Archive for the ‘Tasty Tuesdays’ Category

{Product shoot – WOODNEWZ}

Posted in Products, Tasty Tuesdays on April 11, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

I did a product shoot for WOODNEWZ who just happen to make the most magnificent boards you’ve ever seen! You want to take each and every one home! Each one is prettier than the next! Who would have thought wooden boards would be so exciting, but my oh my they are spectacular!

There is a link to their website on the right side bar —->

It has taken me ages to get this shoot up, been absolute mayhem on this side between going up to JHB to do some shoots and then coming back to a full schedule of shoot and editing load the size of a baby elephant! But work is getting done and blog posts are coming along… keep in touch and enjoy!

woodnewz

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{ Tasty Tuesdays – Puff Pastry Pizza – OH MY! }

Posted in Tasty Tuesdays, tagged , , on February 5, 2013 | 1 Comment »

I’m BACK in the kitchen! Goodness I’ve missed blogging about recipes!

So here’s whats happening, on Wednesday evening I’m having some girlfriends over for ladies night (Darren is going to be away and so we decided to move our meet up to my place) . We’re doing a evening of “responsible amounts of vino” + popcorn(there’s no occasion that popcorn doesn’t qualify as an acceptable and yummy snack) + 30 Seconds board game (yes you know that game that makes smart girls look like ditsy fools) and last but not least……. wait for it…. PUFF PASTRY PIZZA!

Puff Pastry is one of the most delicious staples to have in your freezer… the options are endless… you can make cheesy puffs for starters, pizza’s for dinner and chocolate + fresh strawberries covered puff pastry pies for an after dinner treat… so no matter which meal you have made a flopsy on or have forgotten to cater for, Puff Pastry always comes to the rescue!

I’ve made these pizza’s before and have perfected my own recipe but as far as pictures go —I was looking at some yummy-licious recipes online and came across some of these delightfully mouth watering pictures (see below) ! When I have made mine on Wednesday I will happily share the photo with everyone ;-)

Puff Pastry Blog 1

Puff Pastry Blog 2

Tae’s Puff Pastry Pizza

Serves 2 fearless eaters  or alternatively 4 snackers.

{ingredients}

1 sheet store-bought puff pastry, thawed
1/4 teaspoon of italian seasoning (or more to taste)
1/4 cup of tomato pesto or 3 Table spoons tomato paste.
1 cup of grated cheese (the type and maturity depends on what you enjoy)
Toppings of your choice – I love using yellow peppers + sliced cherry tomatoes  + Tussers cheese(or camembert) + mushrooms + rocket + caramalised onions + roasted pine nuts and a dash of Balsamic vinegar. Don’t forget a drizzle of olive oil…. yum!

{directions}

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

Take the thawed puff pastry sheet + roll it out (gently) to a rectangle or oblong shape about 30cm x 40cm.  Using a knife, score a border around the edge about 2cm wide. Using a fork, prick the entire puff pastry except for the outside edge. This outside edge will be the crust and will puff up and be super crunchy!

Bake for about 15 minutes, until the puff pastry is golden brown + slightly puffed. Remove the baked pastry from the oven.

Top the puff pastry with the tomato pesto or 3 Table spoons tomato paste, 1/4 teaspoon of italian seasoning (or more to taste), cheese + any other toppings you choose.

Put the pizza back in the oven + bake for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. If you like your cheese slightly browned (like i do), turn up the oven for about 3 minutes, or until your cheese is perfectly browned. Slice it up + serve!

I’m hoping the girls will love my puff pastry pizza as much as I do! Get creative with the toppings… you’ll surprise yourself!

Have a Tasty Tuesday everyone!

Love Tae

xoxo

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{Tasty Tuesdays – Hosting the perfect Tea Party}

Posted in Tasty Tuesdays on November 6, 2012 | 6 Comments »

Tea Parties are becoming more and more popular and it has been proven that some light conversation over a cup of tea can be rather therapeutic.

