Banana Muffins

Banana Muffins

Posted on by Rebecca

Banana Muffins are a firm favourite in our house and the perfect way to use up bananas that are a little over ripe. I love this recipe because it is so versatile and you can add in additions as you please. It’s the perfect spin on classic banana bread.

Baked in just under 30 minutes, these banana muffins are the perfect teatime or lunchbox treat. Add in some nuts and you have a healthy version or go with decadent chocolate chips for an indulgent treat. I normally divide my mixture into two and do half and half. You could even add in some blueberries or strawberries to make a banana berry muffin! YUM YUM!

Some tips when it comes to making Banana Muffins:

  • Don’t skimp on your butter
  • Mash your bananas well
  • Don’t over bake

You can easily print out the recipe below to try at home! Enjoy xx

Print Recipe

Banana Muffins

Soft and Moist Banana Muffins so versatile that you can add either chunky chocolate chips, or nuts A firm favourite in our house and the perfect way to use up bananas that are a little over ripe. It's the perfect spin on classic banana bread.

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Dessert

Ingredients

  • 120 grams softened unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup granulated light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 over ripe bananas
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • 1 cup chunky chocolate chips/ nuts of choice

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven to 180 Degrees Celsius.
  • Cream together softened butter and sugar and gradually add in the eggs.
  • Add in mashed bananas and vanilla extract and mix until well blended.
  • In a separate bowl sift all the dry ingredients together.
  • Fold in the dry ingredients into the wet until well incorporated.
  • Fold in your chocolate chips or buts (or both), leaving a few to sprinkle on top.
  • Pour muffin mix into well prepared tins and bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Notes

TOP TIP: Don’t skimp on the butter. This is the only liquid in this mixture so if you feel the batter comes out a little too thick add in a little more or a tablespoon of oil.
5 Ways to Play with Salt – Creating Art with Salt

5 Ways to Play with Salt – Creating Art with Salt

Posted on by Rebecca

Remember the old age saying, “don’t play with your food”? Well here I am encouraging you to get messy with your kids. It is the most fabulous base for a number of activities, but we have picked our top 5.

Lets start with making your own coloured salt/”sand”, it couldn’t be easier. In fact, you could even make that an activity in itself!

How to make coloured sand

There are two ways – the first takes a little longer but is really fun to get the kids involved. That’s using chalk. Take a sheet of card and place it on a baking tray. Pour some fine salt over the card, and rub the chalk through the salt, grinding it up. As it mixes with the salts the colour will transfer, and you will end up making a pretty picture on the sheet of card as well.

The other way takes about 5 minutes of prep time. Pour salt into some glad seal bags . Pour some food colouring or paint into the bags and mix, mix, mix. Pour the coloured salt onto a tray to dry.

Sensory Play with Salt

The options are truly endless here, and we have only just started exploring ways to play with salt. It makes the most incredible base for sensory play and we have used it often in our mini world play.

Watercolour raised salt painting.

This is a great Science based activity for kinds, allowing them to see how colour spreads through the salt. Do it with plain uncoloured salt for maximum effect. You can do this with salt rocks/sea salt as well as fine iodized salt. Draw a pattern with glue onto some card and pour the salt onto the glue and let it dry. Taking some watercolours, or a dropper/pipette and dab it onto the dried crystals. Watch as the colour spreads!

Salt Tray Writing

This is a great activity for older kids to practise their writing skills, and younger kids to learn cause and effect. Its literally like “writing in the sand”. It’s great for encouraging creativity and is actually a proven “calm down” method. Who doesn’t love a “zen garden”? Use a paint brush to practise pincer grip or simply let the kids use their fingers to trace in the sand.

Coloured Salt Jars

This is a fabulous activity for concentration and these little jars make perfect DIY gifts. Simply fill any small clear jar with different coloured sand. I love the contrast of using plain white between. It gets the kids scooping, funnelling and they will be amazed by the different layers once its complete. You can also turn these into the most incredible candles, but that’s a different blog post all together.

Coloured Salt Painting.

Similar to raised salt painting, but using coloured salt from the beginning. You can create the most glorious art pictures. We tried to do some Rangoli art (not very successfully), but I used it as a lesson to teach the kids about the Diwali festival. I’m definitely going to use this in our Ramadan art this year.

Create your own bath salts.

We have been making our own bath salts for a while and recently I’ve been experimenting more with adding essential oils into them. An easy recipe is as follows, you can choose to add in an essential oils if you wish:

  • 1 1/2 cup of Epsom Salts
  • 1/2 cup of Sea Salt
  • 1/3 cup baking soda

So there you have it! 5 ways to “play” with your salt ! Have you tried any other ways to incorporate salt into your sensory play or art? I’d love to see your works of art, if you are on Instagram, please tag me at @inthesestilettos !

Hot Wheels Friction Car Review

Hot Wheels Friction Car Review

Posted on by Rebecca

A few weeks ago we were sent some Hot Wheels Friction cars to test out and review. The boys have been avid hot wheels fanatics since the day they learnt they could push a car and we have gotten creative in a number of ways with our smaller die cast toys. I’ll be honest though, as they get older, they are leaning more towards bigger cars and cars with “special features” so I jumped at the chance when I heard about these.

The Hot Wheels Friction Car features light effects, realistic sounds and all of the quality you would expect from a brand such as Hot Wheels. In comes in an assortment of 3 different colours and takes 3xAG13 batteries. There is always something so magical about Hot Wheel cars.

So what did we think?

I love that Hot Wheels are creating bigger cars and are diversifying more than the traditional “die cast collectables” and race tracks. The cars have an awesome friction system that moves by pressing it down and back. The boys had a blast racing each other along the corridors and the cars even do a cool “drift” thing and turn around. According to Yusuf, he likes the sound the best and according to Aadam, he likes the “speed and lights”. In terms of age range, they would be perfectly suited for 3-4 year olds. The features are basic enough for younger kids to play with. They are incredibly hardy and wont break easily, trust me, my boys tested them against the walls and stairs!

