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Sunday 31 March 2013

Easter Days...









above photographs: Catherine Boyd

This whole week has been speckled with Easter play...  Easter picnics, egg hunts, egg decorating and painting. 

I just LOVE my new food colouring pens which the girls used to scribble on chocolate eggs.  And for the painting I just added a a bit of food colouring to a splash of water.  And voila: you have delighted children.







 And we did some pavement painting with chalk  and chalk paint, which is ridiculously easy to make:

equal parts water to cornflour  ( eg 1 cup cornflour to 1 cup water)
mix
and add your food colour of choice

(If it is too gooey, you need more water...)

oodles of fun...

okay, I am off to go do an Easter egg hunt!

Happy Easter to all!








Friday 29 March 2013

happy easter

Want to make some quick Easter cupcakes?  Make some crosses out of coffee stirrers, and tie them together in cross shapes with a little string, then pop them into some cupcakes.  Tada.  These are basic vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttering, coloured with 'avocado' gel colouring.  Made these on a whim for the Three Anchor Bay DR Church picnic last Sunday: Two hours before the time, while making a potato salad and chalk paint, me and the kids still in pajamas, after a hen night.  Sometimes I think my head is not screwed on right.  Most of the time.  Even right now, I have an hour to get us all ready, and I am blogging.  Have to learn to prioritize.



Have a happy Easter!

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Barbie cake for Nina



Every girl needs a barbie cake..  whether it be at age 4 or 40.   Yes I know we all cringe a little and giggle at the idea, but once it was a dream all us girls had.

My friend Carrie (a true collector and enthusiast of all things beautifully kitsch) has only dreamed of such a cake, and she decided that for her daughter, Nina's 4th birthday, a Barbie cake it will be.

Little did I know that this classic birthday cake can still make children bounce, point and squeal.  And even some big people. 

Carrie made it quite clear that this cake was ultimately for her.  Though I can say with much confidence that little Nina was just as delighted. And it was lovely to make both mom and daughter's day... oh the squeals of delight.  It is magical to see how the humble cake can bring such joy to faces, young and old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE NINA!!

Anybody want a barbie cake, just let me know.

Librocubilularist

Ooo, I am a Librocubilularist.    Been one my entire life.  Even when I could just read pictures.  Even read numbers in bed for a while, but that was just a phase.
SO going to say this next time someone asks me what I do.  Once I learn how to pronounce it.
I always find that question rather tricky.

Saturday 16 March 2013

Must have pancakes. Now.

Yesterday I was feeling a little bit frail... and that afternoon, after completing my morning must-do list (with much difficulty, I can assure you),  I crawled up the stairs and into bed.  Ten minutes later, mesmerised by the drizzle outside my window, I am suddenly overwhelmed by my desire for pancakes. My mother-in-laws pancakes. NOW.   And there is still the small issue of having to feed the children (yes, i know this should be on that must-do list.)


My mother-in-law is a seasoned minister's wife, and has as such has accomplished many a fete and an old hand at the mighty pancake.

So here it goes, Tish's famous pancakes.  She insists that these are the tastiest and ideal for smaller batches.

INGREDIENTS:
250ml (1cup) cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
2ml salt
2 free range eggs
200ml milk
175 ml water
1tsp fresh lemon juice
125 ml (½ cup) sunflower oil

WHAT TO DO:
Sift together the the flour, salt and baking powder.
Beat together the eggs, milk, water and lemon juice together.
Make a well in the middle of the flour and pour in the milk mixture,
Beat together until smooth. Pour in the oil and mix together till you have a lovely creamy texture.
Allow to stand for a little while (about 20 minutes).

Heat a non-stick pan and pour some of the mixture into the pan. Cook until brown, flip pancake over. Remove when both sides are browned and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. 

Playing in the kitchen, even in my questionable state, makes me a little braver, and I was in need of some true comfort food. So I ditched the usual cinnamon sugar  and raided our somewhat empty fridge, and found some cream.  No matter the state of my fridge, there is usually cream to be found, and simmered up some toffee sauce (recipe adapted from Tessa Kiros, Apples for Jam).

For this you will need
20g butter
50g brown sugar
1 T maple syrup
couple of drops of vanilla extract
125 ml cream

In a small pot, over a medium heat, melt the butter, sugar and vanilla. 
Leave to simmer, until a nice warm toffee colour.
Slowly add the cream, stirring the mixture with a wooden spoon.
Pour over your pancakes.



 So there you go: Yummy pancakes, fresh banana, homemade toffee sauce and some whipped cream... equals happy family on a rainy day.
And easy enough to make, even after a night out with the girls!
(struggled to take enough photos though)

Thursday 14 March 2013

A moveable feast: pop up picnic


Me and  my friend, Alexandra have started a little project on the side....   A Moveable Feast.  
And next week we are hosting a film and picnic evening which I am so excited about!!   

The venue is Signal Hill Lodge, bang in the middle of the Bo Kaap, with a panoramic view of the city.
Situated in the centre of the Malay hub of the city, the menu is inspired by the local cuisine, from bobotie, curry, raita, koeksisters, pompodoms and more!

And the wonderful husband made us a large movie screen to show our movie of the evening: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel... which is one of my absolute favourites.

Picnic spots are limited, and you will have to request an invite: bookings@moveablefeast.co.za.

 Please go like our fb page: www.facebook.com/amoveablefeastct to receive invites to future events.

Hope to see you there!



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