I am leaving, but hope you will follow!

There comes a time when one just has to move on.......to a new home that is! I hope you will visit me occasionally at my new domain!

click on www.giddygastronome.com


Much love,
Nazarina.

A dreamy chocolate ladyfinger cake and the birth of my book!

Could this dreamy ladyfinger cake possibly dismiss
my inexcusable hiatus?
See recipe below. ( made with hazelnut TEECCINO)
Unequivocally the most delicious success!!!



Do you take this velvety chocolaty wonder,
to savor and at times, devour,
and let no man cast asunder?.........I do!
for this evocative image is indeed a welcome
appeasement to my undying, creative and hungry soul!.......Nazarina.



My absence, even though inexcusable, has however
produced an undertaking in me compiling a book of
my very own, chic sweet and savory treats. Establishing
parameters for this undertaking are by no means easy
but my goals are to reflect my attention to detail and
present you with flavorful cuisine! This book is still
in progress and will be worth the wait!

I shall continue to post recipes on this blog ( whenever
time permits me) but the best of the rest as they say,
will be saved for last and that is my book)
Recipes will somewhat be indicative of this ladyfinger
cake above and the custard cigars below. Even the savories
will not disappoint!


This vision of juicy cherries embedded in creamy custard
is just one of the recipes that will appear in my book.



I shall also share lots of tips and tricks in the book.
Here's one, how to maintain the crispiness of this baked
creamy custard and cherry cigars and you do not even
have to crack a single egg for the custard! Also pitting
cherries if you do not have a cherry pitter at hand!


This cherry soup is adorned with mascarpone and is a
perfect accompaniment to these custard and cherry cigars!






Go ahead and dunk that crispy cigar!




Thank you teeccino for sending me a wonderful
gift of different herbal coffees. It does my digestive
tract good! ( see picture of this coffee in my previous post).
I used the hazelnut flavor in the making of this ladyfinger cake.
All I can say is that the resultant gianduia aroma of this cake
drove my friends and relatives insane! Irresistible things come
in small packages!



Here now is the recipe for the ladyfinger cake. As usual, please use organic ingredients whenever possible! This is a 7 inch spring form ring, opened to its widest setting.
Do not use the bottom of this pan for this prep.



Brew a cup and half of hazelnut teeccino and add only the 1 cup to 1 cup of hazelnut cream. Use the other half in the prep below. Let cool completely and set aside.

Other ingredients:

• half cup brewed hazelnut teeccino
• 8 fl oz organic milk
• 2 T cornstarch
• 2 packs of ladyfinger cookies ( You will not use all the ladyfingers!)
  
• 4 egg yolks
• 11 oz dark chocolate plus( use only 9 oz for the cake and the rest melt with some milk for the decoration on top of cake.
  
• 5 T unsalted butter( rm temp)
  
• 1 t pure vanilla ( I use the brand from Santo Domingo)

Method:
Beat the egg yolks lightly. Pour the 8 oz milk and teeccino into a pot and add the the egg yolks, vanilla and the cornstarch. Heat this mixture, stirring constantly until it bubbles. Set aside to cool slightly. Meanwhile break the 9 oz of chocolate and melt over a bain- marie ( hot water bath). Stir until smooth. Cream the softened butter and gradually add the melted chocolate. Add this to the egg yolk mixture beating constantly until thickened.
Lightly soak ladyfingers in the mixture of teeccino and hazelnut cream and cover the bottom of the spring form ring. Cover with a layer of the chocolate custard and then continue the layering until the top of the ring, making sure that the final layer of ladyfingers is arranged in a very pretty manner. Set the whole cake in refrigerator to set overnight . Tip: I removed the ring gently, ( the aluminum foil makes it easier to handle), after 4 hours and smoothed out the chocolate custard around the sides and then cooled overnight in the refrigerator.
Decorate the cake with the melted chocolate 1 hour prior to serving. Serves about 10 or 8 hungry people.

Please enjoy!
Nazarina.

Reeni, my dear, your Mom is the bomb! Thank you for the portrait of my cat!!!She is an incredible artist!!!!

Delectable hot cross buns, a fun egg project, all for Easter!

Greetings!

Turn boring hard boiled eggs into a fun project for Easter!
Engage your kids as well! I did this project in less than 20 mins.
This is a chick, a bunny and "big eyes." ( organic eggs please!)


I hope that everyone will truly enjoy a joyous Easter!