What’s in the box?
1 x Hot Wheels friction car with lights and sound.

We also got sent a Hot Wheels – Friction Asst. This doesn’t require any batteries and is a super entry level basic friction car. It comes in 4 assorted designs, rubber wheels and a friction feature. My little one loved driving this through the sand, and because there are no batteries this one can safely be dragged through mud and water without any concern.

Price and where to buy:

These Hot Wheels are avaliable from Takealot.com, Laceys, Toys R Us and most leading retailers.

Hot Wheels Friction Car with Lights and Sound (15cm) //RSP: R120

Hot Wheels Fast machine Friction  //RSP: R400

Hot Wheels Friction Car with Lights and Sound (25CM)// RSP R230

Playing with cars isn’t just for “fun” and there are several important lessons to learn, including cause and effect, physics and friction. Not to mention a little healthy competition with racing 🙂 So if you are still looking for a Christmas present for your 3 to 6 year old car fanatic; these Hot Wheels are a pretty awesome option.

Disclaimer – We were sent these toys to review, but all opinions are my own.

Looking Back at 2019 – SA Blog Awards

Looking Back at 2019 – SA Blog Awards

Posted on by Rebecca

WOW WOW WOW, What a year 2019 has been. Highs, lows, changes, babies, houses… At the end of each year I always like to look back on all that I have achieved and how we have grown as a family. Its so important to take a step back to recognise how far we have come.

On the blog side I have hit so many of my personal targets and worked with brands that I used to dream about. I am so incredibly grateful to you, my readers, for allowing me to grow on this journey with you. So THANK YOU THANK YOU, for supporting me and helping me to reach my dreams. I hope you have found inspiration and guidance when you needed it the most.

Once again, I have decided to enter the SA Blog Awards. I know many people have various things to say about the Blog Awards, but these awards are decided by you, the public. Its all of you who get to vote and decide. I have big dreams planned for my little happy space, and hopefully, together, we can get there. Please support me in this, by clicking on this link . I have entered into two categories, both are full of absolutely incredible bloggers and content creators, so even if I just made an appearance I’d be happy. Once voted, you will receive an email to verify your vote, which takes about 15 seconds – please do so, otherwise your vote is not verified. You can also vote by clicking on the badge on the right hand panel my home page. Voting ends on 31 December and it would mean the world to me to have your support.

Looking back at this year, we certainly received our greatest blessing with a healthy beautiful Raya Maryam being born into our family. She has completed our puzzle and is everyone’s absolute favourite being. The calm to our chaos. We have conquered and climbed the initial breastfeeding mountain and are comfortably in a routine now with solids and feeding. Mamas – the first 3 months are hell, but hang in there! It does get better! Incredibly grateful for all the support we have received and for the beautiful baby shower held by my Megan.

Aadam successfully completed grade R, and moves on up into the world of “grades” next year. He has been absolutely amazing to watch this year. From the tears and separation anxiety we battled in the beginning of the year, to literally running into school each day, he even asked to stay on for aftercare! Such huge milestones that we so quickly forget about. He excelled in his cricket and swimming and is an absolute joy to watch as he learns to write and read.

Our little Yusuf is as cheeky as ever, at 4 years old he thinks he is the boss of everyone, and if he could, he would live off cakes and sweets. Even though he acts all tough and confident, secretly he is the one whose confidence I need to build the most. He needs his mama so much still and I have tremendous guilt for not spending enough one on one time with him. He has learnt to swim like a “big boy” now, and gets hugely frustrated if his brother does something that he cant do yet.

On a personal note some of my highlights were working with some of my favourite brands, on campaigns close to my heart. Walking down the runway at 7 months pregnant with Jet; focusing on “self-love” and embracing women of all shapes and sizes. I also got to brand rep for my favourite maternity brand, Cherry Melon whose clothes I am STILL wearing, 8 months post partum! The boys got to do some “modelling” (kind of) for Keedo, a proudly South African brand that is VERY close to my heart. I am eternally grateful !

I managed to juggle the work-life thing…sometimes failing but mostly swimming. I realized that I will never be the “stepford wife” but that’s OK. It’s OK to forget things from time to time. The fact that I remembered P.E. and swimming days, what costume is needed when, charity days and afternoon activities MOST of the time, is enough for me. As long as my babies know how much their mama loves them, and as long as I raise kind, generous, hard working children – my job as a parent is done. We kept crafting this year, and had a bigger focus on more educational experiences. Learning behind what we “played” with. Some of my favourites were the “Dino Dig” Sensory tray, “Lifecycle of a frog”, Crafting with Cardboard, Outback Aussie and the collaboration we did with House of York.

We grew, not only in the number in our family, but as individuals as the boys become their own independent kids. We baked (a lot), from collaborations with Pillsbury to cookies with M&M’s we certainly got creative (and a little fatter). I also fully embraced my Instant Pot, I literally use it several times a week and enjoyed getting creative in the kitchen again!

We went farming, it wouldn’t be a year without it 🙂 From Dairy Cows to Strawberry picking, nothing makes me happier then being outdoors and in nature with the kids. We also explored the Drakensburg for the first time and I’m already yearning to go back. (Full blog post coming soon)

I ramped up our “What to do in Joburg” Series with a focus on FREE entertainment. With the economy in South Africa being the way it is, we all need a bit of relief from all the spending, and I updated our ultimate list of places to go with the kids for 2019 . As a mom to young kids these are invaluable, I know I certainly am always on the look out for new places. The latest one is on my festive entertainment guide for 2019.

Lastly, I focused a bit more on beauty (as I try to gain some of my youth back). I started exploring collagen more, and tried drinking it in a shake! I took care of my body with Bio-Oil and Natralogic and focused more on what goes into my skin, using products from Dermalogica and Skin & Tonic. I also took back my hair (take that post-partum hair loss) 🙂 Allowing myself to splurge a little is OK if it makes me feel good. Nicho from XOXO Studio certainly knows how to give my hair that va va voom. Invest in yourselves mamas, every little bit helps.

