The nation’s fascination with cupcakes shows no sign of abating, which is good for business for this baker of fabulous little cakes.

Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like an exquisitely iced and decorated cupcake . . . or so Durbanite Murphy McLoughlin, the sole proprietor of Cupsy Cakes, believes.

‘I am convinced that one person can change the world, and so by spreading smiles and yummy cupcakes I believe that I can make the world a better place!’ she says. Murphy has always been an avid baker. Throughout school she baked sweet treats and shared them with classmates and teachers. Baking, she says, makes her ‘feel better’. ‘My grandmother taught me to bake when I was very young and it’s a form of therapy for me,’ she says. ‘I’ve always dreamt of having my own cupcake business, so what began with me selling my wares to classmates and teachers has grown since I left school. From those early forays it just developed into a home business.’ Murphy started off by making chocolate cupcakes with ganache icing because they are ‘the epitome of happy food’. Orders from friends and family then began to trickle in and soon she realised that she could ‘bring a bit of happiness, yumminess and chocolate to the nation’ by founding her cupcake baking business. Her business model is simple. Potential customers can simply get in touch with her via her Facebook page, or email or telephone her and Murphy will assist them in working out their needs depending on their budget, taste and what the occasion is.

Priority list
A second-year student in full-time study at Vega School of Brand Leadership in Durban, Murphy says that her studies have helped her create an identity for her business.

‘I’ve done everything myself. From creating the logo to the packaging, and running the Facebook page,’ she says. She also works part-time at a local boutique, so at present she is unable to devote all her time and attention to Cupsy Cakes. ‘I focus on my business whenever I can,’ she says. ‘Baking is my passion and I am working up to my ultimate dream – to open my own bakery one day.’ Although the business has been in operation officially since December 2010, because Murphy doesn’t have premises yet all the baking happens in her boyfriend’s mother’s kitchen, with occasional assistance from her family and friends. ‘Cupsy Cakes is only really starting to grow now as my client base increases. I am also experiencing increased interest in my Facebook page,’ she says. ‘I do everyday cakes as well as bake for weddings, parties, showers and other special occasions. Cupsy Cakes prides itself on offering a personalised service for any and every occasion and there is a range of cakes from which to choose. However, I also entertain any flavour combination you could imagine,’ she says. Luckily, her clients seem to love all the cupcakes on the menu but her personal favourite is her red velvet cakes. ‘I have managed to get them perfect and they are a pure delight,’ she says proudly.

Because Murphy is a student she has put her expansion plans for the business on  hold and only services clients in the Durban area. ‘It’s early days for me and my plans for global domination,’ she grins. ‘But my range continues to grow and I have some wacky ideas for the future.’ A self-confessed creative, Murphy says she is pleased that, so far, the business side of running Cupsy Cakes has not been too challenging. ‘I have a bit of business knowledge but I come from a very creative family,’ she says. ‘I have no problem making a cake look fabulous, but I’m sure the business side is going to become more complicated as the business grows. ‘I am so young that all I want to do right now is finish my studies and really get my cake business on the map,’ she says. ‘My boyfriend, Travis, is my rock. He is so supportive and assists me wherever I let him. My father is also amazing. He tells everyone who will listen about my business and how proud he is of me.’ It is early days for Murphy – who has no formal baking training – and Cupsy Cakes. But, armed with her beloved granny’s secret recipes, skills learnt getting hands-on in the kitchen and a passion for baking, she really does have all the ingredients she needs to take her business to great heights. ‘For now, my focus is on gaining as many clients as I possibly can and making them all happy with every order I deliver so I can save and then open that cake shop I’ve always dreamt about.’

Murphy’s recipe for success

• Time management is important as a late delivery can ruin a client’s plans.

• Confidence is essential as you have to believe that you are able to deliver a great product.

• Determination to succeed and the desire to keep your dreams alive will see you through.

• Perseverance is essential in the baking trade. If a batch of cakes is not right I will keep on baking until I get it right. Giving up is not an option.

• Passion is the most essential trait for entrepreneurs. If you aren’t crazy about what you’re doing, you’ll never be truly happy doing it!