I have already started and that is because we shall be dining
out on Eater day ! I am spoiling house guests with this
delectable "Teeccino" Maya organic chocolate lattes which
I have brewed and embellished with chocolate and regular
whipping cream and my Mom's delicious recipe, Copenhagens.
They were all deliriously happy smelling this cinnamon aroma
coming from my kitchen. This currant bun is not your typical
hot cross bun recipe, but I made it into one by piping them
with powdered sugar mixed with fresh lemon juice. These
Copenhagens are not sweet at all. I only used a half cup
of organic sugar for 5 cups of organic cake flour.


I used a stencil and chocolate cocoa for the word "latte"
and the "coffee beans picture."
"TEECCINO" rocks!( non acidic coffee alternative).
It is freaking awesome and gave me my java groove
back!!! Get your buzz on!!!






petite buns in white





I also made some of the Copenhagen dough into a round
"cake." They are star studded with a boat load of
currants! I was feeling quite embarrassed at every one's
ooooh's and yummy's when I set the table for breakfast.


pretty in pink! Hot cross bun cake





I had to adorn some of the Copenhagens with blue icing
for all the "boys." A "break apart" concept that was soft
and warm and cinnamonny !





The dough is spongy and springy and the buns
have to be baked the same day! Bear in mind
all these buns are for a boat load of guests ha! ha!







These Copenhagens have a tender crumb with a glossy,
golden crust and were all so very delicious. After this
breakfast, I proposed a long hike in the mountains!




Easter also marks the beginning of spring which brings to mind spring cleaning ( maybe also cleaning up all those crappy demeanors of some) LOL! , the beautiful tulips blooming here in Colorado and also just that "get up and go feeling" providing that "go" has not upped and went ahead of you! However, here in Colorado, we might have to wait until the end of June for spring to really set in!
We have also been very busy tilling the soil in our garden in preparation for sewing all those wonderful seeds. I cannot wait for those fat juicy tomatoes!!!

Groete Suid Afrikaners!
Ek wens almal n' aangename Paasfees!
Paasvees is n' kerklike waarneming en ook n' plesierige vakansie. Die Paas naweek is die beginsel van lente, meer opgewekte gedragte en kinders oral wil op n' paaseier soektog gaan. Vir my is lente die beste seisoen want dit voorspel warme weer en n' nuwe groeikoors!


Ingredients:

Please use organic ingredients when possible


Copenhagens( currant buns)

• half cup super fine sugar
  
• 1 and 3/4 packages of dried yeast( little packages)
• 5 c cake flour extra for dusting your hands
  
• 1 t fine cardamom
  
• 1 and 1/2 c lukewarm milk
• 2 Egg-lands best eggs beaten
• 1 stick plus 3 t unsalted European butter( soft)
  
• pinch kosher salt
• Currants and sultanas
• mix some sugar with cinnamon

Cream the yeast by adding it to one teaspoon sugar, quarter cup of the lukewarm milk and stir until dissolved. Let this sit until frothy and bloomed. Sift the flour, sugar, cardamom and salt in the kitchen aid bowl. Cut up the butter into small pieces and rub into the flour mixture until the flour mixture resembles small peas. Whisk the remainder of the milk (lukewarm) and the eggs together. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add the egg mixture. Now mix in the kitchen aid or by hand.
Mix until incorporated until the dough has a sticky consistency.
Dust your hands with flour remove the dough and knead for about 2 mins, it will be very sticky, but it will come together and then let proof in an oiled bowl for approx. one and a half hours.
Pinch off little balls, flatten into circles, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and then some currants and sultanas and roll up into a tiny roulade. Roll the little roulade into a spiral, place either into a round cake tin or bake individually. Give them an egg wash, let proof again covered in the pan for about 20-40 mins until they look spongy and then bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for about 30 mins. If you see that the buns are not browning, turn up to 375 degrees until the tops of the buns are golden. Dissolve about 1 tablespoon sugar into 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Remove the copenhagens , brush with this mixture to give its glaze and return to oven for another 5-10 mins. of baking time or until golden brown like mine in picture!
Decorate by mixing powdered sugar with fresh lemon juice and a little water and pipe designs with a pastry bag, or for the buns in the last picture, just drizzle the powdered sugar and the lemon mixture over the buns when it has cooled.


For the hard boiled eggs:

I cut off the bottom part of the egg and cut that into two halves for the bunny ears and used tooth picks to secure them into the body of the bunny. I used cloves for the eyes and a piece of cauliflower for the " cottontail." I used a carrot for the "tail", " beak" and 'cocks comb" of the little chick. Just use your imagination!

Enjoy!
Nazarina A

When chicken kitcheree meets swank!..... A dish inspired by Chicken Kitchen.

Read it on:
Chefs.com

Here now is my version of this absolutely stupendous dish!!
This is absolutely my favorite dish!!!

Chicken kitcheree with khuri( curry yogurt sauce)

click on pic.