It certainly was a jam packed year and one that holds the best memories. Life is about making the most of EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. Making an impact on every single person you meet . It’s too short to be spent unhappy or complaining. Embrace the positive around you and be grateful for all that you have. That’s the main purpose of this post, Gratitude. For all the opportunities I have had, and all the new connections and friends made. For all the lessons I have learnt (some tough), and all the future that lies ahead. I also have big plans for this little blog of mine, and I hope to continue to grow and learn. If you want to , please take a look at the SA Blog awards, but more importantly; THANK YOU, for being a part of this parenting community. If there is any other content you would like, or advice you need let me know, I value you more than you know!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Cybex e-Priam Review – When strollers meet technology

Cybex e-Priam Review – When strollers meet technology

Posted on by Rebecca

Well, the future of baby transport is here and it is clearly very “electrifying”! Baby gear brand Cybex, are known for their fashion forward designs, and they recently launched the first ever “e-stroller”, the e-Priam.

Festive Guide To Gauteng 2019

Festive Guide To Gauteng 2019

Posted on by Rebecca

Its that time of year !!! I cannot actually comprehend how quickly this year has passed, and it is literally one year to the day since I last wrote my festive guide. This time next week, my eldest will officially be on school holidays, which means, i’ll be left thinking of ways to entertain the family, trying to think of places to go. We have another “staycation” upon us this year, so I’m trying to get creative and explore new areas. If you have any suggestions, lay them all on me as we road trip around as a family of 5.

If you are looking for activities to do at home with the kids, have a look at my “Activities for Kids” tab on the website. I have endless activities and ideas to entertain your kids.

For a full list of my favourite places to take kids (of all ages), have a look at my Keeping Kids Entertained in Joburg Article.

Now onto December specific events and places:

Festive themed events

The Lion King live in concert

I’m plugging this into “festive themed” because there is no better way to kick of the holiday season then by taking in this epic production. The advert literally gives me goosebumps! Accompanied by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, this will be a movie experience unlike any other you have had before. This is the perfect family-fun filled activity to get your holiday spirit going! It will be on at the Sun Arena – Times square from Tuesday, 10 December 2019 – Thursday, 12 December 2019. Tickets available through Computicket and start from R150.

Destination Christmas with Melrose Arch

The lights are officially up so I can declare festive open in Gauteng 🙂 Melrose Arch always has the prettiest light display. Go early to avoid the crowds and book a table somewhere after for dinner.

Garden of Lights – Emperors Palace

The return of the Garden of Lights – one of my favourite festive season events – and this year, it promises to offer even more fun for the whole family. Featuring a winter wonderland, light extravaganza and yuletide adventure, all rolled into one. The event will set Gauteng skies alight in the picturesque gardens the five-star Peermont D’oreale Grande hotel at Emperors Palace. It runs from 29 November 2019 to 05 January 2020 and opens from 19h00 – 22h00.

Joburg Zoo Festival Of Lights

1 December 2019 to 5 January 2020

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, lets face it, everyone loves fairy lights. They hold so much magic and beauty. The festival of lights at the Zoo is expected to be their biggest yet and features a collection of illuminated life-size animal characters with classical, harmonious performances, food and craft markets for visitors. Take a stroll through the zoo on a designated illuminated route away from the enclosures and under the captivating, lit up trees.Get there early in December to catch a classical performance of the Nutcracker by Joburg Ballet who will perform in the bandstand from 1 – 8 December. It opens from 7pm until 10pm each night and tickets are R60 for kids and R120 for adults.

The Nutcracker’s Winter Circus

11th of December 2019 – 5th of January 2020.

The Nutcracker’s Winter Circus returns exclusively to Sandton City and its bigger, better and back for another spectacular season. Without a doubt, this was one of my highlights last year and it was watched by nearly 22 000 people! This year’s adventure includes creative master puppetry, set to bring a host of fun and fantastical characters to life, with the Parade of the Animals, adding a captivating new dimension to the show.

There are four performances daily at 10h30, 12h30, 15h30 and 17h30, seven days a week, (excl. Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill and New Year’s Day). Tickets are available from www.ticketpros.co.za at a cost R20 online (with no charge for children under three years) or by visiting selected Edgars, CNA, Jet, POSTNET stores. Tickets are also available at the door for a R30 fee. This is a a fairy tale fit for the whole family.

Peter Pan on Ice

6 December 2019 – 11 January 2020

Oooohhhhh but my boys are excited for this one! They watched the original movie the other day at home and we drive past the billboards every morning. There is no getting away from watching it!

Take a journey to Neverland in this classic tale of magic and make-believe, spectacularly staged on real ice. The show included a whopping 23 former World, European and National Championship-level skaters. Collectively, the entire cast holds more than 250 competition medals and will bring their athletic and artistic talents to retell J M Barrie’s well-loved story of Peter Pan. It will be held in the Teatro, every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday for the duration. Tickets range from R150-R475 pp and are available through Computicket.

Christmas Festival With The Lipizzaners

Every weekend from the 9th December through to the 22nd.

Held at the Lipizzaner Centre in Kyalami, these beautiful “dancing” horses are historic in Joburg. A wonderful outing for the whole family, this is a magical morning.

Walter Sisulu Wonderland of Lights

1 December 2019- 4 January 2020

There was a bit of a hiccup earlier in the year with their winter light set up, but lessons learnt and this promises to be one for the whole family to enjoy. There are a number of Carol nights lined up, so keep an eye on their facebook page for more detail.

T

Theatre

I actually don’t know where to start, there are some incredible shows on. If your in the mood for something a little more cultural, why not take in one of Joburg’s holiday shows?

I’ve already mentioned Peter Pan on Ice that will be showing at Monte Casino until 11 January – that’s top of our list, but here are a few more, locally produced shows that you should try to check out.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr.

