Wednesday, 27 November 2013
project 268.....yankee burger patties
Wow! The best hamburger patties you can make!
We have a national 'braai day' in South Africa.(BBQ!) For the month before 'braai day' TV adverts start having 'braais'...... Magazines have 'braai' recipes...... Chain stores advertise 'braai' stuff in their pamphlets.....my friend having a butchery works very hard!.......and boy!.... the day of the 'braai'!.....the whole country smells like 'braai'!
I found this recipe in a 'woolies' pamphlet in the Sunday newspaper. I saved it and made it the other day with homemade olive bread rolls......DIVINE!
500 g extra lean beef mince
1 red onion, finely chopped
100 g fried bacon, chopped
150 g cheddar cheese, grated
15 g fresh parsley, chopped
2,5 ml dried oregano
125 g bread crumbs( I save crumbs from rusks for this purpose)
1 egg, lightly whisked
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine all the ingredients and divide into 6-8 equal portions. Roll into balls and press down to make patties.
Add olive oil to a frying pan and fry over medium heat until both sides are cooked. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in 180*C oven to cook for 10 minutes.
The tip was to add sliced jalapenos, ruby coleslaw and BBQ sauce on your burger with your favorite toppings. I did it without the jalapenos. Who could have thought that coleslaw on a burger could be that nice!
We have a national 'braai day' in South Africa.(BBQ!) For the month before 'braai day' TV adverts start having 'braais'...... Magazines have 'braai' recipes...... Chain stores advertise 'braai' stuff in their pamphlets.....my friend having a butchery works very hard!.......and boy!.... the day of the 'braai'!.....the whole country smells like 'braai'!
I found this recipe in a 'woolies' pamphlet in the Sunday newspaper. I saved it and made it the other day with homemade olive bread rolls......DIVINE!
500 g extra lean beef mince
1 red onion, finely chopped
100 g fried bacon, chopped
150 g cheddar cheese, grated
15 g fresh parsley, chopped
2,5 ml dried oregano
125 g bread crumbs( I save crumbs from rusks for this purpose)
1 egg, lightly whisked
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine all the ingredients and divide into 6-8 equal portions. Roll into balls and press down to make patties.
Add olive oil to a frying pan and fry over medium heat until both sides are cooked. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in 180*C oven to cook for 10 minutes.
The tip was to add sliced jalapenos, ruby coleslaw and BBQ sauce on your burger with your favorite toppings. I did it without the jalapenos. Who could have thought that coleslaw on a burger could be that nice!
Project 267....divine chocolate pan cake!
I poured this over the warm cake after I removed it from the oven and allowed to cool down. I finished the cake off with a tin of caramel condense milk. I don't think I am ever going to bake chocolate cake without coffee again!
PROJECT 266...CROCHET FUNKY BABY BOOTIES
Times have changed. Babies are wearing funky clothes in funky colors nowadays. Gone are the baby blues and pinks and odd yellow or greens.
Feeling like doing something different from the felt goodies, I bought four pretty balls of wool. I decided to make some funky baby booties for 'die verskrikte kat'......my sisters handcraft shop. Problem: I did not have a pattern!
I 
found the basic pattern for a sole on the net, and started using my imagination. Aren't they just some of the prettiest little baby shoes? I just love them!
project 265...felt brooches
Being actively busy making literally hundreds of felt key rings, I sat with a lot of off cuts. I started making small brooches looking almost like pansies with them. Quite pretty and really only costing the brooch clips.I started off by cutting 4-5 petals for the back in colour 1 sewing them all together with a couple of stitches. Then 2 petals in colour 2 which I attached on top of that and a longer petal in colour 1 again on top. Added a few beads in the center, a brooch pin at the back and voila!
I've packed them in small cellophane packets and sent them all to my sisters shop!
PS! To check out her shop on Facebook.....Die verskrikte kat....you can even order online....
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Project 264.....a roasted veggy pie
We have a bold and bald chap on TV with a program :Nataniel Tafel. I love this chap....he is saying the funniest things without a smile....I even got my one son(a real comedian himself) to watch it with me.
He made this the other night as a main for a vegetarian meal, and personally I would it it as a main myself, but my family do like their meat with it. I made it as a side dish twice now, but thinking of adding bacon the next time I am making it to make it a main for my meat eating family.