I was going to post this menu two weeks ago but unfortunately my sweetie dropped my camera on the slopes. This "mogul maniac" was going at a crazy speed when the ski patrol chased him halfway down the mountain and finally caught up with him and cited his a.. He did however finally buy me another camera, hence the reason for me blogging again. So all is forgiven!





Khuri (curry yogurt sauce)
Drizzle over the spring salad/ or the bundt

click on pic




Language itself cannot explain how absolutely palate pleasing this menu is!!! I find myself saying ooooh! mmmmm! wowweeee and acting completely inappropriately when I prepare these dishes. I am overcome with a paroxysm of glee and I cannot suppress it! It is that good!
This dish was inspired by "Chicken Kitchen"( restaurants in Miami). I took it a step further by encasing the chicken and rice in phyllo dough and now everybody says "Now you've gone and done it missy!"


Groete Suid Afrikaners!

Woorde alleen kan nie hierdie heerlike maal beskrywe nie. Die geur alleen sal jou voorsmaak heeltemal bedwelm! Die enigste motief agter hierdie spoggerige maal met al die ingewikkelde voorbereidings is pure plesier. Geniet asseblief!
Die uwe,
Duiselige gastronomer.



Chicken kitcheree encased in "Athens" phyllo pastry baked in a bundt pan. Adorned with toasted nigella seeds ( Kalonji) and a spring salad (lettuce, avos, cucumbers and grape tomatoes).

click on pic ( A crispiness that only "Athens" phyllo delivers!)



A little slice of Heaven! I prepare the basmati
rice with sauteed onions, roasted garlic, vegetables etc....

click on pic (This bundt slices perfectly)





This was my Mom's bundt pan which is giving
me the same amount of joy. Only she used to
make the real McCoy.
Lightly grease your pan and layer several
sheets of phyllo dough into the pan, brushing
only the 5th layer with melted butter.
Layer alternating rice and chicken layers
and then cover with several sheets of phyllo
brushing only the 5th layer. I only used about
2T butter in all.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 mins.




Ingredients:

• Please use organic ingredients when possible.
• 4 large chicken breasts with bone and skin( The skin and the bone in keeps the breasts juicy when baked. You will however discard these after baking.
• garam masala( I roast my own mixture)
• pure pickle masala
  
• fresh oregano
• dry mustard powder( Coleman's )
  
• kosher salt
• lemon pepper( I make the lemon part from scratch)
• 1 ball of pounded garlic
• olive oil
• freshly squeezed lemon juice
  
• my homemade prepared panko mix. See turkey roulade for this panko mix
  

Wash and dry the chicken breasts. Sprinkle with kosher salt and the spices on both sides of the chicken. Add the pounded garlic and the juice of the lemon to the olive oil and baste the chicken with this mixture. Bake for 20 mins, remove and sprinkle with the prepared panko mix and the herbs and bake for another 15-20 mins until golden. Shred the chicken into pieces and discard the skin and bones. Prepare your rice. Serve with rice on the bottom, a layer of shredded chicken, a layer of the spring salad and then drizzle with the khuri.

For the khuri:

• quarter cup organic Greek yogurt
• half cup Miracle whip plus 3 t
• 1 t turmeric
• 1 t Annie's organic yellow mustard
• 1 t dry Coleman's mustard powder
• half cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• half t red pepper flakes
• pinch organic sugar
• pinch kosher salt

Mix the turmeric and the orange juice together until incorporated. place the remainder of the ingredients in a blender and pulse. Add the turmeric and the orange juice mixture and blend until incorporated.




This is what my neck of the woods looked
like today. Blizzard conditions with zero
visibility. Last week we had springlike
weather but apparently Father winter
made a comeback!



click on pic to see accumulated snow in just a
short time




Thank you Selba for this really cute award.



Please everyone grab it and pay it forward.


This post is in memory of my Uncle Toyer. " Swank" was indeed his middle name!
"If I said to you and Mom, I want you back I would not be lying!"
"If only for a moment to abate this incessant crying!"

God knows best!!!!


Experiment globally!
Nazarina A

Drinks are on the house and definitely no designated drivers needed!!

Greetings everyone!

Happy birthday Galiema!!!!!
Happy birthday Takoa!!!!

Sorry for my absence! I hope I can make it up with this labor of "drinkin" love.

Virgin drinks are not exactly every one's idea of a good time but mine sure spells "Let's get this party started." I mixed several organic fresh fruity flavors to keep it 'serious' and for some silliness, I added a splash of fizz from my sexy red" carbonizer."
Intoxication over at my house only means that you will be high on life. Not only will these non- intoxicated beauties entice you but my "bar aesthetics" sure will thrill you. So come on over and join in on this "wet your whistle" nostalgia, boogie until dawn and still leave in the morning with your good name in tact! LOL!

