Cake Topper {DIY}

Make your own Cake Topper with Ribbon and Bakers twine.  If you put this on a plain cake it just rounds if off nicely... no need for fancy icing techniques!

What you need:
40 - 60 cm Ribbon {25mm}
40 cm Bakers Twine
Stop fray glue
Sewing machine {or fabric glue}
2 x Skewer sticks

Cut 5 to 8 pieces of 8 cm ribbon.

Fold it in half and pin together over the twine.

Using the sewing machine sew the pieces of ribbon on.  Don't however sew over the twine, so that you can move it around as you please.

{If you don't have a sewing machine glue the ribbon over the twine}

Cut a triangle out of the bottom of the ribbon {both ends} with a sharp scissors, and make sure all the triangles you cut out is the same size.

Using the stop fray glue, put a drop on and spread it over the whole edge of the ribbon {this will keep it neat}

Tie the ends of the twine to the skewer sticks and voila you have your have topper.

For party and craft supplies visit my online shop

Olive Oil {FYI}

I have done a bit of research and thought I would like to share some of it with you. Great sites www.oliveoiltimes.com and www.saolive.co.za with loads of information on, but I just made a summary for you, so if you need more information have a look there. 

www.saolive.co.za

There are many different kinds of olive varieties from which oil can be produced, and each brings a unique flavour and quality to the oil.  Some olive oils are made from blending different varieties together and others are only one variety {mono-varietals or mono-cultivar}.  The variety of the olive as well as the maturity of the fruit, contributes mostly to the flavour of the oil.  

There are more than 200 different cultivars found around the world, and there are at least 20 different cultivars grown in South-Africa.  The more well-known types of olives used to make Extra Virgin Olive Oil in South-Africa are:

Leccino - produces an oil with soft, subtle herbaceous flavours

Frantoio - a typical Tuscan varietal, with strong green overtones

Coratina - can produce a rather bitter oil

Favolosa - specifically selected for oil production and produces an intense fruity oil

Mission - more suited to table olive production, this olive produces a delicate oil which is best consumed within 6 - 9 months

Kalmata - a table olive cultivar which makes a very delicate oil

Ascolano - rather uncommon, but produces oil with a very fruity aroma

In South-Africa olive harvest takes place between March and June/July every year and by August/September the fresh oils are available.  

‘Virgin’ 

When the oil is described as ‘virgin’ it is the oil that have been obtained from the original fruit without any synthetic treatment.  Once the olives have been picked, pressed and washed, no other processes has taken place other than decantation, and centrifugation {to extract the oil} and filtration

‘Extra Virgin’

This is the best quality, and most flavorful olive oil classification. It is produced entirely by mechanical means without the use of any solvent and under temperatures less than 30°C that will not degrade the oil.    

Since extra Virgin oil is simplu pressed fruit juice without additives, the factores influencing the quality and taste encompass the countless decisions, ethics and skills of the producer and the terroir itself.  

Extra Virgin Olive Oils can be divided into three styles and the best flavour is obtained when using the most appropriate style of oil with a particular food.  

Intensely fruity {more intensely flavoured foods} - Grilling meat, sauteing garlis and onions, on toast with ricotta, swirled into hot soup and for ice cream.

Medium intensity - For baking fresh tuna, with chicken, on subtle salads and in baking.

Very delicate {delicate desert} - Mayonaisse, in deserts and over fresh fruit. 

Chemical terms if we want to get technical.

Extra Virgin oil

Free acidity {expressed as oleic acid} <0.8g/100g

Peroxide <20milliequivalent O2

Virgin oil 

Free acidity {expressed as oleic acid} <2g/100g

Median organoleptic defect value = 2.5 or less

Ordinary Virgin oil

Free acidity {expressed as oleic acid} <3.3g/100g

Median organoleptic defect value = 2.5 or less than 6.0

Olive oil {Blend of both Virgin and Refined olive oil}

Free acidity {expressed as oleic acid} <1g/100g

Refined Olive oil {This is obtained from Virgin Olive oils by refining methods which do not lead to alterations in the initial glyceridic structure}

Free acidity {expressed as oleic acid} <0.3g/100g

Olive Pomace oil {Comprising the blend of refined olive pomance oil and virgin olive oils fit for consumption as the are, in no case can it be called olive oil} Not recommended to use

Free acidity {expressed as oleic acid} <1g/100g

Tasting Olive Oil

The aromas of olive oil are a critical part of its flavor.  You may notice the smell of...

• Freshly-cut grass
• Cinnamon
• Tropical fruits
• Aromas of ripe or green olive fruits

Purgency is a peppery sensation, detected in the throat, and a positive characteristc of olive oil.  It is a chemical irritation, like the hotness of chillies and equally appealing once you get used to it.  Pungency can be very mild {just the tiniest tingle} or it can be intense enough to make you cough.

Bitterness like pungency, is also an acquired taste.  As anyone who has ever tasted an olive right off the tree can attest {and I have tasted that... mmm not that pleasant} bitter is a prominent taste in fresh olives.  Since olive oil is made from uncured olives, varying degrees of bitterness can be found {oil made from riper fruit will have little or no bitterness, and oil made from greener fruit can be distinctly bitter} 

Fruitiness you may notice in the mouth include nutty, buttery and other ripe flavors, and a fuller spectrum of green fruity notes.  

