[1] Tantalising baked goods, from cupcakes to three-layered cakes with colourful swirls, feature in Lyndsay Sung’s second cookbook, Plantcakes. As you might guess from the book’s title, the recipes it contains are vegan, made without eggs, dairy or other animal products.
[2] Some may find it tough to imagine desserts made without dairy products, but the 47-year-old cancer survivor makes them delicious. Not only that, her recipes are accessible and chock full of helpful information and tips. “Even beginners can jump in and make something, and people with more experience can discover new flavours and new techniques,” says the fourth-generation Chinese-Canadian in an interview in Vancouver.
[3] In her book, Sung writes: “A positive attitude can really make the difference in life. As a cancer survivor, I know this to be true – trying to keep positive and finding the twisted humour through cancer treatment helped buoy me up, and being appreciative of life’s many gifts is something I’ve learned through experience.
[4] “Life is precious, and it will fly by, and the days will pass no matter what – so you may as well try to live it with an easy laugh. Thankfully, delicious cake has the ability to put a smile on quite a few faces.”
[5] Sung’s casual, chatty tone shines through in Plantcakes. The book offers suggestions for the use of various vegan ingredients, from egg-white alternatives such as soy-based Versawhip, to aquafaba, the thick liquid in canned chickpeas – used in meringues – and plant-based butters. She also explains how Oreo biscuits are “accidentally vegan” – but you’ll have to read the book to learn why.
[6] Plantcakes is divided into sections, including cakes to snack on, such as almond butter banana snacking cake; two- and three-layer cakes like party time chocolate raspberry ruffle cake; and cupcakes, such as “They Don’t Know They’re Healthy” banana chocolate chip cupcakes.
[7] She began baking in 2008 for her many friends who happened to be vegan. She tweaked conventional recipes, replacing dairy milk with coconut milk, and used egg replacers. She was pleasantly surprised when they turned out well, and she kept working to improve the taste and texture.
[8] One of her favourite tricks is making chocolate ganache using coconut milk. She heats up the coconut milk, adds chocolate, lets it sit for about 10 minutes, and then whisks them together slowly. “As that cools and thickens, you can use it to frost cakes or whip it into a whipped frosting.”
[9] Sung’s Instagram account has attracted nearly 90,000 followers. Her nascent YouTube channel has about 700 subscribers, attracting those keen to learn how to make and decorate eye-catching cakes.
[10] Sung has a final tip for those wanting to try their hand at making plant-based cakes. “I love using fresh fruit and edible flowers. It’s such an easy way to add pops of colour and make it look more finished,” she said.
Source: South China Morning Post, November 23
Questions
1. Find a word in paragraph 1 that means “exhibiting something that arouses interest”.
2. According to paragraph 2, does Sung’s cookbook target a wide range of readers, and why?
3. In paragraph 3, why does Sung mention her experience as a cancer survivor in her book?
4. In paragraph 4, Sung’s attitude towards life can best be described as ...
A. cynical.
B. indifferent.
C. optimistic.
D. fatalistic.
5. What changes did Sung make to traditional recipes according to paragraph 7, and why?
6. Why does the writer mention Sung’s Instagram and YouTube channels in paragraph 9?
7. According to Sung in paragraph 10, fresh fruit and edible flowers can enhance the appearance of plant-based cakes ...
A. by providing a natural and refreshing taste.
B. by adding vibrant colours and visual appeal.
C. by incorporating unique textures and aromas.
D. by increasing the shelf life of the cakes.
8. Fill in the blanks using words and phrases from the word box below. (5 marks)
dietary needs / quick snack / features / extravagant
Written in a casual, chatty tone, Lyndsay Sung’s Plantcakes (i) __________ vegan recipes that cater to people with different tastes and (ii) __________. It includes a delectable array of cakes, from almond butter banana that is perfect for a (iii) __________ to the (iv) __________ party-time chocolate raspberry ruffle cake.
9. Decide whether the following statements about Sung are True, False or the information is Not Given in the text. (4 marks)
(i) She is an experienced vegan baker and has been teaching people how to make and decorate cakes on Instagram and YouTube.
(ii) Sung’s latest cookbook focuses on traditional desserts, showcasing her expertise in using dairy products to create decadent treats.
(iii) In Plantcakes, Sung not only provides vegan cake recipes but also goes into great detail about the process of making vegan butter from scratch.
(iv) Her innovative creations have been featured in numerous culinary magazines.
Plantcakes author Lyndsay Sung. Photo: Random House
Answers
1. tantalising
2. Yes, because the cookbook contains recipes with tips and information for both beginners and people with more experience.
3. Because she wants to inspire her readers with her experience and her positive attitude and outlook on life
4. C
5. She replaced dairy milk with coconut milk and used egg replacers instead of real eggs because she wanted to bake for her vegan friends.
6. to show that Sung and her recipes are very popular on social media.
7. B
8. (i) features; (ii) dietary needs; (iii) quick snack; (iv) extravagant
9. (i) T; (ii) F; (iii) T; (iv) NG
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