HAPPY HOLIDAYS

 

• I've had the husbands work function and there was lots of eating and merriment
• I'm tired of getting generic email Christmas cards from large companies in my inbox.
• I have made a concerted effort not to stress this year and even though the stress is less I still felt a little stress pressure to find the perfect present.
• I didn't get to bake a Christmas cake and even though I really wanted to it's OK. It was better for me to be happy and in the moment than in the kitchen and missing being with my family.
• What do you think of the picture? I am trying various things for a new header/ new look.
• Christmas with my family is ALWAYS interesting and our homemade crackers were a big hit :)
• I may just bake that Christmas cake anyway :) even if Christmas is over.

Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings

Gorgeous Home Made Vanilla Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS
7 Egg yolks
500ml cream - 2 tubs of cream (250ml each)
1 cup (250ml) milk
2 vanilla pods (seeds scraped out)
125ml organic brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey (optional)

METHOD:
Place the milk and cream in a heavy based saucepan along with the seeds from the vanilla pod and the empty pod. Slowly bring to just below boiling point. While you are waiting for it to heat up separate the eggs and mix very well with the brown sugar and honey.
when your vanilla cream mixture has been heated to just before boiling point take off the heat and stand for a few minutes (it must cool slightly) take out the vanilla pods before SLOWLY pouring it (while stirring) into the egg mixture.
Keep stirring. Once the egg mixture has been incorporated properly (and hasn't curled - if its to hot it will curdle)  put it back in the pot on the stove and warm slowly until it has thickened slightly to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Take care not to heat to quickly as the eggs will scramble once it has thicken you can now place the custard in a bowl in the fridge to cool down for a few hours (atleast 3 hours).

Go shopping or look through your cupboards and decide if you would like to add anything to your ice cream mixture - tiny chocolate chips or a caramel sauce or some chopped up glace cherries, finely chopped nuts - the possibilities are endless :) 
When you custard mixture is nice and cold place in an ice cream machine and make according to your machines instructions. Add choc chips etc half way through :)
*If you don't have an ice cream machine place the mixture in a low sided metal pan or bowl and place in the freezer. Take out every 30 - 45 minutes and beat with an electric beater until nice and smooth and the ice crystals have been broken up - the more time u beat and return to freezer the smoother and creamier it your ice cream will be :)  You can add some choc chips or what ever you fancy are the first beating.

Enjoy

ps you can thank me later :)

An interview with Myself..... I'm Strange - Aren't I?

The Fun Heidi from I am Farm Girl   tagged me for the "I Love Your Blog" interview.

Here goes: 

1. Why did you create your blog?

To photograph and write down my recipes and cooking adventures so one day I can turn it into a book of some sorts (even if it is just to print personally so my daughter has my recipes one day) 

2. What type of blogs do you follow?

All kinds - but I particularly like visually strong and inspiring creative blogs - eg parties, decor and pretty ideas

3. Favorite make-up brands: mmm I'm not a huge make up fan though i do wear some - probably Elizabeth Arden

4. Favourite clothing brands: mostly I swop around from various brands and love new and old pieces of clothing (vintage and trendy mixed - I try to dress for my short body type :) and I love shoes

5. Your indispensible make up product? Black Mascara 

6. Your favourite colour? For my home - white, silver and grey. For me to wear in clothing - black

7. Your favourite perfume? i have 3 -  Miss Dior Cherie L'eau, YSL Elle, YSL Parisienne

8. Your favourite film? wow that is a tough one - I love films and my top 3 would have to be - Eat Pray Love, Notting Hill, and Avatar

9. What country would you like to visit and why? Italy and most of europe - but Italy is the top of my list :) it looks gorgeous and has amazing food - I have to go!

10. Write the last question and answer it yourself....

What is your wish for this Festive Season? 

I wish to have all my presents made and wrapped before 23rd December and be able to relax with out have to stand and cook to much 

PLUS to have a kick ass new years eve party at my house - but somehow everyone always has other plans - who cares this year me and the husband are rocking it no matter who comes over :)

I'd like to tag these people to do the blog interview :) and check out their blog they totally rock!

