Weekend away
So I am back from a long blogging absence to write about my little weekend away with Stu (the boyfriend) where we just stayed a night in a hotel – about a 15minute drive from where we actually live! It seems strange… a weekend away in the city you live in but it was rather romantic and left me feeling like I had a mini-holiday! I felt a bit like a tourist in my own city too! We stayed at the Southern Sun near the V&A Waterfront – nothing fancy but overall a lovely hotel that suited our budget! Then we had dinner at the Waterfront and ditched our cars- for a more tourist experience and strolled to and from the restaurant.
No rush, no distractions – we didn’t bring any work or laptops along with us – one word for the whole experience =RELAXING. So the simply night away left me tempted to aimlessly browse Groupon for anymore budget weekend specials. I’ll just dream about the day when I can travel overseas – when I am finally not a student! For now I’ll take my relaxing little local weekend adventure, I realised I still have much to explore in Cape Town too! Stu even mentioned a couples Spa weekend (something I never thought he’d be up for) now THAT is what I need.
I wrote a previous blogpost about being ‘a tourist in your own city‘ about my day in sunny Simonstown. I can’t wait to have another romantic day escape, next time I have my sights set on Cape Point – gosh, I wish summer never ended.
Then my local Cape Town to-go list also includes The Dog’s Bullocks for dinner, Babel in Franschoek for lunch, The Test Kitchen in Woodstock for a fancy dinner and to head off to Scarborough for a weekend away. That’s just to mention a few!
Happy weekend-ing busy people xx
Cupcake blogs I love…
Hello! I haven’t blogged in so long – I KNOW. This is a quick post – I have exams next week! I have also started training for Ironman 70.3 South Africa which takes place in January 2013 and, as always, there is 5th year medicine to deal with. Other than that! I have been baking, I made some carrot and almond cupcakes which worked out beautifully! I have to blog about those! For now here is some baking inspiration from some of my favourite foodie blogs – they are so much more ‘pro’ then I am!
So go have a look at my inspiration. To head to the site just click on the headings…
1. Glorious Treats
2. Drizzle and Dip
3. Annie’s Eats
4. Scrumptious
Utique launch…
It’s exciting blogging on topics you are passionate about…so here is another one for me – local design. I feel a sense of pride and reminders of home whenever I see beautiful products from South Africa.
So! Back to the actual topic of this post…I went to have a looksy at Utique and their event launch. It’s a small world and a bumped into one of my lecturers from med school there! Needless to say – Lisa was a bit surprised I roamed in blogger circles and it was such a fuzzy proud moment for me when she exclaimed, “how DO you find the time”. Whatever you get a kick from out of life – that there is one of my natural highs. Needless to say I loved the launch. I find the website something refreshing- unique – so the name certainly suits it.
I take my hat of to Utique for having a non-commercial edge and having a beautiful array of local design. The arty side of me was in 7th heaven at the launch on Thursday. I wanted to buy so many things – it is so hard being a student! I chose a 6 year degree too – darn. The items that really stuck out for me was the Zoo Biscuit pillow and wallpapers, Sootcookie ceramic little statues and the Jewelry designers Two-Birds-Some-Stones and Eon Hoon.
Thanks for a great evening – that inspired that very dormant, and under-kept arty side of me. I came home beaming! All I wanted to do was something creative after that – true marker of a fun and inspiring evening. Perhaps the fabulous bar helped too. Chantelle (the Utique owner) did a fab job with the food, with my highlight being the the ample stock of millionaire shortbread (I won’t mention how many pieces I ate) and a very well stocked bar. There was divine live music too , with a guitarist and a violin player -how I love those instruments! I honestly felt that the whole event screamed – ME – it all fitted into what I love from the food to the music and not to mention the showcase of designers. I also loved how homey the whole evening felt – it’s a funny way to describe it but honestly there was non of that rushed awful shopping-mall vibe. The arty side of me was doing soulful pirouettes throughout the night. So there you have it, I love Utique…their cute website and their select designers. I wish them all the best of luck and hope they know how proud I am that it’s all local!
go see the site…
Utique Giveaway…
To Celebrate our launch, Utique.co.za is giving Kathcake readers the chance to win a R250 voucher to spend on Utique products from any of our very talented Sellers including: Design Mate, Sootcookie Ceramics, Maiden Name, Handmade by me, Essie Letterpress and many more.
Sign up to our newsletter at www.utique.co.za to enter. For extra entries: Like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UtiqueGifts Follow us on twitter: @UtiqueGifts Tweet about this competition (including @UtiqueGifts)
Competition closes 31 August. Open to South African residents only.