2 November 2019 to 22 December 2019

The People’s theatre brings this childhood favourite to life. Based on the beloved film version of Ian Fleming’s children’s book, with a score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Junior. is a family-friendly blockbuster filled with stage spectacles and Academy Award-nominated songs. Fun for the whole family. Tickets from R149.

Jack and the Beanstalk

It wouldn’t be Christmas without something from Janice Honeyman. It is a tale about a poor country boy, Jack, the family cow, magic beans, an unfriendly giant, an enchanted goose and an enormous beanstalk. It is showing at Joburg Theatre and tickets start at R115.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Runs until 22 December

My boys adore the Johnny Depp movie (as well as the book), so its a no brainer we are going to try and watch this classic. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a theatre adaption by Richard George based on the original classic by Roald Dahl. The entire production is smoothly tied together by an energetic and personable Narrator. It’s on at the National Children’s Theatre in Parktown and tickets start at R70.

Mall Entertainment 

I know everyone always makes fun of Jo-burgers and their love of malls, but seriously, there are some epic line ups this festive season.

I’ve already mentioned Sandton City, with their Nutcracker circus, but they aren’t the only ones with a great December line up.

Mall of Africa – Dino Adventure Park

7 December – 5 January 2020.

Mall of Africa is always on the forefront of great kiddies entertainment. This year they have chosen to go with a Dinosaur theme! Waterfall Park will be transformed into an adventure dinosaur playground to be enjoyed by the whole family

Cresta Shopping Centre

Cresta has been going all out with entertainment for the family over the past few years, and this year proves no different. There is a huge selection of things to do and activities to keep the little ones busy, including:

FESTIVE CRAFT STATION 14-24 December 2019 – Situated at the Castle Play Area in the Banking Court. There will be a variety of festive crafts for kids to choose from including making their own decorations such as Christmas baubles. Entrance is absolutely free with the option to pay for some of the more bespoke crafts if desired. Don’t forget to take a pic with Santa at R30 a photo.

They also have several workshops being hosted through the Jata Holiday Club and Young Engineers throughout the December holidays. Visit Cresta’s website for more information and individual pricing options.

Silverstar Casino – Beach festival

5 December 2019 to 11 January 2012.

  • Sand castle building competitions
  • Tug of war competitions
  • Hoola hoop competitions
  • Ice-cream eating competitions
  • Inflatable waterslide
  • Face painting
  • Beach volleyball

Cradlestone Mall

5 December – 5 January 2020

The kids had an absolute blast at the activation at Cradlestone last year, and I’m sure this year will be no different. If you are out that side of town on a day trip (there is a bunch of stuff to do in the area), it’s worth stopping by to let the kids play. The theme this year is “Santa’s World Of Wonder”.

Family days out

National Military Museum

OK, it may not take a whole day out but when paired with the Joburg next door it can be! This is one of our favourite places to take the boys and it doesn’t cost a fortune. The history is incredible and the kids will love playing on the old plane and jeep in the play area.

Gold Reef City

Still one of Joburg’s top family attractions. 16 thrill rides, 14 dedicated rides for the kiddies, Jump City Trampoline Park, there’s fun for all ages here!

Hartbeespoort Dam

Click here for a full blog post on all the things to do in Haarties. It’s WELL worth a day trip!

Sun City

Always a life saver when it comes to holidays and close enough to go for the day. Spend the day at the Valley of the waves or book in overnight. There are a whole range of kids activities from mini golf to a bird park and steam train rides.

Animal interactions

Lets face it, these are particularly popular with little kids and toddlers. They’ll be delighted to be given a chance to touch and feed the rabbits, goats, chickens, ducks and more. Be sure to take some animal feed with or you may purchase at the venue as well. For a full comprehensive list check out our favourite activities to do in Joburg.

Bird Garden – Monte Casino 

We have been going here since the boys were small. The only bird park of its kind in Africa and perfect for all ages! Take a stroll through the gardens and aviary and see a wide variety of bird life, reptiles, and other exotic animals. It also has a café and a cute kids play area.

Crazy Kids Farmyard

A diamond in the middle of a bustling city. Crazy Kids has also recently had a bit of a refresh with some new animals (including another pony and a friendly pig). It is literally smack bang in the middle of a residential area in Randburg. It has a huge variety of play equipment for kids, a ton of bikes to ride around and an epic sandpit. This is a winner, everyday of the week.

Old MacDonald’s Farm Yard (The Fat Olive Restaurant)

This is a true hidden gem. Home to the Fat Olive restaurant and a Beach bar, Old MacDonald’s has free roaming Zebras, geese, duck and a whole mini farmyard for kids to feed/interact with. Hop on a Canoe and row around the lake with the kids.

Lori Park Zoo

Holds a nice variety of crocodiles, predator birds and of course lions/ leopards – though I do feel for the bigger cats as their enclosures are very, very small.

Crocodile City

Crocodile & Reptile Park where the visitors interact with a variety of reptiles. The boys got an educational talk on crocs, on how thick their skin is and got to hold and observe their eggs. They also house a number of reptiles and much to my horror my boys lined up to hold the snakes. When you are done, why not zipline over the crocs?

Willow Feather Farm (Pretoria)

Originally started off as an Indigenous tree farm, Willow Feather now hosts a nursery, tea garden and awesome Farmyard for kids. They have a number of interactive activities for kids and the number of animals in the Farmyard is exceptional. Alpacas, pigs, bunnies, cows. Kids can get up close and personal to the animals and of course participate in feeding. There’s also a wonderful kiddies play area to keep little ones busy while mums’ can enjoy hot tea and scones.

Rhino and Lion Park

Joburgs’ nearest”far away” place. The Rhino and Lion Park is a fantastic family day out. Take a “safari” through the nature reserve (Its actually a proper reserve unlike some other lion parks in the area), try and spot their newest baby Rhino or visit the baby cubs at the breeding center. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at the Thatch Cafe while the kids ride up a storm on their incredible bike track. End your day with the ever popular feeding of giraffes for some special family memories.