Nataniel said you can omit the cheese, but I am not sure if I want to do it!
Roast your veggies of choice in the oven. Sprinkle it with olive oil before you place it in the oven for about 20 minutes. I used butternut, sweet potatoes, green peppers, onions and garlic cloves. I added a sprig of rosemary on top.
Use a roll of puff pastry and cover the base and sides of a pie dish or oven dish, or cake tin like I did. Add the veggies on top of the pastry. Add a handful
or two chopped fresh parsley, and salt and black pepper to taste. Beat about four eggs and pour it over your veggies, and top with the cheese. Bake at 180*C until done.
What a nice way to serve everyday veggies!
Nataniel said you can omit the cheese, but I am not sure if I want to do it!
Roast your veggies of choice in the oven. Sprinkle it with olive oil before you place it in the oven for about 20 minutes. I used butternut, sweet potatoes, green peppers, onions and garlic cloves. I added a sprig of rosemary on top.
Use a roll of puff pastry and cover the base and sides of a pie dish or oven dish, or cake tin like I did. Add the veggies on top of the pastry. Add a handful
or two chopped fresh parsley, and salt and black pepper to taste. Beat about four eggs and pour it over your veggies, and top with the cheese. Bake at 180*C until done.
What a nice way to serve everyday veggies!
an update on the painting scene.....
Just an update on the painting scene......no Picasso yet, but would have loved to do it the whole day!I must still add my name.....
Project 263: felt hearts
I made these felt hearts, and added ribbons in between two hearts to make something to hang in a girls room or door. I think you can clearly see on the picture what I did.
Project 262.....tuna savory tart
I accidentally bought two tins of tuna with added chilies! I don't know how anybody could have thought that was a great idea to add chilies to tuna! After opening one for tuna mayo sandwiches, I had to come up with an idea to use the other tin. I found this recipe in a magazine some time ago, and wrote it down with the intention to make it for a Saturday lunch some time. In stead of using two normal tins of tuna, I used the one with the chilies and one normal one. It was so nice, so I decided to make it again the other day with two normal tins of tuna.....pleasant, but not as nice as the chili one! Now I add one small chili with the original recipe as I can not find the chili tuna anywhere anymore.....maybe they thought it was a bad idea as well, and stopped producing it! Anyhow....if you can find it, try it in this recipe.....
I give you the original recipe....add a chili if you feel like it....
375 ml milk
8 slices of white bread
4 eggs beaten
a little bit of oil
2 onions chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
2.5 ml fresh garlic crushed
45 ml fresh parsley chopped
1 green pepper(or red if you want to) chopped
5 ml dry mustard powder
10 ml baking powder
1 ml salt
black pepper to taste
500 ml grated cheese(you can use half cheddar and half mozzarella if you want to)
2 tins of tuna(I used tuna in vegetable oil, and added the whole tin. I suggest you drain the water if using tuna in water)
Soak the bread in the milk until soft.
Sort your onions, celery ,garlic and pepper in the oil until done.
Add the rest of your ingredients, half the cheese and the soaked bread to the mixture.
Add the rest of the cheese on top, and bake for 40 minutes at 180*C.
This is a lovely light lunch with a salad, and just as nice when it is cold.
I give you the original recipe....add a chili if you feel like it....
375 ml milk
8 slices of white bread
4 eggs beaten
a little bit of oil2 onions chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
2.5 ml fresh garlic crushed
45 ml fresh parsley chopped
1 green pepper(or red if you want to) chopped
5 ml dry mustard powder
10 ml baking powder
1 ml salt
black pepper to taste
500 ml grated cheese(you can use half cheddar and half mozzarella if you want to)
2 tins of tuna(I used tuna in vegetable oil, and added the whole tin. I suggest you drain the water if using tuna in water)
Soak the bread in the milk until soft.
Sort your onions, celery ,garlic and pepper in the oil until done.
Add the rest of your ingredients, half the cheese and the soaked bread to the mixture.
Add the rest of the cheese on top, and bake for 40 minutes at 180*C.
