This is turning into a cooking blog. I have to add this recipe because this is the most delicious and easy to make pudding that I know. It's a little bit like sticky toffee pudding or so I am told.
We annually have a pie night with three families and we each take a pie and a pudding so here is a picture of the malva pudding including a pie waiting to go in the oven...in case you were wondering.
Malva Pudding:
2 cups flour
1 & 1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp bicarb of soda
1 tin of fruit cocktail (240g)
3 eggs
Mix the above ingredients together in a bowl and bake at 180 degrees celcius for 45 minutes to 1 hour (I found 45 minutes to be perfect in my oven)
Sauce:
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 jar coffee milk (180ml)
125g margarine OR butter
1 cup sugar
Boil gently. When the cake emerges from oven, prick holes all over and pour sauce over.
Friday 21 July 2017
Tulips in May
We have been to Keukenhof a few times to see the tulip show in previous years. This year we decided to rather drive and just look at tulips from the road. We also visited a Tulip Farm called De Tulperij, which was beautiful and well worth a visit. They have freshly baked stroopwafels and a small tea room, which is very colourful and quaint. It was very happy making.
It all ended with a car picnic of bread and cheese freshly bought from the shop.
It all ended with a car picnic of bread and cheese freshly bought from the shop.
Cooking with Kids - Thai Fried Rice
Cooking with kids is so much fun. Not only are you keeping them busy/happy, but you are teaching them a life skill that you can benefit from in the future.
My two are very enthusiastic about cooking at the moment. I have to help them of course and am the chef assistant who they command to finely chop onion or garlic and I always put heavy dishes in hot ovens or carry hot pots or heavy pots for them.
Firstly, they choose a recipe that they fancy making/eating, they make a list of the ingredients that we need, we check what we have and then make a trip to the grocery store to buy the rest. They love shopping for ingredients for their very own meal.
Tiger was the first to do a meal some time ago ...he chose Thai Fried Rice because he loves thai food and we have a small thai cookbook. It was so delicious. Here is the recipe.
Thai Fried Rice
1 cup basmati rice (recipe used Jasmine rice)
1 red pepper
350g chopped chicken breast
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 Tbsp mild thai curry paste (we used green curry paste) (2 Tbsp is a bit more spicy but tastier)
1/2 tsp paprika powder
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
2 Tbsp Thai fish sauce
2 eggs, beaten
salt and pepper
deep fried basil leaves, to garnish
(Serves 4)
Cook the basmati rice (1/3 rice and 2/3 water) till water is gone and the rice is fluffy.
Deep fry basil leaves in oil until crispy.
Cut the red pepper. Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in a wok and fry the onion and red pepper for 1 minute.
Add the chicken, garlic, curry paste and spices and stir fry for 2-3 minutes or until chicken has lost all pink.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the cooked rice, fish sauce and salt and pepper. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
Make a well in the centre of the rice, add 1 Tbsp of oil and when it is hot, add the eggs. Leave to cook for 2 mins until eggs are lightly set and then stir into rice mixture.
Scatter over the basil leaves and serve straight from the wok.
My two are very enthusiastic about cooking at the moment. I have to help them of course and am the chef assistant who they command to finely chop onion or garlic and I always put heavy dishes in hot ovens or carry hot pots or heavy pots for them.
Firstly, they choose a recipe that they fancy making/eating, they make a list of the ingredients that we need, we check what we have and then make a trip to the grocery store to buy the rest. They love shopping for ingredients for their very own meal.
Tiger was the first to do a meal some time ago ...he chose Thai Fried Rice because he loves thai food and we have a small thai cookbook. It was so delicious. Here is the recipe.
Thai Fried Rice
1 cup basmati rice (recipe used Jasmine rice)
1 red pepper
350g chopped chicken breast
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 Tbsp mild thai curry paste (we used green curry paste) (2 Tbsp is a bit more spicy but tastier)
1/2 tsp paprika powder
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
2 Tbsp Thai fish sauce
2 eggs, beaten
salt and pepper
deep fried basil leaves, to garnish
(Serves 4)
Cook the basmati rice (1/3 rice and 2/3 water) till water is gone and the rice is fluffy.
Deep fry basil leaves in oil until crispy.
Cut the red pepper. Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in a wok and fry the onion and red pepper for 1 minute.
Add the chicken, garlic, curry paste and spices and stir fry for 2-3 minutes or until chicken has lost all pink.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the cooked rice, fish sauce and salt and pepper. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
Make a well in the centre of the rice, add 1 Tbsp of oil and when it is hot, add the eggs. Leave to cook for 2 mins until eggs are lightly set and then stir into rice mixture.
Scatter over the basil leaves and serve straight from the wok.
Buttercream Icing Recipe
What a difference a really good buttercream recipe makes. I used to just mix a bit of butter and milk to icing sugar and it tasted okay, but after following this recipe, I won't go back to winging it. People commented on how good it was the first time I used it/
Buttercream Icing Recipe
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups icing sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla Essence
up to 4 Tb milk
Mix together all ingredients except the milk. Start adding the milk a bit at a time until you have the desired thickness/stiffness you want.
Buttercream Icing Recipe
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups icing sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla Essence
up to 4 Tb milk
Mix together all ingredients except the milk. Start adding the milk a bit at a time until you have the desired thickness/stiffness you want.
Tuesday 30 May 2017
Het Zand in Alphen
We often go for a walk around the lake at Het Zand in Alphen. It is probably about 2km so not too long for kids. What I love the most is the change in the seasons. Here are some photos of a misty freezing walk where the ice was thick on the lake - children had lots of fun throwing stickes and stones on the ice.