Groete Suid Afrikaners!

Alhoewel, hierdie drankies nie vir n' skemer partytjie is nie, sal dit nogtans n' indruk maak op jou gaste . Met n' bietjie karbonering en vars organiese vrugte sal jy groot sukses behaal met hierdie drank resepte. Jy hoef ook nie jouself bekommer oor gaste wat sal besope raak nie en daarom is aangewyse persone ook nie verpligtend om gaste huis toe te ry nie.
Kom ons jolyt en geniet asseblief!


"Seedless raspberry and coconut cream dream"

This is listed first because it was my ultimate favorite!
What a drink!!!! This dreamy concoction will envelop
your taste buds and melt all your inhibitions!!!

Puree 6-8oz of fresh organic raspberries and then
strain to remove the seeds. Blend with quarter cup
of pineapple juice and some ice.

For the coconut part of the drink, blend 1 cup of coconut milk,
1 teaspoon coconut extract, 1 teaspoon of banana smoothie powder,
quarter cup of organic rice milk or you can use dairy and some ice. I
added a half of a cup of premium coconut ice cream as well( optional).








Banana and dark chocolate milkshake

Blend half cup of premium chocolate ice cream with
1 cup of organic milk, some ice and for the banana part of the
shake: blend 1 banana, 2 teaspoons of banana smoothie
powder, quarter cup of coconut milk and quarter cup
of organic rice milk( you can use dairy) and some ice.
Garnish with a Flake chocolate.

Click on this pic.





Lychee and Asian pear( or Bosc pear if you so please!)
Ostentatiously Oriental! Lychees have a subtle and fragrantly
sweet taste and also contains a significant amount of vitamin C.

Freeze some lychees for the garnish ( I used the canned variety).
You can of course use the fresh ones if you are lucky enough to have
them in season. Blend 1 cup of lychees and some of the juice,
1 small Asian pear(peeled and cored), quarter cup of coconut milk,
quarter cup of pineapple juice half cup of ice and top it off with a splash
of Australian ginger beer.

Place some of the frozen lychees in the bottom of your glass and enjoy!
I drank both of these all by myself. I dipped the fortune cookies in dark
chocolate and sprinkled them with white nonpareils as a garnish!




Virgin party drinks Click on title for all these recipes!

The orange drink is my " lilikoitizer" Hellooooo Hawaii,
the two tone drink is a strawberry and mango coconut concoction
and the red drink is a Pom( pomtizer)




These are premium virgin drink mixes( blueberry, mango,
lime, pomegranate and cranberry). Add the seltzer and
you are all set! They are a little tart and fizzy!! Just freeze
some ice cubes in a mold for some added whimsy.




No drink will be complete without some kind of a nut!!!

Mix together 1 cup each chopped chili mangoes, roasted
cashews ( and freeze dried cherries and blueberries.
My idea of a trail mix!!!




Cashews roasted in a 350 degree oven for 15 mins.
or until golden, with organic agave honey, a little organic olive oil,
a splash of fresh orange juice and a sprinkle of sweet pickle masala
( just like the sweet Hungarian paprika)




My sexy" carbonizer"





Participate in Yummy food! Click on logo!





I received this award from Yasmeen.
Thank you so much! I love your blog too!





I received this sweet award from MaryBeth.
Thank you! I feel the same way about you too!


I would love to pay these two awards forward to everyone that commented and also visited my blog!






Chefs.com

4 thumbs up for this butterscotch almond crunch thumbprint!

The saying goes " Give only what you want to receive." Well, I have been working on this recipe to make the end result more than just "great and was inspired by my butterscotch cat here in "All my Giddy Kitties"!!! I have not made dessert since December and I figured now was as good a time as any especially when a good friend asked me to bake for the less fortunate! What I received in return were many" dirty chocolaty faces", all 40 of them and most importantly "smiles!"

This is also my entry for a garnishing event hosted by Food Fanatic also Chitra Ammas kitchen for her kitchen masterpiece event. See details below!!

I really have no rules where presentation and garnishing are concerned. I will use just about anything to complement the main dish. The edgier and the more unconventional, the better!

These are butterscotch almond crunch thumbprints with a stencil of a bear made from dark cocoa powder as a garnish. I used the tip of a skewer to "draw the strings that is tied to the balloons." These thumbprints have melted dark and butterscotch chocolate and this is my "kid" version of the presentation. The dough itself is made with very little sugar so it is not that sweet!





Please lick my tummy! I love you thissssss
much!