This is a lovely light lunch with a salad, and just as nice when it is cold.
project 261.....the best hot chocolat
My husband asked me yesterday why I don't blog anymore, as I always enjoyed doing it. My excuse....all I am doing is hundreds of felt key-rings....and cooking! You see, my sister recently started a small gift shop, and I took her about fifty of my felt key-rings. She sold more than half even before she opened, and now it seems to me that's all I'm doing lately!......And cooking for my hungry family! But it made me think that I am really neglecting this baby of mine, so I am back.....even if you are getting recipes for some time!I saw this hot chocolate recipe on TV one night, and it was a hit from the first night! Much better than those shop bought stuff you get in a plastic container!
For one cup......
Heat 250 ml of milk on the stove top with 2-3 teaspoons of brown sugar. In a bowl mix 10 ml cocoa powder and 5 ml maizena with a little milk from your pot. When milk is warm, add the cocoa mixture and a small pinch of salt. Allow tessence.
o thicken slightly and stir in 2.5 ml vanilla
Monday, 12 August 2013
Project 260......cauliflower salad
Cook your cauliflower in salt water for about five to eight minutes. It must still be crisp. I cooked my beans with it, as they need to be crisp as well. Drain your veggies and allow to cool down. Grate a carrot with it.
Mix about half a cup of mayonnaise with 15 ml white vinegar and 5 tsp of sugar. Dress your veggies with this. Place in the fridge until needed. Even better the next day!
Thursday, 8 August 2013
loosing your dignity instantly.......
I've been absent for a while.....I had a hysterectomy and are currently recovering from it. But what an experience if you're a nurse yourself and all of a sudden your are on the wrong side of the sheets! Quite an undignified situation!
I went to a hospital I used to work before and knew half the staff.....should have been a warning signal even before my arrival! There was forever somebody chit chatting .....just as you think you snooze off, somebody pops in.....very nice to see everybody, but you do not feel your bubbly self.....your hair is flat as you still have the energy to wash it, but when you get to blow drying, it is another story! You do apply make-up in the morning, but later on the lipstick is gone, and you could not be bothered to touch it up.....hair is already flat!
The moment I arrived, I was weighed.....it the hallway where everybody were passing by......hubby looking over the shoulder to have a peep.....then they took my height and the scale showed the BMI....still in the hallway!
I was escorted to my room which I shared with three other woman. Outgoing self introduced her to everybody.....the nurse then started asking me all my medical history....in front of everybody....top volume.....even my husband decided to go and have coffee! The other ladies in the room replied on some of the questions.....and there I was! I felt like asking 'what about patient privacy?', but they were all so involved in the questionnaire, that I could not interrupt!
I was then given a white theater gown, a 'paperish' panty that fits small to extra large and a theater cap. By then it was visiting time for the rest of my roommates, and the one had an old man staring at me all the time. The nurse came back and asked me if I had shaved......everybody stared at me.....roommates.....visitors.....by now I got up and closed the curtains around my bed myself! I think the nurse got the hint.....
Anyhow....I did not shave! Totally forgot about it! Had to go to the bathroom.....with my beautiful theater outfit and shave.....back in my bed, the nurse came in, and without any warning, lifted my clothing, pulled of the 'paperish' panty......just to check if I had shaved correctly!
Then came the ECG......exposing my DD's....and I had to ask by now to close the curtains properly as they had openings from all the commotion.....
I went to theater and woke up with the very low blood-pressure....... I did not pass urine the first 12 hours and they started giving me fluid boluses.......by the next morning I looked like a stuffed sausage......my fingers looked like 10 pork sausages......I could see my cheeks!......after some medication, the problem cleared up, and I soon wanted to go home, as I felt well.....the problem......I have not passed stools yet! Now that was another terrible situation.....they give you suppositories, and all they do is making you windy! And it felt like all my roommates could hear every sound from the bathroom!
One of my 'roomies' is working in the hospital kitchen, so she organized me some stewed fruit from the kitchen....I had so much that I think I am going to have good bowel action for the next three weeks!
The prunes did the job, and I was eventually discharged. I have new respect for patient privacy......I lost my dignity instantly........what about the poor patients who can not close their own curtains!
By the way.....I am doing well, and it is good to be back on line! Look out for my new posts .....can't wait to get going again!
I went to a hospital I used to work before and knew half the staff.....should have been a warning signal even before my arrival! There was forever somebody chit chatting .....just as you think you snooze off, somebody pops in.....very nice to see everybody, but you do not feel your bubbly self.....your hair is flat as you still have the energy to wash it, but when you get to blow drying, it is another story! You do apply make-up in the morning, but later on the lipstick is gone, and you could not be bothered to touch it up.....hair is already flat!
