We visited Clarks beach today, we couldn’t spend the day there because by 11am it was high tide and very windy. Hopefully we can go visit again with no wind and when it’s low tide.
Waitangi Falls
We visited the waitangi falls today, it’s surprisingly very close to Pukekohe. It’s only a 15 minute drive. The kids enjoyed it too and there is also picnic chairs to sit at and to eat.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream – Blue Ribbons Recipe
I had so much fun making these, with the help of my little helper in the kitchen. Our eldest daughter. Whenever we are baking and cooking she’s always apart of it and helping and tasting. This is the blue ribbons recipe that I posted about the vanilla cupcakes, I just added cocoa powder. It turned…
Cinnamon Rolls by Jamie
These cinnamon rolls were delicious and we ate it for our Christmas lunch in 2020. Jamie made these cinnamon rolls by using Selly’s baking addiction recipe. You can find the recipe here: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/easy-cinnamon-rolls-from-scratch/
Lockdown Haircut & Makeover
Our hair does not define who we are, but rather what’s inside your heart that counts.It feels like I’ve been busy the whole morning yesterday in the Hair Salon, but I’ve been right at home busy chopping all my hair off and colouring it. It’s much brighter than I anticipated, but a change is as…
For Old Times Sake
Written By Juanli Theron I did not know, the last time, that this would be the very last time.I could not guess that the last day would be the end of that phase …Now it’s gone. Another milestone. Your baby cheeks, so puffy and kissable.Your lashes sweeping over your cheekbones like butterfly wings while you…
Food for Thought Tuesday
✨ThrowbackWhen life was carefree and simpleLess complicatedAndZero stressWith lots of memories made ✨ All you can hold onto when you get older is your support, to be thankful for what you have and the life that you are living, in a blink of an eye your life can change in anyway. As humans we all…
Greenhouse Up
Now I can finally grow all my seeds and help the little plants grow bigger. I’ve always wanted a greenhouse to place all my plants and gardening things. Eventually I will get a better one but for now this one will work.
Flourless Chocolate Fridge Cake with Dark Chocolate Buttercream
This flourless chocolate fridge cake is best serve cold from the fridge. It’s a brand new recipe for those who prefer gluten free. It’s not dairy free but it still tastes delicious. It’s really refreshing and even my husband and our two daughters enjoyed it! You can decorate the cake to your own preference or…
Vanilla Cupcakes – Recipe by Blue Ribbon Recipes
I made this cupcake recipe with my oldest daughter and we had so much fun. It is a really easy recipe and anyone can make it. Vanilla Cupcakes(Makes 12 Standard Size Cupcakes) Ingredients: 30ml Vanilla Paste 4 Extra Large Eggs250 ml Sugar500 ml Cake Flour 15 ml Baking Powder1 ml Salt125 ml Warm Milk125 ml…
Immigration
Our bags are packed & friends greeted Rehomed our dogs and cats Furniture sold or given away Brand new cars returned to the bank Years of tracks just swept away Everything left even the house by the sea Grandmother we greeted only we do not see you again Because it’s safer there But our hearts…
Rooseville Park
Just Found this little Gem in our town a few days ago. With the most beautiful, big & Magnificent trees. Where anywhere is perfect to have a picnic & relax. To just sit a moment and to take it all in. While our two little busy daughters climb over and under every big tree branch…
Motherhood is about Moments
Motherhood is about MomentsRock them to sleep.Let them flush the toilet 3 times.Have brownies for breakfast.Tuck them in for the 11th time.Hug them until they let go.Put down the phone and play baby dolls.Let them wrestle you on the floor.Bribe them with suckers.Memorize their bouncing curls.Let them lick the batter.Whisper secrets in their ears. Laugh…
Let Them Fly
When you first have children they talk about the challenges of parenting….the struggles of a baby waking in the night, the toddler who won’t stay in their bed, the cost of childcare, injuries from sports… Having to take off work to pick them up from school when they don’t feel well, helping them with homework,…
Some of the Farm Animals at Cornwall Park
Our two kids enjoyed walking among the sheeps and seeing the cows. We witnessed a mommy cow feeding her young and our toddler was so amazed by it all.
Big beautiful & Magnificent Trees at Cornwall Park
On our walk at Cornwall Park, we walked through so many big and magnificent trees. These are all the photos I took of the trees.
