Dinner Ideas

Not in the mood to cook? Just want to wip something fabulous up. Here are some tips on things that I love to do, that do not take much time at all.

Mac and cheese, yes it may sound very childish, but use the right kind of cheese and seasonings and it can become something great. Also adding some crispy bacon is never horrid. I like my pasta's with a side salad, you tend to eat less and become full faster.

Another great meal is my special chicken. I have not come up with a name for it yet. But here is how you make it.

The marinade is:

2 tablespoons mayo
2 tablespoons plain yoghurt.
2 teaspoons lemon juice.
1 sachet of tomtoe paste.
2 tablespoons of fruit chutney.
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon chillie powder.

mix all of this together,

in a frying pan fry up some onions till golden brown, then add a teaspoon of sugar and add your chicken breasts according to the nuber of people that you would be feeding. Fry the chicken breasts till brown and golden and completely cooked, then slice them into strips and add the onions and the chicken to the marinade and let sit for about twenty minutes. While the marinade is sitting, put either some pasta or rice on to cook, when the rice is just about ready reheat the chicken mixture and there you have a great meal. This is also great with mash potatoes and peas. You can really add anything that you want to go with your main.

A really fast desert that I do most nights for guests is icream with chocolate sauce. it may sound simple but it tastes really good. all you need is your plain vanilla ice-cream for the store and then in a pan on the stove you will need to melt, a teaspoon of butter, then add about two tablespoons of cocoa and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, when the sugar has melted add a tablespoon of milk, and there you have a great chocolate sauce. dish the ice-cream into bowls and top with the sauce. you can also crumble oreo biscuits on top of this to add something else. It is really fast and so delicious. Hope this helps, I will be posting more easy meals soon.

XOXO

Okay so yesterday's post was pathetic, but that matched the day I was having, I had such a krappy day, words cannot describe how krap it was. Today however is doing much better, I have started applying for bursaries and I feel fabulous, I am doing Pilates later today, and exercise always makes me feel great. Then I get to tuck up and watch a movie in bed and have left overs for dinner, if I want food.

My brother is down later this week, I see him on Saturday because I have to work on Friday. But that is cool, at least I get to see him. Then the following week I am busy, I have to finish my boyfriends grandfathers birthday present and help organize his birthday party and then my boyfriends brothers are down for a while which is really cool, this month seems be getting better and better, I am really looking forward to celebrating my 20th birthday and to be moving to Pretoria next year yay, to study and live on my own, the living alone part scares me a bit, but at the same time I am excited about the adventure.

If I could have one wish it would to be able to pay for my University, is there no body who wants to sponsor me hehe. what do yo wish for?

Updates

I have been so well, I have been eating healthy and exercising almost everyday. It makes me feel good about myself when I know I have exercised. My stomach is looking flatter and I know I will be able to walk out on the beach in December feeling great about myself.

If I had to say who my inspiration is, it would have to be three people, My boyfriend, because he has stood by me and always made me feel beautiful, always let me eat chocolate without feeling guilty, so this whole journey is my own. I can't really say my best friend, because I don't really have one. My mother, for always loving me and never being a mom that pressures her daughters for perfection. Last but certainly not least, a woman that I look up to, and hopefully one day I will be able to meet. Bailey Schneider. She is an inspiration to all woman. She is a woman that is so beautiful, made she is beautiful in her own skin. Thank you Bailey for inspiring me.

Tomorrow is mummy daughter day, my mom is coming into town and we are going shopping. I cannot wait, I will post on the things that we got.

