The Weekend

The past weekend was wonderful.

All in all, I spent it as usual – maniacally running around and taking pictures of everything that had caught my attention.

First, I inspected some animals really closely.

But then I got confused by who was in fact inspecting whom.

So I rather walked away.
 
 

Then I found Kiran.

I knew I’d visit him again soon.

He turned one year last week.
 
 

Just look how joyous and carefree he can be.
 
 

He is a real mood booster.
 
 

After waving Kiran goodbye, I visited the most beautiful castle on the planet.
 
 

On Sunday we went to see my parents.

I checked what was new in my Mom’s atelier…
 
 

… and I found this gorgeous new painting.

I love it – as always, it’s full of .oobies.
 
 

Then I couldn’t believe my own eyes when Mom showed me these new baskets.

They hadn’t been bought – my Mom’s Dad made them.

Wow!

That was all I could say.
 
 

Meanwhile a storm had come and gone – leaving Mom’s garden even more amazing than before.
 
 

The flowers definitely enjoyed the shower.
 
 

They looked happy and invigorated.
 
 

Oh, and the little cute things with eyes that ‘inhabit’ the garden – their number is growing really fast.

There were so many new that I hadn’t seen before.

This one, for instance, has a very interesting story.

Mom said, she had been feeding this bird all winter and it’s gotten so fat it couldn’t take off and lives in the garden now.
 
 

These guys were hiding behind a flower pot – luckily I found them.

What a gorgeous weekend it was – I hope you had a lovely one too.

Have a superb week y’all.

Love,

Petra
 

Red Velvet Cake

I’ve always loved the way this cake looks.

I guess there are many people like me – the color combination is just mesmerizing and so genial.

When you look at it, it truly seems velvety.

And abundant in flavors.

It’s like from another galaxy or something.

These days I really couldn’t help it, I simply needed it in my life.

So this is what I did, dear friends, and I ENJOYED it …

These are the ingredients.

1. First I prepared this flour mixture.

It consists of the flour, salt and cocoa powder.

2. Then, in another bowl I mixed the buttermilk and the food coloring.

(There are many brands of food coloring – please, read the instructions on the package you’ve bought and try to give your final batter some stronger red color.)

3. In the bowl of your electric mixer, mix the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).

4. Then add the eggs – one at a time – beating well after each addition.

5. Add the vanilla and mix.

6. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and the colored buttermilk, in three additions – beginning and ending with the flour mixture.

7. In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda.

Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter.

8. Butter a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan (or two) and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.

9. Fill the prepared pan with about 2 cups (500 ml) of the finished batter (there should be about 8 cups of the finished batter altogether and we are going to make 4 layers).

10. Bake at 350 F (175 C) for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

11. Meanwhile, we can prepare the frosting.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, process the cream cheese, vanilla and confectioners’ sugar until smooth.

Then, in a separate bowl, with you hand mixer, whip the cream until stiff peaks form.

With a large spatula, gently fold these two mixtures together and place in the refrigerator for about an hour or until firm enough to spread.

12. When the first layer has baked, remove it from the oven and place it (still in the pan) on the wire rack for about 10 minutes.

Then remove the cake from the pan, transfer onto a plate and let cool completely.

13. Wash the springform pan, butter it, line the bottom with parchment paper again, fill it with another 2 cups (500 ml) of the batter and bake.

14. Repeat until you have baked all four layers.

15. When your cake layers have cooled completely place one cake layer on a serving platter.

Spread the cake layer with the layer of frosting.

16. Place another cake layer on top of the frosting and…

… continue to frost and stack the cake layers.

17. Frost the top and sides of the cake.

You can also garnish your cake with sweetened or unsweetened coconut.

And most importantly – enjoy, dear friends.

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