Dedicated to Sarah xxx Standing against abuse

Posted on by Rebecca

When did it become OK to be abusive to other human beings? When did abuse become something like at least 1 in 5 people, men and women, have suffered in relationships? Is it just me or is this something that is becoming more and more common in today’s society?

Shouldn’t it be the other way around? As a society we are moving forward in so many ways so how is this occurring more and more?? Or rather are the acts more violent? I’m struggling to comprehend how a human being can harbor this hatred/ violence in them?

This blog is dedicated to Sarah Refilwe Molewa (Fifi). A sweet, young, bright, talent young woman, with a whole future ahead of her. Her life was selfishly taken by a brutal individual (who seemed so completely normal) who took her life because he could not grasp she was moving on. WHY????

Cases like Sarah’s should be all over the news to spread awareness on Violence.

Yes. It may be true. Women don’t like to press charges against domestic violence. Because they love the guy. Because they feel its “their fault”, because they feel they can “recuse him”.

Whether you are a woman or a man you should know that no-one should ever hold “POWER” over you. No one should ever get another chance to hit you. Right? From what I have been reading and from the people I’ve spoken to, I realize it’s easier said than done.

“Leaving an abusive partner is a very difficult thing to do. It frequently feels like you are failing, or destroying your family, or not trying to work things out, or not giving your partner “a second chance.” It hurts, and it’s scary.” – Blaine Nelson

From what I have seen, you need to gather every single strength inside of you, no matter how much you love that individual and WALK AWAY; STRAIGHT AWAY. DO NOT give them another chance, CUT contact with them. There is such a fine line between hitting someone and accidently KILLING them! Do not be afraid to speak out, this is not a reflection on who you are you have done nothing wrong!

In my personal opinion, we all feel anger, we all feel (at some point in our relationship) that we want to just slap our partners. It is the WILL POWER we exercise however that distinguishes you as a human being. If someone doesn’t have that will power to NOT hit you, how do they exercise will power in the rest of their lives?

One incident, and YOU LEAVE. PLEASE.. Violent people don’t get better without a lot of work, and it’s not “your” problem. Once someone raises a hand to you, you owe that person nothing. It’s likely that the violent behavior will escalate. Sometimes it is deliberate. Either way, YOU LEAVE. You can care for them from a distance.

Abusers are rich and poor and middle class or somewhere in between. One trait they all share is that the abuser usually comes across as arrogant, however they actually feel very inadequate and want to remain in control. One thing I know for sure is that domestic violence happens in every strata of society. No race or socio-economic class is immune.

To all the woman/ men out there that have been affected by domestic violence, I pray that you can find new hope. Please don’t wait too late…

Credit to EL Rey Photography

To Sarah (Fifi) and her memory and to her family/ close friends; I know every day it feels unbelievable, you wake up and think “did this really happen”, every day you think she will still call/ walk through the door. She was a strong young women with a firm head on her shoulders. She had found the power within herself to walk away from this. An evil human being hunted her down. Her memory lives on and I know with her story, we can make a difference in people’s lives. She was destined for such a bright future and we must continue to live this for her.

The only thing I hope is Mr Sthoks Mkhize (yes I’m not afraid to name him) stays behind bars for a long long long time. The one thing you will never get to take away is the legacy of this beautiful young woman.

Romeing Rome ….

Romeing Rome ….

Posted on by Rebecca

This time last week I was getting ready for my girls night out in London (bachelorette number 1 🙂 ), now I’m siting at my desk wishing I could be walking the streets of Europe once again.

I’ve been contemplating for a while how do I best summarize Rome, from a tourists point of view, in one blog. THERE IS JUST SO MUCH to write about.

The best way may be just to summarize the top 5, or rather, my top 5 things to see/do:

1) Trastevere

DESPITE the distance, it’s only actually about a 10 minute walk from Campo dei Fiori. A beautiful area FILLED with beautiful café’s/ bars washed in yellows and covered in ivy. Here you can get lost in the many alleyways filled with bars, café’s, restaurants and of course, gelateria’s. Around the main piazza (Piazza Santa Maria, surprise surprise) there is always a vibey atmosphere with the obligatory grand fountain and exquisite church. This area is absolutely beautiful and popular with both locals and tourists alike. Sit and people watch for hours on end and soak in the electric atmosphere.