Visit Food Fanatic, click on her logo below for more on this beautiful event!




This is the more " grown up" presentation with the
butterscotch mousse and cream on the inside. The
taste.....naughty but oh! so nice! It is a close second
to S.. and being seduced!




This " buttery creamy mousse" reminds me of a South
African toffee ice pop I used to love!

Ryk en lekker!




Lightly brush the melted chocolate inside the cavities!
Use "Valrhona Gran Couva" for the dark chocolate. I
received a few bars from the manufacturer to try in my
desserts. Now I am hooked!!!




Praline: this is a half cup of organic sugar and three oz.
of almonds. Pour the organic sugar in a heavy bottom pan
and cook over medium heat until golden. Place
the almonds evenly on well sprayed parchment and
then pour the melted sugar evenly over the almonds.





When the Praline is cooled down, process in a food
processor to this consistency below. Or you can use a
mallet to crush the praline.




Brush the balls with beaten egg-
white and then roll into the praline.
Place these unbaked thumbprints
about two inches apart. They do spread!
Once baked and the aroma hits the "fan,"
you will have friends (..... and maybe admirers ) , ones you never
knew you had!!




These butterscotch chocolate morsels are the stars in my "Butterscotch
almond crunch thumbprints!




Food Fanatic is hosting a "garnishing and food presentation" event. Check out her site for details! Now this is an event that is just so much fun!!!Click on the logo below!




Recipe: Makes about 12 ( I bet you are going to triple this recipe!!!!!)

Please use organic ingredients when possible

• 3 T sugar
• 1 stick unsalted European Butter
• pinch of kosher salt
  
• 1 egg yolk( use the egg white as indicated below) Egg-lands best please!
  
• 1 t vanilla ( I use the one from Santo Domingo)
• 2 oz melted butterscotch morsels( use the rest for filling cavities}
• 3 t instant butterscotch pudding ( kosher kind)
  
• 1 cup Mc Arthur's ( I meant to say King Arthur ha! ha! ) all purpose flour( sifted) plus 3- 4 T extra if dough is too wet.
  
• some dark chocolate to fill cavities
• whipped heavy cream
  

Cream the sugar and the butter and the salt until creamy in your Kitchenaid ( I make times four the amount). Add the vanilla, the yolk and incorporate and then add the melted butterscotch morsels and mix again. Sift the flour and the butterscotch pudding together and incorporate this by hand , do not overmix, and then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Make little balls and then brush with beaten egg white and roll into the praline. Make the indentations with your thumb and bake at 350 ( pre-heated) degrees for 15 mins until golden. Take the cookies out after 10 mins. of baking time and use the back of a wooden spoon to define the hole again and then place back in the oven for that last 5 mins. of baking time. Cool completely! I make mine the day before and then the next day I fill the cavities with chocolate so that cookies are completely dry on the inside.

For the mousse:
Make the rest of the butterscotch instant pudding according to package directions with very little milk and lighten this with some organic whipped cream. You can also pipe the two tone colors with the butterscotch mousse and the plain whipped cream like in my picture above.


This entry is also going to Chitra for a blog b/day masterpiece event! Visit and enter and have some fun!!! Click on her logo below!







Nazarina A

Falafel and tzatziki no longer in its comfort zone!!!

Earmarking anything in my house will be of no avail! I would never allow for anything to just have a single purpose. I could never be that rigid, never has been and never will be. So with that said, whether it be kitchen gadgets or specific types of groceries, my mind goes into overdrive just contemplating what I'm going to manipulate next!
" There is absolutely no need for this showmanship!" I am thinking. It is only a Saturday night and my family just wants a simple dinner on the table already, but no, this need to please has become a neurosis that I have adopted from my dear Mother. Preparing something simple just "aint going to happen."
I was eyeballing the falafel mix and decided to coat the chicken kebabs with it instead of breadcrumbs and hey, maybe when I am in the mood for falafel, will I then gladly oblige but for now it has another destiny! The tzatziki, too, is also presented just a little differently.

The result...... nothing less than spectacular! The falafel chicken kebabs were juicy and that alluring spicy aroma sent everyone into a ravenous "tizzy"( Is there such a word?) . Well, they refused to wait another minute for this much prolonged supper! The couscous was so flavorful with the addition of the green chili and the orange juice and the tzatziki, a refreshing finale to a memorable meal! Silence always follows when we sit down to eat and like a rich benefactor, I always come to the rescue of my family's dinner dilemmas. In the end the wait was definitely worth it and the clean plates alone were all the "thanks" I really wanted!

Couscous prepared with oven roasted garlic, bell peppers, green chili and citrus juice.




