Project 143-marshmallow salad

Yea, it's correct!  Marshmallow salad!

My friend always make this for church functions.....any function.....her salad gets finished first......and is always ordered for the next function again!  We love our 'braais'(other parts in the world has BB Q's) and this one goes well with the meat.  I never told my family that I can actually make this as I thought it will be demanded more often.  After all, if they eat it too often what will Carien make for church do's?

But I made it the other day.....and have no excuse anymore!  The only excuse I have is that the tiny marshmallows are not always readily available!  Wonder for how long I will get away with it!  It's not that I don't want to make it though.....they just tend to eat this only and ignore all the other stuff!

Mix together mini marshmallows(I used three small packets for 8 people as a side dish.  I bought it from Clicks), 500ml of grenadilla yogurt and 410g pineapple pieces(tinned).  I used the liquid in another recipe.....

Mix everything together and keep in the fridge until serving.  I just mixed everything 10 minutes before eating it.....soooooo easy! 

Project 142******pineapple pie/bake

I saw this on google and decided to try it.  Delicious! I am definitely going to make it again!

The original recipe had tinned crushed pineapples, but I used a fresh one, as I had it in the house.  It worked well, so you can decide what you want to use.

Peel and crush your pineapple and place it in the bottom of your pie dish.  Butter or spray your dish first to prevent it from sticking.

Mix together 1 cup of grated cheese(Yes, it is correct! Cheese!), 5 tablespoons of flour and 1/2 cup of sugar and spread it over the pineapple.  Then crush a packet  of salt biscuits(I used Tux) and spread it on top.  Then melt 1/2 cup of butter and pour it over.  Bake it for 3/4 of an hour at 180*C.  Serve hot or cold as a side dish with meat.  Great!

project 141:cleaning silverware

I love to pick up bargains at second hand shops.  Over the years I have picked up some really good silver cutlery for next to nothing.  I also have some pieces I have inherited from grandmothers, mothers and friends.  Jee, but I hate cleaning them, and I always taste the detergent afterwards.

I decided to use antique stuff  on my Christmas table and had to clean the cutlery.  I decided to use a method I have heard about a lot, but personally never tried it.  I soaked it in tartaric acid with water for 10 minutes, then uses a thick tartaric acid and water paste on some fine steel wool and scrubbed it lightly.  Within minutes the stuff was shining!  I can not believe I have never done this before!  And there is no after taste!

I suffer from eczema on my hands, and I must admit the tartaric acid is quite hard on your hands.  So if you have a problem with your hands, rather use gloves.

project 140: end of the month asparagus pie.....

Ever stood in front of your grocery cupboard and not knowing what you want to do as it is almost empty?

Well, this is what came up over the weekend as I have not done my shopping yet as I was working the week before and only planned to shop on Monday....

As from a previous post, fresh asparagus can not be beaten.....but for emergencies their pale brothers in a tin are eatable....especially at the end of the month....

How many of you can still remember the end-of-the- month salticrax advert on TV?  It started off with salticrax with salmon and caviar in the beginning of the month....then salticrax with cottage cheese and lettuce in the middle of the month....then you get the marmite salticrax at the end of the month...?  This is almost like that.....

Spread out a roll of puff pastry on a baking tray......add some sorted onions and a tin of asparagus pieces....in the beginning of the month you can add ham or bacon and fresh asparagus if in season.....save the liquid and mix in a few eggs and a teaspoon of baking powder, salt and pepper and some grated cheese if you want to....sprinkle some crushed potato crisps on top of it.....I  save all the leftovers during the month in a plastic bin, and crush it in the food processor when I need some for a topping.  I sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top of it, as my other cheese were finished, but a good layer of grated cheese on top is simply the best!  Bake at 180*C until golden brown......my hubby even eats it for breakfast the next morning if there are leftovers.....

Project 139______beaded earrings________

I made these to match my pink necklace, but have never worn them together as the earring make their own statement....together with the necklace it is just too much!

I used crafters wire and started by stringing one or two beads at a time and then making a small twist that the beads are almost on a wire stem.  As usual, I worked without a plan, and just formed the earring until I was satisfied.  There after I attached it to an earring finding.

It is quite difficult to get both exactly the same, but to make it easier remember the sequence you worked with, and give for example only five twists at a time, then you will get them more or less the same.

I don't buy earrings anymore and just make a pair in a colour I need.  Except for these pink ones, I have a green, a red and a grey pair as well that were all custom made for a specific need......and it is satisfying when you walk in a shop and someone comments 'nice earrings'.  I love to say 'my own handwork'!