Have I given you enough ideas? I dont want to hear anyone is “bored” over the holidays in Gauteng :).

There are a whole lot more places featured in my keeping kids entertained article such as Roll Egoli, Adventure Golf, Acrobranch and Bounce, so be sure to check that too.

Happy Holidays!

Instant Pot Festive Meal Ideas

Instant Pot Festive Meal Ideas

Posted on by Rebecca

This succulent Cranberry Orange Chicken followed by a decadent white chocolate and raspberry “pot du creme”, officially signals that Holiday season has begun. No matter what you’re celebrating this year, you’ll probably end up cooking a large meal or two for your family during the holiday’s and lets face it, in Africa, with the heat of our December, the last place we want to be is sweating it out in a hot kitchen. We always had debates in my family growing up over the “traditional Christmas meals” versus something lighter due to the hot weather. We almost always ended up with a combination of both. Thankfully, with Instant Pot around, we don’t have to worry about spending hours in the kitchen anymore.

I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a few Christmas periods over in the USA (and thanksgiving) and I’m proud to say I have mastered the art of succulent turkey, when people say they are dry and unflavourful I beg to disagree. My initial thought was a cranberry orange turkey, however, the Instant Pot however is a little too small to fit an entire turkey, and I certainly wasn’t going to cut off leg and wing portions (hint hint woolies, I see you have the mince now, please sell the pieces too). After some back and forth, I settled on chicken. I knew I wanted to incorporate Cranberries, and I adore the combination of cranberry and orange, it’s just so festive. Even my husband, who is not a fan of “fruit with food”, polished this off. Keep reading for the full recipe.

Mains – Orange Cranberry Chicken with a Balsamic Glaze

You’ll remember that I previously cooked a rotisserie style chicken in the Instant Pot and it is absolutely glorious. So incredibly moist that it falls off the bone, (you can see the recipe up on my Instagram highlights). The first secret to a really great chicken, my mother in law taught me this, is to use a good quality, organic free range chicken. Happy chickens are tasty chickens 🙂 I bathed this chicken in butter, balsamic glaze, freshly squeezed orange and salt and pepper. Stuff fresh rosemary under the skin and into the cavity of the chicken, along with a cup of cranberries and sliced orange. Brown the chicken on both sides by using the saute function of your Instant Pot.

Add your metal trivet stand and a cup of chicken stock into the bottom of the pot along with a big handful of baby carrots. This will not only steam your chicken but will create the most delicious gravy. Chuck in another handful of cranberries for good measure and place your chicken on top of the carrots.

Make sure the lid is closed securely and the steam vent is set to “sealed.” Select the “Poultry” button with high pressure, and a cook time of 38 minutes (dependent on the size of your bird). Finish with a natural release of about 20 minutes. Carefully remove the chicken. If you prefer a crisper skin, which clearly we do; brush the chicken again with the balsamic butter glaze and pop it under the grill for a few minutes. The Balsamic creates the most glorious brown, crispy edge to the skin. Meanwhile remove the carrots and saute the remaining liquid, with a little cornflour to thicken up.

Decorate a serving platter with some fresh cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary, to help showcase your gorgeous Instant Pot Whole Chicken. 

Dessert – White Chocolate “Pot du Creme” topped with Raspberry Coulis

Now lets move onto the good stuff…. the dessert. A recipe so easy I literally had to good it twice to make sure I wasn’t missing something !

While my grandparents were alive, Christmas pudding was an absolute must, Christmas cake always featured as well, but the Christmas pudding “Brandy pudding”, was always set alight by my grandfather, with all the grand-kids looking on in amazement. Everyone crossed fingers that they would get “the penny”. I, however, am absolutely not a fan. There’s something about “fruit mince” that I despise (so mince pies are off the menu too), I prefer lighter, cooler dishes and trio of berries pavlova almost always features on my Christmas Menu.

I haven’t quite figured out how to do a meringue dish in my instant pot (yet), but I did keep the white and red colours going with this glorious dessert, so keep reading until the end. This is honestly the easiest dessert I have EVER made, and one that I will repeat again and again.

This recipe uses the perfect blend of rich white chocolate and fresh, bright raspberries for a simply irresistible treat. Whether it’s a hot summer day or a winter evening in front of the fire, this fabulously easy dessert is a winner.

All you have to do is blend together some white chocolate with egg yolk, lemon zest and vanilla extract and blend in some warm heavy cream to gently melt the chocolate. Divide into some ramekin dishes and pour a cup of water into the bottom of your Instant Pot. Set to 0 minutes on manual and natural release for 5 minutes. It’s a make ahead dessert so you need to refrigerate it for about 4 hours. Blitz up some raspberries to make a simple coulis to top. Sit back and watch all your guests lick their bowls 🙂

Gone are the days of long, complicated Christmas Dinners. Thankfully, with Instant Pot in hand, families can spend a little more “together time” and less time fighting about whose turn it is to do what.