Being Brazen

Lipgloss Ninja

Fashion Jazz

I would usually have invited

I am Farmgirl and bobbylicious tobut they have both already done this interview :)

• Christmas time is always the busiest time of the year - and having a kid makes it even busier! 
• going a way for the weekend is really nice, So i need to do that more often :)
• I owe I am Farmgirl a blog post interview thingy - sorry
• I am looking forward to the Cape Town bloggers get together tonight although a little nervous
• baking miniature cookies is almost as much work as making normal sized ones!!!
• I want to go to the hairdresser but just not sure if I'll like what they do to my hair. (going through a phase)
• Right now all I want to do is drive my car with the music blearing along a nice traffic free road 
• It is the husbands Birthday on Sunday and he has requested .... wait for it.... Apple Pie
  

how is everything going with you?

COOKIE DOUGH APPLE PIE

So I came up with this concoction for the husband the other day and dare say so myself - it is DELICIOUS!
You see the husband loves apple pie and I didn't feel like making gluten free pastry etc.. So I just chopped up some apples baked them in the oven and then put my trusted cookie dough recipe i always use on top and baked it and OH WOW, Why haven't I tried this sooner?

Find the easy recipe below

COOKIE DOUGH APPLE PIE

INGREDIENTS
apples
cinnamon
raisins (leave out if you dislike them)
roughly 3 tablespoons brown organic sugar
125g butter
1egg

1 generous cup brown organic sugar

1 vanilla pod
1 generous cup gluten free flour (i use health connection)
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
cream


METHOD
Peel and cut up enough apples to fill your pie dish (i used 6)
Then sprinkle with raisins, brown sugar and a generous amount of cinnamon.
Place in the oven and bake at 180 degrees celcius, stir occasionally and cook until the apples are starting to soften but not fully cooked yet.
While the apples are baking assemble the cookie dough.
Beat the butter, egg, sugar and scraped out seeds from the vanilla pod in a medium bowl until smooth
Then stir in the flour, baking powder, and bicarbonate of soda ensuring that everything is well mixed. Add more flour if you need to the mixture should be nice and soft but not runny.
Once the apples are semi soft baking away in the oven take out the dish and plop/dot the cookie dough all over the mixture - yes it looks messy but it will spread out. The idea is for there to be little blobs of cookie dough all over your apple mixture but you can still see little bits of apple peaking through. You may have to much cookie dough for your pie - you can either bake some cookies or put it in the fridge in a sealed container for a second cookie dough pie tomorrow :) trust me you'll want another.
Turn the oven down to 150 degrees celcius and bake until the cookie dough has spread, risen a little and is light brown on top :)
cut up and serve with cream poured on top or with a good vanilla ice cream


  

MONDAY SHHHMUNDAY & CHRISTMAS CHEER

Nothing like having a kid to put  you in the Christmas mood :) with the school nativity play done [check] and the Christmas decorations being made at school [check] - I think I may need to get my butt into gear and start thinking about getting out the decorations.... and look into baking a Christmas cake :) I love cherries :)
That being said I'm not decorating totally just yet as it is the husbands birthday on the 12th of December and it just doesn't feel right to have decorations up while celebrating his birthday. So I'm thinking of starting small like a wreath on the door and one or two ornaments out and then after the 12th of December I'll do the Christmas tree and the works!! Talking about being more Christmas focused right now I've decided instead of buying my 6 year old the traditional chocolate advent calender I'll make her one instead myself :) BUT tomorrow is the last day of November so I have today and tomorrow to make it so that on Wednesday morning it can be up and she can start using it.

 I got really pretty inspiration and ideas from these blogs and if you're thinking of making one or just curious then go and take a look :)

Cute little folded boxes advent calender here
Match box advent calender here
Tiny envelope hanging advent calender here

I would love to try the first 2 but seeing as though I am pressed for time I think I will do the tiny envelopes one (last one on the list) as it's super easy and quick to do and it even has FREE printables. just print, stick and fill :) I've also been collecting various little things to fill them with - strips of stickers cut up, teeny tiny ornaments, tiny chocolates and little mints/sweeties, an ink stamper or 2 and some baby animal kiddies tattoos. May add a lip gloss if I find one between now and tomorrow night.