Cherry Blossoms at Cornwall Park
After almost 4 years living in New Zealand, we finally went to see the cherry blossoms. The park was full of people and dogs and kids running everywhere, everyone having lovely picnics too. I took so many beautiful photos that I will share in the next few blog posts. This blog post feutures the cherry…
Smarties White Chocolate
Growing up, I would eat lots of blocks of white chocolate filled with smarties goodness. I made these recently using the Whittaker’s white chocolate and it tastes just as delicious if not better. You will need: 250g White Chocolate Block 200ml Smarties/M&M’s/Astros/Any other chocolate coated coloured confectionery. In a glass bowl in the microwave add…
Peach & Honey Warm Baked Pudding
My husband made this delicious pudding for us. Baked in the oven and so moist. Extra yummy with some warm custard. Serves 4-6 Ingredients:125g Butter or Margarine125ml Sugar1 Extra Large Egg250ml Flour10 ml Baking Powder 125ml Milk385g Can of peach slices1ml Salt Topping30ml Butter or Margarine30ml Honey Method:Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggand beat…
Canneloni Beef Lasagna – Made 2 Ways – with Ricotta Cheese & Cream Cheese
My husband gave me this wonderful idea to make beef lasagna like I normally would, but to just use canneloni pasta instead. I filled every 1st canneloni with beef lasagna mixture and every second canneloni with ricotta cheese for the 1st evening and the 2nd evening I did exactly the same but just filled the…
Milk Chocolate & Oreo Cookie Brownies
I made this brownies and tweaked it so that it is more user friendly. It is very yummy and gooey. It is delicious and oreo yum! Ingredients:300g MilkChocolate, chopped (I used Whittaker’s) 125g butter, chopped250ml Caster Sugar5 eggs260ml Flour4.5ml Baking Soda3ml Baking Powder80ml Cocoa Powder 14 x OREO Cookies, finelychopped28 x OREO Cookies (extra) Method:Combine…
Easy Banana Bread
I made this banana bread with my toddler and it was so special spending time with her and involving her in the process too. I was suprised at the outcome as I only mix things together and was a little nervous if it is gone come out right. It turned out yum, and full of…
Death by Chocolate Birthday Cake for my in-laws in South-Africa
I made this delicious death by chocolate cake for my in-laws in South-Africa. I wish I could have given it to them personally. The filling consists of decadent chocolate mousse and dark, rich chocolate buttercream, made from the finest cocoa powder that proffesionals use in their baking. I was so happy about the results. The…
Salad Greens out of the Veggie Garden
Did you know that you can eat all the veggie leaves that comes out of your veggies as they grow? I was just doing some research on google, to find out if it it’s safe to eat, and it is. You can chop up any veggie leaves from your veggies and wash them, drain them…
Invisible
Have you ever felt invisible? This is a rhetorical question, which answers itself. When you thought you were important to someone, but realise that in their lives it’s like you never existed or mattered and that they never actually cared about you. If it’s not about them and what goes on in their world then…
Jelly Ice Pops
This is a really easy and fun way for kids to eat ice lollies during the summer times. As we near the more humid climate and hot days, our kids can’t get enough of these jelly ice pops. They work great for teething toddler’s. All you need is the normal jelly you would usually make…
Our Daughter’s 3rd Birthday Cake – Frozen Themed – Baked & Decorated by Me
I had so much fun baking this cake and decorating it. I made a four layer cake and then added 2 smaller layers on top. I used colour mill colouring and also whitening. To whiten the cake more, that is optional, you don’t have to use it. Ingredients:1kg plus 1/2 Cup of Flour25ml Baking Powder250ml…
Father’s Day Mint Chocolate Mousse Trifle with Caramel Cream & Chocolate Ganache
I made this trifle, using the cake I had left from preparing our daughter’s birthday cake(blog post to follow). I just made a chocolate mousse using mint chocolate and normal can of caramel mixed with cream and made a chocolate ganache to go in between the layers. The cake layers is made from the mud…
Veggie Garden Update: First Harvest & New Seedlings
It’s been a while since I last updated you on my veggie garden. We received our first harvest of potatoes, there were from large one’s to tiny one’s. New Seedlings Sprouting: This seedling is taken directly from a few green apples and planted. I give the apple plant water every second day and if it…
Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich
The best grilled cheese sandwich is made in a skillet pan. Just the right size, for grilled cheese. My husband made this for our kids and then our toddler requested it as wel. It’s very easy to make and the cheese just melt in your mouth. You will need: About 4 – 6 Slices of…
French Toast – Bacon & Cheese – Pastosties
My husband made this for us, and it was delicious especially with the melted cheese and who doen’t love cheese. We are family who will add cheese onto just about everything. This meal is a very easy kids meal and the kids will not stop eating it, it’s that yummy. You will need: A few…
I’m a Plant Mom
Since me and my husband started dating years ago, we would get herbs and grow them, eventually getting seeds and grow them too. My love for growing things really kicked off when I started our veggie garden here in New Zealand. Not only did it spark my passion for growing even more, but to pass…
Easy Wrap Pizzas
Our 2 toddlers enjoyed this easy lunch so much. It’s cheesy and yummy. You can use 1 or 2 wraps and spread some tomato sauce onto the base. You can add any topping and of coarse lots of cheese. Place 1 to 2 wraps on top of one another. Spread some tomato sauce on top….
