Before the storm

Ahhh... I have had such an incredible long weekend with Ray (You make me so SO HAPPY!!) I never cease to be amazed and grateful for who he is and all that he does. 

My week ended with Ray picking me up from the train station with a chocolate in his hand, rain pouring down (the umbrella not helping in the slightest), ready to snuggle down for the weekend. Time has passed filled with  indulging in hours of much needed sleep (sigh of pleasure), watching movies, writing down a list of books that I want to read when the holidays come around again and somehow attempting to study. 

My mother is away visiting family in Namibia and after less than one day already we were eating ice-cream for dinner (and it hasn't stopped!) We love going shopping with my dad - he ends up buying a million unnecessary, yet very yummy, treats. I can only laugh at the plan we all have come up with - deciding what we will eat on what day. So far it is basically eating out or ordering in food for the next two weeks - half price sushi on this day, then two-for-one burger special on that day, but what about getting fish and chips from the harbour, or takeaways from our favourite Indian restaurant, and how could we have forgotten about pizza? (I think that I may start missing fresh fruit and vegetables after a few days...) 

Nao, our dog, runs down the stairs and waits expectantly, tag wagging and ears up, every time she hears the gate open, thinking that mom is home again - it is really sweet but sad (we miss her too puppy!)

Sunday, the wind blew and an icy rain fell, with the fabric of our temporary church tent billowing about, pulling against its constraints (it has been quite an experience these past weeks!) Holding Ray's hand singing "Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! Jesus is my life..." brought everything back to its rightful perspective, remembering what brings everlasting joy.  

Ray and I enjoyed Heritage day by going for a walk down passed the beach to the lower Silvermine wetland. The thick clouds along the horizon melted into the ocean, both shades of grey, the cool and crisp breezes causing the petals of the flowers to close. Over the wooden walkways we went, alongside the swollen streams, talking about the future like we always do, working through the fears and uncertainties together, coming out reassured and at peace. There is no greater comfort in life than knowing that God has a plan, it is good and right, and whatever happens is in His hands! He has blessed us so greatly so far that all we can do is humbly trust in Him and give Him thanks. 

Like all good South Africans we had a braai (barbecue) today :) Finishing off the afternoon with ice-cream sundaes and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies as the weather warmed.  

I am thankful for brief moments like these, because looking ahead, counting the days till exams and Ray's graduation (with all the tests and assignments inbetween!) time is flying, and we always wonder how we will get through... yet somehow, we suddenly look back, and realise that we have made it through the storm. I do know, though, that I would never have made it through these last years without my King, my family and my phenomenal fiancé!! 

Weekend waffles

What you need?

• 1 cup of flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 Tbsp melted butter

What you do?

It is as simple as throwing everything into a bowl and then whisking it well to make sure there are no lumps. We usually double or triple the recipe - depending on how many hungry people are present :) About 1/2 a cup of batter makes 1 waffle.

Waffle topping ideas:

• The classic of maple syrup and a dollop of creamy butter.
• Any berries: strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, blackberries or any sweet and sticky jam or marmalade with a sprinkle powdered sugar.
• Walnuts, cinnamon and a drizzle of honey.
• A huge smear of nutella with thinly sliced banana, whipped cream and toasted almonds.
• Who doesn't love and ice-cream sandwich with chocolate sauce?
• Lemon and lime with a powdered sugar. 
• Fancy, flavoured butters - like apple and cinnamon or ginger cookie.
• Feeling tropical - kiwi, pineapple, mango, coconut shavings, granola and yoghurt.
• A child's creation of oreo cookie crumble, sprinkles, white and dark chocolate chips.
• Crushed graham crackers with whipped cream.
• Thickly spread caramel and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. 
• Bacon, syrup and creme fresh with a good, strong cup of coffee. 

 Happy waffle weekend :)

A weekend with you

My weekend spent with Ray by my side meant: sitting in the glorious sunshine eating ice-cream, dreaming about Summer and lazy days spent at the beach, early mornings at church, in awe of God's indescribable forgiveness, working across from each other, you distracting me, tickling my feet, discussing your assignments with me, fascinated and amazed by who you have become, naps on the couch, baking lemon poppy seed cake, driving with the windows wide open, warm breezes filtering through, trying not to stress for my tests, dancing to Matthew Mole, family Sunday lunch spent under the blazing sun, wearing flip flops, laughing while the ice cubes in our glasses melt, discussing wedding plans,  playing with the dog, prayers for strength and focus, making plans, counting the days till graduation... busy times lie ahead, the end of the year, with all its challenges and adventures, rushing upon us whether we are ready or not, wondering if we will make it, but depending not on ourselves... 

Chocolate brownies!