ABOUT US …Utique is all about showcasing the very best of South African creative talent by carefully selecting products from local designers, artists and small businesses.We are passionate about finding and sharing those special pieces and brands that you might not have known existed, but always seem to pop up in that really cool boutique down the block, or that random pinterest board you stumble across. It’s our job to seek out these hidden gems of design talent, and bring them together in a place that is beautiful, surprising and simple. All our suppliers are carefully chosen for their creativity, innovative style and quality, ensuring that we only promote the very best local talent. From jewellery and ceramics to furniture and art, Utique is the place to indulge your sense for inspiring local gifts and homeware.
https://twitter.com/UtiqueGifts
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/utiquegifts
Congrats to Melanie Pieterkosky you are the winner of the Utique giveaway!
Red Velvet and red wine cupcakes
I love making red wine cupcakes – and I also love red wine. So here is my combination! I would advice you to get a decent set of measuring cups, not expensive ones, but ones that have the measurements clearly marked and that can’t wash away. Then also! The best equipment which took me forever to buy where silicone mixing spatulas – get a good quality pair of those. They are great for mixing (I hardly use my wooden spoon anymore) and also making icing – even plopping the icing on the cake.
RED VELVET CUPCAKES WITH RED WINE
INGREDIENTS:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup cocoa
1 1/3 oil
1/2 cup red wine (I used a chocolately berry flavoured Cabernet Savignon)
1 1/2 sugar
2 large eggs
4 tablespoons red food colouring ( I use the cheap stuff – liquid colouring)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3/4 cup buttermilk ( I usually just add a whole cup!)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar (find the right vinegar)
METHOD:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsuis. Get to know your oven well! I put the tray as much in the middle of the oven shelves – also make sure your oven is properly preheated.
1. Add together the dry ingredients of flour, cocoa and salt in a bowel.
.2. In a separate bowel beat together oil, sugar, eggs, food colouring and vanillla essence. I just beat this by hand with a whisk but you can use a mixer too! By hand is the old school way – it’s also a good work out. Make sure all of the oil is combined and the mixture looks combined together.
3. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. I usually fold the ingredients with a a silicone mixing spatula until it’s all combined with no lumps – or use a wooden spoon. If you have an electric mixer then use that!
4. Then fold in the buttermilk.
5. In a small separate bowel – mix the baking soda and vinegar together. Mix it together and then add it to the main bowel of the mixture. Fold that in.
6. Mix the ingredients so everything’s combined! Then use a spoon to fill up the baking tray.
7. Bake for around 15mins – best way to tell if they’re ready is to first smell them, look at them and that they’ve risen and looked cooked, then I use a toothpick and place it in the middle of the cupcake – them withdraw it and see if any batter sticks to the toothpick. If it doesn’t then they’re done!
8. I take the cupcakes out of the tray and place them on the corners of the baking tray to cool down (so I don’t put cupcakes on a cooling rack) I just put them on the edges of the baking tray and leave them for about 30 minutes until cool to the touch – completely cool! I used to make the over-eager mistake of icing them when they were a bit warm. Don’t!
Icing:
4 cups icing sugar
2 tablespoons wine
1 tablespoon hot water
230g cream cheese – one whole tub! (DO NOT BUY SMOOTH COTTAGE CHEESE!)
happy baking (and experimenting!)
xkathcake
Midyear of 5th year Medicine:)
Brief introduction to what’s happening right now so you can get an idea of where exactly this post is coming from. Today I finished my Ophthalmology end of block exam and in 4 days I have my Gynaecology end of block oral exam. Oral exams are my worst. So I am wedged between two important exams for my 5th year of medicine and everything else in my life takes the back-seat. Everything.
I am writing a post because I can’t imagine doing anything academic right now. At 2am this morning I woke up frazzled and went to found my laptop to go through another Ophthalmology lecture – haha. Yes, that’s me. The only thing that puts me to sleep the night before a big exam is the very subject it’s on. So last night (or rather this morning) I fell asleep feeling reassured that my work was in my double bed next to me, all snug. Don’t mistake me for an over achiever – if anything, my habits are those of a chronic procrastinator.
So here I am, Friday. The weather in Cape Town this week is best described as PMS. It was rainy, cold and windy – so yesterday my umbrella broke. Then today I woke up with a cold. If you haven’t yet grasped the tone of this post…it should be getting clearer. It’s yet another one of those “WHO AM I”moments that is brought on, like clockwork, with exams. I hope that in a years I’ll chuckle at these posts, I never kept a diary as a kid but it would so entertaining to read it now.
Some good news – I’m am on holiday! Tomorrow I’m heading off to the Baking Tin for some cupcake shopping and then it’s baking time! Finally!
Salt River Mortuary
Change rooms at Somerset Surgery Department
The thrilling ophthalmology lectures…
What we do in thrilling ophthalmology lectures…
Surgery at Somerset Hospital
Removing a multi-fibroid uterus
A large multifibriod uterus
Coke Zero – my guilty pleasure (when I need to stay awake on call)
I’m excited for the second part of my 5th year at UCT med school but for now it’s HOLIDAYS!
xkathcake
Sense and Sensibility
Just a quick post! I’m being so sensible about prioritizing my life lately, nothing short of ruthless! However it’s Sunday and I thought I could indulge in a quick post – then it’s back to typing up my Gynae case reports!
