Description:
A natural soap for a golfer made from French green clay and olive oil... My first gluten free cupcake wedding story.. Treat your Dad on Father''s day!.. Falooda a.k.a. Bombay Crush ( An exquisite rose-flavored milkshake)..
Contents:
A natural soap for a golfer made from French green clay and olive oil.
This soap is made of olive oil, French green clay( a natural green pigment), shea butter and goats milk. It is a nourishing bar with a refreshingly clean smell. This is a great gift to sneak into a golf bag for your honey that enjoys their golf game. After a long day in the sun, a shower and this bar of soap is all that matters! It weighs 6.5 oz and is $4.50. E-mail if you are interested, go to view my profile for e-mail link.
My first gluten free cupcake wedding story
 http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentine-delight.html See also my wheat flour cupcakes.  Tiramisu http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/03/tiramisu.html Chocolate cake with white chocolate and whipped cream mousse and molded chocolate decorations.  cheesecake This was an intimate little wedding, Cape Malay style that transpired last year in May and these were all the desserts I made for the joyous occasion. I also picked these tulips from my garden and made the bouquet. It was also my very first attempt at baking gluten- free ( adapted from "The gluten-free gourmet" by Bette Hagman and the style of the cupcakes from "Cupcakes" by Pamela Clark. So please go easy on me. I am no pastry chef! The beautiful bride is a vegetarian and also gluten-free . This was quite a challenge indeed but being who I am, went to the book store and purchased these books for help. Now, the bride is never left out of any gathering because I consult the 'The gluten-free gourmet" for all her cakes, pastries and breads etc... Let me tell you! I feel so good when I eat these gluten-free creations myself. One does not have a heavy wheat sinking feeling but rather a very pleasant digestive experience . I would never have even dared to bake gluten-free if it was not for the bride. One is never to 'young' to attempt something new! These creations were so very creamy, moist and enjoyable, nobody missed the wheat! What a beautiful couple( God bless!). Their gentle and good nature is indicative of what every union should be like !
Recipe for the "Wedding Story cupcakes" ( I do not use liquor)
Gluten-free black forest cake:
Please use organic ingredients if you can.
1 can red cherries (17oz) 2 T vanilla ( from Santo Domingo) 6 T unsalted European butter 3/4 c daisy sour cream 2 eggs beaten 1 c rice flour 1/2 c potato starch flour 1 T soy flour 3/4 c organic sugar 2 t g-free baking powder 1/2 t baking soda 1/4 t kosher salt 5 squares dark chocolate
Method:
Preheat oven to 350, line a cupcake pan with cupcake paper liners. Drain cherries and mix with vanilla, let stand in a bowl. Melt butter and add it with the sour cream and eggs to the cherries. Combine the flours, baking powder, soda and salt. Add the cherry mixture to the flour mixture and stir until moistened. Melt the chocolate with just a little milk, cool slightly and stir into cake batter. Scoop batter halfway into the liners and bake 25-30 mins or until you smell the aroma and a skewer comes out dry in the center of cupcake. The black forest type of cake is also very good when all the flavors have 'matured' over night.
I have decorated the cupcakes with organic heavy whipping cream and melted white Lindt chocolate beaten together. The little chocolate hearts were molded in a heart shaped candy mold( Wilton) and the paper bags and bride and groom decorations I purchased from Michaels.
Please e-mail with any questions or any of the other recipes in this post. Go to "view my complete profile".
Treat your Dad on Father's day!
I made this napkin setting( adapted from "Napkin Folding" for every occasion, complete with the ' shirt and tie ' which is made out of fondant, I then took a picture and uploaded it on a card at http://www.greetingcardhelper.com/ . This site is amazing because I did it all from my computer and the owner of this site helped me out when I was stuck! This site mails out a physical card for you, so you do not have to buy a stamp or go to the post office for that matter. One can just about make any type of card on this website. I wrote a message on the card and also uploaded some of our pictures when I was a little girl and invited my dad to have dinner at my house on Father's Day. You see he lives in Florida and I live in Colorado so I am also purchasing his airfare. He received the card in the mail and accepted! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YA!!
Just thought I'd share this gesture!
Falooda a.k.a. Bombay Crush ( An exquisite rose-flavored milkshake)
.jpg) FALOODA.