In Spring it is beautiful with wild flowers.
Of course in summer it is great for swimming and playing in the sand. If it is a hot day it is completely packed - not ideal in my book. A few weeks ago it was 20 degrees, but the sun was shining and so we went with friends for a cake picnic and swimming - the water was quite fresh and full of tadpoles. A super afternoon was had by all.
In Spring it is beautiful with wild flowers.
Wildflowers were collected...
Some sort of hideous "tea" was made with the flowers
A few tadpoles were collected...
Of course in summer it is great for swimming and playing in the sand. If it is a hot day it is completely packed - not ideal in my book. A few weeks ago it was 20 degrees, but the sun was shining and so we went with friends for a cake picnic and swimming - the water was quite fresh and full of tadpoles. A super afternoon was had by all.
Vanilla Cake for kids parties
Vanilla Cake Recipe
I have used this Vanilla Cake Recipe for YEARS and don't need to ever look for a better recipe...it is fabulous and so easy to make.
Ingredients:
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
2 and 1/2 cups flour
1 cup milk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 and 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla essence
Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Beat the sugar and eggs together until thick and creamy...about two minutes if not longer. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Bake for 30 - 40 mins in two baking tins or in one large tin for longer. Times will change per overn. Just keep checking until your knife comes out clean.
If I use this recipe for cupcakes then I put the tray in for about 22 minutes.
I am not one to make elaborate kids' party cakes...my favourite modus operandi is to get a edible frosted picture and once iced with butter cream icing, I just place the picture on top. Parties have never been easier and the kids are always delighted.
Here are photos of the last batch of cupcakes I did.
I have used this Vanilla Cake Recipe for YEARS and don't need to ever look for a better recipe...it is fabulous and so easy to make.
Ingredients:
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
2 and 1/2 cups flour
1 cup milk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 and 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla essence
Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Beat the sugar and eggs together until thick and creamy...about two minutes if not longer. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Bake for 30 - 40 mins in two baking tins or in one large tin for longer. Times will change per overn. Just keep checking until your knife comes out clean.
If I use this recipe for cupcakes then I put the tray in for about 22 minutes.
I am not one to make elaborate kids' party cakes...my favourite modus operandi is to get a edible frosted picture and once iced with butter cream icing, I just place the picture on top. Parties have never been easier and the kids are always delighted.
Here are photos of the last batch of cupcakes I did.
Friday 5 May 2017
Campfire Bread
Campfire Bread
We normally roast marshmallows if we make a fire, so I thought for a change we could try to cook some bread on the fire. Saw ideas for this on pinterest on the site equiptosurvive.blogspot.com.
I halved the recipe as the recipe said it made 16 breadsticks. I made four breadsticks with half the ingredients...so they must have made 16 really tiny ones. Seeing as though there were 4 of us, half the dough was perfect for us.
This is the recipe for four breadsticks:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
21/2 Tb sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 cup olive oil
3/8 cup warm water
Knead together with your hands and divide into four balls. Each ball gets rolled out into a lond worm like shape and wound around a stick or skewer. Roast over the fire until golden brown. They cooked really well and were sweet so no need to put jam on or anything, but you could if you wanted to.
We normally roast marshmallows if we make a fire, so I thought for a change we could try to cook some bread on the fire. Saw ideas for this on pinterest on the site equiptosurvive.blogspot.com.
I halved the recipe as the recipe said it made 16 breadsticks. I made four breadsticks with half the ingredients...so they must have made 16 really tiny ones. Seeing as though there were 4 of us, half the dough was perfect for us.
This is the recipe for four breadsticks:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
21/2 Tb sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 cup olive oil
3/8 cup warm water
Knead together with your hands and divide into four balls. Each ball gets rolled out into a lond worm like shape and wound around a stick or skewer. Roast over the fire until golden brown. They cooked really well and were sweet so no need to put jam on or anything, but you could if you wanted to.
Old fashioned Pancakes
I think I am mostly using this blog to save excellent recipes and its useful to have one place to find them all. I often make these old fashioned pancakes - more like flapjacks.
Old Fashioned Pancakes
11/2 cups flour
31/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
11/4 cups milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp butter melted
mix together and make pancakes!
Enjoy!
Old Fashioned Pancakes
11/2 cups flour
31/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
11/4 cups milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp butter melted
mix together and make pancakes!
Enjoy!
Thursday 12 January 2017
Freezing walk and simple xmas decorations
We decided to get out the house today eventhough it was around zero degrees (it had been -4 in the night) and we took the kids walking at Huis Ter Heide, de Moer, Tilburg. Wow what a beautiful walk it was, with diverse landscapes. The amazing thing was that the walk was 6,5 km and the kids did it without complaining. Unheard of! The kids were fascinated by the frost - see pictures below.
On the walk, I collected various bits and pieces of moss, pinecones and branches for the making of some simple christmas decorations. We have to keep it simple this year thanks to unemployment. All of it was free and it was the most wonderful morning.
We came back exhausted, cold and starving and fell on large bowls of lasagne (don't you just love leftovers) and hot chocolate.
In the afternoon we made up some simple decorations...all in all a fabulous day.
The smallest found the largest leaf in the world.
On the walk, I collected various bits and pieces of moss, pinecones and branches for the making of some simple christmas decorations. We have to keep it simple this year thanks to unemployment. All of it was free and it was the most wonderful morning.
We came back exhausted, cold and starving and fell on large bowls of lasagne (don't you just love leftovers) and hot chocolate.
In the afternoon we made up some simple decorations...all in all a fabulous day.
The smallest found the largest leaf in the world.
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