This weekend I had a splendid time with my two friends, Tam and Gayle. I thought I would share it! In our joint frustration in rationalizing the male species – we are all med students you see, so we like rationalizing – we had a girly movie night followed by a discussion that could ONLY follow watching the movie Sense and Sensibility. If you are anything like me, and you’ve seen everything from Becoming Jane to the Jane Austen Bookclub and just generally are a sucker for classic romance. Then yes, you’ll love it. I was also chatting to Tam and we were saying how spot on Katie Melua’s song ‘Closest Thing to Crazy’ is in capturing our ability to transform from rational female beings into – well, not that and into something rather frighteningly emotional/needy/daft. Have a read through it girls, see if you can relate – I certainly can! My favourite line in the song…’now I know that there’s a link between the two, being close to crazinss and being close to you’.
Katie Melua “The Closest Thing To Crazy”
Yet feel the air beneath my feet?
How can happiness feel so wrong?
How can misery feel so sweet?
How can you let me watch you sleep,
Then break my dreams the way you do?
How can I have got in so deep?
Why did I fall in love with you?
[CHORUS:]
This is the closest thing to crazy I have ever been
Feeling twenty-two, acting seventeen,
This is the nearest thing to crazy I have ever known,
I was never crazy on my own…
And now I know that there’s a link between the two,
Being close to craziness and being close to you.
How can you make me fall apart
Then break my fall with loving lies?
It’s so easy to break a heart;
It’s so easy to close your eyes.
How can you treat me like a child
Yet like a child I yearn for you?
How can anyone feel so wild?
How can anyone feel so blue?
[CHORUS]
xKathcake
Too busy to blog…
Hello there! So it might already be apparent but I’m not blogging that often. I’ve been swamped lately… I started an business called Medsitter, entered a triathlon, fell in love and also there’s my 5th year of medicine. Whilst I would love nothing more to do that write, dress up and bake -nope- this year has gotten off to a serious and fast pace. I will be back in full force in the holidays, thank you for reading my silly little blog – it brings me a huge amount of happiness having a blog, on top of that – having people who read it!
The perfect Red Velvet Cake recipe
So I have found the holy grail of red velvet cakes for us amateur bakers! I bake often enough but I don’t own a scale and my oven is so average- yet this cake came out splendidly and I can’t wait to make it again! I bought a cheap sandwich cake tin from Checkers – along with all the ingredients and please note that cream cheese is NOT creamed cottage cheese, they are different things altogether.
This was an amazing recipe and although I only make two layers next time I’m aiming on 4! I always get a bit nervous doing red velvets because sometimes the colour comes out too brown, the outside of the cupcakes is too hard and gosh – they can just bugger up by not rising as much as others! Not this recipe, I made perfect little cupcakes, and a cake with it. Oh! Make sure your oven has preheated..so it’s at the right temp when you pop your goodies in!
*My amateur baking advice: some experience with the this recipe has taught me to firstly, cook a cake on less heat for longer rather then at 180 degrees and then the top rises too fast and the outside of the cake becomes hard! So I prefer using a heat of 160 degrees and placing the cake tin in the – middle of the middle – of the oven. That means the middle height and width. It depends what cake tin you use and how big it is! I like using sandwich tins which take short amount of time and they are thin. I make a double layer cake in the end. OH! Good advice, let you cake cool down for a loooooooong time. Like 30mins to an hour at least before you ice it. I also have learnt to put some butter into my cream cheese icing and firm it up a bit, so the icing is stiff enough to use an icing ba or even a butter knife to icing it with – if it runs then your cake is too warm or the icing is too runny – stick it in the fridge for a few minutes so the icing doesn’t sulk down. Practice makes perfect in my opinion. OH! Lastly, I prefer using a toothpick to test if the batter is cooked, so stick it in the middle of the cake when you think it’s done. The toothpick should be pulled out and come out clean if the cake is baked fully. You can usually see it’s risen and smell the cake in the oven, when it gets close to being done.*
The recipe is adapted from an inspiring baking blog Glorious Treats (I LOVE THIS BLOG)
xkathcake
Fabulous People: Kitty Gallannaugh
This 21 year old photographer, from London, has me captured! She’s incredibly creative and passionate and it’s so obvious in all her work – I love it. Yes yes, photography is such a technical business but I hate nothing more than static and dull images – no matter who took them or how ‘great’ they are. I find Kitty Gallannaugh photographs a bit like a painting -her models, colours and backdrops are so beautifully arranged to fit one another… but describing them won’t work, you’ll have to see for yourself!
To see more of her work – you can visit her website www.kittygallannaugh.com/