2) Pantheon/ Campo Marzio/ Spagna

No matter how short your stay you need a day to do this area! By far one of the poshest areas, but certainly per square meterage this area is RICH in history. Must see in this 2 block area include the Pantheon, the majestic Trevi Fountain, The Spanish steps, Piazza Navona and numerous piazza’s filled with well-heeled Italians. Its home to some of the coolest nightclubs and bars too. After surrendering to one of the many coffee bars in the area you can head to Bar Della Pace or Bar del Fico (just off Piazza Navona) two of the most popular area’s filled with gorgeous Italians, drinking, flirting and filling the entire piazza. Closest Metro stop is Spagna. In this cobblestoned area you will also come across Via dei Condotti (for designer labels) and Via dei Corso (more high-street). GOOD LUCK NAVIGATING YOUR STILETTOS ON THESE COBBLES. Suggestion? Low Wedges!

3) St. Peter’s/ The Vatican

How could I write about Rome and not include this powerhouse? A MUST see for believers and non-believers alike. If you can I would certainly suggest a tour guide for the visit; allows you to jump most of the queues and the knowledge they have is unsurpassable. The vatican is absolutely jaw – dropping, there are no words to describe the magnificence of the halls and the Sistene Chapel. Did you know the main reason for photographs being banned in the Sistene chapel is NOT due to the flash of the camera’s damaging the artwork? It IS infact, due to the fact that a certain Japanese Camera Company bought the RIGHTS to the images of the Sistene years ago? For something like 500 Billion Euros or something insane like that. Did you also know those rights just expired? Hence I ignored the “NO-PHOTOS” guard 🙂 But shhh you didn’t hear it from me!

St Peter’s whether by day or night, is simply spectacular. When it comes to shopping or eating though AVOID products in this area are generally catered to tourists and prices are testimony to that. Highlight of the day, an over friendly waiter, while serving us a Café Latte slight spilled it and exclaimed “ahh you see, you are so beautiful, my body shakes for you !”

4) Campo dei Fiori

Ahhhh where do I start with this eclectic little Piazza? Funnily enough it was one of those places that we literally kept on accidently “stumbling across” (while trying to get to Trastevere or Navona) Its actually very close to Piazza Navona, if you don’t get lost in the alleyways. This Piazza is a MUST SEE. No matter what time of night you arrive 2/ 3/ 4 am the surrounding streets are always buzzing and are hugely popular with tourists and locals alike.

The Big draw card (in the day) is a very famous open air market offering flowers, vegetables, cheap clothes and touristy knickknacks. By night it transforms into a hive of activity with bars/ café’s and teenagers hanging out on the square. Really worth the trip. JUST around the corner is Piazza Farnese, a more tranquil piazza which is home to the jaw-dropping French Embassy “Palazzo Farnese”. The palace was first designed in 1517 for the Farnese Family. Just outside you’ll also see the exquisite bathtub fountains made of granite believed to be from the Baths of Caracalla. If you are a woman, DO NOT walk these ally’s alone , you will get mobbed. There were there of us and we still got mobbed (in a nice way) by about 10 young italian men trying to get us back to the party….

5) Colleseum and the Roman Forum

Often ranked number 1 in the top things to do in Rome.

Every time I visit Rome I have been lucky enough to stay in the Grand Hotel Palatino, which is literally a stone’s throw away. You will also need a full day to visit both of these heritage sites.

The Colosseum was actually originally built as the largest man-made lake under the rule of the Emperor Vespasain around 70–72 AD. The site chosen was a flat area on the floor of a low valley, through which a stream ran. It was devastated by the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64, following which Nero seized much of the area to add to his personal domain. Although the Colossus was preserved, much of the Domus Aurea was torn down. The lake was filled in and the land reused as the location for the new Flavian Amphitheatre Again for the Colosseum I would recommend paying an extra 5 Euros for the official tour which takes you to the “dungeons” where the animals were kept and right to the top. DON’T be fooled by all the “tour guides” outside who will try and charge you double.

The Colosseum is the most extraordinary of all Rome’s monuments. It’s not just the amazing completeness of the place, or its size, but the sense of its gory history that resonates: it was here that gladiators met in mortal combat and condemned prisoners fought off hungry lions and elephants. Two thousand or so years on, it’s still hauling in the crowds. It was able to seat 50 000 spectators, few people also realize that they actually staged “mock” sea-battles here and the arena would be filled with water! Incredible.

The Roman Forum is located in a valley that is between the Palatine hill and the Capitoline hill. It originally was a marsh, but the Romans drained the area and turned it into a center of political and social activity. The Roman Forum is situated in the area between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Starting from the Arch of Septimius Severus, the pathway winds through the most unique place in the world and passes beside the imposing Basilica di Massenzio, one of the most magnificent buildings of Imperial Rome, and ends near the Arch of Titus, where you will get a glimpse of the unmistakable Colloseum.

