Wedding build up and shoes…

It has been a crazy 2 days, also very overwhelming two days, kind of hard to imagine that April 2011 we got engaged, and now we sit 4 days away from our wedding. I am so very excited, and have been busy with many things…lets see where to start…

Started by picking up my maid of honor from the airport, followed by a day in PE, shopping and doing my final show fitting. I had my shoes designed for me, I couldn’t find what I really wanted, so I went to see Monique at LeQin Designs in PE, and she was so super sweet, and very helpful. After seeing her in November, I have not had a chance to see her again, so she designed without me going in and out, and I am absolutely in love with my shoes! I will get better photos on the wedding day.

Today, Justin and I went for our pre shoot, Heather Stevens, our photographer is absolutely amazing, I love her dearly, she is one of the regular photographers that is used for weddings at work, so meeting her once or twice, I knew exactly who I wanted to be part of my wedding day.

My wonderful friend, and maid of honor, Tiffany, managed to really surprise me with a great Hens Night, which was great fun, didn’t get crazy, but a great time was definitely had by all. Along with that, I made my lavender infused honey…slight spillage, but that was a silly mistake as I was not controlling my heat properly, what a clean up!!!

Justin took me for a pre birthday lunch today at a little place called Sacramento Restaurant, in Schoenmakerskop, PE A great little spot, the food was decent, just the wait was long and the staff very unfriendly, but being right by beach, and enjoying the holiday vibe was great!

Justin had a Surf & Turf

I had an Italian Salad

and deep fried Camembert with tortilla chips

And of course, between wedding planning, family, friends and other exciting things, I have managed to get around to doing both my starter and dessert for the Ready Set Cook Challenge that was set out by Tandy. So its been rather busy. But having a great time!

I do look forward to the relaxation while on honeymoon next week, this will probably be the last blog until after the wedding!

Beautiful Books….what more could I ask for

Now that I have time on my hands, I have been busy with finalizing a few wedding plans, I happen to forget about some flowers, and in a slightly fast dialling motion, I quickly phoned my dad, who just laughed and told me not to worry, he will take care of it all. I am so very blessed that both my parents and my future parent in laws are so supportive, and very helpful in so many ways. But more on wedding plans in another post.

This post is dedicated to the wonderful gifts I received from my loved ones. They all know me so well, and know my great love for African inspired food, and all the wonderful ways of South African cooking. And along with this, my great love for books.
My wonderful fiancé gave me Justin Bonello, Cooked in Africa, it’s his older book, but the first one of his books I own, and the first of many which shall be in my collection of cook books.

Reading through it, two recipes jumped out at me immediately, firstly the recipe for Springbok Neck Potjie. WOW! Had me drooling all over the pages, I can just imagine this potjie going down in my house, all the wonderful friends and family around to enjoy and share it…it’s perfect for sharing with loved ones.

The other one, which is very unlike something I would normally cook up, is the breakfast bomb. Not being a huge fan of eggs for breakfast, I tend to lean away from these kind of recipes, however, this one grabbed my attention. Also something I shall be trying in the near future!

My parents in law gave me this book, such a great inspiration. 365 things every Woman should know. Every day I read one…today – The development and maintenance of our inner world should be our highest priority.

My parents gave me Kukumakranka – Khoi Khoin Culture, Customs and Creative Cooking. They understand my love for the African culture and their food ways. There are so many interesting facts in this book, from the music and dance, to the kitchen utensils used, to the kitchens built, it is really hard to choose what is my favourite part of this book.

The edible plants kept me intrigued, just the vast knowledge of what you can eat and what you can’t in the bush, and this recipe jumped out at me…goats cheese being a all time favourite in my books. A vegetarian dish made up of goats cheese, raw duiker root, boiled flowerbuds of Khoi-veldkoo, shredded slymstok stalks and wild leeks. Wow….mouth watering!

I was spoilt rotten this Christmas, along with all my lovely books, I was spoilt with flowers, and wine, and stunning wine glasses, and a beautiful photo frame full of lovely memories of our first year together, and the most important gift of all, the opportunity to spend time with Justin, my parents and my parent in laws, all the most special people in my life.

Moist Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

I can not proclaim to be a good baker, I can bake, but I could never claim it to be my favourite past time. But when it comes to special celebrations, I do like to create a cake of some sort. This year, for Justin’s cake, I went with something very simple. Nice moist chocolate cupcakes, with caramel frosting. I am not a huge fan of sweet things, so I tend to tone down on the sugary side when it comes to baking.