Hope you enjoy looking and maybe try to make your own if you feel like it
 
 

CAPE TOWN BLOGGERS GET TOGETHER :)

If you are a blogger and are in Cape Town area then come to this cool get together :) on the 8th December.
Looks like it will be fun. And it will be cool to meet other bloggers :) YAY!


Hope to see you there

Oh and don't forget to RSVP to fablefairy@gmail.com

 

THE LUCKY WINNER IS......

To ALL those of you that didn't win please don't hate me for not drawing your name. It's all Random.org's fault I swear. I had nothing to do with this craziness - It is all the internet's fault OK.
And to the Winner - Nikki :) you are a lucky lady, even I am jealous of you!!!

Random.org generated number 15 - which is this comment

nikki said...

I "like" you on facebook! 

 

So well done and Congrats - Please email me your details.

 

Big hugs to all of your that didn't win - I'm going to drink a strong cup of coffee and eat a chocolate. I need some cheering up! Although I never was in the running - hahahaha. Solice is still good.

True Randomness

                    
I have come to the conclusion that I am bad at posting on my blog on a Monday. I can't seem to stop myself from using all my spare time to catch up and read other peoples blogs and trying to get myself away from these said blogs to write on my own is just near impossible- silly me. *[note to self - start writting next Mondays post NOW!!]

Monday is also delete/read/reply to emails day from the weekend of emails pilling up.

On a food note -myself and my family are absolutely adoring the homemade apricot jam we made and have devoured almost 2 bottles already - even though I have 3 more at the bottom of the fridge I will need to make more to keep for winter! [never thought that would happen] but summer is just beginning so i have plenty of time :)


This weekend I photographed a Nativity play, a Pirate party and a Bible School graduation - hence to say I have a lot of editing in my future.... mmmm square eyes maybe my new name

 I think I maybe turning into a label addict and  pure food freak!! I am simply not prepared to eat junk anymore (hence reading all the labels) and I find myself not even being tempted to eat things like sweets and crisps and other factory made concoctions of MSG, Aspartame and the likes. The more i read about how bad they are for you the more I would rather live without them and bake or make something myself. Its just not worth it and homemade is always better!




Anyway know that you know what crazy thoughts I have - what are your obsessions at the moment?
















ps I really wish I could win the super cute clutch that is the Give away on my blog at the moment - but seeing as though i can't you should win it for me - or atleast make me happy that one of my fab readers has it instead

Friday :)

So glad it is Friday - even though we have a full /busy weekend it will be nice to have the husband at home :)


So Christmas is on its way and it'll be here sooner than we think. We have our daughters nativity play tomorrow and so starts the beginning of the list of end of year functions and plays to attend.
I am trying to breathe and take control this festive season - I don't want this Christmas time to feel rushed and busy but actually enjoy the moment of being with my husband and daughter [friends and family too] and relax. I don't know if I'll get it right but I'm sure going to try :)  The same goes for all the Christmas present shopping and cooking. We will be doing it all but balance is the key. [so i keep telling myself]

Anyway enough rambling - Happy Friday lovelies :)

And on a happy Friday note :) The Winner of the $25 dollars to spend on a beautiful tutu from Tiny Belles Boutique is Renee Simmons CONGRATS!!!  (please email me)

CUTE Clutch GIVE AWAY from Oatmeal Lace Design

 ISN'T THIS GORGEOUS??? I think it's beautiful!

