Wednesday 25 February 2009

Cupcakes and Weekends

I love birthdays, it makes no difference if it's mine or a complete stranger's - I can't help being happy when someone says "Birthday"!

February is a big birthday month for our family - my sister and my Mom are both February babies. This weekend we went to Stilbaai to celebrate my Mom's special day. It was so good to have 4 days of family, lots of sun and good fun.


We started the weekend with the Noordkapper hike along the coast from Jongensfontein (The Fountain of Youth) to Stilbaai (Still Bay), where we were met by my father who had laid on a beach fish braai (BBQ) and picnic - talk about living!


The simple things in life are really the best, especially when you can share them with the people you love the most.

Of course, no birthday is complete without cake and as the official family baker I decided a plate of "Over the Top" cupcakes would fill the spot, after an afternoon of hiking and picnicking. I used Lady Raven's recipe as my base, with a few changes to suit the ingredients I had on hand. They were totally fantastic thank you Raven.

Raven's Cupcakes
Adapted by Rose and Thorn

1 Cup Light Brown Sugar
½ Cup Soft Butter
2 Eggs
1¼ Cup Self-Raising Flour
¼ Cup Cocoa (replace with self-raising and a teaspoon of vanilla for plain cupcakes)
½ teaspoon Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
½ Cup Buttermilk

Set oven to 180°C.
Line a 18 muffin tray with cupcake paper.
Cream to the sugar and butter, until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, mixing well after each addition.
Sift in the dry ingredients and mix to combine.
Add the butter milk and mix until smooth.
Spoon into the batter into the cupcake papers (¾ full - don't overfill them)
Bake for about 20 minutes.
Leave to cool slightly before removing from the pan.

Once completely cooled, decorate with lots of butter icing, a finely chopped peppermint crisp and for added sparkle some edible fairy dust!

1 comment:

Cynthia said...

The simple things in life are really the best, especially when you can share them with the people you love the most. - yes! yes! yes!

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water."

It is not your business to succeed, but to do what is right : when you have done so, the rest lies with God.
C.S. Lewis

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