Thank you Pick 'n Pay and the Freshly Blogged team!

The past weekend I have spent pondering where I am going with all the hipe of the online freshly blogged challenge. I did realise that my personal life has definately suffered due to this addition to my already "full" life. I will not go into detail of what my day consists of, as most of the "fairer sex" know how to multi-task. My wonderful aunt ("sister and mentor")helped me put my life back into perspective yesterday..... My business, family and my own personal health and well-being definately do come first... I started this blog soon after the passing of my late mother. We did not spend a day apart....so on her passing, a huge void was left in my life, hence the food for my soul and sharing of her mouth-watering recipes .... Whilst I feel so flattered about being chosen as one of the top foodie bloggers in South Africa, I merely cannot give the project my all without compensating my "day-job"! Pick 'n Pay, I want to take this opportunity of paying homage to you for believing in me and more especially, Vanessa, from the Freshly blogged team who took so much time to phone me and try and convince me that I am special,unique and definately still wanted as a competitor!! Your spekboom will always remind me of this honour. This acolade will be one for my memory bank! I am truly humbled that my little blog was recognised. Shel xx

Beef Suet Pudding ~ http://freshlyblogged.co.za/recipe/beef-suet-pudding-2/">

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME HERE!!

 

 

 

 

 

Beef suet pudding

By Michelle Terblanche (Just me Shel)

Inspiration behind this recipe: More winterlicious comfort in a pretty cup! Winter is a time of no sea or sun, so the kitchen should be the 'hot spot' of the home. What better than stepping into your home, smelling the aromas of this steamed beef pudding bubbling away on the stove and opening the little parcels to reveal the special little puddings! Slow food ... comfort food. This dish promises to take the chill out of the cold season.

Ingredients

For the suet pastry

250g plain flour
Pinch of salt
125g beef suet
125ml milk

For the beef filling

1 punnet PnP soup pack (carrot, leek, celery, tomato, potato, turnip), diced carrot, celery and potato
1 onion, diced
1 PnP star anise
1 tbsp PnP White Wine Vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
500g beef shin
1 Knorr Beef Stock Pot
250ml water
1 tin Indian-style diced tomatoes (175g)
2 sprigs fresh thyme
Salt and pepper to taste

Suet pastry

Sift flour and salt into a bowl. Rub in the finely minced suet. Add cold milk to dry ingredients.
Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Beef shin filling

In a heavy-bottomed pan, brown diced onion, carrot and celery in olive oil.
Add star anise, vinegar and sugar.
Add beef shin that has been dusted with flour and seasoned. Brown for 3 minutes then turn over to brown the other side for a further 3 minutes.
Add beef stock pot and water.
Add tinned diced tomatoes and diced potato.
Adjust seasoning.
Simmer for 90 minutes until beef is tender and can be cut into cubes.
Let mixture cool and spoon into cups lined with the suet pastry.
Brush the edges with egg wash.
Top with a round of suet pastry.
Cover with foil that has been folded in the centre to allow for expansion.
Secure the foil to the cups with string.
Put the cups in a heavy-based saucepan with water halfway up the cups.
Steam for 70 minutes.
Remove from foil and serve with vegetables of your choice.

Thai Phyllo cups~ look for my recipe here..www.freshlyblogged.co.za

 

 

 

Thai Phyllo Cups with a dash of ‘sweet and sour sauce’~

My inspiration for the dish.

Nothing beats having an impromptu get together around a roaring fire this time of the year and these could be prepared in advance and frozen before the baking stage.  When needed they can be popped in the oven and baked.

These tasty morsels explode with flavor and crispness when one takes that first bite.

Fresh flavours with a hint of garlic , coriander and ginger are great for winterlicious comfort!

Thank you Pick ‘n Pay for this opportunity to experiment in my kitchen…..

Shel

Makes +- 30 small ‘cups’

Recipe

2 x 500g packets of Findus Wok Thai vegetables

1 roll (500g) PnP phyllo pastry

2 tablespoons PnP crushed garlic, ginger and dhania paste

PnP beef noodles

An orange

A pineapple

1 tablespoon sunflower oil

Juice of ½ an orange

For the sauce~

3½  tablespoon brown sugar

4 tablespoon vinegar

¾ cup of juice of the pineapple

1 tsp of orange zest

1 tablespoon of flour mixed with 4 tablespoons water

Add extra water if it’s too thick!

Adjust  the flavor  for salt, vinegar or sugar to suit your taste

 

Method~

Heat wok with 1 tablespoon sunflower oil.