What Do I Need to Host a Tea Party?

  • First and foremost, you need company/friends/colleagues/neighbours/people. Keep in mind that the tea ritual was designed to be a cozy and intimate gathering so limit your guest list to maximum of eight of your favourite people.
  • Send invitations two weeks ahead of time. Written invitations are always elegant and you’ll look like a miss fancy pants, but telephone or email summons will do just as well. Remember to remind your guests closer to the time because people live busy lives and can very often forget about the fun stuff!
  • Gather the following: a teapot, teacups and saucers (they do not need to match), a tea strainer and small dish to deposit the tea leaves, a pitcher of milk, lemon slices, jam, sugar and artificial sweetener, small plates, utensils, and napkins.

  • On the day of the tea, bring refreshments in on trays or a cart and set the table so that guests may serve themselves. The hostess should always pour the tea and pass it to each guest.

     

    What Kind of Tea Shall It Be?

  • Cream tea, or light tea, is a simple offering of scones, jam, and whipped cream. It is ideal for girl talk on a rainy afternoon with your closest friends. And it’s informal enough to serve right in the kitchen!
  • Afternoon tea, or low tea, is traditionally served between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The menu consists of light sandwiches, scones, assorted pastries, and a layer cake or trifle. Hold this elegant tea in a comfortable setting such as a living room or den. In warm weather, move the party to a garden or deck.
  • High tea is a hearty sit-down meal traditionally served after 6:00 p.m. Originated by the English working classes during the Industrial Revolution, high tea consists of robust meat dishes, bread and cheese, and a dessert of cake or pie.

     

    What to Serve, What to Serve?

    Visit your local library, bookstore, or the Internet, and you will find a plethora of tea sandwich, scone, and pastry recipes. But start with these, and you will be well on your way to a memorable tea:

  • Cranberry Scones 

    2 cups all-purpose flour
    ¼ cup sugar
    1 tablespoon baking powder
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    1/3 cup butter, diced
    1 cup whipping cream
    ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    1 egg white
    1 teaspoon orange zest
    1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped

    Preheat oven to 180 degrees. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add butter until mixture is course and crumbly. Add whipping cream and stir until mixture is moist. Mix in cranberries, nutmeg, and orange zest.

    Place on a lightly floured surface and knead 6 or 7 times. Roll until ½ inch thick. Cut with a biscuit cutter and place each scone 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.
    Brush tops of scones with egg white and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
    12 servings.

    How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea

    Fill your kettle with freshly drawn cold water.

    Preheat your teapot with nearly boiling water and discard through the spout. If you skip this step, the water temperature will drop on contact with the cold pot, and the tea will not brew properly.
    Add 1 teabag for every 2 cups of tea. Add one extra if you like it strong.

    Pour on water as it boils. Water that is over-boiled or not hot enough will result in flat-tasting tea. Place the lid on the pot and cover with a tea cozy or pot holder in order to retain heat.

    Brew for 3-5 minutes.

    Remove the leaves/bags to prevent further steeping.

    Stir and serve immediately. Cover any remaining tea to keep it hot. 

    ENJOY YOUR TEA PARTY!

    love tae

    xox

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{Tasty Tuesdays – Yummy healthy summer snack }

Posted in Tasty Tuesdays, tagged , , , , on October 16, 2012 | 1 Comment »

I was browsing around on Pinterest and came across this yummy looking snack for summer!

Dip strawberries in plain Greek yogurt & freeze over night. I noticed a few people had commented that theirs didn’t come out as pretty as the picture because they didn’t use round moulds BUT they mentioned that they DID taste as delicious as they thought it would be! I will be trying these out soon and testing them out on my friends and family! I think I will use an ice-tray and make frozen yogurt and strawberry cubes…. This would be really scrumptious added to a normal fruit salad to add “that something special”… or even added to muesli and nuts! YUM!

Try it out and let me know how it works out!

Have a Tasty Tuesday everyone!

xox

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{Tasty Tuesdays – Crispy roasted Chickpeas}

Posted in Tasty Tuesdays, tagged , , , , , on July 17, 2012 | 7 Comments »

Yes you want to try this! Its healthy and delicious and your friends will think you are the BEES KNEES after snacking away on these at a dinner party, braai, or girls book club!

This photo is taken from the batch I made this morning…

 

I highly recommend doubling a batch of Roasted Chickpeas, the bowl will be empty in 5 minutes! This is a one of the simplest snack recipes – four ingredients and it starts with a can of chickpeas pulled from your pantry. You can use any spice blend – I’m really enjoying salt and paprika, but don’t limit yourself there! At the end of the post, I have a list of spice/herb combos that you can try. I saw this recipe and thought of my mom who LOVES chickpeas… I bet you she’ll be making these tonight!

Ingredients:

One can of chickpeas
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt
Spice blend of your choice

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees.
  2. Drain the can of chickpeas in a strainer and rinse with water for about a minutes to clean off the beans. Shake and tap the strainer to rid of excess water. Lay paper towl on a baking sheet, and spread the beans over.Use another paper towel to gently press and absorb the water on the beans.
  3. Roll the beans around with the paper towel to also remove the thin skin from any of the beans. Discard the skins and the paper towels. You can keep the skins on, its’ll just take longer to roast
  4. Drizzle the olive oil over the beans and use your hands or a spatula to toss around and coat. Roast for 40-50 minutes until the beans are a deep golden brown and crunchy. Make sure that the beans do not burn by check on them every 10min and giving the oven tray a good old shake-a-roo!
  5. Season with salt and spice blend.
  6. If the chickpeas are still soft inside leave them in for longer… maybe you’ll like them like that, but I LOVE THEM CRUNCHY !!!

Spice combos to try:

  • garlic powder
  • chilli powder
  • curry powder
  • cumin
  • corriander
  • moroccan spices

Serve it up in popcorn bowls as a healthy snack for guests or simply to much on in front of the telly while you watch the 8pm movie on sunday night! I’m going to even add them to my next salad for that extra crunch factor… You will love it!

Enjoy! OH! and make sure that they have cooled down before you store them… you don’t want the heat to cause condensation in your jar/container, making the chickpeas soft and soggy…

xoxo love Tae!

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{Tasty Tuesdays – Donut holes to die for }

Posted in Tasty Tuesdays, tagged , on July 10, 2012 | 2 Comments »

So often I find myself in the mood to bake or snack on something sweet and freshly homemade and I am so happy to have come across this delightful little recipe! Who doesn’t loves donuts?! And what could be more snack-a-roonie than bite-sized, sugar-frosted, melt-in-your-mouth, fresh, spongy donut holes!

(above images found on stumble.com)

FUN FACT- by LAW in Nebraska, donut holes may not be sold! {haha true story!}

Ingredients

  • 1 + 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1  egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup sugar (for the topping) (optional)
  • 3 tbsp cinnamon (for the topping) (optional) {I have bizarre and unpleasant allergic reactions to cinnamon so I avoid it- but its a delicious topping!}
  • 1/2 cup castor/fine grain sugar (for the topping) (optional)

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. Add in milk, egg, and melted butter, and mix until well combined.
  2. Fill a large skillet or medium pot with vegetable oil, about 5cm deep. Heat oil on “high”. Make sure it stays around the same temperature each time you fry the dough.
  3. Place cinnamon-sugar (mixed together) and confectioners sugar toppings in two separate small bowls. Set out several stacked paper towels next to the stove for drying the doughnut holes, along with a cooling rack with parchment paper underneath.
  4. When oil is ready, place about 5-6 teaspoonfuls of dough at a time in the oil and fry on each side for about 1 minute (2 minutes total). Remove from the oil and place on paper towel to soak up excess oil. Then, using a fork, roll doughnut in either the confectioners sugar or cinnamon-sugar mixture. Then place on cooling rack to cool slightly before serving warm.

I got this lovely recipe from an old newspaper clipping that I found in my recipe book cupboard… It helps to keep things that catch your eye… you never know when you will want to try it out .

Some other yummy optional toppings I thought of adding are things like:

  • coconut
  • cocoa powder
  • coffee / hot chocolate powder
  • dipped in melted chocolate
  • berry flavoured sherbet

Or even injecting them with cream or jam… or both (yum!)

I hope you enjoy! Give it a bash!

xoxo

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Tasty Tuesdays {yummy orange delights}

Posted in Tasty Tuesdays on July 3, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Okay so I’ve been horribly ill for a while now and finally feeling human again! yay for me! And i thought I’d share a really yummy way to get some vitamin C back into your body :-) This winter has brought a nasty flu with it and we all need to boost our immune systems!

Ingredients

  • Four lovely fresh oranges
  • two table spoons of sugar
  • half a teaspoon of salt

Mix the salt and sugar together

Cut up each oranges into 8 pieces and put into a bowl

Pour the sugar/salt mixture over the orange pieces and mix well until all the juice from the oranges soak up the salty sugar and dissolve it.

Refrigerate for 30 min and serve with a lovely fresh glass of minty lemon water.

Enjoy! It’s delicious and fresh!

xox

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Tasty Tuesdays- { Watermelon Lemonade }

Posted in Tasty Tuesdays, Uncategorized on June 26, 2012 | 1 Comment »

I love making all sorts of homemade iced teas and fresh flavoured waters… I found this one on the net and am soooooo excited to try it out in December when I go visit my folks up in Richards Bay… (they always get massive watermelons and leave them floating in the pool until we slice them up and munch away on the patio having pip-shooting competitions— just a cool childhood memory I thought I’d share)

(photograph used from google – photographer was not mentioned)

A perfectly refreshing drink with watermelon, citrus, and the optional shot of vodka or tequila.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water, divided
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (10-12 limes)
  • 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 4 cups ice cubes
  • 2 cups diced watermelon
  • Mixed fruit of your choice, or use more watermelon
  • 1 orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 lime, sliced into rounds
  • 1 lemon sliced into rounds
  • 1/2 cup (or more) vodka or tequila (optional)
  • handful of fresh mint leaves

Instructions

  1. Combine 2 cups water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high and heat until sugar is dissolved and clear. This is now your simple syrup.
  2. Let simple syrup cool or put in an ice bath/fridge/freezer to expedite cooling to use right away.
  3. Add watermelon, lemon juice, lime juice, and 2 cups water in a large pitcher
  4. Add the ice cubes, diced watermelon, remaining fruit, and alcohol, if using.
  5. Add simple syrup to taste (and additional water if too tart). Stir well and chill until icy cold.
  6. Store any leftover simple syrup in a jar in the fridge.
  7. Add chopped up mint leave for an extra kick of freshness.

Notes

Makes: 12 servings

Adapted from The Pastry Queen

Estimated time to make : 20 minutes

Please Enjoy!

xoxo

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Tasty Tuesdays- Flapjacks

Posted in Tasty Tuesdays, tagged , on June 19, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Ingredients:

500ml flour
2 eggs
5 tbsp sugar
1 ½ tbsp butter, melted
4 tsp baking powder
1/3 tsp salt
250ml milk

Method:
  1. Beat the eggs and gradually add the sugar.
  2. Add half of the milk and the melted butter to the egg mixture.
  3. Stir well.
  4. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt and add to the egg mixture.
  5. Gradually stir in the remaining milk to form a smooth mixture.
  6. If all ingredients are well mixed then don’t stir anymore.
  7. Drop spoonfuls of dough into a greased heavy bottom frying pan or into a “griddle”.
  8. Turn once the top is full of air bubbles (bottom should be golden brown) and bake on the other side.
  9. Serve with butter and syrup, honey or jam.

Enjoy!

xox

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