There’s my top 5 things to do ! Ill post more tips on how to get around, places to eat and all the rest. For now, I have to start planning my next Italian trip! Don’t forget another non-negotiable is to eat your body weight in Gelato every single day 🙂 arrivederci xx

Relationships – Valuing those who mean the most

Posted on by Rebecca

Anais Nin put it beautifully when she said, “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”

Though some people are natural loners and are happy without them, most of us depend greatly on the company of true friends. As with any relationship, friendships bring support and joy and occasionally strife 🙂

As we grow, we realize it becomes less important to have MORE friends and more important to have REAL ones.

If you think about it, life is kind of like a party. You invite a lot of people, some leave early, some stay all night, some laugh with you, some laugh at you, and some show up really late. But in the end, after the fun, there are a few who stay to help you clean up the mess. And most of the time, they aren’t even the ones who made the mess. These people are your real friends in life. They are the ones who matter most.

Heres a couple of things I feel true friends do in fact it kind of relates to your relationships too):

  1. They face problems together. – A person who truly knows and loves you, a real friend, is someone who sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else still believes the smile on your face. Reality is you don’t need a friend who can solve all your problems; you need a friend you will face your problems WITH you. lo
  2. They GIVE what they can. – Truth be told a lot of us enter relationships to get something out of it. We try to find someone who’s going to make us feel good. In reality, the only way a relationship will last, and give us happiness in the long-term, is if we see our relationship/ friendship as a place we go to GIVE, not to take. Contrary to popular believe studies show you gain significant happiness and a sense of purpose from GIVING. It can only be a ‘give and take’ if BOTH SIDES are GIVING. That’s the key.
  3. They make time for each other. –  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot in someone’s life. Never force someone to make a space in their life for you, because if they truly care about you, they will create one for you.
  4. They offer each other freedom. – A healthy relationship/ friendship keeps the doors and windows wide open.   Relationships thrive in this environment. If this person is meant to be in your life, all the open doors and windows in the world won’t make them leave.
  5. They communicate effectively. –  You NEED to get your thoughts OUT. If you have resentment, you must talk it out rather than let the resentment grow. If you are jealous, you must communicate in an open and honest manner to address your insecurities. The most popular myth is that, in relationships,  since you talk to your partner, you’re automatically communicating. But this is generally surface stuff. 80% of communication actually involves listening!
  6. They accept each other as is. – Trying to change a person NEVER works. A real friend is someone who truly knows you, and loves you just the same. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love THE REAL YOU.
  7. They are genuine. – Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don’t over-analyze your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness.   
  8. They compromise.  – Real friends meet in the middle. When there’s a disagreement, they work out a solution that works for both parties – a compromise, rather than a need for the other person to change or completely give in. It may even be that one party may decide to walk away, that it’s not worth the investment. That’s ok too, you have people in your life for different reasons and seasons.
  9. Belief in each other. – Studies of people who grew up in dysfunctional homes but who grew up to be happy and successful show that the one thing they had in common was someone who believed in them. Do this for those you care about. Support their dreams and passions and hobbies. Be nothing but encouraging. Whether they actually accomplish these dreams or not, your belief is of infinite importance to them and you made a difference to someones’ life.
  10. Be Realistic. – No one is happy all the time. Friends must keep realistic expectations of each other.  We are not all “Super-men” we have our day-to-day lives and get caught up in them. It may be that you don’t see your friends for months on end. A true friend is someone who you can see after years and you can pick up right from where you left off.
  11. They honor each other in small ways on a regular basis. – Honor your important relationships in some way every chance you get. Every day you have the opportunity to make your relationship sweeter and deeper by making small gestures, remember the giving? Making one person smile could change THEIR whole world. Your kindness and gratitude matters.It’s all too easy to take someone for granted.
  12. They keep their promises. – Your word means everything. This is HUGE to me, If you say you’re going to do something, DO IT! If you say you’re going to be somewhere, BE THERE! If you say you feel something, MEAN IT!It doesnt mean you can’t ever cancel or change but your word is your integrity, something that is so crucial to never lose.
  13. They stick around. – The sad truth is that there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need. When you no longer serve a purpose to them, they will leave (going back to the seasons). . We rarely lose friends and lovers, we just gradually figure out who our REAL ones are.

“A Real Friend is one who walks in when others walk out” -Walter Winchell

Vision Boards – Turning Dreams into Reality

Vision Boards – Turning Dreams into Reality

Posted on by Rebecca

Are you familiar with vision boards? Have you ever heard of using a vision board to help them to achieve their goals and dreams?

