AMANDA’S GARAM MASALA MIX

Recipe posted by Amanda Conradie
Photo:  Elize de Kock
FOOD LOVERS RECIPES
2 tablespoons whole coriander seeds
1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds
4-5 cardamom seeds
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
3-4 whole cloves
2 dried red chile peppers, seeds discarded
2 tablespoons ground turmeric

Combine coriander, cumin, cardamom, peppercorns, fennel, mustard seeds, cloves, and red chile peppers in a small pan over medium-low heat.
Toast until fragrant, about 2 minutes. (It will burn quickly, so keep an eye on it).
Grind the toasted spices in a clean coffee grinder or spice mill to a fine powder.
Spoon in the turmeric, and process to combine.
Can be used immediately. Here, I just add fresh chopped ginger and garlic when cooking.
Of course, if you want it a with more kick – just add a little “mother-in-law” curry powder or even cayenne pepper to your taste.
Can be stored for up to a month (I have stored mine for longer).

ELNA’S ESSENTIAL OIL HANDCREAM
Mix the following ingredients together:
Large 500 g pot aqueous cream
40 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
40 drops Marjoram Essential Oil
20 drops Lavender Essential Oil
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

Keep your essential oils in the fridge to prolong the life thereof. The same goes for the cream. Keep the big jar in the fridge and decant little bits for yourself into another, smaller container.
Recipe: Hilda Steyn
Photo: Rina Kleinhans

WHIPPED COCONUT OIL BODY BUTTER
I love that this coconut oil recipe only requires one (yes, one!) ingredient. Anything else is completely optional. It also only takes a few measly minutes, and you’ll have enough whipped body butter to last at least a month or two. In fact, if you get carried away, put some in an attractive jar and it makes a great gift! It feels sinfully luxurious as a moisturizer, and yet an entire jar of it costs very little to make.What you need:
1 cup Coconut oil
1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil (optional)
a Few drops of your favorite essential oils for fragrance (optional)
What to do:
Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl. Note: Do not melt the coconut oil first. It will only whip up if it’s solid.
Mix on high speed with a wire whisk for 6-7 minutes or until whipped into a light, airy consistency.
Spoon the whipped coconut oil body butter into a glass jar and cover tightly. Store at room temperature, or in the refrigerator if your house is so warm it melts the oil.
Tip: An electric hand mixer will work, but my KitchenAid stand mixer did an amazing job and I was able to get other work done while it was mixing away. A blender or food processor will not work with this coconut oil recipe, because they tend to warm the oil too much and prevent it from whipping up.
Note: Your whipped coconut oil should stay relatively soft, even at colder temperatures. If i’s really cold, it will become a little more solid, but not rock hard like it normally does. I noticed mine beaded into a froth of tiny coconut oil pearls that melt right into my skin. Love it!
Recipe:  Emelia Lans-Brown
Photo: Lelane Van Der Walt

VERF VIR KINDERS

Nog ‘n baie oulike idee en sommer dalk geskenkies ook.
Nooit hoef jy weer verf te koop vir die kinders om mee te speel nie.
1 koppie sout
1 koppie koekmeel
1 koppie koue water
kleursel
Meng alles en plaas in ‘n spuit bottel waarvan die gaatjie net groot genoeg is en voila…. pragtige verf vir die kinders om mee te verf enige tyd en plek en nie eers giftig nie.  

Food Lovers Recipes

Nicolette Fick

How cute is this for an edible & drinkable gift!! Bottle of Cava covered with Ferero Rochers. My daughter’s on a DIY gifting spree this year and this was her Mother’s day gift.

TUISGEMAAKTE KNOFFELGEGEURDE OLIE
Om gegeurde olies te maak wat jy in jou kos kan gebruik is maklik, handig en lyk baie mooi op ‘n kombuisrak as jy dit in ‘n mooi bottel of fles gegooi het. Dis ook ‘n oulike manier om die kruie wat jy in jou tuin kweek te gebruik.
‘n Goeie kombinasie vir ‘n braaivleis bedruipolie is Lourierblare, roosmaryn en knoffel. Daar is verskillende metodes van hoe om knoffel gegeurde olie te maak. Ons deel twee met julle wat so maklik is dat enige iemand dit kan probeer:

