Home made paneer in curry

The I Made It Challenge: Paneer curry

Published on by Teresa Ulyate7 Comments
The weather man must have known what I had planned in the kitchen yesterday, and kindly arranged a cool and drizzly day in between the gloriously hot summer ones we have been experiencing lately. Perfect for being in the kitchen, and perfect for making a curry!

Continue reading “The I Made It Challenge: Paneer curry” →

Salted caramel sauce recipe

Salted caramel sauce

Published on by Teresa Ulyate6 Comments

Christmas has come early to Cupcakes and Couscous with the second challenge I am participating in this month. The lovely Sam over at Pomegranate Days has teamed up with Karon Grieve from Larder Love to challenge bloggers to come up with their favourite foodie Christmas gifts. This is right up my street as I love giving foodie presents during the Festive Season – cookies, flavoured oils, roasted nuts… and this rather delectable salted caramel sauce.

Continue reading “Salted caramel sauce” →

Two Oceans Simple Snacking Challenge

Published on by Teresa Ulyate2 Comments
Last month I received an invitation to participate in the Two Oceams Simple Snacking Challenge. Western Cape food bloggers were challenged to create a tasty snacking solution for four with a budget of just R100. The prize is a two night stay at Paternoster’s Strandloper Ocean Boutique or Birkenhead House in Hermanus. How could I say no?

Continue reading “Two Oceans Simple Snacking Challenge” →

Grilled veggies with za’atar yoghurt

Published on by Teresa UlyateLeave a comment
This last month seems to have flown by in a flurry of activity, and I have popped my head up to find that we are in November already with the weather warming up and Christmas trees springing up all around! It has been a very busy month and I was lucky enough to attend some wonderful events including the launch of the stunning new NoMU Baking Kit range, a fun “Cook With Spice” workshop and a delightful evening at Sinns Restaurant with the Come Wine With Me bunch. My family and I also managed a very short but lovely trip up the east coast to Hermanus. This in between all of the usual running around and family commitments – I am sure you know how it goes!

Continue reading “Grilled veggies with za’atar yoghurt” →

Win tickets to the Cape Town Festival of Beer!

Published on by Teresa Ulyate1 Comment

Today is a doubly happy day – not only is it the start of the weekend but I also have a give-away for you, fabulous readers! Up for grabs is a set of double tickets to the much anticipated Cape Town Festival of Beer which is on from 22 – 24 November 2013.


This is the largest beer festival in the Southern Hemisphere, and will be showcasing over 200 local and international beers. There will be guided beer tours, the world’s largest game of beer pong and a chance to learn more about artisan beers and food pairings (so you’ll be right on trend, my dear!).

Naturally you can also expect to see plenty of food stalls and live entertainment. There will be prizes aplenty to be won and even a supervised play area for the kids should you wish to bring them along too. This and so much more, you can check out the Cape Town Festival of Beer website for more details by clicking here.

How to enter:

1.) Send an email to vanillafrost@gmail.com (subject line: BEER) with your name and contact number, and tell me what part of the festival you’d most look forward to if you won the tickets. 

For additional entries you can also:

1.) Like the Cupcakes & Couscous Facebook page (if you haven’t done this already) and let me know you’ve done so in your email. 
2.) Leave a comment on the Facebook page under the Festival of Beer Giveaway post. 

Entries close at midnight on Friday 8 November and the winner will be announced on Monday 11 November. The winner will receive one set of double tickets valid for Friday 22 November OR Sunday 24 November in Greenpoint, Cape Town (winner can choose their preferred date). The winner should be over the age of 18.

Good luck! 

Images courtesy of CT Festival of Beer

Honey nougat recipe.

Pecan, almond and honey nougat

Published on by Teresa Ulyate19 Comments
 
A few weeks ago I announced that the “I Made It” challenge for October would be nougat. This is something that I have always wanted to try, especially when I see images of perfect slabs of nougat in magazines and recipe books or fresh nougat bars in our local delis. So when Tandy over at Lavender and Lime asked me to host the challenge this month I knew this was my chance to challenge myself to master this classic sweet treat.

Continue reading “Pecan, almond and honey nougat” →

Double chocolate almond meringues

Published on by Teresa Ulyate10 Comments

I whipped these up a while ago when I found myself sitting with a few extra egg whites leftover from a batch of fresh pasta I had made. The perfect excuse to make meringues! Not just any meringues, no no… but an extra special version with dark chocolate and crunchy almonds. They were so delicious that I have made them several times since. Continue reading “Double chocolate almond meringues” →

Out & About: City Bowl Market

Published on by Teresa UlyateLeave a comment

For a while there I thought this post was never going to make it out! It’s scary how accustomed we are to having access to the whole world at our fingertips – and how out of touch we feel when that connection is no longer there. So the short story is that my wireless internet connection decided to take the weekend off… and, err.. never came back. My IT-whizz hubby has managed to make an interim plan so I am kind-of sort-of back again, enough so for me to tell you about my recent visit to the City Bowl Market.



Cape Town’s youthful energy is reflected in this market, located in the city centre. The market takes place twice weekly at 14 Hope Street – a large red and white building which you can’t miss as you drive up the road! Originally opened in September 1927, the Zionist Hall as it was more popularly known was a venue for social and charity events for the surrounding, largely Jewish neighbourhood and the citizens of the city. A centre for everything from concerts to Bat Mitzvahs to blood transfusion clinics. 50 years later, with the younger generation moving to other areas and the community dwindling, the hall was sold.




The first thing I noticed as I walked into the market was the colourful bunting draped across the hall. The traders were positioned around the sides of the hall, and in the middle were large pink tables (made out of doors) where visitors could relax and enjoy their food. On the stage up front, three women were playing the marimbas, adding to the festive atmosphere. And that really sums it up – the vibe is relaxed and fun!





And onto the traders… at first glance the City Bowl Market may not seem huge, but there is so much to see! Fresh spices, gluten-free muesli, artisan lollies and craft beers are just some of the offerings. If you have a sweet tooth you will not be disappointed! I took home the most delicious brownies from La Petite Moo Brownies in salted caramel and bar-one flavours. And I spotted some fantastic, blingy cupcakes at Take The Cake including a Lindt ball cupcake – yes, hello! For the more health conscious, you can follow your nose and the aroma of fresh ginger to the juice stand, or choose from a huge selection of gourmet salads at SaladLover.























I tasted some limoncello at Kaapse Limoncello (great for Christmas gifts, hint hint) and also got chatting to the lady selling fresh potted herbs (Village Herbs) in the hope of getting some insight as to why I can never get my coriander going. Brunch consisted of olive bread and halloumi bread from Cyprus Foods for me and a nutella crepe for hubby, enjoyed at one of the pink tables. I also tasted some spicy ready-to-drink chai at Groovy Chai. I was hoping to get a closer look at the craft beers but by the time I had worked my way to that side of the hall I couldn’t get anywhere near them for the sea of lads hanging around them! I’ll take that as a sign that they must be good.




City Bowl Market is the perfect place to meet up with old friends or make a few new ones! There is plenty of space at the large tables for everyone to gather around and have a good old catch up while enjoying the artisan products on offer.



The City Bowl Market at 14 Hope Street is open on Thursdays 4.30 – 8.30pm and Saturdays 9am – 2pm. For more information you can click here to visit their website. My thanks to Ute Kuhlmann, Market Manager for supplying the historical background of the building.