I have to admit I work for a pretty fabulous company, in many many ways. The first thing you would probably notice walking around is that every single one of our walls is a different colour. The Second would be that everyone has a “Vision Board” Hanging above their desks. We call them “Dream Boards”.

If you are not familiar with a vision board, or have never even heard of the term before, let me explain ..

A vision board is a board (poster board, cork board…) where you put images that you aspire towards. They can be images of things you want out of life (a dream vacation, a beautiful house, a fancy car) or they can be visions of things that you want to achieve (one of mine is a working woman, running in stilettos, changing a diaper). Some people have been known to create vision boards of images that they are not 100% sure why they are attracted to them but hold on to them to see if their purpose and meaning becomes clear to them one day.

The purpose of the board is to keep your mind focused on the things you want to achieve in life, or to use it as motivation. The vision board gives your “vision” clarity and helps to keep your attention on your intentions. If you look at it every day it helps you to keep your “eye on the prize”, so to speak. It can also be used as a force to help reinforce your daily affirmations.

Travel

Making a vision board is really easy. You can make a simple one with some poster board. Or you can use a large cork board. I like choosing a colour for the board that resonates with me.

Once you have the board you are going to use the next step is to go through magazines and cut out images that stand out to you and that you are drawn too. Perhaps it’s a photo of a beautiful beach, that M3 we would all love to drive. If you are like me, Jimmy Choos would probably feature alot, in amongst the shiny rings.

After you have finished collecting pictures your next step is create a collage or arrange them on the board. I also have cut out letters to spell words that are important to me, “Happiness” and “Travel”. The board is YOURS so it has to make sense to you and only you. Don’t worry about what others think.

Image

Once you have the pictures arranged you need to attach them to the board. Glue if its a board, pins if a cork board. You get the picture, i dont need to do step by step.

After your board is complete you need to hang it some place where you can look at it each and every day.

Look back and update it every 3 years or so. Vision board is kind of similar to writing down your top 10 goals for the year and looking back at what you have achieved. It kind of links in to “The Secret” with putting your dreams into the universe. You will be amazed at how much you can achieve if your dreams are hanging in front of you!

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Do you have a vision board? I would love to hear about it. If you have been inspired to make one for yourself, what kind of images do you think your board would have?

Here’s one step closer to living our dreams x

Happiness is……

Posted on by Rebecca

Ok its official, my work life had taken over the last month or so. Im sorry 🙁 On the plus side the results are showing, but a blog is way way overdue.

Seeing as though ive set aside 2012 to be the year for me i thought I’d write about me, and who I am.

Sometimes life gets in the way of “happiness”. It’s hard to stay focused when people, events and dreams blur around you. Before you know it you work, come home and crash, wake up, work, come home and crash again. The cycle pulls you in. Holding on to what’s important sometimes feels as though it’s slipping away…But I’ve got a strong grasp 🙂

Sometimes when im feeling lost, I need to reconnect to happiness. It’s best just to be alone, take a “time-out”

I need to remind myself of what I love. It’s noticing the beauty that envelopes me. It’s being surrounded by children or animals, both give you unconditional love. It’s wearing the baggiest sweater ive had since high school. It’s driving with the windows down and the music up. It’s feeling the wind through my hair and the sunlight on my face (The ultimate).

Then it’s silence. And warmth. And love. And coming home to my very best friend. And for that, I am reminded and grateful for all the sweet blessings in life.

How do you reconnect to keep your happiness?

Who I Am…

                                                                           I am…unique

I want…a proper home, with a garden

I have…so much happiness.

I wish…to travel the world.

I hate…judgemental people

I fear…losing the people I love

I hear…life all around me, laughter.

I search…for the good in people

I wonder…about the stars and what life will bring

I regret…nothing, because I am where life needs me to be.

I love…my family. More than anything.

I ache…when I see suffering in the world.

I always…try to be better today than yesterday.

I usually…listen to my music really loud.

I am not…going to allow anyone to define me, ever.

I dance…when someone is watching, and when they aren’t, in fact I dance all the time

I sing…when no-one is around

I never…go to bed with makeup on.

I sometimes…wish I was born into royalty

I cry…every time I watch Grey’s Anatomy

I am not always…rational.

I am confused…by mean people.

I need…to live up to my dreams

I should…never stop trying.

Who Are You?