Print Recipe

Orange Cranberry Chicken

Succulent orange chicken with a delicate cranberry balsamic glaze
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time58 mins
Keyword: chicken, christmas meal, holiday meal, instant pot, orange chicken, orange cranberry chicken, roast chicken
Servings: 5 people

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 1 Whole Free Range Chicken
  • Fresh Rosemary
  • Oranges
  • 2 cups Cranberries
  • 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 sticks Butter
  • 1 pkt Baby carrots

Instructions

  • Empty chicken cavity, rinse chicken and pat dry.
    Season skin with Salt and Pepper. Melt about 2 big knobs of butter and mix with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and the juice of one orange. Rub into the chicken skin (and under. Stuff the cavity with orange wedges, herbs and a cup of cranberries.
  • Turn on Instant Pot "Saute" function and allow to heat up. Brown chicken about 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
  • Turn Instant Pot off, remove chicken. Add a cup of chicken stock into the bottom of the pot. Add in the metal trivet and add in baby carrots. Place chicken on top of carrots. Chuck in a few more cranberries for good measure.
  • Close lid and make sure steam vent is closed.Set "Poultry" function on high pressure for 38 minutes. Once cooking time is complete, natural release for about 20 minutes.
  • If you prefer a crispier skin, pop under the grill for 10 minutes before serving.
  • Meanwhile, take the remaining sauce and switch on the saute function again to thicken up. Add a tsp of cornflour.
  • Serve chicken on a bed of carrots, rosemary and sliced oranges for a festive meal.
Print Recipe

White Chocolate And Raspberry “Pot du Creme”

Lighter than a pudding, but thicker than a mousse these "pot du creme" are incredibly decadent and sinfully easy to make in your instant pot.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time5 mins
Course: Dessert
Keyword: Instant Pot Chocolate Mousse, Instant Pot Dessert, Quick Dessert, White chocolate and raspberry mousse, white chocolate mousse, white chocolate pot du creme

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Blender
  • 4 Ramekin dishes

Ingredients

  • 170 grams White Chocolate chopped
  • 1 Zest of lemon
  • 1 tbsp Lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 2 egg yolks
  • pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 pkt Raspberries

Instructions

  • Add chopped up chocolate, egg yolks, vanilla extract, lemon juice and zest and a pinch of salt to blender and grind to break up chocolate.
  • Warm heavy cream gently in microwave (you don't want it hot, just warm) and pour into blender (ideally while still blending). Blend until smooth.
  • Divide mixture evenly into Ramekin dishes.
  • Pour one cup of water into the bottom of the Instant Pot and place metal trivet in.
  • Place dishes on top of trivet and close the Instant Pot and set to seal.
  • Select "Manual" function and select ZERO on timer. Yes, select ZERO minutes.
  • Naturally release for 5 minutes, then quick-release the remaining pressure.
  • Remove the ramekins and refrigerate for 4 hours.
  • Meanwhile, combine raspberries, 2 tbsp water and a little icing sugar in a blender to make a coulis. Blend until smooth, adding additional water as needed. Strain the sauce to remove seeds.
  • Top each ramekin with the raspberry sauce and refrigerate for another 30 minutes.

Notes

**TOP TIP** If you have clear glass ramekins (heat proof) use them, it makes for such a pretty serving if you can see the white and red layers.
** By selecting 0 minutes on the pressure cooker, it really just brings it up to pressure and then releases.

*White Chocolate Pot du Creme recipe originally found from Chop Secrets.

**Collaboration with Instant Pot**

Inspired by unique South African Stories, Clorets creates a limited edition board game.

Inspired by unique South African Stories, Clorets creates a limited edition board game.

Posted on by Rebecca

Do you ever find yourself in situations that take longer than you expected? Moments that require confidence to help you push through them in hopes of a better outcome. Those “I think we should talk” moments or simply an interview which took longer than you had anticipated.

Clorets, the #1 fresh breath expert, believes that in moments like these we all need a little more confidence and a boost that will make us Breathe Out Proudly, For Longer.

This is why Clorets will be calling game-time on life’s awkward moments as it sets out to create Mzansi’s first limited edition board game this summer.

Breathe Out Proudly, For Longer – The Game, will be a culmination of SA’s best awkward moments, that when played, will embrace, tackle and eliminate all those awkward moments through a boost of confidence and laughter!

To create The Game, Clorets will need your help and they will be calling on you and fellow South Africans to share stories where you needed that extra bit of confidence to keep going.

To participate and help drive the collection of these stories, tune into Hot FM, Algoa FM and Smile FM from 18th to 22nd of November 2019 during the breakfast shows.  Hear top South African comedians Chris Forrest, Ndumiso Lindi and Glen Biderman-Pam share their stories on air and participate by submitting your own funny awkward story via Whatsapp voice note on 084 221 2919 (Hot FM), Telegram voice note on 0617 940 940 (Algoa FM) and on the Smile 90.4 FM app or via their SMS line on 35904. Data rates apply.

The fun doesn’t end there, listeners who submit the best stories, will stand a chance to win instant prizes worth R3000 per day.

Also spreading the word and helping to collect more side-splitting stories for The Game are comedians Kurt Schoonraad and Dave Levinsohn who will be embarking on a comedy roadshow with Clorets.

The comedy roadshow kicks off on the 14th of November 2019 in Johannesburg from where the funny duo will road trip to perform in Port Elizabeth, Knysna, Pringle Bay and Cape Town. Consumers stand a chance to win tickets to their live shows in those respective cities. All consumers have to do is follow Clorets Facebook and lookout for the competition post to win tickets to the shows.

Join Clorets with Kurt and Dave on:

  • 15 November 2019 at 20h00 – Protea Marine Hotel Venue in Port Elizabeth
  • 16 November 2019 at 19h00 – Knysna Yacht Club in Knysna
  • 18 November 2019 at 20h00 – Hangklip Hotel in Pringle Bay
  • 20 November 2019 at 20h30 – Cape Town Comedy Club in Cape Town

Clorets will also be collecting your stories at the following activations across the country:

  • Johannesburg
    • 30 November 2019 – Soweto Comedy Festival
    • 13-15 December 2019 – Fourways Mall
  • Pretoria
  • 22-24 November 2019 – Menlyn Mall
  • Durban
  • 15-17 November 2019 – Gateway
  • Cape Town
  • 29 November-1 December 2019sss – Cape Town festival of Beer

“Clorets SA wants to enable people to show up and show off with that extra confidence in whatever moment they’re in. We also want to involve South Africans in the creation of this exciting game, because it will allow us to share a lot of human truths that we can all relate to. We want to reassure South Africans that it’s okay to find themselves in those awkward moments and serve a reminder to everyone that with Clorets, you can help make it better.” says Nadia Matlala, Category Brand Manager for Gum at Mondelez.

