WP - Jou Lekker Ding!

Another beautiful Cape Town weekend.

Friday: Pottered around the house after a 9km run and baked.

Saturday: Spent the morning in the library which was not overly exciting but at least it was satisfying. In the afternoon I went to my friend Julia's house for a pre-rugby braai (BBQ for non-South Africans) where we had amazing ostrich burgers and vegetable skewers followed by meringue that I made the previous night (recipe in previous entry). We ate so much that the walk to the Newlands Stadium was a little unpleasant... jeans do NOT stretch 'that' far!

We (Western Province) had a decisive win over the Free State Cheetahs (31 - 7) so it wasn't really a nail-biter but none the less it was fun to chant "WP - Jou Lekker Ding!" I sound like a real fan! Uh huh!

Then we headed to another friend's house for a few more beverages (you can't drink in the stadium - weird!) and then Julia and I headed out for some post Rocking the Daisies goodness at a night club "The Assembly". It was the venue of our first night in CT all those months ago - so was good to go back and get our groove on.

Highlight: At the bar, after being in the club for about 5 mins, a girl turns in my direction, projectile spews on my leg and then turns and continues her conversation... um, gross! I was amazed at my calmness considering my OCD issues with cleanliness - 20 mins later I finally washed my leg, but not before a well needed double vodka :) After so sweet music and quality bopping we headed home at the ripe hour of 2:30. Obviously bacon and noodles were a good idea at this time of night!

The next morning, as a response to the bacon, I swam a kilometre at UCT pool which is my new favourite 'quiet time' place. After then scoffing 5 pieces of toast with salmon mousse (see, health regime in full swing!) with Stefan we then headed to the glorious sunshine at Camps Bay for some vitamin D.

I cooked laksa when I got home. Was delish!

xxx

Chocolate Layered Meringue and my 26th Birthday

I am not 26 years old. Not really sure what category this age group belongs to except the F.U.N one.

I saw in my new year with a rooftop Moroccan-inspired dinner cooked by my wonderful Capetownian friends followed by drinks in town the following evening at Cape to Cuba in the city.

We ventured 1.5 hrs North the following day for a long weekend of music and dancing shenanigans at what one likes to call "Rocking the Daisies." The Team was out in force and it was simply a magical weekend - a good start to the new year.


The recipe below is one from my beautiful friend and bride-to-be Julia. She kindly send through this via text message so I could make it over here in Cape Town.

Chocolate Layered Meringue

MERINGUE

4 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 C almond meal

Preheat oven to 160 degrees celcius.

Line and grease 3 trays on which to spread 3 x 20cm diameter 1 - 2 cm thick meringues.

Beat the egg whites with vanilla and vinegar and gradually add the sugar. Whip until stiff peaks are formed and then gently fold in the almond meal.

Spread the mixture on the greased paper to make three layers. Cook for 20 mins.

GANACHE

125 mls cream
400 g dark/milk chocolate
1 tsp instant coffee

Melt ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Combine till a ganache is formed and allow to cool completely.

CREAM

125 ml cream

Whip until stiff (be careful not to over beat as it will turn to butter!)

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER - make sure all elements are cool!

Place one meringue on a plate and cover with chocolate mixture and then a layer of whipped cream. Place the second meringue carefully on top and repeat the process finishing with a layer of cream.

Finish with a dusting of coco.

MIND BLOWING!

Inertia possesses a momentum all of its own

It has been nearly a year since I wrote for this blog, suggesting that either:

a) I have been too busy

b) I have been having so much fun

c) I am lazy

d) Blogs make me cringe at times

e) All of the above

I decided that if I am ever to be a good writer (in any capacity) then the only way is to practice. This is a lesson I have seen in practice by my beautiful flat-mate Brooke. Very proud! So after nearly a year of not writing (or at least not a consistent effort) I have decided to start again and see where it takes me.

I am sitting at a cafe, in Claremont, for the first time since I arrived here in Cape Town - one of my favourite things to do.

Behind me is a young couple, early 20's I would say. It is his birthday. He exclaims 'I know, I will get my mommy to take me to the aquarium.'

I didn't realise that young men still enjoyed such activities - aquariums or their mother's company. And I smiled. There are nice boys out there.

I currently have 3 assignments to do. I am 5 weeks onto International Protection of Human Rights and International Disputes and the Use of Force - that's why I am here, doing my readings after going for a run earlier around Rondebosch Commons and going to the soccer with some Capetownians tonight.