(Post idea from Our Love Never Fails)

Crazy for Cinnamon Rolls …

Posted on by Rebecca

Cinnamon Rolls have to be one of my all-time favourite treats. Honestly, it’s one of those foods that I have no “stop button” for; I can literally eat one after the next, after the next. My Obsession for them started when I lived in the States in 2004, I went through a period of withdrawal until “Cinnabon” opened up its doors in South Africa. It was only on going back to the states recently did I actually realise how SIMPLE they were to make at home, and how utterly delicious they make your kitchen smell! A little bit of prep is required, slip on your favourite stilettos and you’ll feel like an instant Nigella! Seriously, if you live in an apartment complex ALL of your neighbours will come visit 🙂

 

 

 

You’ll notice most of my recipes I blog about are generally Sweet Treats/ Desserts. This is because when I cook I generally never measure anything or write down etc. Baking however, proves to be more of an exact art. Enjoy the recipe, I hope you love them as much as I do 🙂

 

Dough:

  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (from 2 envelopes yeast)
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Filling:

  • 3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

Glaze:

  • Around ½ cup cream cheese, room temperature (114grams)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

 

For dough:
Combine milk and butter in glass bowl. Microwave on high until butter melts and mixture is just warmed, 30 to 45 seconds. Add 1 cup of the flour, sugar, egg, yeast, and salt. Beat on low speed 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Add 2 1/2 cups flour. Mix until flour is absorbed and dough is sticky. If dough is very sticky, add more flour by tablespoonful’s until dough begins to form ball and pulls away from sides of bowl. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if sticky. Form into ball.

Lightly oil a large bowl. Transfer dough to bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.

 

For filling:
Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl.

Punch down dough. Transfer to floured work surface. Roll out to 15×11-inch rectangle. Spread butter over dough, leaving 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over butter. Starting at 1 long side, roll dough into log, pinching gently to keep it rolled up. Cut dough at an angle with thin sharp knife into 18 equal slices

Spray two 9-inch square glass baking dishes with nonstick spray. Divide rolls between baking dishes, arranging cut side up (there will be almost no space between rolls). Cover baking dishes with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until almost doubled in volume, 40 to 45 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 180 Degrees Celsius. Bake rolls until tops are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and invert immediately onto rack. Cool 10 minutes. Turn rolls right side up.

For glaze:
Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla in medium bowl. Beat until smooth. Spread glaze on rolls. Serve warm or at room temperature.

 

If these dont fill your entire body with a deliciously divine sensation… then there is no hope 🙂  They are Dii-freakin-vine, and play a round a bit, they are super yummy with Pecan Nuts too!

Raspberry Tarlets – helping me cure my berry addiction

Posted on by Rebecca

Best Raspberry Tartlet Recipe

There’s something about summer and berries that goes hand in hand. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, im addicted!

I love the “quintessential” look to tartlets. They are so easy to make and the reward is HUGE! Tarlets can make any amateur chef feel like a professional!
Sweet shortcrust pastry
2¼ cups plain flour
1/4 cup icing sugar
125g unsalted butter, softened
2 x large eggs eggs

3-4 punnets fresh raspberries

1. For sweet shortcrust pastry, combine flour and icing sugar in food processor, process to combine. Add butter and process to fine crumbly texture. Add eggs and process until pastry comes together. Knead lightly on floured surface until base is smooth, pat the top to flatten slightly then wrap in baking paper and refrigerate 20 minutes or until firm enough to roll out.
2. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan forced).

3. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface, use pastry to line base and sides of 6-9 medium sized tartlet pans (I use the ones with removable bottoms) OR you can use a 3cm deep, 24cm loose-based tart tin. Trim off any excess pastry, prick the base all over with a fork, then refrigerate for 10 minutes.

4. Place sheet of baking paper over the pastry and three-quarters fill with raw rice or beans. Bake blind for 15 minutes or until edges are light golden. Remove paper and rice and bake further 10 minutes or until base is dry and pastry golden. Set aside to cool in tins. Transfer pastry cases to serving platter.

Creme patissiere is the smooth custard filling for fruit tarts. It is quite easy to make and you should get a really smooth custard with this method. I really like to play around and for an added touch of “exoticness” sometimes I use half milk, half coconut milk to add a zing!

Ingredients

• 2 egg yolks

• 50g castor sugar

• 25g plain four

• 1 1/4 cups milk (full cream) – feel free to play with coconut milk too!

• A Vanilla Pod

• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar

1. Gradually beat in the flour with just one tablespoon of the milk.

2. Place the rest of the milk in a heavy bottomed saucepan, Cut Vanilla Pod in half and scrape out seeds. Bring this infusion to boil and remove Pod.