Mckay from Oatmeal Lace Designs makes the cutest and most beautiful clutches - I love them all but this white one is my favorite one of them all!! And guess what I get to give away one of her cute clutches (that I wish I could keep) to you. How lucky are you?!!! :)

I asked Mckay to tell me a little bit more about herself and her shop:

"Growing up 10 miles shy of the Georgia state line, I consider myself to be born and bred in the South. And like all good Southern families, we ate almost every meal gathered around our kitchen table—it was where I learned that faith and family build the foundations of a purposeful life. We shared laughter, love and, most of all, my grandmother's recipes. But Mamama, my 93 years young grandmother, is not only a dynamo in the kitchen, she is a talented sewer who motivated me to pursue my artistic talents (the name of my company is based off of her delicious cookie recipe: Oatmeal Lace). Now when I clear off the kitchen table in my home, I use it to create my handmade bags and just like Mamama's recipes, there is love in every one"

Please visit Oatmeal Lace Design Etsy Shop


The giveaway:
1. cute clutch from Oatmeal Lace Design 
*(Oatmeal Lace agreed to post the winning clutch to you but if there are import duties or taxes that is for you to sort out)


HOW TO ENTER:
There are 7 ways for you to win - you will get an entry for each thing that you do but leave a separate comment for each thing that you do but please remember NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF BETTY BAKE BLOG WITH GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT - THAT BOX TO THE RIGHT >

1) Be a Follower of Betty Bake Blog (I will check)
2) Comment below and tell us which is your favorite item/s at Oatmeal Lace Design
3) "like" Oatmeal Lace Designs facebook page (just come back and say so here)
4) "like" Betty Bakes facebook page (just come back and say so here)
5) Tweet about this giveaway - add @bettybakeblog to your tweet (just come back and say so here)
6) Blog about this giveaway - give me the link in the comment section below
7) follow @bettybakeblog on twitter
*please leave a separate comment for each thing you do (favorite Oatmeal Lace Clutch, facebook like, tweet, blogposts) in comment section below

this is an international give away so anyone can enter :)

this competition closes midday Thursday 25th November 2010 , winner will be announced later on that day thursday or friday.

APRICOT JAM - SUPER EASY!!!

After making my own apricot jam for the first time I don't think I will ever buy commercially made Jam ever again! It was one of the easiest things I've have ever made and gave such great results that I have managed to make another batch since and my fridge now has 4 pretty jars of apricot jam sitting on the shelves.
It is one of those things so satisfying to make. Almost like being Julia Child or Nigella Lawson creating something nourishing and delicious all in one. It is also so great and good that what my family is eating something that is preservative-FREE and lower in sugar than the shop bought variety and I managed to get pesticide free apricots -so less chemicals :) I hope to find some organic apricots soon :)
I think I  may try out some strawberries next or anything else that seems delicious. So many possibilities as summer is almost here and new fruit comes into season, I'm sure I'll be trying to turn all sorts of fruit into jam.

INGREDIENTS
600 - 800grams / just under 4 cups  Apricots (weigh/measure after cutting and removing the pips)
200g / 1 cup Sugar (i used organic brown sugar)
a quarter to half a lemon


METHOD
Cut the apricots in half and destone (remove the pip from each one). Trim off any brown spots or parts u wouldn't eat.
Weigh and place in pot with sugar and cover.
(Now if you are a busy person and don't have time to finish the recipe right now - you can place the covered apricots and sugar in the fridge for upto 24 hours).
Put pot on stove and slowly heat while stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Once the mixture starts to boil turn down the heat and stir every 2 - 3 minutes making sure it doesn't catch/burn on the bottom of the pot.
Squeeze the lemon over the apricot mixture - just a little bit - roughly about 2 teaspoons of liquid.
Scrape the froth off the top until your mixture is froth free.
After slowly boiling for roughly 15 - 20 min (the mixture should have thickened and the apricots should have broken up into tiny pieces)
Very carefully pour into clean sterilised jars and seal.
Store in the fridge.

