CakesAndCookies Cupcake Wrappers

It has been quite a week all in all. Launching a new product, updating my wrapper selection with the new ones that have become available, new price lists…the list goes on. It is never tedious, and I really enjoy presenting my new items – photographing them, dressing them up, and decorating them.  I don’t consider it “a job”, as I have always been fortunate to make my so called work, out of what is really a hobby.  I have always had great fun using paper, and if one can combine that joy with cooking, then indeed I am very blessed.  Winter is very tough, especially I think in “holydayish” coastal towns, and Knysna is no different.  The cold seems to bring on a sort of slower than slow kind of mood, and people even start reversing out of parking spaces at half of a good summer speed.  Life slows down, and maybe we should take note, that perhaps this is why some little creatures go into hibernation.  On the other hand, there are lots of creatures that still need to sustain life in fairly harsh conditions.  I am used to the pigeons staring at me through my little pantry window, pleading for a couple of cupcake crumbs, and I always oblige although I do believe that I am a total pushover.  Then again, I am probably one of the luckiest people in town…….I have made friends with a Knysna Loerie – and boy, is he handsome!…we have become breakfast friends, and bananas, mango, pawpaw……..well he just loves it all, and the reward is tremendous for me. There are a lot of people who have lived in this town for many many years and have never seen a Loerie.  I have my own little star! He is a tremendous distraction for me (and four cats), but the pleasure of looking at him will never cease.  I am almost in touching distance! 

Share your fruit, bread and crumbs……..birds are people too!  But back to my new products.  Macarons or Macaroons are the new babes on the block, and I must say fairly challenging to make.  I must say that I initially thought that these were the little coconut jobs that I remember making in my Brownie days, way way way back in time.  One of those little tasks you had to perform to earn as I recall a “thrift” badge. Wrong. Nothing to do with coconut at all.  Well, I have made them three times from the same recipe, and my initial foray into the job turned up some real gems.  I was ever so plucked with my skill.  Then we needed to repeat the excercise, and they all came out cracked.  Third time was not as good as the first, and with bills for almonds and eggs mounting I was hoping to just find some at a bakery that would do for my photographs.  No such luck, so I kind of managed with what I had.  Skillful placement in a photograph is what wallpaper is to blemished walls. Once I had the little models, it was time to christen the new packaging and reveal the name.  I decided to call my two new packaging concepts the “Macaringue” – a combination of macaron and meringue for which they are both ideally suited.  Available in all colour combinations, the larger box is ideal for all kinds of sweet treats, and the little one is perfect for a macaron or two, or perhaps a mini-meringue or two.  Enjoy……..and remember, all our little creatures are also entitled to treats – trust me, the pleasure they will bring you is immeasurable.

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