3. Whisk this into the egg mixture in a slow stream – ensuring that you whisk continuously so as it does not go lumpy. (by using a balloon whisk you should have no problems with this)

4. Return the mixture to the saucepan and place back on the heat. Continue to whisk until boiling (just a few seconds ) then remove from heat and continue whisking and cooking for 2 – 3 minutes.

Allow to cool.

Pour into a dish and keep in a refrigerator until you are ready to fill your pastry shells.

Allow shells to cool, feel with creamy yummy-ness and top with raspberries and icing sugar! Best served outside, in a garden, lying down, on a picinic blanket 🙂 yummmmy I LOVE summer x

Beautiful Botswana

Beautiful Botswana

Posted on by Rebecca

One of the biggest things that I love about Africa is that you are never far from nature. Seriously, in Botswana you have to slow down on our “highway” for baboons and warthog to cross the road 🙂

For me, moving to the city from the “bush”, being with nature is probably something I miss the most. Things like having a proper garden, being surrounded by thick veld and waking up in the middle of the night because some bushbaby is making a weird noise 🙂 So every year I try and get back to that. (Even though it involves close encounters with Snakes and Scorpions 🙂 )

 This Blog is owed to “Beautiful Botswana”. My Heart, my Life, My soul is with this dusty, heat filled country 🙂

This year I want to encourage all people that live in Botswana to also “keep it local”. So often with small towns, all you want to do for a holiday is make a break for it overseas or out of the country. I realised after speaking to so many expats living there how incredibly blessed we are in Botswana, and how much by living there you take it for granted. We have the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Nxai Pans and even the vast emptiness of the Tuli Block we literally are spoilt for choice when it comes to “Bush Breaks”.

Nxai (the x= a clicking sound) Pan is 2500 square kilometer game reserve. It is a large area of very flat savannah/grasslands. I shockingly have never even been there myself!
In Botswana,  typically in the rainy season you avoid going on “safari” as the bush gets too thick, but Nxai Pan blossoms. Thousands of Zebra migrate to the area with their young.
It is also the only place you will see both springbok and impala in the same area.
Nxai pan has many different species including: gemsbock, giraffe, impala, springbok, lions (lots of them) cheetahs, leopard, wildebeest, bat eared fox, jackals, honeybadgers, to name a few ! So for all the “mini-breaks” this year why not explore what we have? GOAL FOR THIS YEAR? GO CAMPING IN THE NXAI PANS! Anyone keen to join me?

I love Africa. I love Botswana.

Tuli Block is an area of land in the far Southeastern border of Botswana and South Africa. It acted a barrier between Bechuanaland (Botswana) and the South African Boer Farmers in 1895.In the Tuli block the Limpopo River and the Notwane River converge. Tuli today is made up of multiple private game reserves and private farms/residences. Little of the area is fences and the animals are allowed to roam . This is true Botswana, Red Soil, Miles of Thorn trees and random animals everywhere!

 Chobe National Park. Chobe is over 11700 square kilometres of protected area and rated one of the best safaries in Africa it has the largest population of elephants about 120,000. Infact they are causing a bit of a problem in the area ! Its also a bird lovers’ paradise. You’ll also probably get to see the most Hippo’s out of water you have ever seen!

Every December we try to go to Chobe (Kasane). The Chobe River is the border between Botswana and Nambia. There is an island called Sidudu at the border between Botswana and Namibia where buffalos, impala, lechewe, Puku (if you are lucky) and elephants and Hippos graze. It honestly holds some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Elephant casually crossing the Road
Fish Eagles galore
Hitching a Lift
The rare Puku

Lets talk more about those skies, In Botswana there is not a single day that passes where we do not see an amazing sunrise or sunset.
During the day the sky is a crisp blue. Some days…..a clear blue sky that goes forever….Other days full of cute puffy cotton ball clouds.

The sky is even more amazing during rain. The thunderstorms here are AWESOME displays of lighting and thunder with enormous clouds looming and you see rain falling kilometers off in the distance.

So Keep it Local Guys, we are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful place. For those readers that have never been to Botswana, it will change your world forever 🙂 The people, the culture, the hot air. It gets under your skin and will never leave xx

PS: Two great websites about Botswana? www.gaboronecity.com and www.safaris-in-botswana.com

Christmas and Summer Desserts…

Posted on by Rebecca

I cannot believe its nearly Christmas… I have T minus 3 days left at work! I cant Wait! Seriously behind on the Christmas shopping, have lots of little things but still need two main gifts for my family… Where do you start??