  Oh yah!!!!, this drink is so delectably dreamy! Both children and adults cannot stop until there is nothing left. This is a nourishing little number that I make during the Fasting month. It is utterly filling after a long hard day of Fasting and anything with my homemade french vanilla ice cream in it is worthwhile starving for the whole day ! You literally have to tear me away from it! Unfortunately, for me I have become lactose intolerant bummer!!! But that still does not stop me. I just drink it when no one is around!
Homemade French vanilla ice cream:
Please use all organic ingredients. I used Horizon Organic to make 4 quarts.
2 c milk 1 c sugar or more to taste 1/2 t salt 2 c half and half 3 T vanilla ( from Santo Domingo) 4 c whipping cream
Scald milk until bubbles appear around edge of pan. Remove from heat , add sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. Stir in the half and half, vanilla and whipping cream. refrigerate 30 mins. Churn in your ice cream maker as directed.
NB. I have experimented with some kosher brand of gelatin and rennet tablets and by adding either to the milk, gives one a smoother ice cream and less ice crystals. I shall post this method another time!
Falooda: Serves about 6-8 people.
Soak 3 T Tukmuria seeds( jelly seeds) in some water until just covered, they will become 'spongy' after 10 mins. See the little black seeds above. These are available at any Indian store.
In the meanwhile pour 8 cups of cold milk into a jug Whisk in about 6 or more helpings of ice cream into the milk. Stir in the 'Rooh-Afza drink mix about 3-5 T depending on the shade of pink you want. This imparts a very distinctive rose-flavor to the drink. Drain the Tukmuria seeds and add little by little to see if you like these seeds in the drink. However, it is these little seeds that makes this drink exotic and it is sooooo good! Enjoy!
Some people add pieces of China grass( jelly) , but I prefer not to.
E-mail if you have questions. Go to 'view my profile'
Bhajiyas aka Dhaltjies or Chilli bites ( Could be made gluten free as well).
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 This savory hors d' oeuvres is a must have at any party and it is an excellent little bite especially for those vegetarian guests, but please make plenty because even a ' meat loving motor head' would totally enjoy these! It could be made spicy or with a medium heat and if dipped into my mixture of Mrs Balls ( apricot and ginger chutney) , sambal oelek and roasted red bell peppertiser, it is to die for! I think it takes a close third after my samoosas and home made sausage rolls. Ingredients: 1 1/2 c chickpea( chana) flour aka Besam. 1/2 c self raising flour. 1 t baking powder 1/2 t salt or to taste 1 t turmeric 1 t cumin 1 t leaf masala 1 chili chopped seeds removed 1/2 c onion finely chopped 1 t pounded garlic 1/2 t finely pounded ginger 1 c shredded spinach leaves 1/2 c cilantro 1 T chopped chives 1 c club soda Method: Sift the flours and the salt except the baking powder. Add the rest of the ingredients and add the club soda slowly to make a very thick batter or you might have to use a little more club soda if the mixture is very dry. Stir in the baking powder just before deep frying. Drop teaspoonfuls into hot canola or vegetable oil and fry until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve with chutney. gluten free version:
omit the self raising and just add 1/2 c tapioca starch or corn starch and make sure you use g-free baking powder and wallah!!! Enjoy!
An injectable: and this is no botox....I mean bull!
  I absolutely abhor a gadget that does not do double duty so here is another use for the flavor injector, just soak in warm soapy water and clean thoroughly after each specific use of course. Or just buy 2, they are like $2.00 a piece at Target Even the smallest pastry tip does not work quite as well as this flavor injector. Inject some huckleberry syrup into these gluten free popovers or maple syrup, blended home made strawberry preserves etc.... into my 'ball-shaped' pancakes ( an older post) .
Mini gluten-free popovers: 1 c water 1 stick European unsalted butter 1/3 c potato starch ( Red Mill ) 2/3 c rice flour ( Flying horse brand at Asian stores) 1/2 t kosher salt 4 Eggland's best eggs. Method: Preheat oven to 425. Grease a mini muffin pan. My yield, 20 popovers. Bring water and butter to a rapid boil. remove from burner and add flours and salt all at once.Stir until mixture leaves the sides of the pot and forms a ball. Cool. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition. Fill mini muffin cavities with a heaped tablespoon of the batter and bake for ten minutes then lower temperature to 350 and bake for a further 20 mins. I bought this huckleberry syrup in the Yellowstone National Park and as you can see just push needle into the little holes that form naturally when baking the popovers. These popovers were light and delightful and not overly sweet! They were so 'eggy' and just had the right amount of sweetness with the syrup. Enjoy!
Men's soaps: The coolwater, lacoste, polo and not forgetting patchouli kind of guys.
 I make them on ropes too.
  Let us not forget the soap for the rugged, 'no-nonsense-type.' Sure, they may not fancy ' soft as silk skin,' but these bars will surely make them smell good. The goats milk and the cocoa butter will nourish their exterior whether they like it or not after all they are still like little boys who love their toys! I love these predominantly male fragrances like cool water, lacoste, polo types....etc. E-mail me if you are interested in purchasing these as gifts. Go to ' view profile'
On vacation hooraaaaah!!!!
 On vacation for the next three weeks. For me it can only be a gastronomic one of course, so I shall be back in my studio with some more interesting soap ideas and of course some scrumptious foodie ones as well so please do not lose interest now come back and visit me again!!!!
Kheer ( Boeber) A rich and creamy drink with overtones of cardamom and cinnamon.
.jpg.jpg) OMG! I love this drink. We make this during the month of Ramadaan( Fasting month).This drink is rich and creamy and has all the warm spices( more like fall spices) and boy could you get your required Vitamin D all in one sitting! Please use organic if you can! And....Please use any brands of ingredients however, these brands set the final product apart from mundane to marvelous! Ingredients: 5 cups of very vanilla Silk soy milk( or you can use dairy) 2 T sugar. or to taste( Repunzel unrefined) 3 T unsalted butter European butter . Or ghee( clarified butter). 1 T soji( semolina) (Swad) 2 handfuls roasted extra fine vermicelli( Ahmed brand), crushed . 1 T small tapioca pearls soaked for an hour in water. 1 T rose water and 1t vanilla (I use the kind from Santo Domingo) 3 small cinnamon sticks 5 cardamom( elachi) seeds 1/4 c sultanas or golden raisins. Method: In a saucepan heat the butter, add the vermicelli and saute until golden brown in color on medium heat. Add the soji( sermolina) , cinnamon, cardamom and the sultanas and saute until soji has that ' nutty' aroma( 5 mins.), stirring continuously. Add the milk and sugar and stir to prevent scorching. When the milk looks creamy, add the tapioca pearls which by now should be almost transparent because of the pre soak. Bring this mixture to boil and then lower heat to a very low temp. Lastly add the rose water and the vanilla and just keep warm. If it feels thick just add more milk. I like mine to be of pourable consistency. E-mail me if you have qustions. Go to my "view profile"
Thank you Danica for the pretty cups and flowers!!!!
Beta carotene extreme cont.....
This soap has a sweet, clean almost woody aroma.
 Carrot seed oil is extracted from the seed of the carrot and supposedly stimulates skin elasticity and this vitamin A also helps the skin function as a barrier to bacteria and viruses( according to Office of the Dietary National institute of Health). The ingredients are so luxurious and just loves the skin! It has goats milk, shea butter, vitamin E, carrot seed oil and a little coconut oil. Homemade soap has less of a lather than commercially produced soap and therefore less phosphates seeping into our water table, and ultimately this small step is actually good for the ecosystem. All of my soaps are freshly made and contains no alcohol that would otherwise dry out the skin. Commercially produced soap contains alcohol and many other chemicals to preserve the product, just in case it has to sit on the shelf. On a lighter note, this is the one time your parents will tell you not to eat your carrots. This display can be taken from chic to playful! E-mail if you would like to get it. Go to "view profile"
Beta carotene taken to the extreme!
 The carrot is a 'horny' vegetable.
Oh! c'mon get your mind out of the gutter! This root vegetable gets its roots from the Indoeuropean "ker"- meaning horn.This humble tuber is packed with vitamin A and could very well be the reason for those bright eyes and a variety of others like a healthy heart. Oh, and by the way this is the debut for my very first piece of food art meaning of course the palm tree! ha! ha! Okay so I am not a master carver but at least it should make you smile.
This juice is so refreshing: It has pure carrot juice, lots of fresh clementine juice or you could use oranges, splash of pineapple juice and top it off with a healthy splash of Martinelli's apple cider. The salad was one of my Mom's favorite salads. It makes my mouth pucker. It has grated carrots, chopped green bell pepper, small jalapeno chopped, chopped pineapple( my addition), garbanzo beans and fresh lemon juice and kosher salt to taste.
I am really sensitive to the acidity in the pineapple so I sprinkle with salt first and then rinse the salt off and then I sprinkle with sugar and then rinse.
The palm tree is actually for my niece R who just can't seem to live without them. I guess she likes the type of climate that goes with it. Ahhh, the sun, surf and those palms sure spell lots of "kick a.... parties!
Do you ever reminisce? your Grandmother's cookie bliss!
 Old favorites that my Grandmother used to make. A crispy fresh coconut cookie which was so coconutty and d.... good and a cookie called an Essie( with strong overtones of elachi(cardamon). I tried to recreate the Essie, but I do not think that I have done this cookie justice. It was good but it did not come from her hand!
    Hout Bay is where I remembered my Grandparents getting that really good fish from called Snoek. Oh my gosh! I wish I had a piece of smoked snoek and a slice of crushed wheat bread! I cannot stop thinking about them. I wish I wish............ Nazarina.
Fruity soaps
 These soaps smell like the real deal.
The citrus soaps have pure lemon and orange oils, shea butter, goat's milk, black seed oil and sometimes I inadvertently pick up the soap instead of the real lemon or orange. Trickery!The pear smells like a real pear and the apple smells like a green apple
Aero peppermint cookie
Pictures from the book "This is Cape town" by D. Biggs.
  Freedom often eludes people in bondage. What good is all this beauty when apartheid continues to rear its ugly head---now in the form of reversed discrimination? Nazarina
  I had to come up with a fresh new cookie for a client for St Patrick's day. This is what I visualized and made( a peppermint dark chocolate shortbread cookie with peppermint extract and a liquid molten dark chocolate aero bar in the center just like my favorite chocolate bar I grew up with in Cape Town. It is okay if it has to live in the shadow of the chocolate bar because both are really goooood! E=mail me for recipe. Go to "view my profile"
Ground turkey timbales with a hoisin and Mrs Balls chutney sauce
 Mmmmmm good! This is a party in your mouth with all the different flavors and textures.This hoisin sauce is fruity, a little spicy and very smooth. It reminds me of dark onyx!It has hoisin , sesame oil, and orange juice and Mrs Balls bladjang. These ground turkey timbales and everything for that matter was baked until golden brown and delicious. As you can see I ladled the hoisin sauce over the turkey and the mushrooms. The mushrooms are stuffed with a red bell pepper, kalonji( onion seeds, my new found love), garlic, tarragon panko mixture and the chips are coated in that same panko mixture and then baked.
Enjoy!
Please e-mail me for the recipe
Brioche: This is not in the south of France!
 Pictures from the book "This is Cape Town" by David Biggs.
  These are not the " salt lapping waves in the south of France but indeed the unprecedented salty sea frontier of a little country called South Africa". Many a tranquil moment, I tend to envisage the days on the beach with my family and not forgetting those infamous picnic baskets that my Mom and Grandmother would so joyfully pack and excitedly hurry us all along for just a fun day. I still recollect the brown algae that I would so playfully throw back into the blue sea and not forgetting those stinging "blue bottles"( jelly fish) that would just ruin your day when you stepped onto one of them! South Africa has that innocent and yet a raw beauty that is only indicative of my native land! Ahhhhh! I got so carried away by my memories that I forgot all about the brioche! This is a sweet bread with chocolate oozing out when you sink your teeth into it. It has a flaky texture, yet has a very soft crumb if you will. So, no, this chocolate brioche does not take me back to France where the brioche was "born" but it takes me back to where I was born and evidently the brioche has nothing to do with it LOL! Please e-mail me for recipe!
Soap gifts
  Any mom or just anyone for that matter would welcome a soap basket especially if it is custom made. Soap: It cleanses the body and invigorates the soul! A chocolate bar that has the fragrance of chocolate and cocoa. Please beware! not for consumption!
Cheesecake: Mcvites digestive wheat cookie crust and mostly mascarpone.
 Strawberry coolie on the side!
  Let me level with you, I used digestive wheat cookies instead of graham crackers and I used more mascarpone than cream cheese. The sour cream topping on both the strawberry and the gingerbread crust chocolate pumpkin cheesecake was a surprisingly welcome element that cut through all the rich cream cheese. My cheesecakes are definitely not too "cheesy", more like a rich velvety texture and a very vanilla taste. I added spices like ginger, elachi, cinnamon and nutmeg to the gingerbread cheesecake and lots of roasted almonds, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts to the crust and the roasted hazel nuts to the caramel banana cheesecake. This is a highly desirous dessert and if anything will be the only thing remembered long after this occasion no matter how insignificant! There is of course a GLUTEN-FREE version as well. These are the two small cheese cakes in the "gingerbread" picture of which I made a " coconut macaroon" type of crust. E-mail me for the recipes!
Soap for a particular profession.
 These are soaps I made for a nurse and a ballerina. People love these in their bathrooms. They put them in apothecary jars with natural sea sponges.
Ice cream sandwitches
 "mint chip"
  "Mexican wedding cookie with pecans in the dough"   Here's to all those ice cream moments! Our favorites "mint chip ice cream and dulce de letche ice cream sandwitches. Recipes adapted from "Ice cream treats." I truly enjoy baking from this book!
Gluten free profiterols
This adaptation from the "Gluten-free gourmet" taste just like a profiterol made from wheat flour. The secret is to make the filling really tasty. Recipe: 1 c water, 1/2 c unsalted butter, 1/3 c potato starch flour, 2/3 c rice flour,1/2 t kosher salt, 1 T sugar, 4 eggs Method: Preheat oven to 425, line a cookie sheet with silpat, combine water and butter in a saucepan and bring to rapid boil. Mix the flours, salt, sugar and add to the butter mixture and stir until it forms a ball. Remove from heat and cool. Add eggs one at a time and beat with mixer until all eggs are incorporated. Cool. Fill pastry bag with the mixture and pipe desired sizes. Makes about 10-12. Bake 20 mins at 425 and then reduce temp to 350 and bake for 20 mins more. Remove from oven, prick with a knife in order for steam to escape For my filling follow the instructions on a box of Oetker french vanilla. Whip up some fresh cream that has about 5 segments of melted white Lindt choc and fold the Oetker into the cream. Melt dark choc mixed with some cream for the top.
Matrimonial cookies: Rich shortbread
Adapted recipe from, " The artful cookie."  How sweet it is! I travelled to the USA from a far off land, Cape town, South Africa, and met my husband here who was born in Szczecin, Poland, the one that puts the sparkle in my eye, the one that laughs at all my idiosyncrasies and encourages all my dishes! Nazarina.
Masala salmon with a sweet potato croquette
 A recollection of my Grandparents and my Mom teaching us not to be afraid of all the warm spices. I think I would make them proud!
 .jpg) My special garam masala mix, turmeric, fish masala, pounded garlic and ginger, green chilies( seeds removed), chopped cilantro, fresh lemon juice are all made into a paste and smeared on the fish, dipped into panko and seared to obtain that yummy crust.Sweet potatoes are roasted in the oven, the flesh mashed with ginger, garlic, beaten egg and my special spice mix, dipped in panko and also seared on both sides.Don't be bashful, go ahead and enjoy! Nazarina.
Asian pear salad
 No I am not the geisha! My Mom made my bridesmaid frock.
A salad fit for a Geisha and beyond!
Adulation can be pretty tempting for a thing of beauty. Thank God I am a creature of Faith and will thank Him instead for nature's bounty.
It has Asian pears, radish, spring lettuce mix and kiwi and served with a strawberry Mrs Balls bladjang dressing. Enjoy!
Malaysian beef satay with a spicy peanut sauce.
I am absolutely nuts......................nuts about peanuts. For the peanut sauce: small onion chopped, garlic, 3 T tamari, 2T peanut oil, ginger root, red chillies, sugar, juice of a half of a lime, one cup H2O, and one cup roasred unsalted peanuts and blend all these together. I like it a bit crunchy. Bring this mixture to a boil, then simmer on low for 40 mins and just add water and stir if it thickens. Marinate the beef skewers in a mixture of chopped onion, garlic. tamari, peanut oil, lemon zest, turmeric, fennel. coriander, cracked black, cumin and Mrs balls bladjang. E-mail me if you are stuck! You can serve this with the Asian pear salad and some sauteed baby bok choi Nazarina.
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