project 36.....cheese straws

I used to work in a neighbouring town, and there was a lady selling cheese straws for an income to look after her disabled child.  We all used to support her and ate cheese straws week in and week out!

The other day I thought that I really crave for that taste....so I made some....

I used a roll of bought puff pastry(I am a mom of hungry boys and everything needs to be quick!).  I rolled it open and sprinkled some grated cheddar cheese, grated Parmesan and some aromat(seasoned salt) over.  I folded it double and rolled it flat again.  Folded it double again and rolled it flat.....folded it double and rolled it out.....

I then cut it in 1cm strips and placed it on a cookie tray and baked it at 200*C until it was golden brown and crispy.......

project 35..........milktart

One of our traditional dishes in South Africa is milk tart.  I hate to make it, but my family loves it. So one day a lady brought the staff this one....it is a real cheat version, and the original is just sooo good, but the boys just plunder this one, so why cook the original!  Then my mom came to visit and thought it was good...so now I've converted to the cheats option!

You will need:


Biscuits and melted butter for the crust.  I use 'tennis' or 'marie' biscuits in South Africa...Crumb your biscuits, mix it with the melted butter and press it in your pie dish.


Bring 1 litre of milk to boil.  Mix together 4 eggs, 1 cup of sugar, 3 tbsp cornflour, 3 tbsp flour.  Mix about half a cup of your warm milk with this, and then add the whole lot to the rest of your milk.  Whisk all the way until it thickens.  You'll have to turn the gas down to low to prevent it from burning. Add a blob of butter and a teaspoon of vanilla. 


Scoop this mixture onto your base. Sprinkle some cinnamon over and leave to cool to room temperature before placing it in the fridge. 


Worth trying this one! 

project 34...scones in your snackwich toaster!

Nifty....nifty!

My friend gave me this recipe and I had to try them!  Unfortunately or it can be fortunately....another friend came to visit the first time I was busy making them and between her boys and mine I ran out of cheese by the third batch I made!  Sooo....I added sweetcorn.....and the boys still finished it off!

I then thought that you could really make this recipe your own....maybe add a teaspoon of jam after scooping it into the snackwich pan?  Or add some shredded ham? Who knows all the possibilities?

You've got to try them...and they don't even cause heartburn! Ha ha!

Mix 4 tbsp cooking oil, 1 egg, 3/4 cup milk, 1 cup flour, 2 tsp baking powder (or just use self raising flour right from the start) and 1 1/2 cups grated cheese.

Scoop it into your snackwich toaster and cook until it has browned!  Sooo easy.....sooo good!  

project 33....menu of the day....

Living with three teenagers is quite a mission....three teenage boys.....even bigger mission!

When I dish up there is always one who didn't feel like this, or one who would rather have liked to have that.....so I made this sign and hung it where everybody could see....between you and me....the complaints are still there, but they now my opinion....and I just ignore the comments....peace in my kitchen!

I used a piece of scrap wood....gave it a whitewash and wrote my menu in black.  The bent forks I just added to go with something else nearby....but being bent like this....it can be a warning of what could happen to you if you continue complaining!

project 32....zooshing up a chandelier with soda bottle roses

I have figured this one out after seeing a tutorial to make roses from plastic spoons.  I used soda bottles to form the roses, and wow!....was I impressed with my idea!  I then glued the roses to an old chandelier and spray painted the whole thing!  My friend came to visit....she thought I bought it somewhere!

I used soda bottles and cut flower motives with 3 and 4 petals each.  I then stringed them onto a wooden sosatie-skewer, one with 3 petals, then 2-3 with 4 petals....I did not have use for the flowers yet, but I suppose you could use something smaller as well like a paper binder for example.  It is easier to spray paint the flowers by placing it in a flowerpot with soil if you use a skewer though.

I then lit a candle and melted the whole thing.  You need to be careful, as it melts quickly!  The petals start to curl and it forms a perfect rose.  I spray painted them with a base colour and allowed to dry.  I then cut the ends of the skewer off and clued them to my chandelier.  I've cut some leave forms as well and added them to the chandelier.  I then took some wire and made some twirls around the chandelier.....spray painted the whole thing gold......and got a new chandelier!

Can be taken off easily if I need to do something different with the chandelier, but for now it is pretty cool and I'll use it like this for some time1