Chicken kebabs dusted with falafel mix and spices
and then baked

Click on the picture!




Cucumber "spaghetti" tzatziki and baked zucchini
on the side





Groceries










Without further ado, here now is the recipe:

Please use organic ingredients when possible.

Do not forget to soak the skewers for an hour in water!

• 3 lbs organic boneless and skinless breast pieces ( cubed)
• falafel mix
• tahini
• roasted bell pepper seeds
• garam masala mix( I make my own mix, toasting all the spices and then grinding them)
• fresh lemon juice
• lots of pounded oven roasted garlic ( roast with the bell pepper)
  
• olive oil
• parsley
  
• pure pickle masala
• red bell pepper( roast in the oven)
• small can green chili
• Orange juice
• fresh lemon juice
• Greek yogurt
  
• couscous ( garlic and olive oil)
• cucumber
• a little miracle whip
  

Sprinkle the chicken kebabs with kosher salt, 2t bell pepper seeds, 2t garam masala and then squeeze with the lemon juice. Stir the pounded garlic( about 2 t) into olive oil( just a little more than quarter cup but not quite a half cup) and then pour over the chicken and let sit for an hour.
Meanwhile chop the bunch of parsley( no stems) and mix into the falafel mix and half teaspoon of pure pickle masala . Dredge the kebabs very heavily in this mix, thread onto the skewers and then bake ( convection bake ) on 375 degrees for 30 mins. Do not forget to pour all the remaining garlicky olive oil over the chicken kebabs prior to baking!

For the couscous:
Remove the skin from the red bell pepper and chop, drain the can of green chili and mix together. Prepare the couscous as per directions on the box but substitute a quarter cup of the water with the orange juice, also use a little less H20 than suggested on the box . Make sure that the liquid is a rolling boil!!!!! I used the little sachet in the box as well and when you add this add some roasted pounded garlic as well ( 1 t) . When the liquid has evaporated add the green chili and roasted pepper mixture, fluff the couscous and then close the lid and let the couscous steam.

For the zucchini;

Slice the zucchini into thin slices, sprinkle with some pure pickle masala( very little) and some bell pepper seeds, brush with olive oil and then bake for about 20 mins until crispy.

Tzatziki:

Cut the ends off the cucumber and rub these ends on the sides of the cucumber. Peel and slice into thin strands. Take some of these strands and chop into small dice and mix into half cup of yogurt , leave the rest for presentation , 2 T tahini , 1 T fresh lemon juice, 1 T orange juice, some bell pepper seeds and some kosher salt. I also added 2T of miracle whip to this mixture.

Nazarina A.


Probeer hierdie resep. Jou hele famielie sal jou liefhe en die wereld van jou dink ! Ek is verseker dat jy sal vriende he wat jy nie eens geken het nie!

Slippery when wet : zero calorie Valentine's Day gifts and more...

Greetings everyone! Thank you so very much for all those inspiring comments on my previous post! I am indeed touched and have that "warm" feeling inside me when I hear that you also miss me when I am gone ha! ha! I had no idea. Well the feeling is very mutual! You are my support system!

I have been busy with Valentine's Day soap baskets and also a few baby showers ( all these moms- to- be are going to have boys!!! I had to work really hard during these past two weeks so that I could go skiing on the weekends! Let me tell you, I have been making soap in my sleep! These soaps have Goats milk, olive oil, shea and cocoa butters and essential oils.

A Recollection

I still remember the day, I wanted to attempt the art of saponification( soap making). I had the audacity to think that it was not that hard to do. Boy! was I mistaken! It can in fact be very laborious and dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. I, for one, do not like to resort to an absurd hyperbole and discourage people from trying, by saying that it is so difficult, it will break your entrepreneurial spirit. All I am trying to convey here is that when you follow certain precautions, have a " mise en plus" work ethic and little bit of inspiration and patience, will your anticipated results turn out half way decent and not like crap! Hey, even if the result turns out to be a piece of crap, you will get over it and start afresh!

I would like to think that I am actually a soap diva ha! ha! especially since I spend so many hours making them. Let me tell you when I want "to turn down the volume and tune out annoyances", I turn to this very pronounced passion. It keeps me sane!

A message for my South African and Dutch friends:

Ek kan nog altyd onthou die dag toe ek wou leer hoe om seep te maak. Die vraag was hoe swaar was dit werklik? Wel, ek het my lekker misgis want verseping was nogal nie so maklik nie! Ek will ook nie oordryf en se dat dit te swaar is om te leer nie. Wees verseker my doel is nie om u te ontmoedig nie "Probeer is nogmals die beste geweer."
Voorsorg maatreels moet toegepas word en met geduld en n' bietjie inspirasie kan jy hierdie kuns vermeester en leer liefkry. Wees ook gereerd vir uitslagte wat sal misluk!
Verseping is n' stokperdjie wat ek terdee geniet en dit is ook n' wyse van inkomste vir my!





