Life of elegance?

My 1st taste of osmanthus was many years ago when i dined at a chinese restuarant serving "zha-jiang mian". on the menu, there's a dessert which is tang-yuen (glutinuous balls with different fillings) cooked with a sweet syrup infused with osmanthus. I was really capivated then, the very elegant and refined fragrance of osmanthus..... but then, being the young and impressionable me at that time, all i did was become a regular customer of that joint, to enjoy the dessert. I never occured to me to replicate this dessert at home, maybe 'coz i wasn't that much into cooking then.

Many years later, I chanced upon this recipe of osmanthus cake shared generously by Jo, of Imperial Kitchen forum. I heard that osmanthus cake is a favourite of a particular dowager in the ancient times. I know for sure that i'll give this cake a try! However, seems to me that osmanthus is not easily found locally, until one goes "searching" for it at medical halls or places that sells china foodstuff.

I finally made some y'day, having found the exclusive osmanthus at a c'town shop.... the family dun seemed to appreciate the taste of osmanthus.... hm.... maybe their tastebuds is not as refined as the dowager, or mine! LOL..... anyway, i really love the cake... and i find that maybe the taste of the osmanthus is not strong enuf. would love to get my hands on the dried flowers, to enhance the taste even more!

I love the shape of this mold....

'Cuze me while I brew myself a nice pot of tea and enjoy my life of elegance!See the osmanthus flowers in the cake? so pretty.....