My mixture made 2 jars and a tiny bit extra for toast right there and then :)

BLOG IT FORWARD - My own blog post

I have yet to do my Blog it Forward Post. So here it is! (If you are not sure what blog it forward is - check it out here)


One of the blogs in my group is Oh Darling Bride, a beautiful blog to do with weddings . I love looking at beautiful wedding inspired photos :) and this blog has many for you to get lost in. So dreamy and pretty - what is a girl not to like about it?

picture from oh darling bride

Run by 2 brides to be Monique and Ruth. Who better to do a wedding blog than 2 girls busy planning their own weddings of course. Most ladies love to look at weddings whether you are single, engaged, or married - girls just love to see pretty things and most are romantics at heart - sigh... Day dreaming again - sorry


so go and check out Oh darling bride and say hi and that Betty Bake sent you :)

Tiny Belles Gorgeous GIVE AWAY

Gorgeous pink and fluff is every girls dream - with names like pinkalicious and sun flowers and sunshine - i want to eat them :) Tiny Belles Boutique has the most cutest tutus ever!!! I have a daughter who does ballet who would love one of these - good thing she isn't old enough to read my blog yet :) And you get a chance to win one of these pieces of cuteness :) how lucky!!!

 
Please visit Tiny Belles boutique Etsy Shop


The giveaway:
1. $25 voucher to spend at Tiny Belles Boutique

There are 7 ways for you to win - you will get an entry for each thing that you do

BUT NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF BETTY BAKE BLOG

1) Be a Follower of Betty Bake Blog (I will check) If you are not a follower you can't do the rest on this list!!
2) Comment below and tell us which is your favorite item/s at Tiny Belles Boutique
3) "like" Tiny Belles Boutique facebook page (just come back and say so here)
4) "like" Betty Bakes facebook page (just come back and say so here)
5) Tweet about this giveaway - add @bettybakeblog to your tweet
6) Blog about this giveaway - give me the link in the comment section below
7) follow @bettybakeblog on twitter

*please leave a separate comment for each thing you do (favorite Tiny Belles Tutu, facebook like, tweet, blogposts) in comment section below

this is an international give away so anyone can enter :)

this competition closes midday Thursday 18th November 2010 , winner will be announced later on that day.

SAND PAPER & PAINT!

So there was this kitchen......

that was very 70's and  .... well just not me.

The kitchen of the house we live in 2003/2004

yellow cabinets with brown wooden handles and yellow floor

So with little money to spend I got some white paint from my mom and tinted it blue and painted the cupboards. Also slowly started replacing the handles - but didn't get very far....

painted the cupboards just after moving in

Floor still yellow and splash back tiles still patterned

Then we asked our lovely land lady last year if we could tile the kitchen floor and repaint the cupboards....
And she said YES :)
Of course it took a while for us to get going - but we managed to tile the kitchen floor ourselves with big white tiles (which really wasn't as easy as it seems - cause big tiles are harder to tile with!)
Then I started to ponder what colour the cabinets/cupboards should be....
So after many many hours on the internet looking at a kazillion kitchens - we painted the top cupboards white and the bottom cupboards grey and afixed silver brushed handles :) and I really like how it came out :)

the middle section behind the fruit is still not painted - I wasn't sure if i wanted to tile it or something

We took out 2 small sliding doors and replaced the backs of 2 of the cupboards with mirror (see where the dinner plates are)

My husband got this table and bench set made up to my dimensions i asked for and then it took me a few days of painting and sanding!

Well its safe to say that the kitchen unfortunately isn't sparkily and white anymore and there are dishes in the sink :( darn! but atleast it more my style :) chique grey, silver and white :)

Guy Fawkes and a Winner!

So I couldn't find my Guy Fawkes photos from last year - don't know why. So here is a pic of some boats in Kalk Bay Harbour. The reason for the need of fireworks pics is because it is guy fawkes today for us and lots of people will be letting off fireworks tonight. YAY! they always look so pretty.

And on another celebratory and explosive note: the WINNER of the Kawaii $20 voucher is:
*drum roll and fire works*

Curious Constellation said...

I also liked Kawaii Goodies on FB.

So happy Friday

Have a Super Weekend

All I want right now is one of these and a cup of coffee

I am so distracted and NEED to focus...


This blog post has taken 3 days to write and I'm only on the second line > yikes!
I can't write in story form right now as I'm so distracted so bullet form it is:

• So I was interviewed last week for the Wellness Warehouse blog about being Gluten-Free. Take a look at the interview here.