XOXO

back to reality

Hello,
Sorry if I have been so distant,time just seems to have past me by and I have not even had the time to blink or do all the girly things that I really need to do. If you were wondering where I was, I spent a week at home with my wonderful mother and then I spent a week on a little holiday and now I am trying to get back into the swing of reality. I have been accepted into the University of Pretoria,Yay me and now I have the very stressful task of trying to find funding for it and getting ready for the big move. But it is all exciting things. Also I have finally managed to get back into my fitness, I have started Kim Kardashians " Fit into your jeans by Friday" and after the first twenty minutes my thighs felt like they were going to fall off, so I guess it is just a matter of getting back into shape.I have been spending a lot of time on my new software,

My memories scrap booking, it is so much fun, and I have one to give away. All you have to do is tell me what are the memories that you cherish most and why would scrape booking electronically help you preserve those memories. It is a great software and I love it,so just leave a comment and you too could be scrap booking on the weekends with me.

My Memory Suite

Memories mean the world to me, I have over 300 photo's of me and my boyfriend and don't get me started on my family, there are to many photo's to even count. When I was about 5 there was a huge fire and lots of my parents photo's were ruined, I would hate for my photo's to get ruined or damaged. But do not fear, the age of technology has a plan, digital scrap booking. It is so cool and simple. I hate hard things and this was definitely something that was designed for me. There are so many colours and themes and cool pictures. I have so much fun and can do my scrap booking any time anywhere. The themes are amazing, when I finally had time to sit down and enjoy it, I was amazed that something like this existed, I will be posting picture soon, I am just finishing my first album. I seriously love it, I have always loved photo's but hated cutting out pictures and glueing them  in a book, now I can scrap book on my laptop.

I will be holding a competition and the winner will receive a free copy of the software.  Too enter you need to visit the website and tell me which theme caught your eye and why you would love to own a copy of the software.What do photo's mean to you, why are they so important to you? www.memories.com

sinfully delightful

This weekend was pleasant, but wow did I need some chocolate loving, I however did refrain from having the one addiction I think most women have in common. in fact the last time I taste the sweet sinful dark chocolate,was on Friday, wow feels like forever. But alas since summer is around the corner choosing the slimmest option is what I usually go for. For example, this morning instead of having a delightfully delicious cup of coffee I had black dull rooibos tea and instead of having a decadent chocolate muffin I had a apple and oat muffin. A girl has too do what a girl has to do.
so my latest chocolate addiction if a mcflurry, but late at night is kind of hard to order one when you are at home. So I have come up with something that tastes just as good.

Vanilla ice cream and warm chocolate sauce

Make your own ice cream if you wish, but I don't think this is the time to be precious. Hopefully, none of us will have the time anyway. Serves 2.

4 balls of vanilla ice cream 
250g fine plain chocolate 
2 tsps strong black coffee (espresso is ideal) 
300ml whipping cream 
a knob of butter about the size of a walnut

Break the chocolate into small pieces so that it melts easily. Put it into a heavy-bottomed saucepan with the coffee and the cream. Heat slowly, stirring from time to time, until the chocolate has melted. It is essential that the heat is kept low.

Once the chocolate is softened, stir until smooth, then stir in the butter and pour into a warm jug. Serve warm with ice cream.

Victorian Tea Party RSVP

So my sister is having a Victorian Tea Party How fun, I am going to make the cake for it. any ideas of what I should make. I was thinking of have a three tier cake with a chocolate bottom layer then a vanilla then a another chocolate again the design is going to elegant. It has been a while since my last blog. I have been down lately, My boyfriend is going away with his family and I won't be able to celebrate his birthday with him, I am being silly by getting sad.  Oh well. I will be busy working and I get my new Blackberry soon yay, plus I will be staying with my Mummy darling.Grrr i need my girlz. girl time, it would be easier if they all had not left or gotten mad.

I know what will fix the problem, chocolate haha chocolate cake or chocolate lattes or chocolate cocktails haha anything chocolate. oh please chocolate Gods rain your chocolate goodness over me

whats your chocolate style

Have you ever wondered how the way you love chocolate shows what kind of person you are. well I just took a quiz and my results were as follows , I am a "CHOCOLATE-ANY-STYLER"
You're an exuberant lover of all things chocolate, from bars and candy to desserts. Chocolate is both a treat and a pick-me-up. It might be said that you're a bit more enthusiastic than discriminating. In general, you've got a serious sweet tooth. You're fun, warm, and love a party. You're non-judgmental and open to new things and new people. If it looks like chocolate, you'll eat it.