The thing that I am quietly contemplating is whether or not to ask if I can redesign the cafe's menu. It is simple and well designed but, in my opinion, boring and completely lacking originality. I would like to suggest some ideas without getting my head beaten in. Something I have never done before.

I also have two dessert recipes that I would like to show them. OMG I am excited! Maybe I will start with the desserts before I pull apart their menu. Foot in the door. Best approach I think.

* 2 day interval*

My house mate/land lord Liz is having a braai tonight so I can meet her daughters. I have a lot of work to do still but I am currently baking. No surprises there.

x jnn

Youth Eviction: It's just a state of mind

This week was a big week. I turned 25, I was officially informed that my days of poverty were limited (I got a law clerkship), my flatmate finished her final year medicine exams, we celebrated, celebrated again and once more just to tell ourselves that it was actually real. Then slept for 12 hours. And now I look forward to a dentist ripping my teeth out tomorrow. Not the best note to end on; but you have got to come down sometime, right?

The "I'm on a boat" Party
My actual birthday dinner
My combined 50th Birthday Party
Me (I am in the photo -doing something naughty 4 years ago) and Me (now)
At the Boat Party - It is very very obvious that I am "Where's Wally"

The strange thing is that when it's all over life begins again (well it never really stopped)... lucky it's just a state of mind.

xx jenn (x 5)

The Breadman

The sun was warm and the lunch-timed chatter filled the park.
The passers-by starred under their not-so-dark glasses as the couples bedded on the grass.
Two men lay in solitude. Resting away the hour.
One old. One young.
How old I could not say.

Another man, age settled on his brow, drunk and homeless – or neither.
Just taking his time.
He throws the bread near the older of the two resting men.
The one in the suit. The matching suit.
The birds flock between the three men.
The suit sits up. He looks at me. I shrug a hopeless smile. We both know he’s annoyed.
His eyes pierce at the bread-man. He doesn’t seem to see the problem.
Stiff words fall on absent ears.
He is absent. And so sees no problem.
The suit collects his lunch package. Disturbed. He leaves.
He would have left anyway as time bares heavy on his wrist.

Another man approaches the bread-man, the drunk-man, the homeless-man.
The old man. The breadman.
He wears a brown suit. Unmatched, of course. But he’s better dressed than the breadman.
They embrace and walk towards the giant chess game that has played this whole time in the close-distance.
The birds clean through the bread. The lazy scavengers clear the ground.
The sun is warm and the bread is nuzzled like ducks sifting seeds.

Only the young man lies alone now. With my shaded glasses I sit. And eat alone.
My lover of years past walks by.
I stand. Greet with a kiss.
We look like the rest of them. We chat a while and I watch him eat.
The time passes with familiar ease. My lunch hour rolls over but I still sit.
But soon we stand, shake the scarf.
Then run frantically back to work. Excuses trailing behind.
Like all the rest.
Except the breadman.
The drunk.
The homeless.
Or neither.


(Written during my lunch break in Hyde Park)

The Christmas Season: Celebration or Insanity?

It is Christmas 2009. I can't remember the last Christmas where my family was together. All six of us.

This year all of us will be together. This may not seem like a big deal but between state lines, oceans and significant others it has not been a reality for a few years now. Heading back to Woopi, where we spent most of our childhood Christmas, feels cathartic. It feels like putting lids of old worn presents and opening something new, something bigger and brighter. For the first time in many years the idea of 'Christmas' itself, excites me!

So much is changing. There are wedding proposals, pregancies and for me personally, I am finally a woman. But I guess deep down I will always be 'wren' and I kinda like that.

I just love that feeling inside of genuine excitement(sp?). We are making changes that will impact us greatly. I wanted to cry so much when Meg told me that she was engaged. But for some reason I thought that I needed to hold it together. I don't know why. It was one of those moments where you realise that these decisions will strongly shape where we go. So happy for you Meg!

So Woopi brings back a lot of memories. Some vague, some almost unreal. But it makes me realise that we have all been through a lot and we have made decisions and we have been slowly changing along the way. But more importantly we will be together and I know that we will laugh. There will be excess food, wine, gossip, tears, reminiscing, fights... but I can't think of anything better right now.

I can't help but think of "Little Women" and smile because Will could have been Beth.

xx jenn

Bess...

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks