The world is changing at an uncontrollable pace, a threat unlike any other, with survival the race It came out of nowhere, the affects unforeseen, countries now in turmoil, needing a vaccine Lives are being lost and many torn apart, socialising not allowed, isolation a new art Industries struggling, like the recessions before, livelihoods being…
Our once busy town is now silent
Our once busy townIs now a ghost town Where children once used to laugh and playSounds can’t be heard from a mile away Coffee shops used to be packed fullNow they are all empty Shopping stores were busy all dayNow all we see is closed shops Covid19 has turned our lovely country townUpside down Humans…
Rainbow
We are at the beginning of our 1 month lockdown in New Zealand 🇳🇿 Seeing on the news that infections just keep on hapoening, the disease known as Covid19 just keep on spreading all across the world. Economies coming to a standstill and so many people losing their jobs. This is hitting the world hard,…
Chocolate Milk Tart
Love the taste of milk tart, and the different flavours too! Let me know what flavour is your favourite. While using a hand mixer and a microwave safe mixing bowl, mix 4 eggs, while mixing add in 700ml of full cream milk. While mixing with the hand mixer, add in the 2 packets of chocolate…
The Townsend’s Ricotta Beef Lasagna
Lasagna is one of those timeless meals, that never go out of style. Whether it’s summer or winter, lasagna is perfect and full of veggies and the good stuff. We love the taste of ricotta so me and my husband decided to add it to the white sauce. Wow, what a difference it makes. It…
Why I started my Blog
I lay awake at night, wondering if I did the right thing by starting my blog. This has took me 10 years well for the most part. I don’t want to be famous I don’t care about that. I am so passionate about putting the most unique recipes out there while respecting the traditional way…
3 Ingredient Microwave Fudge
Let me tell you a story, to this fudge. I think this was one of the first recipes I made with my cooking partner in consumer studies. While everyone in the classroom chose to do fudge on the stove, we made the microwave fudge. In the end we had to help the whole classroom with…
Condensed Milk Cheesecake
This simple recipe, is the perfect dessert for any quick get together. As soon as I finished mixing the cheesecake mixture and placing it in the glass bowl, my sister in law licked the mixing bowl clean and said it was delicious and she would eat a whole bowl of it. The recipe is from…
Kerikeri Road Trip Chapter 1
It was a lovely sunny Sunday morning when me and my husband decided to go to Kerikeri to visit some of our friends. We should have gotten up earlier as it’s quite a distance to Kerikeri. The drive is about 3 hours and 30 minutes so we actually should have been on the road by…
Butternut & Paneer Curry(Vegetarian Friendly)
We love our meat and veggies, we also love eating a meat free meal at least once a week. This meal is packed full of flavour and the paneer cheese is a different taste. This recipe is from hello fresh. It’s not the exact ingredients. They used pumpkin, we used butternut. Like the taste of…
Butterscotch Milk Tart
There is nothing more I love, than the goodness of milk tart. This last months I am exploring on how to elevate the milk tart I love eating growing up and how to add all the different flavors to it! Yes with lots of flavors come the excitement of the taste as well. I love…
One-Pan Chorizo Risotto Two Ways
From all the Hello Fresh recipes this one was our favourite, the original recipe was made with Risoni pasta, I just made it with some jasmine rice, and added my own twist to it. I will give the measurements for the recipe with the risoni too. I also made the recipe more user friendly so…
Traditional 20 Minute Microwave Milk Tart
About 2 years ago my exploration with making the perfect traditional milktart started. I have made a few recipes, practiced and practiced. Trial and tribulation, and today something just clicked for me. Milktart is you can say like a custard type tart, but more milk than eggs, and with the classic cinnamon on top. Today…
Caramel Milk Tart
Coming up with new concepts is so much fun. I have googled if there was a caramel milktart and didn’t find what I was after, so I made it. The first and only caramel milktart. Foodies of South Africa helped me, by using the base of their recipe and working from their tweaking it a…
Leg of Lamb Roast
My husband makes this every year. It is simply delicious and it just melts in your mouth. It is great for Christmas dinners or any special occasion. Start by scoring a 2kg leg of lamb roast. Spread some olive oil on both sides with some coarse salt and pepper. For the stuffing, cut the edges…
Tandoori Chicken & Cauliflower Traybake with Mint Yogurt
Making dinners from Hello Fresh, which is a meal kit. They send you the recipes and the ingredients. We learn new cooking skills, and to eat more healthy, even though we already do! This traybake is so easy! It’s a one pan meal and for those with busy lives, this is perfect! Ingredients you will…
My Gran’s All Bran Muffins
Happy February, with a new month, come endless possibilities and new opportunities to improve, to change and to better ourselves to the best version of ourselves. Growing up, when we would walk into my grandmother’s kitchen, you would smell this muffins a mile away. I loved these muffins, always look forward to eating them. My…
John Hill Vineyard and Restaurant
We visited Hunua Falls today, as my sister in law is visiting and we wanted to show her the falls. After we were done at the falls, we was on our way home, we saw a direction board just as we left the falls, that said that there are a vineyard and restaurant 1 km…
2 Years in New Zealand
Today, 2 years ago we landed in Auckland, New Zealand. We left everything we know and grew up with and trade it in for the unknown. The funny thing is, as soon as we landed in Auckland we felt right at home, all we wanted to do was to bring everyone over and let them…
It’s Okay to not be Okay
This is a subject few of us ever talk about, actually never really open up about to anyone, cause we are scared that we are gone be judged, and just for the unknown. God says the truth will set you free, and we are all imperfect humans, with all our flaws and baggage, God still…
God’s Grace is Bigger than our Fears
God’s timing is always perfect, we may not always see it that way or feel that way, but as time passes, so do we began to see His plan for our lives. I attended Metamorpho for a year, where they equip us with life lessons and give us the tools to navigate through the university…
Instant Cheesecake
This cheesecake get it’s name by the instant pudding or mixes that was used to create it. So the possibilities is endless and so are the flavours. You can’t go wrong with this one! It’s delicious, easy and anyone can make it! If you are running out of ideas for a pudding barbecue with some…
Soul Sisters
In life we need a few good girlfriends we can open our hearts to, that understand us, that support us and that are judgement free, who accepts us for being ourselves. You see in life destiny and time do play a role. All the decisions you make, have a chain reaction to everything that will…
Buttermilk Muffin Scones
I love working with buttermilk these days, instead of crumbling the butter with the flour and adding the liquid afterwards, I did it the wrong way around. It didn’t turned out a flop it tasted delicious like my husband said. When making new recipes, sometimes in the process things change or go differently than what…
It only takes one Teacher
Today I want to tell you a story. This teacher have taught me english in High School, and have always encouraged me and supported me, when I finished High School. She actually encouraged me to start blogging about my cooking and baking, she helped with refining my children’s books that I wrote too. Ten years…
My Mom’s Chicken Curry
You know when there is cold and rainy weather, your in the mood to make something with a little bite, and that takes you back home. I always helped my mom in the kitchen growing up, my grandmother also make this chicken curry. My mom is known for her curry pots, tonight I got it…
Creamy Beef Stronganoff
After a barbecue on a Saturday morning, there is always some left over steak and other meats. When you don’t know what to make for dinner, this recipe will have everyone talking. It’s creamy, peppery and not over rich. Me and my husband have learned that the simple ingredients and keeping it simple, is what…
The Perfect Yummy Fluffy Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Icing & Coconut Sprinkles
I have made a lot of cakes in my day, use lots of recipes and did so much research regarding baking the perfect cake, that have just right amount of ingredients. Not over mixed and using the right techniques. I have learned all the techniques along the way, using different recipes and practising my skills,…
Australian Fires & How you can Help
Hey everyone, on this windy, cool Monday afternoon in Auckland, New Zealand. This Australian bush fires is terrible. Animals in NSW, Australia have lost their lives and homes. So many people have lost their homes and been misplaced. Some people have also died in the bush fires. The state of NSW have called it now…
Act of Random Kindness
A few months ago we got new neighbours who moved in in front of us, right after our child turned 1. Before they moved in, I baked some crunchies and chocolate rusks with my mother in-law. I thought I would welcome them to our neighbourhood by taking some chocolate rusks and crunchies for them. I…
Karioitahi Beach
We visited Karioitahi Beach on new year’s day. We thought it was going to be quiet, but it turned out to be really busy. Anyway it’s only 25 minute drive from Pukekohe, and closer than we thought. The beach is covered with soft black sand, the waves are a little rough, but if you want…
Blank Canvas
Welcome to 2020! Wow what a journey. Today is the start of your blank canvas. How will you paint yours and what type of brushes and colours will you use. However you choose to paint your blank canvas, may it be your best one yet. 2019 flew by in an blink of an eye. Now…
Chocolate Protein Shake
Starting my day with a Shake 🌞My husband gave me a NutriBullet for Christmas and I love how efficient it is.I started with drinking a Chocolate Protein Shake. Just add 1 Banana 🍌1 Tbs of Jogurt 🍶Sprinkle some oats over your choice of how manySprinkle of salt1Tbs of Peanut Butter 🌰1 1/2 Tsp of Cocoa…
Coconut Chocolate Bites