If you are looking for love, then two Cupids are
better than just one! Hope you have a swell
Valentine's day!

A Chanel#5 type of fragrance!




If Cupid can't do the job, then maybe these cupcakes will set that amorous tone!
Chocolate and mulberry fragrance ( cupcake swirl)
Click on this picture!





This "ball and claw tub" served the purpose of my
Valentine's gift baskets. A zero calorie cupcake while
soaking in the tub! What more does a girl want?
Seduction in the making!!! Work it girl! .........and boys?












Here I used a leather tool to "write" on the
soap. Click on the picture to see the words
more clearly.





One of my customers' wanted this pina colada fragrance
pineapple soap in the basket. Who am I to question?
Ask and you shall receive! I kinda dig this pina colada
fragrance!

]



"Its a boy" Yay!!!!!Soaps for the baby
showers!

Chocolate and vanilla fragrance ( cupcake swirl)






Banana and pineapple fragrance ( Finally a bug that I like!)





Platypus and duckies( baby powder fragrance)
Click on the picture !



Click here for older baby soaps

Please enjoy!
Nazarina A.

Grass-fed, organic beef cooked low and slow and fru-fru potatoes: It's what's best for dinner!!

Just like a steamy cup of Milo( malted cocoa) and that infamous ritual robe can evoke a fuzzy sense of security on a cold winter's night, so too, can a pot of beef cooked low and slow and not forgetting a crispy potato topping, capture that efficacious effect. Yes, patience is truly virtuous when adopting this mode of cooking. Intense rich gravies, juicy rumps and tender loins are but a few of the many rewards when" slaving over a hot stove." In this case your "pot runneth over" with flavor and goodness and who knows who will join you at the dinner table! I can assure you that even a raucous "obligate carnivore" ha! ha! or even a meat loving motor head for that matter will be on his/ her best behavior just to get a piece of this pie no matter how fru fru!

Here the cook will be graded if you will on this slow cooking method and the love put into the dish and not the intramuscular white fat content found in grain-fed beef which is all the rave with certain restaurateurs and others and frankly may very well be the cause of modern health concerns. For me the slogan"more fat, more flavor" which is revered by so many is far from the truth! I can assure you that you will achieve the same "ta da" with a minimal ingredient list and grass-fed organic beef because here the beef actually taste the way beef is supposed to taste!



A condensed translation for my Afrikaans and Dutch readers:

Net soos n' warme koppie Milo en n' rituaale kamerjas op n' koue wintersaand, so sal n' heerlike en stadige gekookte organiese biefstuk bredie jou troos. Hierdie stadige metode is n' beloning vir enigeiemand wat bereid is om die heeldag voor n' stoof te slaaf. Bo alle twyfel, hierdie ryk en lekker vleissous is waar jy sal gradeer word en die slagspreuk "meer vet meer geer" is nie rerig n' waarheid nie, nie vir my nie. In elk geval, vee wat gras vreet is meer gesond vir ons as vee wat graan vreet. Ten slotte, daar is talle ander bestaandele wat vir jou geer kan verseker maar vir my is liefde die vernaamste. As daar niks liefde is nie, hoef jy nie moeite maak nie.



Beef cooked low and slow in a rich gravy with crispy fru fru potatoes






The potato topping is crispy and has a hint of lemony spicy goodness.
As you bite into it, it just melts in your mouth! The beef is as tender
as can be and that rich gravy will have you singing for more!






This is also known as a "bredie" in South Africa. ( Snyboontjie bredie)

Slow cooked beef, fresh green beans and crispy star shaped potatoes over fragrant basmati rice and mustard seeds.




What are these? They are not what you think they are!




Stuffed with roasted and then pickled beets in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce




These are actually pear-shaped potatoes ( made from mashed potatoes)







Please use organic ingredients when possible

• 2 big onions, thinly sliced
  
• 2 lbs organic grass-fed stewing beef, cut into cubes, washed and drained in a colander
  
• olive oil
• 1 whole ball garlic pounded
• roasted bell pepper seeds
• 1-2 dried red chilies
  
• about 5 big potatoes( I made fancy cutouts, but you can just peel and slice thick rounds)
• some crack black
  
• 2 T balsamic vinegar
• lemon pepper ( I make the lemon part from scratch, will show in another post)
  