Boy were they right.
I am not ashamed to say that I LOVE chocolate, rich and creamy, with ice-cream or as a drink. Chocolate is the one type of food that there is no specific time that you have to have it, you can eat chocolate whenever and wherever you like. you can put it in a cake or serve it on its own, trust me there will be no complaining.
Did you know that chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate.

Us women are always worried about weight and how much we are eating but lets think, how many times have you been in a room alone with a man naked? And how many times have those men told you to leave? None. that's because men don't really care, unless they are actually deep down gay he he. I personally am sick and tiered of waking up feeling so bad about having had that extra spoon of chocolate ice-cream or having ordered the chicken burger at spur instead of the salad. So I am going to enjoy life, I am not going to pig out but the way I see it,Life is too short to be worrying about tomorrow, eat that damn burger or pasta enjoy life and drinks lots of water. And remember life without chocolate is no life at all and chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don't need an appointment.

chocolate recipe of the day
Easy Elegant No-Bake Cheesecake

Ingredients of Easy Elegant No-Bake Cheesecake

CRUST

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

 CHEESECAKE

 1 envelope (.25 oz.) unflavored gelatin

 2/3 cup water

 2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened

 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, melted* and cooled

 1 can (14 oz.) NESTLE® CARNATION® Sweetened Condensed Milk

 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped

Directions of Easy Elegant No-Bake Cheesecake

FOR CRUST:

 MIX graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar together in ungreased 9-inch springform pan; press firmly onto bottom.

FOR CHEESECAKE;

 Sprinkle over water in small saucepan; let stand for 1 minute. Warm over low heat, stirring constantly, just until gelatine dissolves. Remove from heat.

BEAT cream cheese and melted chocolate in large mixer bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk. Stir in gelatine mixture; fold in whipped cream. Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate for about 3 hours or until set. Run knife around edge of cheesecake; remove side of springform pan.

*Follow melting directions on NESTLE package.

NOTE: 2 prepared 9-inch (9 ounces each) graham cracker crusts can be substituted for the 9-inch springform crust. Divide filling evenly; refrigerate as above.

Chocolate ( every womans sin)

 My favorite thing in the world is a box of fine European chocolates which is, for sure, better than sex. I am a chef and therefore food is a passion. Chocolate is like that go to food when your feeling down. The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain. If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you. But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage?  Chocolate just has a way of making people happier, you cannot eat chocolate and be angry or sad, I once tried to eat chocolate and cry at the same time and it does not work. Chocolate can only make you happy, it is that go to food for any occasion. When I need to plan a menu and I need a really great dessert, something that will knock the socks of people I always go to chocolate first, because nine out of ten people love chocolate and the tenth person always lies. Chocolate has to be one of the most romantic foods out there, just think about it, a candle lit dinner for two champagne, a great meal, what more could you ask for, well I don't know about you but strawberries dipped in dark chocolate with lint hot chocolate would just be the perfect finishing touch for me. chocolate is natures way of making up for mondays, so next time that it is a Monday and you are feeling down make sure you have chocolate on hand.

Here is the chocolate recipe of the day

Ingredients of Dark Chocolate Truffles:

2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

1 2/3 cups 53% Cacao Dark Chocolate Morsels

Finely chopped toasted nuts (such as pistachios or almonds), toasted flaked coconut and/or unsweetened cocoa powder for coating truffles

Directions of Dark Chocolate Truffles:

LINE baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.

Heat cream to a gentle boil in medium heavy-duty saucepan. Remove from heat. Add morsels. Stir until mixture is smooth and chocolate is melted. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Drop chocolate mixture by rounded measuring teaspoon onto prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Shape or roll into balls; coat with nuts, coconut or cocoa. Store it in an airtight container in refrigerator.