来真的特别美丽;)

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  23. Warm gathering you all had! I love the sakura, they are in pink colour, my favourite!

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  24. Wow the sakura flowers are really pretty!

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  25. Never heard of preserved sakura befor this! Hw interesting. Lovely cookies! Do they have any taste?

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  26. The cookies are too lovely to eat ! Is the flower stalk chewy ? Wonder if I can get it in Singapore ?

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  27. hi sonia,
    wow! your cookies just like a piece of art. i love it.

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  28. The flowers in the cookie is so beautiful. I am ur follower and like many recipes.

    Hope I win the giveaway am from Singapore at simplysara07@gmail.com

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  29. the sakura flowers looks so gorgeous...your cookies are lovely...:)
    this is really a warm and great gathering...:)

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  30. 非常高兴认识你,希望我们这班北马区的朋友那晚的热情不会吓到你哦。。咔咔。
    那张照片还不错嘛,起码拍到我很slim。。哈哈
    这饼干很美很好吃,谢谢你的分享。

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  31. WOW... what a lovely cookies.... A definitely must try cookies for dHari Raya...
    Do you sell d sakura blossoms @ your store... let me know ya..

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  32. Wow, sugoi to kirei no cookies desu ne!

    1st, I'm desperately to receive that preserved Sakura flower from you. If I would received it,I'm gonna bake this pretty cookies and wait for another Swiss roll recipe from you too using this Sakura flower.

    2nd, you have a bunch of great friends to be with. Sharing the same passion as blogger. From this entry, I can feel that you are very happy meeting them.

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  33. hi Sonia, the cookies are lovely!
    i wonder how it taste, must be interesting with the sakura, really wish to give it a try :)
    wow, bloggers gathering... must be so fun! and look at those plates, all are so pretty!
    hope i can meet u one day :)

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  34. Hi!

    Love you site and the sakura cookies looked lovely! :) Would love to try to make some in the near future.

    Lian Sim

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  35. 很开心见到你,昨晚真是一个开心又温馨的聚会。
    这饼干真的很美味,我也想试一试可惜没sakura……谢谢分享食谱!

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  36. Sonia, it was a lovely gathering and unforgettable evening for me. I felt so proud and touched when I received the packet of precious sakura from you. Thank you for your thoughtful present.

    This cookies is just too delicious and they all gone in just a sec...I was trying to pinch a second one but ..hehe.. no luck !! I am glad that we finally met up and know each other better. :)

    Of coz ... thanks for your bak kut teh, fice spice powder and weapon for crackling pork hehe..

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  37. wonder how the sakura would taste =) hope i got choosen and i can try to make the cookies too ;)

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  38. The cookies looks very good, and with random sakura flowers, some one, some 2, it looks very nice.

    Wow, u gals really seem to have lots of fun.

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  39. Wah, can bake sakura flower like that....interesting idea!

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  40. wow! it must be an awesome gathering (: the cookies look so pretty! When I saw on pook's blog, I was thinking of asking my friend to help me get it in jp. Ty for the giveaway (:

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  41. Your Sakura cookies look too good to eat ! I've been curious about the taste of the preserved Sakura.
    Would love to try it.

    Your gathering looked like a blast! Would love to meet you someday :)

    I read your blog everyday and it's like I know you :) so would really love to be able to meet you one day.

    Blessings
    Christine T
    cteo23@gmail.com

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  43. U girls really had fun ya, hope to join next time. (I enlarge the photo, really all are mei nu, hehe).

    These cookies are so beautiful, I can't bear to eat them.

    Too bad the last time I visited Japan I was not into baking yet so I didn't get any of the baking ingredients from Japan, I hope I am the lucky winner. :P (from Singapore)

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  44. Dommage qu'on habite si loin, on aurait pu faire un rassemblement de blogueurs ici aussi.
    Ces fleurs sont magnifiques.
    Elles donnent un aspect très beau aux biscuits.
    Je suis triste d'habiter de l'autre côté de l'hémisphère et de n'avoir aucune chance de gagner.
    See soon

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  45. Hi Sonia,
    很开心能见到你,这次聚会真的很愉快温馨!
    小小礼物不必言谢啦,你喜欢我就开心了~~
    你做的饼干实在好吃,到现在我还念念不忘哦。。嘻嘻!

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  46. Hi, I love to read your blog! Your cookies look so beautiful! Your family is so blessed to have you.Hope I can win your lovely gift ! Thanks!

    Catherine Teo

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  47. Hi!! Have been a silent reader of your blog for a year. Really love the recipes you share and interesting happenings in your life :)

    Hope to be able to win the sakura!!!