For more information, call Murphy on 084 627 0396 or go to www.facebook.com/pages/Cupsy-Cakes/460159857345687

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There’s nothing like a steaming bowl of soup on a cold day.

Serves: 6-8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes

• 250g rindless streaky bacon, chopped
• 4 leeks, sliced
• 2 sticks celery, sliced
• 1,25 litres chicken stock
• 500ml each diced carrots, butternut and sweet potato
• 125ml cream
• 30ml freshly snipped chives
• 5ml lemon juice

1 Fry the bacon in a large saucepan over a low heat. Once cooked, remove half and set aside.

2 Add the leeks and celery to the saucepan and sauté for two minutes. Add the stock and bring to the boil.

3 Add the diced vegetables and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

4 Remove a third of the vegetables from the saucepan and use a hand blender or food processor to blend until smooth. Return to the saucepan. Stir in the cream and half the chives, and season to taste with salt, freshly ground black pepper and lemon juice. Top with the reserved bacon and chives and serve accompanied by corn bread.

I am an obsessed cupcake lover, anything to do with cupcakes makes me dizzy with enthusiasm. I would love to share with other cupcake lovers my ideas and love for cupcakes! Recently I launched my very own cupcake home business with the IDEA of your magazine, turning your hobbies into a business, “presenting Hoitty Toitty Cupcakes” .
Thank you for always being an inspiration! xoxo yours in cupcakes , Yola

Test post

Try these tasty sticky fudge and nut slices.

Makes: 15
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Oven temperature: 180°C

Ingredients:
• 330 ml (185g) cake flour
• 125 ml (100g) sugar
• 125 ml (125g) butter

Topping
• 1 x 397g can condensed milk
• 60 ml (60g) butter
• 30 ml golden syrup
• 125 ml (50g) pecan nuts, coarsely chopped

Method:
Topping:
1 Combine the condensed milk, butter and syrup in a heavy-based saucepan. Whisk continuously for about 10 minutes over a low to medium heat, until the mixture starts to thicken and turns golden brown.
2 Sift the flour and add the sugar. Rub in the butter to form a dough. Press into a greased 20 x 20cm baking pan. Bake in a preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, then remove from the oven and leave in the pan to cool slightly.
3 Remove from the heat and spread the hot mixture over the base. Sprinkle with nuts, then press in lightly. Refrigerate or leave to set before cutting into slices or squares.

Use these exquisite origami flowers as table decorations instead of fresh flowers.

You will need

Paper squares with delicate, matching-floral patterns

Symbols
The standard folds each have a symbol. The list below contains a short overview.

Note: The front of the paper is marked in blue on our diagrams, and the back of the paper is shown in orange.

To make
1 Place a square sheet of paper on a flat surface with one corner pointing towards you. Follow the diagrams and mountain fold the opposite corners in turn to mark the fold lines. Open them up every time.

2 Valley fold the sides in half along the fold lines and open them up every time.

3 Press the sides in so the midpoint protrudes upwards. The result should be a star with four corners.

4 Press it flat so you have a folded triangle – the so-called ‘water-balloon’ base.

5 Squash fold one of the four corners and press flat. Repeat with the remaining corners to form a kite shape.

6 Fold the lower edges of the kite into the centre line, then unfold. Fold the top corner downwards, then unfold again.

7 Place your finger under the lower point of the kite and fold upwards, on the fold that was formed in step 6. This is called a petal fold. Repeat the petal fold a further three times to make a smaller kite.

8 Fold one point of the kite downwards. Repeat this a further three times to form a diamond shape.

9 Fold the upper edges of the diamond into the centre line. Repeat three times.

10 To complete, turn the shape upside down and fold out the four petals of the lily. Curl them by wrapping them around a pen.

Useful tips

Your hands should be completely clean before you start folding.
Fold the lines as sharply and neatly as possible.
Keep the diagrams at hand and look at the next step while folding the previous one, keeping in mind what the completed fold should look like.
Some folds are quite complicated, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t manage them the first time – keep trying.

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From cleaning your microwave to tackling tough stains, we have simple and effective solutions.