Clorets 40 Minutes, with its active ingredients of extra Actizol and Chlorophyll, is the only gum that not only masks bad breath, but eliminates it, helping you Breathe Out Proudly, For Longer. Available nationwide in Green Mint and Eliminator.

Breathe Out Proudly, For Longer with Clorets and be part of The Game! Simply tune in to the participating radio stations, pop in at any of the Clorets activations and Comedy Roadshow performances.

Like and follow #BreatheOutProudlyForLonger on the Clorets Facebook and @CloretsSA Twitter pages for more information.

T’s & C’s apply.

**Paid partnership with Clorets SA**

Times Are Changing – As You Turn Six

Times Are Changing – As You Turn Six

Posted on by Rebecca

We have a birthday fast approaching in our house and it’s leaving me more than a little anxious. For me it signifies the end of a chapter, one that I loved with every single inch of my soul. One that I have a passion for, one that holds growth, learning and curiosity.

Six, it signifies the official end to the “preschool/toddler” years.. The start of being a “big boy”, am I going to lose my baby?

When I was an Au Pair, I used to joke that when I had kids, once they reached the age of 7, I would ship them off to my mum and dad until they reached the age of about 14, because it was my least favourite age to look after. Of course, my mindset has changed now that I actually am a mother myself. Yes, while these early childhood years have been tough – waking up multiple times in the night, trying to negotiate your way out of tantrums and dinner time, I can’t help but think about all the things I’m going to miss..…

Those chubby cheeks and hands.

Over the last year I’ve noticed how my sons’ body has changed (no we haven’t quite hit the teen years yet), but he’s lost his overall soft “roundness”. His hands have lost all chubbiness and his cheeks have evened out into a young boy’s face. His legs are becoming more athletic and take up so much more of the bed now.

Nap Time

I know most parents drop nap times a little earlier, but I have always insisted, that the boys nap in the day.  My eldest can still pass out at the drop of a hat if we are in the car, and my youngest will fight it until he just cant open his eyes anymore, but for the most part they don’t nap in the day any longer. I’ll definitely miss that quiet zen time but most of all ill miss those “I just woke up” cuddles in the afternoon.

Cuddles

They just don’t keep still long enough to cuddle anymore. My eldest has already stopped giving me a big kiss at school in the morning (at least he still holds my hand). Bed time is our cuddle time, and I have the boys in each arm, though I know that this wont last for much longer. I’m holding onto every single hug while I can.

Endless days to explore and adventure

Up until Grade One, both my husband and I have always had a laid back approach to school/playschool. They aren’t in formal school yet and until they are, I steal every moment I can to spend with them exploring and going on adventures. We love taking a day to go to farms or parks, read books and bake at home. From next year however, the real school begins, and we wont be able to do this anytime we wish. Seeing the world as new through your child’s eyes is one of the most amazing things about being a parent and it’s something I’m going to miss witnessing first hand.

The cute way they talk

“Mommy, do you know….” Almost every sentence begins like this when you are 4. The excitement to tell me every single thing is electrifying, and sometimes they get so excited the sentences form too quickly for their little mouths to speak out. The made up words and overall grasp of the English language are one of my favourite things to listen to. Pretty soon though, all I will be hearing is “cool” and I’ll be an expert in all things slang.

My toddler mom group

There are no better friendships then the ones formed over toddler mom groups. I can already feel our paths diverging, with our kids in school more formally. Weekly meet ups have become bi monthly get-togethers or quick catch ups at birthday parties. I will love these ladies eternally and hold all of our fun memories so close to my heart. I’m going to miss our kids all playing and exploring together.

Their special toys

My eldest has a soft “kitty” teddy, a kitty who has been washed so many times he can practically roll up into the palm of your hand, a kitty who has been loved so much he only has one eye left. A kitty who is the one toy that will get selected to accompany us where ever we go. He has been a part of the “family” since Aadam was about 5 months old and has proudly been displayed at many “show and tell” days. For the last few months though, the requests for Kitty to be in the bed at night have dwindled.. a sure sign that times are changing, I think I know how Woody from Toy Story felt!

Baby teeth

YES IM GOING TO MISS YOUR TEETH! Baby teeth are just so damn cute. Every day my eldest keeps asking, “mama is my tooth wobbly yet?”. I keep telling him that the longer he has his baby teeth the better, but he is just so darn excited for one to fall out like his classmates. Slow down my baby boy, I love those tiny little teeth of yours.

Being their entire world

For the past 6 years I have been everything to you (Ok Ok I’ll give your dad a bit of credit too :)), but my boy is a mommies boy (In a good way, and I’m proud of it). At times its been completely and utterly draining and I’ve sometimes wished you would ask for your dad more, but in all honesty, I have loved every single second. It’s what I was made to do, you gave my life a sense of purpose. The special bond we have had during these early childhood years has changed me as a person completely and I pray in some way, we can hold onto it forever.

Even though I’m mourning a chapter, I know this thing called “growing up” has to happen and I’m a little excited for the “bratty” years ahead. Seeing how you develop into an independent boy, watching your interests and hobbies grow and watching you learn all the basics of Maths and Science. All the sports days and swimming competitions we have to look forward to , and all the school projects ahead. Your first crush…

I just pray for the kind heart I see in you now to always stay firmly in place. For you to always wake up each day filled with optimism and hope. May you always be as affectionate and kind as you are now. Be a student in life, as well as a teacher. Learn from every opportunity, and when you know something, share your knowledge. I want you to win at all the thing you love, but I also want you to lose, with grace. For its from those failures that the wins become even sweeter and your character will be built. I hope you never stop dreaming, your dreams of becoming a Formula One Driver or Moto GP racer fill my heart with joy, and I hope you never lose that passion.