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  48. thanks for sharing all your lovely recipes and photos in your blog :-)

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  49. I'm Yen from Puchong, been following your blog for quite sometimes. Never heard about preserved sakura. Hope that i can win so that i can try out your Sakura cookies recipes.

    Your gathering looked like really fun. Hope i can meet u one day.

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  50. The sakura cookies are very beautiful!! I want I want !!! Heehehe..

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  51. Your cookies look elegant &
    your art looks good enough :)

    Treasure the friendship with blogger sisters as they are so nice & sincere!! Cheers~

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  52. Hi Sonia,

    the cookies with pickled sakura are just too lovely to be eaten!

    Thanks for sharing the recipe...

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  53. I am wondering how the beautiful flower taste. Can only use to bake cookies?

    Anyway..I have learn a lot of cooking tips from your blog although I hardly drop a comment.

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  54. I also want the pretty flower~hope I have luck!

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  55. Sonia~~
    她们都是very very very友善的朋友!!^^
    一见如故。。。你们还过了那么充实的聚会~~~~
    羡慕呢~~~希望我也有luck...可以分到小包的樱花就好了。。。呵呵呵。。。^^
    那可以拿来冲茶的吗??好优雅呢~~~

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  56. Hi Sonia,
    你好亲切和健谈,真的很高兴可以见到你!
    谢谢你的小饼干,味道好香,好好吃!

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  57. Hi...I'm Vanessa..Nice blogs..Hope to win ya...:@

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  58. wow.. nice gathering and cookies! wonder what else can be done with the Sakura... hehehe..

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  59. Your cookies looks wonderful! wonder how preserved sakura flowers taste like...could be interesting to find out.

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  60. I want I want!
    Your cookies are awesome *^_^*

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  61. your sakura cookies look cute and too lovely to eat!! hehehe!! I also want to look for sakura flowers in Japanese store here..

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  62. Wow, sooo beautiful. I also hope that I can get it.

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  63. Ok these look beyond words GOOD!!

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  64. Hi Sonia,
    It is so nice to have a bunch of fellow bloggers who have the same passion to get together. Love the session that you guys are making the 'decoupage' it is so interesting and the result is so awesome..

    Love your lovely sakura cookies, how i wish i could have a bite..hehe i bet these preserved sakura will look even more gorgerous on a swiss roll..Looking forward to your Sakura Swiss Roll..^^

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  65. Sonia , that sakura cookies looks so gorgeous and utterlly delicious ! ..... Must be a very enjoyable gathering by the look of it !

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  66. 我好像错过了妳哦,因为只相差一天咱们就可以见面了~:)

    这樱花饼干看起来好优雅也!我喜欢~

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  67. Sonia,thank you for doing this giveaway...cos really want to try what is the taste..i saw some blogger using this pickled sakura making cake and macaron.....hope im the lucky one.....

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  68. the cookies are too pretty to be eaten...thanks for sharing :-)

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  69. 桜クッキーが美味しそうですね!食べて見て欲しい!!
    Must be a lot fun & laughters when all woman gathered and shared all cooking £ baking tips & talks freely in one whole dayl ! I am so thrilled when I spotted Penang famous 豆沙饼 from 馨香 and come to know there are many bloggers from Penang!
    Thanks Sonia it's such a joy to me to read your blog!

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  70. I didnt knw sakura flowers can be eaten. Wow...certainly eye opening post for me. Love the look of the cookies. They looked so happy.

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  71. 很美的饼干。。。casey 告诉这饼干好好吃哟!!
    我也来试一试我的运气,
    幸运的话,还可以跟妇女组分享呢!!嘻嘻!!
    谢谢你!!

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  72. It's new to me .... and the cookies look so special :)

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  73. Wow...nice gathering! im sure you all have a great time together, hopefully i got chance to meet up one day :)..this sakura cookies look so lovely and delicious.. :D

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  74. Wasei, so envy, it's a good memorable and joyful gathering..Wish me luck to get it.
    Cherish (*..*)

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  75. Sakura cookies are so beautiful. I must try this. Even without sakura, I want to try making this cookies for CNY. Hehehehe. You ladies have a very wonderful gathering. So many goodies that you have got.

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  76. Wow, these cookies are so pretty! I don't think I will bear to eat one, haha.... So envious of your gathering....

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  77. So beautiful. No wonder this cookies look familiar to me, I saw it from her blog too.

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  78. Congratulations on the gathering! Cookies looks wonderful, decoration is pure 5!