1 Minimise odours in your fridge by placing an open container of bicarbonate of soda or a piece of coal on one of the shelves.
2 Remove rust from chrome by wiping it down with tinfoil that has been dipped in cola. To polish chrome, rub with a crumpled piece of tinfoil.
3 To clean an electric drip coffee maker, fill the reservoir with half water and half vinegar. Place a clean filter paper in the basket and run through the machine’s entire cycle. Repeat twice more using plain water.
4 Add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda to your wash cycle to help remove stains and odours from your washing.
5 Polish stainless-steel cutlery by rubbing the pieces with a cloth dipped in vinegar.
6 To help avoid a clogged drain, put a few tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into the drain every couple of weeks and flush it down with hot water.
7 Before squeezing a lemon, heat it in the microwave for 15 seconds. This will increase the quantity of juice that you will be able to extract from the lemon.
8 A mixture of dishwashing liquid and sugar is effective for removing oil and grease from dirty hands.
9 Make your candles last longer by placing them in a plastic bag and putting them in the freezer for 24 hours before lighting.
10 Clean the bottom of an iron by sprinkling coarse salt onto a clean cloth placed on top of your ironing board. Set your iron to its highest setting and then iron back and forth over the salt.
11 To descale a washing machine put a cup of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser and then run the machine empty through a complete hot wash cycle.
12 Use cornflour to remove oil stains from delicate fabrics. Cover the stain with cornflour. Leave for a few hours. Shake the clothing free of the flour and then hand wash, or wash on a gentle machine cycle, using a detergent that is suitable for delicate fabrics.
13 Stop drawers from sticking on their runners by rubbing a bar of soap across the runners to make them glide smoothly.
14 Clean a microwave by adding four tablespoons of lemon juice to one cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. boil for five minutes in the microwave, allowing the steam to condense on the inside, then wipe with a soft cloth.
15 Clean stainless-steel appliances by wiping with a small amount of baby oil on a napkin.
16 Remove cat and dog hair from clothes and furniture by rubbing the items with damp rubber gloves.
17 Add two teaspoons of vanilla essence to each one-and-a-half litres of paint to reduce overpowering paint smells.
18 Remove mildew by mixing one part bleach with 11 parts water. Wearing rubber gloves, use a sponge or soft-bristled brush to apply the solution. Rinse with a damp sponge and wipe down.
19 Remove rust stains on white clothes by applying a mix of cream of tartar and lemon juice. Leave to dry, rinse thoroughly then wash as usual.
20 Retard grease build-up in your oven by periodically wiping the interior with a vinegar-soaked cloth.
21 Remove rust stains on white clothes with a mixture of cream of tartar and lemon juice. Apply the mixture to the stain, leave to dry then rinse thoroughly before washing as usual.
22 Remove deodorant stains from a garment by dissolving two aspirins in a little warm water and applying the paste to the stain. Leave the paste to dry, then brush it off and launder the garment as usual. Be sure to test this on a hidden spot first to see whether the fabric dye holds.
23 Erase scuff marks on smooth leather shoes by rubbing the marks with the cut edge of a raw potato and then buffing.
24 Clean a narrow-necked vase by filling it with hot water and a couple of fizzy denture-cleaning tablets. Leave to stand overnight, then rinse and dry.
25 Sanitise a cutting board by using a scrubbing brush and a mixture of one teaspoon of bleach with one litre of water. Do not rinse. Let the board air-dry on its side.
26 Remove old paint stains from wood or plastic by softening with linseed oil. Wipe off. For tougher stains, use a razor blade and carefully scrape off.
27 Clean your coffee grinder by grinding acupofriceinit from time to time. This will sharpen the blades at the same time.
28 Make your home smell fresh by simmering orange peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves and abayleafinapot of water for half an hour.

29 After you have cleaned your paintbrushes, rinse them in a little fabric softener to make them softer for the next job.

30 To remove stains from a teapot, fill it with cold water. Add a little chlorine bleach or a fizzy denture-cleaning tablet. Leave for an hour then rinse thoroughly.