Happy Birthday to my Six Year Old! You changed our worlds for the better, and I am so grateful that God chose me to me your mama xx

A Weekend In Hartbeespoort

A Weekend In Hartbeespoort

Posted on by Rebecca

We love exploring and adventuring and over the past two years we made it our mission to explore local surroundings as much as we can. With young children, anything within 3 or 4 hours as a maximum is considered. Thankfully “haarties” is only an hour away! There is so much to do in this area, we have stayed over weekends, and done day trips as well but I would really love to to go back and just have a solid 3 days there.

Here are some of the places we have explored as a family, that I would recommend, and a few that we haven’t had the chance to get to yet.

French Toast Koffie Kafee

If you cant afford the real deal (or just don’t have the time), a quick trip to “Paris” is always a good idea. This place is always packed on the weekends, so make sure to get there early for a good table and photo opportunities. The service may not be the quickest, but it’s worth the experience.

Haarties Aerial Cableway

The boys loved going up and down in the cable cars, the view is glorious and we were plesantly suprised by the quality of pizza at the top, a welcome reward, should you choose to hike the trail 🙂 Kids will delight at the awesome play area at the top and the views are truly spectacular.
This is such a great family excursion.

Elephant Sanctuary

It’s been on our bucket list for a while, but with the steep price, it’s got to be a special birthday experience or anniversary of some kind to justify it.
The Elephant Sanctuary offers an interactive elephant experience, including hands on educational interactions; elephant back riding; and even overnight accommodation.

Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary

The Monkey Sanctuary sanctuary is one of several sanctuaries in a group, including the elephant sanctuary; that provides for orphaned and abused animals. It is right alongside the Elephant sanctuary and it provides an environment where monkeys (primates) can be given their freedom in a natural environment It’s one of only eight free-release primate sanctuaries found globally. These are animals that have sadly been raised as household pets, or bred for the pet trade. They are given the chance to reside in as natural and environment as possible with thick, rich vegetation.

Jasmyn Farm Stall/ The Windmill Restaurant

It’s unlikely that you would have passed through Haarties without catching a glimpse of this iconic landmark, the Dutch-style windmill and thatch-roofed farm stall are hard to miss. Established in 2004 this market offers a treasure trove of treats, from organic goods, farm produce, cheeses (from Jasmyn’s own factory), fresh breads, dairy products, baked goods, meats, imported treats, flowers, curios and gifts too..

Van Gaalens Cheese Farm

Van Gaalen is open six days a week. A tour around the farm is a must (offered on a Wednesday and Saturday). Watch a demonstration of cheese making and tasting as well as a slice of cake and tea/juice. They have an in house restaurant and a farm shop that stocks a wide range of their cheeses, as well as preserves, souvenirs, Dutch favourites, sweets and other goodies. Picnics must be booked a day in advance but there is no better way to spend a day then by relaxing along the river banks. You can also get permits for the Skeepoort trails to go hiking, birding, mountain biking.

The Strawberry Farm

Pack a picnic blanket and spend a glorious morning picking organic strawberries straight from the ground. It’s a fully working farm which offers strawberry picking during spring. The small restaurant serves breakfast on weekends and public holidays, while I haven’t eaten there, I have had the decadent strawberry milkshakes and they are to die for! Seriously THE best I have ever had. It’s a family run, working farm, so don’t expect top class amenities. But, if you are looking for a day out picking fresh berries in season, I would highly recommend a visit.

Seasons Resort and Spa

A golf course, a fabulous water play area, accommodation and a superb spa. What more do you need? We would rate the accommodation as a 3 star, however the spa, is 5 star! The golf course is beautiful and whether you play or not, it’s wonderfully therapeutic with buck walking along the greens. The water play area is perfect for younger children with a shallow pool and small slides.

Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre

There is a no interaction/touching policy as the centre focused strictly on conservation and their animal well-being is of highest importance. However, you can still book a tour and go and see some of the animals they rehabilitate such as vultures, cheetahs, wild dogs and caracals.

Sunset Cruise

Whether you choose a sunset cruise or a slow Sunday brunch on board there is something magical about being on the water, surrounded by the hills. There are a number of different operators to choose from so take your pick and enjoy the view!

Harties Horse Trail Safaris

You don’t need riding experience to take a ride through the African bush surrounded by wildlife. Rides are typically between 1 and 2 hours and
children from the age of 6 can join. Ride between Giraffe, Wildebeest, Zebra, Kudu and Nyala to name a few. Romantic picnics can be arranged as well.

Segwati Quad Bike Safari Trails

If horse riding is not for you, why not take in nature on a quad? I was pregnant when we went with a group of friends to do this and was so sad I didnt take part, I definitely need to go back and do this trail. 650 hectares of beautiful, unspoilt views of the mountains and open plains. An experience that is totally different from your luxury lodge or resort.

GOG Kids Harties

One of the newest lifestyle and adventure destinations, GOG Kids opened up last year in December is is located inside Chameleon Village. The venue plays host to party venues, a play area a pool and a great “Spray Pad” with no less than eight spray features and a safe, non-slip and porous rubber flooring. This is a welcome relief, especially if you are visiting during the summer months. Haarties gets hot!

Lion and Safari Park

While this isn’t technically “in” Haarties, its 10 minutes outside, so I am including it (and it used to be before they refurbished). Kids under 12 are free on all guided and self drive game drives. They offer Giraffe and Ostrich feeding, a crocodile enclosure, cheetah/cub interactions and guided tours. They also offer river rafting down the Crocodile River!

The Upside Down House

Possibly the weirdest thing you will encounter in Haarties, but one that will leave you laughing (and possibly quite dizzy). The upside down house is literally – a ‘world’ turned upside down…. You need to go and experience the magnificence and spectacular engineering of a ‘house’ turned on its roof, and of course take a picture in every room!

Image taken from website

These are just a few of the area’s that we have been to when we have visited. There are a number of lodges in the area and some fantastic self catering houses as well. If you are planning a “staycation” these summer holidays, why not book a few days in Haarties to explore the area?

Have you visited anywhere else? I would love to hear your recommendations for our next trip!