The moment I arrived, I was weighed.....it the hallway where everybody were passing by......hubby looking over the shoulder to have a peep.....then they took my height and the scale showed the BMI....still in the hallway!
I was escorted to my room which I shared with three other woman. Outgoing self introduced her to everybody.....the nurse then started asking me all my medical history....in front of everybody....top volume.....even my husband decided to go and have coffee! The other ladies in the room replied on some of the questions.....and there I was! I felt like asking 'what about patient privacy?', but they were all so involved in the questionnaire, that I could not interrupt!
I was then given a white theater gown, a 'paperish' panty that fits small to extra large and a theater cap. By then it was visiting time for the rest of my roommates, and the one had an old man staring at me all the time. The nurse came back and asked me if I had shaved......everybody stared at me.....roommates.....visitors.....by now I got up and closed the curtains around my bed myself! I think the nurse got the hint.....
Anyhow....I did not shave! Totally forgot about it! Had to go to the bathroom.....with my beautiful theater outfit and shave.....back in my bed, the nurse came in, and without any warning, lifted my clothing, pulled of the 'paperish' panty......just to check if I had shaved correctly!
Then came the ECG......exposing my DD's....and I had to ask by now to close the curtains properly as they had openings from all the commotion.....
I went to theater and woke up with the very low blood-pressure....... I did not pass urine the first 12 hours and they started giving me fluid boluses.......by the next morning I looked like a stuffed sausage......my fingers looked like 10 pork sausages......I could see my cheeks!......after some medication, the problem cleared up, and I soon wanted to go home, as I felt well.....the problem......I have not passed stools yet! Now that was another terrible situation.....they give you suppositories, and all they do is making you windy! And it felt like all my roommates could hear every sound from the bathroom!
One of my 'roomies' is working in the hospital kitchen, so she organized me some stewed fruit from the kitchen....I had so much that I think I am going to have good bowel action for the next three weeks!
The prunes did the job, and I was eventually discharged. I have new respect for patient privacy......I lost my dignity instantly........what about the poor patients who can not close their own curtains!
By the way.....I am doing well, and it is good to be back on line! Look out for my new posts .....can't wait to get going again!
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Project 259.....lamb pie
Cook your lamb with an onion or two and only salt and pepper in the pressure cooker until falling apart. You can use normal cooking bits for this. Place in the bottom of your oven dish. Mix together 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of milk, 1 tsp baking powder, a pinch of herbs(I like to use oregano), a pinch of salt and an egg. Pour over your meat. Now slice an onion and place the rings on top of the dough. Bake it until done at 180*C. Sooo easy and a great way of stretching a small amount of meat!
project 258......placemats
I made these place mats from recycled jeans. I gave them a linen background, a piece of denim and hand sewn the words on it. I have quite a steady hand and has not written the words on the material, but I do think it is a good idea to use material chalk to write the words. This was so easy, you can make a set for whatever occasion! I've sewn the words on different spots just to make them look different, but it is your own choice if you want them all to look the same.I haven't put batting in these,as the denim is thick, but will surely do it with a thinner material.
Project 257.....handprint table cloth
I am quite sentimental about this one! Mine is really used up now, and my kids too grown up to make their mum a new one!I used a white sheet and one sunny morning we made hand prints on it with material paint. I used black to make birds, write notices, exc.
We made some overlays at the church a few years ago for a mothers day function, and it is so satisfying seeing all the kids as students and teenagers now.
This is a great way of capturing memories, and a great gift for grandparents as well.Project 256....shabby schic table runners
I made these some time ago, but seem to use them quite often. I love to do a table with non- matching stuff, and these are working well.I've used a linen base, and simply sewn blocks of pretty material and lace together to make a runner. It was an easy way to use all the pretty pieces of leftover materials!
project 255...baked crustless milk tart.....
I have my usual way of making milk tart (project 35), but I saw this recipe the other day for a baked crust less milk tart, so I tried it yesterday. Quite nice, but I think my old recipe is much less work! The family enjoyed it though, and I am sure I'll have to make it again this way in the future!Mix together:
30 ml butter
250 ml sugar
4 egg yellows
250 ml self raising flour
1 l milk
5 ml vanilla
Add in 4 firmly whipped egg whites
Bake at 180*C for 40-50 minutes. Cover with cinnamon sugar when removing from the oven.