In New Zealand, coconut rough is well known and loved all over. As I searched the web for some recipes, I decided to make it much more simpler, and only using two ingredients. This recipe of mine is so simple, yet versatile too as you can use any chocolate block you want, and mix it…
Christmas Cookies
It’s tradition to bake christmas cookies, this time of the year, each year I try something different. Last time I used melted chocolate to coat the cookies, this time I used royal icing and it worked perfectly! Ingredients: 125g Butter 1 Cup of Sugar 4 Cups of Flour 2 Tablespoons of Baking Powder 2 Eggs…
Yogurt Cheesecake with Caramel Cookie Crumble Base
I came up with this recipe, as I love yogurt, it’s healthy and it’s sooo creamy and deliciousness. After one bite you are just gone want more and more! I must say from all the cheesecakes I have made this one is the winner! You only need 4 ingredients. Start by taking a packet of…
Easy Gammon
Me and my husband have made so many gammon’s and this one takes the cake! You can add any veggies and sides we eat gammon just like this with some honey. December is the perfect month for gammon, it’s Thanksgiving and Christmas so if you are planning on making a roasts this is simple and…
Butter Beef Fillet Roast
This butter beef fillet roast is very delicious. Me and my husband love beef and we love roasts. Who doesn’t like a delicious, saucy, buttery roast that just melts in your mouth the moment you eat it. This is a very simple recipe that is easy to make and for every beginner. This is a…
2-in-1 Mousse & Ice Cream
Who doesn’t love ice cream and who doesn’t love mousse. I know I do! I have been loving ice cream since being a kid growing up, since living in New Zealand they have the best ice cream and chocolate I have ever eaten. In this recipe I have used the Whittaker’s Creamy Milk block, but…
A Story to Inspire You too
Dear Readers, followers and supporters this blog post I wanted to do for sooo long, but you know it just wasn’t the right time(yet). I feel now that I can finally share with you where my love for cooking and baking started, how I got my voice and without me realising it how God guided…
Rainy Weather Porridge
Today it was pouring with rain, growing up during the winter when we wrote exams, we always would eat porridge for breakfast. This reminded me of being back home and brought back so many memories. It’s called maize meal and we get it in New Zealand. This simple recipe of mine that you just make…
Malva Pudding
Malva pudding is a delicious warm pudding served with some creamy custard. It’s a real favourite during cold months and when served with your favourite Christmas dinner. I have always used this recipe, it’s from foodloversrecipes. It’s really easy and simple and delicious too! Pudding: 375 ml (180 g) flour 5 ml bicarbonate of soda…
South African Samoosas
Since arriving in New Zealand, me and my husband miss eating samoosas the most. You can just walk around and in every café and corner shop will have them. My husband enjoyed the samoosas so much he said it beats the ones in South-Africa and the ones he tasted before. He said it was just…
Lemon, Caramel and Mousse Tart
I came up with this recipe as I love lemon, caramel and mousse. Who wouldn’t love all three together? I know I do! Crust:2 cups flour1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup butter1 egg1 tsp baking powderpinch of salt Put the oven on 170 Degrees Celsius.Rub flour and butter together to form breadcrumbs.Add the rest of the dry…
Chicken Lasagna
Love lasagna, so I made this delicious, spicy, saucy, chicken goodness! It’s a real crowd pleaser too. Ingredients:2 Chicken fillets 2 Carrots peeled and grated 1 Onion chopped 1 Green capsicum chopped 3 Tomatoes chopped 1 Thumb size ginger peeled and grated 1 Tbs tumeric or saffron 1 Tbs curry powder Salt and pepper to…
Cheesy Pasta
Who doesn’t love macaroni and cheese. I came up with this simple and easy cheesy pasta recipe. It’s so quick, when you are a parent anything easy and simple goes. Ingredients: 450g Fussili Pasta / Macaroni Cooked and set aside 2 Tomatoes Sliced 1 Cup of Gouda Cheese grated for sprinkle on top Paprika for…
Simple Potato Salad
This potato salad is very simple and easy, if you don’t have mayonnaise you can substitute it with some plain greek yogurt. I like the potato salad when it’s still warm. Ingredients:4 Potatoes cooked, peeled and cut into blocks and cooled down. 1 Tablespoon of mayonnaise Coase Salt and Coarse pepper to taste Method: In…
Lemon Meringue Pie
This recipe I got from my mother in law. It’s a really simple and easy recipe, the source of the recipe comes from Foodloversrecipes group and website. Ingredients: 1 Tin Condensmilk 3 Eggs 1/2 Cup Castor Sugar1/2 Cup Lemon Juice For the base: 125g melted butter or margarine 200g coconut biscuits crushed Mix the butter…
Mango Tart with Mango Glaze
I came up with this recipe when I got a bunch of mangos from my friend. I decided to make mango juice and put it in a tart. It is a nice summer tart that is very light and delightful. Ingredients for the Mango Mixture: 1 Packet of any crunchy biscuits250g Mascarpone 250g Cultured Cream250ml…
Buttermilk Rusks
Buttermilk Rusks are crunchy and will trigger your taste buds. It’s a delicious morning quick breakfasf before you leave for work. It’s one of my favourite things to snack on and it’s also good for babies when they are teething. It is loved by lots of South Africans as well as their friends and family…
