Reasons to celebrate

I'm not sure why I stopped reading Kuidaore (brandoesq.blogspot.com) many months ago but, when I recently stopped by the blog again, I was struck once more by the beautiful pastries the blogger, Joycelyn, creates. She's a pastry instructor at a cooking school in Singapore, so getting a taste of her products - and learning how to make them - is just a short plane ride away, although she occasionally shares her recipes. Her work is refined, delicate and seasonal. Her recent posts have been on festive goodies such as gingerbread linzertorte, spiced pear bundt cake, kugelhopf and brandied mincemeat cupcakes (above) decorated to resemble Christmas tree ornaments. Her recipes include snowflake-embossed shortbread and banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches).