The Carrot Cake of all Carrot Cakes

There's nothing quiet like a MOIST Carrot Cake (yes - I know that word sends shivers down one's spine, but there is just no other apt adjective). Now Carrot Cake has to be my "go-to" cake and after trying many different recipes and alternative icings, I have finally found a combination that is THE BEST and it is so easy to make!

After combining a few recipes, I present to you THEE most delicious Carrot & Nut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups Sunflower oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tin crushed pineapple (440g)
2 cups grated carrots
3 cups flour
1 cup chopped nuts (pecan or walnuts) - I add more but it's your choice :)
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla essence
½ tsp salt
Handful of coconut 

Instructions:

- Mix all the ingredients well together
- Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 180 degrees

Now how simple is that?? While the cake is baking you can prepare the icing, which does not take you long either!

Icing:

1 Cup Cream Cheese
4 tbsp. Butter
1 Cup Icing Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla Essence
2 tbsp. Sour Cream

Instructions:

- Combine the butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy
- Mix the icing sugar in slowly and beat on medium for 2-3 minutes
- Add the vanilla and sour cream until combined

Once the cake is cool, ice it and decorate with some nuts (optional).

Then for the final step:

EAT & ENJOY!!!!

Happy baking fellow foodies :)

Cafe Hopping & Coffee Shopping

Cape Town CBD is full of vibrant coffee shops selling freshly brewed coffee, lunch and a selection of treats. My housemate, Cands, & I decided it would be fun to "coffee shop hop" through the streets of Cape Town and try out all the quaint and cosy coffee shops in her lunch hour.

So far, we have tried out 3 Coffee Shops in the CBD and have definitely not been disappointed! Our first outing was to Aroma Coffee Shop on Loop Street. We were welcomed by friendly staff and an accommodating manager who made sure the food came out timeously as we were in a rush. We enjoyed a great cup of coffee and a wholesome, delicious and reasonably priced omelette. This coffee shop oozed atmosphere and had a great menu to choose from. It is not often that one finds a good cup of coffee for less than R20. We so enjoyed finding and dining at this little gem that we decided to start our coffee shopping.

Our next coffee date was at the not so secret Jason's Bakery in Bree Street. This coffee shop is always buzzing and one often struggles to find a seat due to its popularity! I had a Cappuccino and Cands had Horlicks. Jason's brews their coffee strong as each coffee is poured as a double shot so if you need that extra caffeine kick, it is definitely the place to go. The coffee at Jason's is also well-priced at only R20 for a cappuccino. Jason's has a blackboard menu of a selection of foods that they regularly change to keep the clients interested. They serve a selection of salads, sandwhiches and other lunch specials.

The most recent coffee shop we have explored is Clarke's Dining Bar. This was definitely our most fun outing so far. I had a freshly pressed fruit juice and Cands had a delicious bowl of Cauliflower soup with fresh homemade bread. The staff were extremely flexible and allowed me to make my own concoction up for my juice! We sat around the counter by the kitchen and watched one chef slice bread using a fancy contraption and turn it into the most delicious gourmet sandwich. The restaurant felt alive and everyone was enjoying themselves. Two men came in for their lunch hour and ordered the burger and chips. After their meal, they raved about how delicious it was and proceeded to order a second round. Yes! Clarke's food is so nice, that they ate it twice!!

We got chatting to two American's at Clarke's Bar - suggesting to them what they could do as they had a couple of hours to kill in Cape Town. I whipped out my packet of chewing gum and they promptly shot out their hands, requesting a gum for themselves. This sparked a spontaneous mini-conversation and momentary friendship. We are now linked on instagram and follow their worldly adventures, one post at a time.

Fully on board the coffee hopping train, we have our eyes set on some other caffeine havens! Our next few stops will be:
- The Power & The Glory
- Skinny Legs & All
- Latitude 33

We look forward to sharing our new coffee shopping experiences and we hope you jump on board and start your own adventure too :)

Feel free to comment or suggest any quirky spots that serve a good cup of coffee...