• kosher salt
  

Saute the onions and the garlic in 2 T olive oil until caramelized. This has to be really golden in color but not burnt. Add the beef, roasted bell pepper seeds, chilies and kosher salt and then cook until the meat is tender( about 2 hrs). Keep stirring and add water if the meat looks like it is going to burn. The meat has to reach a deep golden color. Then add the balsamic and a few turns of crack black and cook for 5 more mins more , making sure that there is enough water for the rich gravy to develop. turn off the hot plate and leave to cool. While the meat is cooking, peel the potatoes and slice into thick rounds or cut with a cookie cutter for the fancy shapes. Boil the potatoes until just tender with a little kosher salt and then drain.
Grease a casserole dish with olive oil, spoon the beef mixture into the dish and pack the potato slices on top. Brush the potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with lemon pepper and bell pepper seeds and bake in a 375 degree convection oven for a further 20 mins or until the tops of the potatoes are golden.



For the green bean version:
Follow the same procedure as for the cubed beef casserole but add the green beans to the cubed beef mixture in the pot and cook further until tender( another 20 mins). Bake the star shaped potatoes in the oven, with olive oil and the lemon pepper and bell pepper seeds until crispy 375 degrees for 25 mins and then just place on top of the meat and green bean mixture when you are ready to serve.


Pear- shaped baked potatoes:

• 1 lb floury potatoes
• 1 egg plus an egg yolk
• 3 oz grated Parmesan
• 3 T fresh chopped cilantro
  
• some bell pepper seeds
• some raw spaghetti to represent a stalk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 cloves chopped garlic
• 1T grated Parmesan
• 1 extra beaten egg
• some panko
• some flour

Peel and cook the potatoes until tender 7 mins. Do not forget to salt the water with a little kosher salt. Drain and mash thoroughly. While the mashed potato is still hot, gingerly add the all the beaten eggs, 3oz Parmesan, bell pepper seeds and the cilantro. Divide into 12 portions on a tray and refrigerate for an hour. Flatten each portion on the palm of the hand, place one teaspoon of the beets in the center and then close this filling tightly.
Shape these portions into a pear shapes , dust with flour, dip in the beaten egg and then the panko, stick a small piece of spaghetti into the potato for the stalk and refrigerate for another 30 mins.
Drizzle with olive oil and bake in a pre-heated 375 oven until golden( about 25 mins.)



Creamy Parmesan sauce:

Cook the cream and the, 3 cloves of chopped garlic until reduced down just a little and then add the Parmesan and cook until creamy about 10 mins. Spoon over the baked pear shaped potatoes.



Pickled beets

• 1 jar organic small dice beets/ or you can roast 2 in the oven
  
• chopped green chili
• 2 chopped shallots
• 1 T balsamic
• 3 T rice vinegar

Prepare the beets by draining all the red liquid and add to the chopped shallots and the green chili. Add the vinegars and a little kosher salt and set aside.


I never make all these dishes on one day. One dish per day!


Please enjoy!
Nazarina A.

Chicago Sun-Times

South Florida vacation

I trust that all my blogger friends had a joyous Holiday season and a very grand new year! I am back and ready to dazzle you( or not ha! ha!) with my culinary creations but first I share with you, my vacation in South Florida!

South Florida could very well be a playground for sun seekers, especially if one wants to escape the snow and the cold, even for just a little while. Unwinding and having fun comes to mind and is this not ultimately the premise of a vacation?

While this destination boasts the sun, surf and clubbing in South Beach ( mind you activities of which we did and enjoyed), it was actually an exhilarating helicopter ride that was the highlight of our vacation this time! At times it was pretty unnerving, flying over tall buildings because the airflow can become turbulent and cause the helicopter to "sway "from side to side. This did make me a little giddy! The view from the helicopter into the blue ocean was spectacular and I swore I saw a shark but quickly dismissed the thought for fear of trusting my vivid imagination which can be quite overactive during extreme bouts of fear coupled with pleasure.

Miami to me is the gateway to South America and most of all, Cuba. There is a jamboree of nationalities that screams warmth and good times and they have this profound naivete' ( I mean no disrespect!) that South Florida is the best place to live. I, on the other hand, love the mountains, skiing and the four seasons.




En route to the Florida Keys















Flying over West Palm Beach












Even though, I had fun with my family and friends in South Florida, I missed my home in Colorado. Some would exclaim that I am the one being delusional, preferring an icy Tundra above a tropical paradise. Why shovel and scrape snow when you could bask in the lap of the sun and the surf! I say, "home is where you hang your hat" and Colorado surely for me is where I lay my head!!!

This is the sun room in the front part of my home







Scraping the snow from our truck, comes with the territory!


You decide! Where would you rather live in Colorado or in Florida?

Nazarina A