Monday, 8 July 2013
just a short note.....
I don't know if it is the same in your house, but I tend to make the same things over and over again! Yesterday I made gingersnaps(project 24) for the so manieth time! It is just sooo easy, and you know that they hardly ever flop! I thought of making something else, but my time was limited.....I know that I can roll exactly 48 balls in 10 minutes when making ginger snaps! And that is even measuring them with a 15 ml spoon as well! So why bother making something else if you're in a hurry!
Last night friends came around for coffee, and when I took the ginger snaps out, our friend replied that he's going to take two straight away, as it is his favourite...then I thought....that's me....everybody knowing me, knows that I make ginger snaps! Unfortunately doing the same things over and over again don't put new ideas on the blog! But sometimes people just want something they are familiar with....
I have an adopted son, Siswe studying in Pretoria! My husband is not aware of the fact that I have adopted him! HA HA! The other night he phoned to ask how it is going on this side, and I enquired about his exam results. He then said that he reads the blog when he misses home! He just wants to see what we're up to! Maybe he just want something familiar there on that side of the country! Maybe he can smell the ginger snaps!
I don't want to make excuses, but sometimes I tend to do more habitual things, like making ginger snaps over and over, in stead of doing grate new things to place on the blog! Maybe it is a phase....sometimes I make new things, though....and I forget to take the snap to prove it! So please forgive if it is going on the slow side with times!...hang in there with me....hopefully the creative juices will start to flow again soon! For now, I am going to have a cup of coffee with gingersnaps!
See my paintings I am busy with....
Last night friends came around for coffee, and when I took the ginger snaps out, our friend replied that he's going to take two straight away, as it is his favourite...then I thought....that's me....everybody knowing me, knows that I make ginger snaps! Unfortunately doing the same things over and over again don't put new ideas on the blog! But sometimes people just want something they are familiar with....
I have an adopted son, Siswe studying in Pretoria! My husband is not aware of the fact that I have adopted him! HA HA! The other night he phoned to ask how it is going on this side, and I enquired about his exam results. He then said that he reads the blog when he misses home! He just wants to see what we're up to! Maybe he just want something familiar there on that side of the country! Maybe he can smell the ginger snaps!
I don't want to make excuses, but sometimes I tend to do more habitual things, like making ginger snaps over and over, in stead of doing grate new things to place on the blog! Maybe it is a phase....sometimes I make new things, though....and I forget to take the snap to prove it! So please forgive if it is going on the slow side with times!...hang in there with me....hopefully the creative juices will start to flow again soon! For now, I am going to have a cup of coffee with gingersnaps!
See my paintings I am busy with....
project 254...pancakes
My family don't even ask for pancakes! It is so cold lately though, that I decided to make some without receiving any requests!
1 cup flour
1 egg
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
7.5 ml oil
Mix everything and allow to stand for about an hour. Spray your pan with spray and cook and then heat half a teaspoon of oil and start baking. Only add oil to the pan if it start sticking to the bottom. Add some cinnamon sugar....or ice cream!
Project 253....a good old fashioned cake
The other day my son asked me to make an old fashioned cake like one I made years ago.....I was mind boggled? What for a cake is that, I wondered....his reply......just a normal sponge cake.....with only a little frosting on top....just to sweeten it slightly.....So I made this humble recipe and he was satisfied....it tasted just like he wanted it! The cake was polished in no time, I almost did not get a piece for a snap!
225g self raising flour
225 g margarine
225 g sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
pinch of salt
Cream together the sugar and margarine. Add the rest and bake at 180*C for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool and add frosting as desired or jam in between two layers.
I realised that sometimes we want to make things more complicated.....you put so much effort into making fancy cakes and stuff, then at the end they don't even eat it! But this old fashioned cake was a real winner!
225g self raising flour225 g margarine
225 g sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
pinch of salt
Cream together the sugar and margarine. Add the rest and bake at 180*C for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool and add frosting as desired or jam in between two layers.
I realised that sometimes we want to make things more complicated.....you put so much effort into making fancy cakes and stuff, then at the end they don't even eat it! But this old fashioned cake was a real winner!
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