The traditional palate cleanser between olive oils, is water, plain or sparkling, and slices of Granny Smith apple.

To store your olive oil

Unlike wine, olive oil does not mature with age - it should be consumed as fresh as possible to derive most advantage from the culinary as well as health benefits.  

When with olive oil is exposed to heat, light and air the valuable nutrients in the oil begin to oxidize and it will begin to lose its fruit flavors.  When buying extra virgin olive oil, look for those packaged in opaque or tinted glass.  

Do not store olive oil in plastic containers, as the coil can leach harmful substabces out of the plastic.

Store your olive oil in a kitchen cabinet or another cool, dark location.  Keep small container of olive oil within easy reach, and the rest of your supply tucked away to avoid repeated exposure to air.  Make sure the lids of your containers fit tightly and never store olive oils next to the stove, where it will invariably be exposed to heat.  

Olive oil should be consumed within two years of pressing.  Any longer, and the flavors deteriorate and the nutrients degrade.  Every month that olive oil ages, the acidity levels increase, a result of oxidation.  Extra-virgin olive oils have the potential to last longer than other grades because the have a lower acidity.  Check the date of pressing if there is one.  

Crochet Flower Tutorial

What you need:

Wool yarn

Crochet hook

Scissors

Sewing needle for wool 

STEP 1:  To start off you need to make a slip knot:

1.1. About 15 cm from the end of the wool, make a loop by wrapping the wool around the fingers crossing it over.

1.2. Insert the crochet needle under the yarn, and grab the back piece of yarn and pull it through, under the front part of wool. 

1.3. Pull down on both ends of the yarn. The knot will slide up and tighten around the hook.

Step 2:  The next step is to make foundation chain:

2.1. Take the yarn and wrap it around the hook so that it is caught in the slot.  

2.2. Then draw the yarn through the loop that is on the hook.  

2.3. Repeat 6 times {six stitches}

2.3. Repeat 6 times {six stitches} to look like the photo below.

Step 3:  We now need to form a circle out of the 6 chain stitch

3.1. Insert the hook in the first loop of the chain.

3.2. Take yarn round the hook and pull through both loops.

3.3. You will then end with a little circle, this is the base of your flower.

Step 4:  Now we need to start with the petals, just so you get an idea of what you are going to do.   Each petal is made up of 4 parts "chain up" and a "chain down", an attachment in the middle and an attachment at the end. 

Step 4.1.  We'll start with the "chain up" as in Step 2 make a chain of 3 stitches {so that you end with something that looks like the photo below} this is the first step done

Step 4.2.  For the attachment in the middle.  

Take the yarn round the hook.

Then insert the hook in the middle of the base circle of the flower.

Catch the yarn on the other side, and draw through the base circle to end with 3 loops on the hook.

Take the yarn around the hook, and draw through two loops. 

Take the yarn around the hook and draw through the last through loops.

There you are done with the attachment in the middle.  

Step 4.3.  "Chain down", same as the "chain up" you need to do 3 chain stitches

Step 4.4.  Lastly the attachment at the end.  

Insert the hook in the base circle, catch the yarn on the other side and pull through the circle.  Take the yarn around the hook and pull through the loop. 

Well done, now you are done with the first petal.  You need to do 5 more petals {ending with 6 in total}.  

Step 5: When done with all six petals cut the yarn about 10cm from the flower.  Pull through the last loop.

Using the needle thread the ends through the centre loops, and cut off.

Ending with a beautiful little crochet flower.

Honey and Mustard dressing {Creamy}

A creamy dressing perfect for a chicken salad.

What you need:
5 Tbs Mayonnaise
5 Tbs low fat Bulgarian Yoghurt
2 tps honey
2 tps whole grain mustard
Salt to taste

Mix all ingredients.  Put in fridge for about 30 min before serving.
{Best made before you start with the salad}

Curried Chicken salad

It is a gorgeous winters day in Cape Town today, it almost feels like spring is here.  

I've been craving salads for a while {yes, I do crave salads} so with this lovely weather I took the chance to make my chicken salad with apple's and walnuts. 

A great summer salad and perfect lunch time meal with homemade bread.

What you need: {for 4 people}

4 Chicken breasts

2 Granny Smith apples

100g Walnuts

3 tsp Mild curry

1 tsp Tumeric

half tsp Salt

Bag of mixed leaves to fill base of serving platter {rocket; watercress; baby spinach}

Rub the chicken breasts with the Mild curry powder.  Add the tumeric, left over curry and salt to about 750ml boiling water  in a sauce pan and bring to boil, and add the chicken {chicken should be covered with the water}.  Allow to simmer until chicken breasts are cooked.

Remove from the water and allow to drain while roasting the walnuts in a dry pan {if your walnuts are not yet roasted, if they are don't roast again} 

Half the apples and slice each half in thin slices {Removing the pips and the hard part in the middle}

Pull the Chicken apart with a fork.

Cover serving platter with mixed leaves.  Then add apples, chicken and nuts.

Serve immediately.  

{A creamy honey and mustard dressing is lovely with this salad. }