I'M NOT CRAZY!!!

'beady eyed seal giving me that crazy look....

Merrily browsing the sweetie aisle of the supermarket desperately  trying to find sweets that do not contain glucose syrup (so much harder than it sounds) reading every label and minding my own business when a mom comes round the corner with a trolley and 3 children in tow. Mom instructs them to pick some chips to buy, each to pick a flavor that they would like :) great - so they all do that and place them in the trolley. Then one kiddo sees the pre-packaged lollipops you put in the freezer to make frozen lollies and says please mom can we have these. Mom says um let me see and starts reading the label, "kids this has aspartame in it" so she picks up the next brand and starts reading again... more aspartame! and going through every make says sorry kids but these all have junk in (meaning aspartame) I think we must make our own at home. You know I could have walked over to that mom and kissed her I was so happy. she had no idea that I overheard her conversation and that I was smiling with delight.
I often feel like a label freak and a weirdo when I say sorry sweetie pie but we won't be having that - because of the junk that is in it eg aspartame, MSG, tartrazine, the E numbers on stuff!!! (the list is long- they put so much junk in our food) I was giddy with happiness to find that I wasn't the only one that was concerned about what I ate/gave my kid and was happy to say no to them - even if that mom was only concerned about aspartame I was sooo happy I almost did a Jimmeny cricket up in the air sidekick. I often feel like the crazy mom - "like oh please we aren't going to die if we eat tartrazine" looks i get. And the best part was I had a moment of - "you know I am not as crazy as I thought" :) yay me!
Thank you lady in the grocery store you made my day :)

THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE...

• I was not looking forward to school starting and getting up to make lunches but since school has started - I am happily getting into a routine of walking on the beach and coming home and bathing and reading a bit of a book.- I never thought that the routine would work in my favor :) Life has nice little surprises sometimes.

• Planning a holiday in your head can be so refreshing and an escape from reality .... In my mind I'm off to Italy - and someday I will go there but for now it is nice to day dream :)

• My husband can make me more than grin sometimes :) He surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of roses last week that are still lasting - they smell beautiful and are sitting in a vase on my kitchen table (sigh) so pretty :)

• Party plans for the little ones birthday are well underway - decor has been bought and ideas are flowing but invitations are not yet made!!! on the bright side most of the decor is here and ready to be put up when needed - only 16 more sleeps if I'm correct - AAAAH!!! I see baking in my near future.

• Your comments make me smile - just saying :)

So what have you been up to? Any happiness or daydreaming in your day?

Summer is an Ice Lolly

How fast can you put a smile on a child's face when handing them an ice lolly :) Pretty darn fast I tell you :)
An instant pick me up and also a great way to cool anyone down from kiddies to adults. And the best part is that you can make your own in your favorite flavor and you can make them preservative free and as organic as you want them to be - it all depends on the quality of your ingredients. All you need is some juice and some yoghurt! Simple hey!

INGREDIENTS
Fruit Juice of your Juice (the more organic the better)
Yoghurt of your choice (also the more organic the better)

METHOD
Take your favorite juice flavour (as fresh and as organic as possible) and pour into a 1/3 or half of the lolly moulds. Place in the freezer and when almost set put in your ice lolly sticks. When the juice is properly set pour in your yoghurt till almost fill (i use organic vanilla yoghurt) and place back in the freezer until hard and set.

Take out and enjoy :)
And its healthy too :)

 

PINK & WHITE POLKA DOT PARTY - KIDDIES

 I had the privilege of photographing and discussing ideas of this gorgeous pink and white Polka Dot Party with one of my sister in laws who created it for her daughters 2nd birthday Party. How cute is it? 

The theme is consistent through out - pink and white polka dots :) Just about all the eats are pink or white - white popcorn, pink and white lollipops, pink and white marshmallows, pink and white layered jelly, pink and white cupcakes, pink and white swiss roll, white peppermints, all laid out on a white table cloth with a pink tuile overlay and scattered glass droplets for dots on the tablecloth. Lots of little touches of pink and white and polka dots.

So cute for a little girl. But just as good for a girly party of any age. Cute for a baby shower of girly kitchen tea too.

Happy looking.

peppermints in tiny teacups with polka dots - lots of glass droplets for polka dot look on the table cloth

pink fondant iced cake with white fondant dots

 

isn't this little silver bird to cute?

  

pink filled wafers in a pink heart shaped box

pink and white plates layered

 

swiss roll with a white cream and strawberry, pink filling

I couldn't resist wrapping my nieces' present in polka dots too :)

I liked the different shaped containers to hold the various eats - martini glasses as well as square vases and plates plus rectangular platters gave a nice diversity without detracting from the polka dot theme.

silver bird looking after the cute pink and white polka dot serviettes

Thanks for looking at this party. I just love the little silver bird, I'm hoping to find my own one, one day. 

This party is so cute and could be used for so many parties not just for a 2 year old but a girl/woman of any age that loves pink and the touches of white polka dots just makes it even cuter.

 



p.s. submitted and selected for :) Bird's Party Blog !!! :)

not getting up early, music and party stuff

•  I am busy planning my daughters birthday party which has me in design and create heaven - but money grounds me regularly -no giant imported thing-a-ma-jigs or fresh pastries flown in from france ;)
• The soulful sound of chilled out jazz and the swishing and tapping swing style is really up my alley at the moment - I'm feeling like real old school music at the moment.
• I feel more relaxed when my house is clean.... Well tidy, clean maybe pushing it (hehehe)
• Not having to get up and out the door for the school run is making me super happy - from next week it maybe another story when my daughter goes back to school - but for now, I'm enjoying it
• All the lovely comments on this blog has kept me smiling - thank you :)

 

So whats making you smile at the moment?

EASY ROAST CHICKEN

 From this....

 To this.....

I love easy food - as in just stick it in the oven and then dish it up once it cooked :) Makes life easy for everyone, especially on a week night when things need to get done and routines need to happen with kids etc...
So this is one of my easy meals I make when I have other things to do besides cook or just don't feel like it [gasp]

RECIPE
All you do is take a raw chicken (I use free range chicken) and place in a large roasting/oven dish.
Surround with *peeled and chopped up potatoes.
Drizzle with some olive oil and plenty sea salt - and some fresh rosemary (if you have) .
Place in the oven at 180 degrees celcius for roughly an hour to an hour and a half.
Make a quick salad while chicken is cooking (whatever you like- cucumber, tomato, lettuce, feta etc) and place in the fridge.
Check the chicken near the end so you don't burn it. And maybe stir the potatoes a little.
Take out when juices inserted in the leg/thigh area run out clear with no blood in it and the chicken skin is brown and crispy.

Cut up the chicken and serve with the potatoes and salad

* you don't even have to peel the potatoes if you don't have time - they will come out like wedges if you leave the skin on.

I'm Not so Good at Self Reflection

Happy New Year and hello 2011

So who knows what this year will bring... I'm not one for new years resolutions cause I'm realistic like that - but I do know that whatever comes my way I will :) think it through properly (i hope) and then see what i feel about it before rushing off with a decision.

It sucks when everyone has to go back to work and face reality and that holidays can't last forever but in another way routine is good and it helps us appreciate the time we have off :) 

So to those of you that have blogs - happy blogging, I wish you a prosperous year with many blog posts and even more readers ;) cause I know that is what I would want. 

And to those reading and lurking in between the words :) nice to have you here I hope I will write something so awesome that you will want to leave a comment - cause I  HEART comments <3 

OR maybe you'll just comment cause you are nice :)

anyway every happiness and fun to you :) hehehe 

happy monday 

hugs

 

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.