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Watching the sun go down into the sea

Yesterday evening after work, my family and I went swimming at our nearest beach. Our nearest beach is Nasholim beach. One of the most amazing beaches in the world, it has everything a sea-lover might wish for. Small and large sea coves to explore, baby fish that you can either chase between the rocks or allow to nibble on your dead skin, a huge collection of sea shells and waves that are often large enough for surfing. You can look for the hidden mermaid's chair to make a sitting wish, catch some fish or sift for ancient archeological treasure. Our favourite bay at Nasholim is just big enough for a tiring swim from to one side to the other and back again. If you'd rather do beach instead of sea - the sand is white and soft and made for lazing. I usually stay in the water as much as possible. Life in Israel can be tense, so it is nice to float aimlessly without any thoughts in the Mediterranean sea. The summer is slowly coming to an end which means that the water is finally coo
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Orange Cake












Copyright  http://www.flickr.com/photos/copleys/

I  used to work as a kindergarten teacher in Israel as a new immigrant. Just like any kindergarten over the world we would work around some kind of subject. Sometimes we talk about the Jewish holidays but also have subjects like the seasons of the year, colors or the family.

One of the major subjects of winter is...maybe you have guessed it? Israel, Jaffa...those fruit you eat in the winter? That's right...ORANGES!

During the winter we celebrate oranges, anything to do with oranges and many other citrus fruit too. (Pensioners for example are addicted to grape fruit juice, here. Don't ask me why!?). And every second person in Israel is either peeling himself an orange, drinking orange juice or eating orange cake during the orange season.

And of course the young'uns need to be brainwashed properly, so we talk A LOT about oranges in the kindergarten. To show their parents that we have done a good job, we send their darlings home with a piece of orange cake AND a recipe. Just in case they grew up in a foreign country, or had an inattentive kindergarten teacher and missed out on all of the orange teachings!

The smell of this wonderful orange cake is intoxicating and it tastes fantastic too. Growing up in South-Africa, I of course missed out on the whole orange-education but I got re-educated real quick and am now a total orange cake fanatic. Here is the recipe,but be warned: the smell is intoxicating and you just may insist on making this cake a lot!

Orange Cake

Four eggs, separated
Three quarter cup of orange juice
A teaspoon full of orange peel zest
Half a cup of oil
One teaspoon vanilla essence
Two cups of self raising flour
Half a cup of sugar

1. Separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until white and fluffy.

2. Mix the egg yellow with the sugar until the mixture is light colored.

3. Add the vanilla, oil and zest and mix well again.

4. Add the flour to the yellow egg mixture and then the orange juice. Mix very well again.

5. Gently fold the egg whites in.

6. Bake in an oiled cake pan at 150 degrees Celsius (305 Fahrenheit) for about 45 minutes or until the cake is done.

7. Stick a tooth pick in the cake to see if it is ready. Leave it another ten minutes in the oven if the tooth pick comes out with dough sticking to it.

This cake is delicious warm from the oven. Not too hot though! Do not burn your tongues. The wonderful smell and taste of baked orange juice and zest will ensure that your family members will polish off this cake in a few minutes.

For people who like their cake a bit sweeter, I recommend that you drizzle icing sugar mixed with a little bit of water over the cake while it is still warm. Now go and make the cake and enjoy!

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