On Friday we fly to Cape Town for 4 days of utter RELAXATION! NOT THINKING ABOUT WORK! Enjoying the beautiful scenery, walking on beaches and just spending quality time, (hopefully I’ll spot a couple of sharks). This body needs to catch up on a whole year of summer so the weather better play along !

Then its off to the Beautiful Botswana to spend some quality time with my closest Friends and Family. I don’t know what it is about Botswana but I am always so so excited to go back! The heat, the bush, quality relationships… It’s the simple things.Rounding off the holidays is a trip to the incredible Chobe National Park. Two of my favourite places in the world are the Okavango Delta (probably one of the most majestic places ever) and Chobe National Park. Chobe is in the North of Botswana and Borders Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. Never short of activities you can even take day trips to the Victoria Falls!! ( I will most certainly Blog about this trip)

Holidays, whether you Celebrate Christmas or not. It’s a time to always spend with Friends and Family, get togethers and beautiful memories. Of course with that comes Food 🙂 Lots and Lots of food… This year there will only be 4 of us at the Christmas Table (And my brother is a strict Vegan) but trust me we will still have the whole “shebang” and probably end up cooking for 10!

So here are my two recipes for the festive season (Trust me in the last 2 weeks I have made these desserts 4 times!!!)

Strawberries-and-Cream-Cheesecake 

Recipe:

(Cake Days by The Hummingbird Bakery – Possibly the best baking book ever)

For the base:

220 g ground biscuits (tennis/ marie)

100g butter, melted

For the filling:

200gr fresh strawberries (chopped)

180gr castor sugar

600gr Cream Cheese

2 eggs

Place the strawberries in a saucepan with 80gr of the sugar and 30ml of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until the strawberries are soft and the liquid has reduced by half. Set aside until completely cold.

Preheat the oven to 160℃. Prepare the filling by beating together the CREAM CHEESE and the remaining sugar on a medium speed until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time. Pour in the cooked strawberries (plus the syrup!) and stir in by hand.

Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin and bake for ca. 45mins. Allow the cheesecake to cool to room temperature still in the tin, then place in the fridge to chill and set for 1-2 hours.

For the topping:

100gr mascarpone

20gr icing sugar

100ml double cream

Beat the mascarpone and icing sugar on a medium speed until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the double cream until soft peaks form. Then fold the double cream into the mascarpone mixture. BE VERY CAREFUL HERE, YOU CAN OVERBEAT IT VERY EASILY.

Spread on top of the cheesecake and chill again for 1 hour. Decorate cheesecake with fresh strawberries.

BEST CHEESECAKE YOU WILL EVER TASTE (THAT’S A PROMISE)

AND PERFECT FOR A SUMMER DAY …. PAVLOVA!

3 egg whites

175g sugar

1 tsp cornflour

½ tsp vanilla essence

½ tsp white vinegar

  1. Preheat the oven to 130 Degrees C and place the rack in middle of the oven. Line a baking tray with foil and draw a 7 inch circle on the foil OR just use a pie/ flan dish.
  2. In a clean, medium-sized glass bowl, beat the egg whites with a clean electric mixer on medium speed. Beat until the whites form soft peaks.
  3. Gently sprinkle the sugar into the egg whites, one teaspoon at a time. Returning egg white mixture to the same stiffness each time. Beat and Beat and Beat (the more you beat the better 🙂 ) Your egg whites should now be glossy stiff peaks.
  4. Sprinkle the cornstarch and vinegar on the meringue and fold in gently with a plastic spatula. Add the vanilla and gently fold the mixture again.
  5. Spread the meringue in the container. Make sure the edges of the meringue are slightly higher then the centre so you have a very slight well in the middle.
  6. Bake the meringue for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until it goes a very pale, pinkish colour.
  7. Turn the oven off and leave the door slightly ajar to let the meringue cool completely. As the meringue cools, it will crack slightly.
  8. Whip the cream. Prepare the fruit by washing and slicing. (Two options: a beautiful combination of strawberries, bannanas and kiwis OR a berry Pavlova (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries etc)
  9. Gently spread the cream to the top of the meringue with a spatula and arrange the fruit on top. Either Serve immediately or cool in the fridge a bit 🙂

 

Remember as well that it is definitely the season for giving! Even the smallest act of kindness can have a HUGE impact on anothers life, from a simple item of clothing to a soccer ball. Show your kindness to others by giving.

Happy Happy Holidays to all! To my family spread around the world, I love and miss you all so so much, Holidays are never the same without you x

Weekend MasterChef Experience

Posted on by Rebecca

So for my family far and away I thought i’d document my MasterChef experience.
Frame the Scene:

I got home from work at around 19h00 Friday night, thought i’d take a “quick nap” only to re-open my eyes at 23h00 still having to make my “trio of summer desserts” eek! Menu plan was Mini Pavlova’s, Mini Strawberry Cheesecake and a Mini Vanilla Pana Cotta drizzled with Raspberry Coulis.