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  79. I like the sakura flower Sonia...

    Just wondering will Casey bringing me a pc of biscuit from u? Lol ...

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  80. These cookies are so pretty :-)

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  81. Those preserved flowers look amazing. The color is simply gorgeous. Lucky that you found & bought them back. haha.... Otherwise, rugi~lah!
    And congrats to another great meet up.
    Enjoy your evening.
    Kristy

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  82. The cookies are pretty. Would love to try my hands on making them!

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  83. Wow, what a fantastic gathering. Pretty ladies in rows! Awesome! I love meeting my blogger friends in person. There is no ice to break, the moment we meet, we click and we have to much to share and chat about. I am sure you have enjoyed your meet. I am SO looking forward to the bloggers meet in Ipoh next month. Your cookies are so elegant looking and if only I can sample a piece. WINK!

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  84. So envy you all can have such a warmth and meaningful gathering..Internet is borderless!

    The sakura bicuits looks elegant and gorgeous! What a beautiful design!

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  85. Looks like you had a very enjoyable time meeting up and doing things together... and you visited Japan recently?

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  86. Your biscuits look as good before baking as afterwards! They are so beautiful! You are lucky to find pickled sakura leaves... I can only dream about them here.

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  87. wow,nice pickles and biscuits,hope to try my own creations =)

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  88. What nice pictures and your biscuits look amazing; all look so fun!

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  89. nice to meet you~

    这饼干真的是好好看又好好吃,酥酥香香的!

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  90. I'll try out your Sakura cookie recipe without the flowers. Thank you for sharing. Aries

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  91. Hi sonia...i also love the sakura cookies too.. hope i am the lucky one too (^^)

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  92. Hi, I am a silent reader of your lovely blog. I hope to be the lucky one this time, thanks !

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  93. Wow...the cookies loks beautiful with the sakura flower on them. I wonder how they taste like :) Hope I am one of the lucky one here :)

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  94. very pretty cookies! i dont even know what is decoupage, all of the plates and handwork look so beautiful!!

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  95. Hi Sonia, I am Regina here.

    Enjoy your photos and been trying few of your recipes. Wow!! all nice and success, thks. how i hope i m the lucky one, hihihi...

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  96. very pretty looking sakura flower cookies..hope i m the lucky one :-)

    Janet Lee

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  97. Hi Sonia,
    我忘了说,我不参加抽奖了,因为我在香港也买了一小包的preserved sakura,就把这机会让给其他人吧!!谢谢你哦 ^o^

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  98. yeah! you finally gotten yourself these lovely sakura flowers! And welcome back from Japan. Can't wait to see all your postings on it!

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  99. Irene, you are so nice, so i will delete your name lor..

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  100. eileen@hundred eighty degreesJune 28, 2012 at 10:26 PM

    These cookies look elegant! I will try my luck for that ^_^

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  101. Hello,I am a new blogger my-humblekitchen.blogspot.com. Even though it is already last day, I wish I can participate in this give away. I will surely try this recipe this weekend. How I wish to be in contact with the bloggers.
    I will spend sometime going through this post.

    Thanks.

    Katie Foong
    8-10 Jalan Tokong
    31650 Ipoh
    Perak
    Tel:0165349126

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  102. Hi Sonia, those are really pretty cookies! I wouldn't bear to eat them... too pretty!

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  103. Hi, nice to have read your lovely blog,the cookies really look too beautiful to eat ! I will be most happy to be the lucky one to win !

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  104. I like to try my luck. Indeed the cookies look so special after decorated with Sakura flower.

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  105. Sakura Biscuits, Nice to see, Nice to hold, Can be eaten once broken into pieces..... :)

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  106. The cookies are so beautiful. Hope that I will ba able to win it. :) Jane

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  107. Good lord, the cookies are so pretty & it were me, I won't want to eat them, want to keep them instead! You girls had such a great time there & your gifts, wow, fruitful gathering!

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  108. Oh WOW! I lOVE these Sakura cookies! They look so elegant & stunning! How I wish I can find Sakura over here & try out this recipe. But I do have a cheery blossom tree in my garden!

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  109. Hi,

    Can u teach how to make the decoupage plates? my email: ceciliakoh@hotmail.sg, if you can share with me.

    Thanks.

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  110. Thanks for sharing this recipe as well as the wonderful photos and descriptions. I liked it so much that I added it to the list of best recipe with pickled sakura with a link back to you on my blog.

    http://nihon-ichiban.com/2012/07/16/top-recipes-with-pickled-sakura-cherry-blossoms-from-japan/

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