Add the dhania, garlic and ginger paste

Add the Findus Frozen vegetables and flash fry for 4 minutes making sure vegetables remain crisp

Add the juice of the orange and ½ cup of chopped pineapple.

Cook the beef noodles according to instructions on packet and add these to the wok and incorporate.

Cut the sheets of the phyllo pastry into roughly 8cm x 8cm squares.

Brush the bottom layer of pastry with melted butter and line muffin tin pans with 4 phyllo squares.

Add the vegetables and close the cups. Brush the tops with a little melted butter.

Bake at 180deg C for 15 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

.

For the sauce~

Bring the pineapple juice, vinegar and brown sugar to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add a few pieces of the left over pineapple and add the flour mixture, stirring to thicken quickly. Adjust the seasoning, adding salt, more sugar or vinegar to suit your taste.

Use the sauce to dip the phyllo cups in.

 

Enjoy but please vote here by logging into here    (www.freshlyblogged.co.za)  with your email address and look for my profile and recipe under the column "competitors".....in the right hand side bar you can click on my recipe and then click "vote".

Thank you for your time....

Shel xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Jarryd

Today marks the end of an era...
we no longer have a teenager ... he is 20 today!

Happy Birthday Jarryd, you have been a blessing in our lives!!

Our free spirit!

On another note, today I'm up for a challenge....I'm about to get an email today from Pick "n Pay and the "Freshly blogged " team giving me a list of ingredients to create a personal dish....
whilst nervous and not wanting to attract any attention to myself, I am looking forward to it and as soon as it is uploaded to their blog I would need the public to vote for me!!!!! Please, please be so kind as to do so for me!
Whilst we are going to be celebrating with Jarryd tonight, I will be racking my brains to come up with an  unique recipe!! Phew I wonder if I'm up to this...
there are some awesome bloggers around South Africa, so let the fun begin!!

Shel!

Blueberry Crumpets

Somehow I have a spring in my step despite the cold....and enjoying fussing about in my kitchen!
My little visitor is in Cape Town at the moment but this morning I thought so of him.....
So Dan♥ these are for you........made with much love from your (favourite) aunt!

Blueberry Crumpets.....

Recipe♥

2 cups plain flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
4 teaspoons melted butter
250ml milk
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Sift flour , b/p and salt into a bowl.
Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl, add milk and melted butter.
Fold the dry ingredients into this mixture and mix until a smooth batter is formed. (Don't overmix)
Bake on a hot griddle....and drop a few blueberries onto each flapjack before turning.
Turn and griddle on the other side.
Serve with honey, jam and cream.

So Dan...as soon as you get back...I will enjoy making these again for you and your
 Thomas Edison ♥!!!

 Oh happy day ♥
Shel

A good weekend~

Another stunning weekend at home~
I love to potter....good for the soul

A great hot toddie ......I found it on the Expresso morning show.....

Recipe for Rooibos Tea and Ginger hot toddie

for 2 cups~
2 Rooibos tea sachets
500ml boiling water
2 tsps of fresh ginger
A squueze of fresh lemon
honey to taste

good for the whole body to detox!

 I've started trying my hand at some water colours...I'm sure most children could do better than me...but I plan to perfect the art!! Just a wonderful way to destress! And my garden is the perfect place for now.....oh boy...do I have admiration for those of you that have the perfect blogs showing this talent!!

My blog has been recognised by Pick 'n Pay .....I'm proudly South African!
This spekboom plant arrived as a gesture from them.....

I've also had the privilege this past week to be interviewed on line here. Gracious thanks Jeanne....

 

All great little happennings for me ...on this special evening of the appearance of the Super Moon over Solomon.....

 

 

 

 

So I'm leaving you with this collage from my weekend  and hope to try for the next 3 weeks to keep up my posts!

 

 

For some special people.....

Thinking of you all this upcoming week and more especially those that need all the encouragement, love and support I can give! Keep up your strength and faith....


"The most precious jewels you'll ever wear around your neck, are the arms of your children."

Shel !

Pretty moments that made my week!

Even through the middle of winter, we still average warm days....

My garden is still looking pretty...we've just planted rows and rows of bright yellow and white pansies to dapple between the bigger shrubs...

 

 

Good food like this great butternut and blue cheese lasagne fresh from my oven....

A rare "guest cook" in my kitchen....

bright naartjes and my first pansies of the season....

and this sweet soul visits my garden to practise his golf in the net that Eddie has put up for him....bless his heart....

 

Look after yourselves and have an excellent weekend !

 

Shel x