The secret to a really moist cupcake or cake, is fat. Souse oil instead of butter, and buttermilk instead of milk. That way, it will always be a winner. This one, I didn’t have buttermilk, so I used full cream milk.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting
(makes +- 40)

Ingredients For Cupcakes
1.5 cup cocoa
4 cup flour
4 cup castor sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
4 egg
2 cup good quality coffee
2 cup full cream milk
2 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla extract

Caramel Frosting
2 cans caramel treat
250ml fresh cream

Method
Preheat oven to 180°C and line cupcake trays with cupcake liners.

Sift all dry ingredients together 3 times and place into your kitchen aid bowl

Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla extract and beat well, until well incorporated. Slowly add the boiling hot coffee

Fill the cupcakes liners until ¾ way full

Bake for 25 minutes.

Test if ready, prick cupcake with skewer and if it comes out clean with no mixture on, then the cupcakes are ready.

Cool completely before icing.

For the frosting, beat the cream until soft peak, add the caramel treat and beat until smooth and all incorporated.

Secret Santa Visit

I love how my beautiful and inspiring friend, Tandy over at Lavender & Lime always gets us bloggers involved in fun activities and great challenges, her latest one being Ready Steady Cook, which I encourage all you foodie bloggers to get involved in, and even you non foodies, it will be great fun!

Last year, Tandy got a few bloggers together for Secret Santa, I was a late comer due to the fact that I hardly ever get around to blogging anymore, which I am going to change this year (Thank you New Years Resolutions).

My Secret Santa gave me this beautiful gift!

I love it. The magnetic measuring spoons are going to come in so handy! I can just clip it against my knife magnet at work, and never have to worry about never having measuring spoons again, because all the other chefs know not to touch my knife magnet. Along with the measuring spoon, I got a little packet of basil paste from Robertsons, which I am going to make my favourite quick lunch – some fresh pasta with basil pesto and grated grana padana. Yum!!!! I also got a lovely apricot preserve.

So with this, I want to thank my Secret Santa, you know who you are!!

Have a beautiful Sunday blogland

Welcome 2012 and a very special month of January

My first blog for 2012…today is a special day; today we celebrate my lovely soon to be husband, Justin’s, birthday, the first of many we shall celebrate together.

Last year, we were still in our early stages of dating when his birthday came around, I remember I was working an al la cart evening, so I had a late one, he stayed over at my place, I got home with a vanilla cupcake with blue icing in hand, and proceeded to wake him up and sing happy birthday to him…he was not very responsive, and fell right back to sleep. This year I changed my strategy. I did not wake him up at some horrible time of night, I started celebrating with him long before, and I am baking chocolate cupcakes and giving it to him when the sun is out! This year I wrote him something special…and I want to share a small part of it…

You have been everything to me this year, my best friend, my lover, my soul mate, you have held my hand when I was sad, you have joined in my joyous moments, you have been my strength when I couldn’t find the strength you always know is in me, even when I forget it’s there. Thank you, not only for what you do for me, but for who you are, for the person you make me want to be, and for the happiness you bring into my life.

Some people don’t understand my great love for birthdays. My birthday is probably the most special day for me (our wedding day coming on par with it), it’s the one day I put everyone else aside, and I think of only myself, it’s the one day when I allow myself to be selfish, I take great pride in being courteous of others, and to never be selfish, to be patient and kind and take others into consideration, but on my birthday…I put me first. I want to be spoiled rotten from the moment I open my eyes to the moment I go to bed at the end of the day. I even start my celebrations at the beginning of January, and stop and the end.

Now this January is a very special one….Not only do we celebrate Justin’s Birthday today, 7th January, we celebrate my birthday on the 18th, along with Justin’s best friend’s birthday (yes, I shall share my birthday with someone), and we also celebrate our wedding on the 21st January. We are both so very excited.

And now for some interesting facts….

7th January 1984

Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Bostons Red Sox’s, Jon Lester, is born

18th January 1983

Pump Boys & Dinettes” closes at Princess Theater NYC after 573 performances

Samantha Mumba, Irish singer and actress is born

Bryan Adams, Cuts Like Knife Single is released

The 21st January marks National Hug Day.

Benefits of Hugging (thank you wikipedia)

Studies have shown that human contact has many health benefits. It’s been found that human contact, such as a hug, is essential for healthy social, psychological and physical development. Hugging can also help build a good immune system, decrease the risk of heart disease, and decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol in women. It’s been shown that a couple who hugs for 20 seconds has higher levels of oxytocin, and that those who were in a loving relationship exhibited a highest increase. According to the American Psychosomatic Society, a hug or 10 minutes of holding hands with a romantic partner can help reduce stress, and its harmful physical effects. In a study, adults who had no contact with people had higher blood pressure and heart rate. Other studies have indicated that the touch of a friend might not be as helpful as the touch of a partner.