Belangrike wenk – Moenie knoffel flokkies gebruik nie. Slegs skoon knoffel huisies moet gebruik word en verkieslik “extra virgin olive oil” of sonneblom olie. (Algemene raklewe – nie langer as 6 maande.)
Metode 1:Plaas die gedroogte kruie van jou keuse in ‘n mooi gesteriliseerde bottel of fles. (Jy kan bv. onder andere roosmaryn, tiemie, oreganum, peperkorrels , gedroogte suurlemoenskil gebruik.) Vul die bottel verder met olyfolie en laat dit staan vir 3-4 weke.
Metode 2:10 groot gedroogte knoffelhuisies (geskil en in die helfte gesny) – Die hoeveelheid wat jy gebruik is geheel en al na smaak.570 ml olyfoliePlaas die knoffel in ‘n warm, gesteriliseerde fles. Verhit die olie tot 180 grade Celsius en gooi dit oor die knoffel in die houer. Seel en laat dit staan vir 1 – 2 weke. (Raklewe: Heelwat langer as bogenoemde metode.)
N.S. Onthou: Moet nooit knoffel in olie berg of inmaak vir LANGER as 3 weke nie dit raak TOKSIES al seg wie wat!…bron – ons dorp kospraatjies

APPELKOOS FUDGE MENGSEL
1 pakkie beskuitjies, gekrummel
½ koppie fyngesnyde appelkose
Plaas die bestanddele in ‘n mooi flessie en gee dit as geskenk.
Voeg ‘n kaartjie by wat lees:
Voeg ½ blikkie kondensmelk en 125 g botter by die inhoud en meng goed deur. Druk die deeg in ‘n pannetjie, sny in blokkies en geniet.
Dis heerlik, het so iets gekry vir kersfees. Ons het dit in ‘n flessie gekry, gemerk “In case of Emergency”.
Ek reken mens kan enige vrugte byvoeg, selfs bietjie neute. Eksperimenteer.
Ek weet dit werk maklik en is heerlik. Die deeg pas perfek in ‘n fudge pannetjie.

Idee: Anita Fletcher

CHRISTMAS SCENT
Nie iets om te eet nie, maar iets om jou huis heerlik te laat ruik en dit is alles “natural” Ek het dit as ‘n geskenk gekry die jaar vir Kersfees by ‘n vriendin wat saam met my werk, en ek moet bieg, dalk nog die beste geskenk ooit vir my…ek hou van die tipe van goed!
1 lemon
1 orange
6 bay leaves
½ cup whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
8 cups of water

Cut lemon and orange into quarters, combine fruit, spices and water ina large saucepan, Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer as long as desired (add more water if desired). Any leftover mixture can be covered and refrigerated for several days to be reused.
Photo: Elmarie VB

PAPRIKA DRY RUB
A friend gave me the recipe for this delicious dry rub. I love the tongue-tingling punch it gives poultry.
½ cup sugar
⅓ cup salt
⅓ cup garlic salt
⅓ cup packed brown sugar
⅓ cup paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 1 year. Use as a rub for turkey or chicken.
Yield: about 1¾ cups.

Posted: Amanda Conradie
2nd and 3rd photo:  Lacy Grey

PRE MIX FOR CHOCOLATE CAKES
Double the recipe and make up several bags of this mix at a time. —
This is for 1 double layer cake or 2 smaller cakes
3 cups of cake flour
2 cups of sugar
8 tablespoons of cocoa
2 teaspoons of baking soda
2 teaspoons of salt —
Place into plastic bags and keep till needed.

To make the cake mix into cake, add
2 cups of cold water
2 teaspoons of vanilla
2 tablespoons of vinegar
¾ cup of oil
Stir just enough so the wet and dry ingredients are completely mixed… and that’s it!

Bake at 180 ºC vir 45- 60 min.

Recipe posted by Carol Elliott Claassen
Photo:  Odette Coates
I used this recipe to take to a friend who was having a birthday (I was travelling by air – so took this premix in my hand luggage) and finished it off at her house. It was a delicious cake! Thank you xx
Unfortunately the photos aren’t good to share as they include my friend’s children in them – but it was a dense moist choc cake. I agree that it is quite a lot of mix and next time I think I will try and halve it to see how that turns out. Will definitely use it again!