Friends Grow Apart & That’s Okay
The older I get the more I realise that not everyone we know, whether it’s friends or loved one’s. We begin to see them for who they really are. The day I became a mom, my whole world changed. My whole perspective on everyone I once knew, changed. My protective and mother instinct took over…
Piggies in a Blanket
Piggies in a blanket is a very easy and fun dish for the kids. It’s a quick lunchbox meal and dinner meal. You can add cheese as well and anything your little one’s enjoy. You will need: 4-6 Cheese Sausages 1 – 2 Flaky Pastry Sheets 1 Egg Mixed Tomato Sauce Method: Cut up all…
Tortilla Cheesy Steak Bowl
My husband made this dinner for us, it was very delicious, easy and a quick family dinner without any utensils needed. Our toddlers didn’t really understand it, but they enjoy eating it with us. For the steak marinade: You will need about 2 steaks, which is about 800g of steak. Marinade the steak in a…
Muffin Pies
While making dinner, yesterday and after a long busy day with two toddlers. I wanted to make something that would be easy to eat and not make a lot of mess. I love eating pies and especially the crust, that is golden, crispy and yum. I used beef with veggies and gravy as a filling….
Town Mouse
Right before we went into lockdown, me and my husband discovered this gem while taking a walk in town. It was our first date out since having kids and immigrating. The staff is very friendly and the food is simply delicious. We had great quality food and the service was exceptional. The atmosphere is great…
Golden Syrup Sugar Biscuits
I made this biscuit recipe while we were in lockdown, as you have read in the news we are back in lockdown. This is a sugar biscuit recipe, with a twist. I would add just 1 tablespoon of golden syrup, than 2 like in my recipe. It’s quick and a really simple and easy recipe…
Chocolate Sauce Cake
I had so much fun making this cake. While we were in Kerikeri, my friend asked me to make this for her. It was so much fun making it, and trying it for the first time, her oldest boy also helped me, and he loves learning about baking and food. We had so much fun….
The Married Life
Married life is fun,It’s exciting and amazingAs wellAsOverwhelming, hard work and endurance It’s build on what you make itAnd every decision that follows It’s build on thesePrinciplesTrustLoveRespect&Friendship A marriege ge between two peopleCannot exist without the other In the bad times you see the flawsYou see the person’s good side as well as how they…
Mexicali Burger Wisconsin Fresh
Since me and my husband arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, we loved Mexicali Fresh. The one in Pukekohe is a must go! Me and my husband enjoyed the double taco very much! Yum, packed with flavour and very generous serving.
Robert Harris
Robert Harris is a lovely restaurant to hang out at. The place is big with open spaces and delicious hot chocolate. A great place for a quick pop in or catch up with friends.
Lemon Milk Tart
I have been wanting to make lemon milk tart for ages. It is yummy, maybe a little bit too lemony, but you can add less or more lemon curd to your preferences. For the Lemon Curd Recipe: Home Made Lemon Curd For the Biscuit Base:Crush up 250g of vanilla biscuits. Melt 50g of butter and add…
Starting a Veggie Garden
Seeing and experiencing how plants grow in your own garden, is amazing. We used to grow herbs back in South-Africa, and I took the next steps and started to grow and maintain our veggie garden. Some veggies did not make it, others just bloomed from the beginning. How I started was taking a whole vegetable…
Instant Dark Chocolate Mousse
Easy chocolate mousse, you can add less or more dark chocolate according to your preference. This recipe uses alot of egg whites, I know. You can use as many as you’d like. You don’t have to use the exact quantity. Ingredients:1 x 70g Instant Chocolate Mousse250ml Fresh Milk for the instant chocolate mousse dessert +…
Sticky Sweet & Sour Slow Cooked Chicken Drumsticks
I made this delicious, mouth watering recipe. It reminds me a lot of the ribs we recently had at Dixie Browns in Taupo. It’s falling off the bone. It’s sticky and yummy. Unfortunately there was nothing left by the time that dinner was finished. Ingredients:8 Chicken Drumsticks1 Packet Sweet & Sour Ready Mix Sauce 1…
Home Made Lemon Curd
I made this home made lemon curd, from all our leftover lemons in our fridge. I added a normal cup of lemon juice as well. This delicious recipe makes 1L lemon curd. Ingredients: 7 Lemons, depitted and juiced (makes 250ml – 1 Cup) of Fresh Lemon Juice250ml Lemon Juice500ml Caster Sugar60ml Condensed Milk4 Egg Yolks2…
Mom’s Night Out
Me and my friend have gone out for the first mom’s night for me, since having children. We have known each other since Grade 1 and I am very grateful that she is in New Zealand too. We walked home from the Restaurant we ate at in the middle of the night. There was no…
Homemade Pasta Gnocchi by Connor & Jamie
This is a really yummy and delicious recipe and very easy to make. This is our friends recipe. Cut and peel 5 potatoes, place in a pot and boil for 15 to 20 minutes till soft. Drain the water and mash the potatoes. Set aside and let it cooldown. Add 1 cup of flour and…
Kristie's Pantry 
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