• I managed to email all the bloggers involved in the Blog it Forward idea [yay me]

• I have been catching up on emails - nearly there but school trips and cleaning and cooking keeps getting in the way of me getting it under wraps - darn!!! - I will conquer my inbox [positive thinking Betty positive]

•  Photo editing is also on my to-do list but I keep taking more photo so I guess that is one of those things I won't be conquering - oh well - you win some, you lose some.

• You are crazy for reading this post - hahaha - ok what i really mean is - thank you for reading this post

• Washing dishes is NOT cool!

• I have a strong urge for coffee - when I say urge I mean - AAAH give it to me NOW!!! I think I may need to go the shop right after I have hit the posting button - Run out the door - hand bag in hand and nothing else!!!

• You have until midnight tomorrow to enter my current give away then its over.

•  If your name is Swee San you have until Friday to email me - then I will be selecting a new winner for the birdie vinyl giveaway.- sorry. [hope you email]

• Have to go doing shopping now - organic and all - I wouldn't have it any other way.

so hope you weren't to confused by my crazy mumblings.....
coffee it is!!!  ....bye

Things that make me smile

• I love walking early mornings on the beach - the sight of sea and mountains never seems to grow old

• Playing music loud in my car while driving on the road  round the mountain :) puts me in such a great head space
• Making home made vanilla ice cream from scratch - and then licking the bowl
• Receiving comments from old followers and getting new followers - it brightens my day everytime - I still can't believe that others like to read my blog
• Planning parties in my head - with matching decor and food and drink :) prettiness is contagious  
• Chilling at home with my husband - so peaceful and calming

How as your weekend been?

AND THE WINNERS IS.....

Happy Friday - here is the winner for the Urban Walls Birdie Vinyl ...

1. Swee San said...

i'm a follower :)

PLEASE EMAIL ME 

Sorry to everyone else who didn't win. I have a new give away up for Kawaii Goodies - gorgeous crafty stuff :) Try entering - you may get lucky :)

Have a rocking weekend everyone and congrats again Swee San.

hugs

 

GIVE AWAY - COOL STUFF by Kawaii Goodies

I wish I could win this giveaway - there is SO much I would buy!!! I love the food cutters - especially the flower ones! and the stamps and washi tape are gorgeous - I may need to do some christmas shopping on this cute etsy page :)

A mother of 3, Soury works from home running 2 online business (www.kawaiigoodies.com and www.whimsicalgiftsetc.com).  Her favorite mediums to work with are fabric, paper and "anything sticky"! Her shop offers both hand made and commercial craft supplies such as hand stamped muslin ribbons, fabric tape and labels, imported Japanese stamps, and washi masking tape. Soury's stuff is affordable, adorable, and will inspire you to create something wonderful!

On Kawaii Goodies facebook page Soury has a giveaway EVERY Monday, so don't miss out on "liking" her page so you can more chances of winning!


 
Please visit Kawaii Goodies Etsy Shop



The giveaway: (1 winner)
1. $20 voucher to spend at Kawaii Goodies

There are 5 ways for you to win - you will get an entry for each thing that you do BUT YOU HAVE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF BETTY BAKE BLOG:

You need to go look at Urban Walls Etsy shop and then comment in the comment section of this post which of their Vinyls you love the best.

1) Be a Follower of Betty Bake Blog (I will check) then do one of the following:

2) Comment below and tell us which is your favorite item/s at Kawaii Goodies
3) "like" Kawaii Goodies facebook page (just come back and say so here)
4) "like" Betty Bakes facebook page (just come back and say so here)
5) Tweet about this giveaway - add @bettybakeblog to your tweet
6) Blog about this giveaway - give me the link in the comment section below

*please leave a separate comment for each thing you do (favorite kawaii goodies thing, facebook like, tweet, blogposts) in comment section below

this is an international give away so anyone can enter :)

this competition closes on Thursday 4th November 2010 , winner will be announced on Friday the 5th