Is there anything more lovely on a freezing cold winter's day than eating chocolate brownies hot out of the oven? And so here is a moist, fudgy, and one of our favourite (and easy), chocolate brownie recipes:

What you need:

• 180g butter 
• 150g dark chocolate (about 2 slabs/bars)
• 1 3/4 cups of caster sugar (sticky brown or normal white sugar are also fine)
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten 
• 1tsp vanilla essence
• 1tsp caramel essence (if desired)
• 3/4 cup of cake flour
• 2Tbsp self-raising flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 100g of your favourite sweet treat (see below)
• 1/3 cup of yumminess (see below)

What to do:

For me the fun has always been in the making: see it as a time to relax, no distractions, just you quietly leaving all worries outside of the kitchen door, adorable in your apron, creative genius if just for a few minutes... let yourself experiment, it is not about creating the "perfect" baked good but about trying new things, laughing, licking that chocolate drenched spoon and feeling yourself de-stress :)

1. Preheat the oven to 160C (or 325F) and grease a medium-sized baking tray. (Once I made these in a smallish tray where the mixture overflowed in the oven while baking causing the most horrible mess. I remember scraping burnt brownies for quite a while...)
2. Melt the butter (fact: butter makes everything better!) and dark chocolate until smooth. The "proper" way is to place them in a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water... but the microwave works just as well (for time pressed - not lazy - bakers).
3. Add in the sugar, beaten eggs, essences, sifted flour (let's be honest - who actually sifts their flour - unless they need to impress someone special right?) and cocoa (which really should be sifted to avoid clumps) to the butter/chocolate mixture. 
4. The "awesome" part of adding in your favourite sweet treat: I usually just add in another slab of chocolate chopped up, but this is where you can make the brownies your own - white chocolate chips, raspberries, cherries, chopped nuts like hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, your favourite chocolate bar all diced up like bar one, nougat, rolo, reeses peanutbutter cups, new york peppermint patties, fudge pieces, crushed meringues, honeycomb, a dollop of creamcheese or sourcream, whatever your heart desires! (I have a rule that the "baker" is allowed to eat as much of their treat while they are adding it to the mixture - but beware of hungry family members!)  
5. Pour your delicious mixture into into the prepared tray. This is where the "yumminess" comes in: take little spoonfuls of peanutbutter, nutella or caramel treat (use your baking inspiration) place them into the mixture and swirl through with a knife. 
6. Bake in the oven for 50 minutes (I promise that it is worth the wait - said by the most impatient chocoholic in the world!) or a little bit longer for a lighter, cake-like brownie. Tip: sometimes I find my brownies getting crisp on the edges but still gooey in the middle, I then turn down the heat (or turn off the oven) and leave them in there for about 10-15 minutes until firm.
7. Final, and BEST, step is to EAT your brownies while still wonderfully warm (or like my family which demolishes them within minutes) and preferably with ice-cream. Enjoy :)

One last baking idea:

Sometimes we truly just need to eat the most decadent imaginable baked creation possible - layered brownies: the bottom layer is chocolate chip cookie dough, the middle layer is double stuffed oreo cookies topped with your favourite treat (caramel, chocolate, marshmallows), and the top layer is brownie mixture. Repeat layers as your "need" demands,  bake and serve with, of course, ice-cream!

Carefree

[At Wilderness Beach with Tigger for the very first time!]

[The cool mist rose off the foaming waters with the mountains rising up out of the sand, no one in sight, so peaceful, so calm within] 

[I remember summer vacations as a child spent at Carmel: those early sunrise swims at Victoria Bay, hiking down the Cayman's River pass, climbing up the rocks and jumping off the waterfalls, surrounded by lush, green beauty, feeling that wonderful 'relaxed' holiday feeling] 

[Leaning back to find you there, your strong arms wrapped around me, feeling so safe, so secure, then holding your hand as we walk slowly down the beach, splashing in the waves, Tigger adorably afraid of the water, collecting seashells, then wiping the sand off our feet, with a sleeping puppy finally still... then off to the park, rousing the puppy to play and eating ice-cream... licking sticky caramel off our fingers, trying not to slip in the mud, smelling the fresh pine needles, feeling like we had not a care in the world]

A taste of summer!

How to make a very yummy berry ice-cream*

Take 2 punnets of berries: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, blackberries! Place them in a pot with some water and castor sugar and boil to soften, until it creates a sort of syrup with the berries still whole.

Whip up some double cream while in a separate bowl until smooth and thick, careful not to overwhip it.

Add the berry mixture to the whipped cream.

Slice up a firm, tart fruit, such as a nectarine or peach, and add to the cream mixture.

To add a sweet crunch, crush some meringues into the cream mixture.

Slowly fold the mixture over to marble the cream with the berries, syrup, fruit and meringues. Gently scoop the cream mixture into a freezer proof bowl and allow to freeze for at least four hours before you enjoy your summer berry medley ice-cream!