Panna Cotta is easy breasy:

  • 2 cups cream (I use one thick cream, one normal)
  • ½ cup full cream milk
  • ½ cup double cream greek yoghurt
  • 1 Masterfoods vanilla bean
  • 1/2 cup (115g) caster sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp gelatine powder
  1. Place the cream and milk in a saucepan. Use a small sharp knife to split the vanilla bean lengthways, then scrape the seeds from inside the bean. Add the seeds and bean to the saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil over a medium heat.
  2. Discard bean from cream mixture. Add sugar and return to a low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until sugar dissolves.
  3. Sprinkle gelatin over warmed milk (I pour it in a glass bowl and hold it above the steam from cream, adds to dissolving). Stir into cream mixture till dissolved, then add yoghurt
  4. Lightly oil 6 x 1/2 cup (125ml) dariole moulds or ramekins. Place on a tray and pour in cream mixture. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
  5. To serve, break the seal by inserting a small knife between the Panna cotta and the mould. Turn onto a serving plate and shake to release. Serve with Raspberry Coulis (basically just 300g raspberries plus about 1/3 cup icing sugar pureed together).

The Strawberry cheesecake is quite complex – I will need a whole blog just for that. Its got about 5 different steps from making the base, to making a strawberry syrup, to the topping (each stage needs to cool which is tedious). Pavolva is also quite simple.

Cut a long story short I went to sleep at around 05h00 am. Alarm set from 06h20 to get up and get ready to go through to auditions.

I bought a nifty cooler box on wheels from Cape Union Mart, along with around 10 ice bricks. Your dish HAD to be between 0-4 Degrees Celsius, if not then you get turned away. *Paranoid* I got there at almost 09h00 on the dot. The queue was INTENSE, I never thought I’d reach the front, however, I did meet some pretty awesome people in line. All of us abolutely focused on our “Ice” NOT melting, trying to keep cooler boxes in the shade. My 3rd dish was the Pavlova, and I had visions of getting to the front only to realise all the cream had melted and fallen off the meringue.

Props to all of the organizers of MasterChefSa, the auditions were exceptionally well organised. WoolworthsSA had people handed out free drinks and mixed snack packs (awesome thanks guys). There were some extremely theatrical ushers along the way to keep us entertained. The queue moved fairly quickly, reached the front at around 11h00. Plated up and entered the room of terror (now my hands were really shaking, did not aid me in trying to plate up the dish).

The Judges give NOTHING away, you cannot read their faces at all and all they do is tick a “symbol” (we are still trying to decode them 🙂 ) and then you move through to the next room! “CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE THROUGH !” WOOO HOO! On to the next round! (That alone was enough for me 🙂 ). 5 of us got clumped together and had a “Group Interview”, Not going into detail from this point as KZN and CPT still need to audition but finally finished at 21h00 that night.. Looong Day.

Typical me I forgot to take pic’s of my dishes plated up!! GourmetGuys, wish you could have caught me, I would have had backup!

I will tell you what the prize is though !!

  1. R250 000 in Cash to realise your culinary dream
  2. Hyundai Elantra 1.6 GLS
  3. An all expenses paid trip to Italy for 7 days , including an Italian Cookery Course (read my previous blog to see how much I love Italy)
  4. A Customised Sommelier course
  5. And ….. The MondoVino restaurant at Southern Sun’s Monte Casino

Now the wait begins.. Final Results out around Christmas…Its going to be a long wait.

The Next day, Sunday the 4th was my Love’s Birthday ! YAY! I love getting a whole day as an excuse to spoil someone !

Due to the lack of sleep the night before woke up LATE and went through to Cassalinga in Muildersdrift area. Beautiful long lunches, rolling green grass and fresh, fresh vegetables. Order of the day was a combination of Pesto Lasagne, Fresh Kingklip, Baby Marrow Soup and the most divine Crème Brulee. The glacèd Fruit they bring at the end is just the cherry on top!

 

So everyone who reads this, keep sending positive thoughts my way (There is nothing more I can do except wait. Maybe if people Retweet the blog one of the producers will see it and ill get the “final” final cut 🙂 ). And also HAPPY HAPPY Birthday Ahmed! You are my love, my life, (and without you saying “puulleaase I want to see you on MasterChef”, I would never have done it 🙂

One Step Close to living MY Dream !

xx