SPECIAL: Girl's African Shwe Shwe Fabric Booties

***SAVE $1.50 (R10) OFF THE REGULAR PRICE***

It's Summer time in the Northern hemisphere, and these bright and light cotton shoes are perfect for allowing little toes to stay fashionably cool and breezy! 

10% of the proceeds from the sale of this pair of booties goes to the 

"Love the Babies" campaign run by the Robin Hood Foundation.

Size 2 (3 - 6 months)

Now only $7.00 (R48)!

Available to buy using PayPal here. 
Available to buy using credit card or EFT here.

Tasty Gluten/Egg/Corn/Nut-free Pizza

South Africa being the unique country that it is, shopping aisles took a long time to catch up to food allergies. I think back to 2005, the year I was diagnosed with coeliac disease, when the only gluten-free flour available on the shelves was sorghum meal (masquerading as Maltabella porridge). I baked a batch of muffins using that, and recall that they were "killer" for all the wrong reasons.

Thankfully, times have changed. And while pre-made gluten-free items are still over-priced and under-yummy, the availability of a grand variety of gf flours means that the opportunity exists for one to take the plunge into the world of allergy-free baking.

Enter my new-found, magic flour combo. First, I mixed a little bit of each of the flours below with some water and used a teaspoon to taste each one for bitterness and after-taste. Second, I used the 700:300 flour ratio suggestion from gluten-free girl and the chef. Third, I combined the flours according to my preferred taste quotient and came up with my new favourite all-purpose gluten and corn-free flour.

Here's the recipe for my magic flour mix:

400g white rice flour

200g sorghum flour/meal

100g millet flour

300g potato starch

Now, using this flour combo, bring on the pizza!

I used as my starting point the "Thin-crust pizza base" recipe from Jacki Passmore's
Gluten Free Bible: Delicious gluten-free food (Bible (Penguin))

Ingredients (modified from original recipe):

• 2 x 10g sachets dried yeast
• 2 tsp white sugar
• 2 cups gf plain flour (I used my magic flour mix)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp olive oil

 Method:

1. In a small bowl, mix the yeast and sugar with a quarter cup of lukewarm water. Stir through and let it sit for 10 minutes to make the yeast all frothy and happy.
2. In a deep bowl, mix the flour and salt. Make a well in the centre, and add in the yeast + water, as well as the 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
3. Then use one cup of lukewarm water and add it bit by bit (you probably wont use the whole cup, so please don't pour it in all at once) while you stir till you get a dough that is soft, but not sticky. Don't worry if it's a little too much on the sticky side, because you can always add a little flour in to bring it back. Also, bear in mind that you're not going to knead this dough, so don't expect it to look like a ball of tough, gluteny dough.
4. Cling wrap the bowl and leave it to stand around for 30 minutes until some rising action has happened.
5. Line a baking sheet with some non-stick baking paper, and spoon some dough onto the sheet. Use your fingers to smoosh it out to the desired shape.
6. Brush the top with a little olive oil and bake at 220 degrees Celsius (428 Fahrenheit) for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly toasted at the edges.
7. For freezing: Allow to cool and then use pieces of baking paper in between pizza bases in a sealable container before freezing. You can reheat these from frozen under the grill in about 6 to 10 minutes.
8. For eating straight away: top with your choice of toppings and enjoy!

Topping: Homemade Napoletana sauce, raw mushrooms, Danish feta cheese and alfalfa sprouts

Giveaway Winner

Thanks to all of you who commented with encouraging words and/or well wishes. Each one was much appreciated!

Thanks also to those of you who made the time to go check out heart.felt stuff.

Congratulations to Commenter # 11 (chosen by random.org), Carolyn from All Day I Dream About Food.

Your owl pin will be flying its way over to you soonest. I hope you, or someone else you know, will enjoy this little hand made clothes/purse accessory!  :)

Shop Launch and Giveaway

"If you never try, you'll never know what you are capable of."

~ John Barrow ~

I sat down to re-watch Julie & Julia yesterday after burning the back of my hand on the oven. I wish I could say I was cooking something, but the only thing cooking in the kitchen was (literally), me!

So after running my hand under the cold water tap and trying not to cry while my husband went to the pharmacy to get some burn cream, I sat down on the couch to watch the movie for the second time. The first time I watched it last year, I remember the 'blogging' theme being what I noticed the most. This time, however, it was Julia Child's character and her stubborn refusal to give-up on finding something she would enjoy doing while in France that jumped off the screen at me. And then I realised why.

I've been on sabbatical from teaching for a few months now, a profession that I ultimately love, but that I find physically and emotionally draining every few years and need to take a rest from (or risk giving it up for good, which I don't want to do). I've been fortunate enough to have the time to look around and, like Julia ask: "What is it I really want to do?"

For the first time in my life, I found my hands (literally) turning to needlework. I've never been an able needleworker....a piano player, a bad cellist, a chef, a mosaic maker, a gardener, a hugger, yes...but never a person adept at sewing. Then one day recently, with time on my hands, I picked up a needle, some thread and material...and I created something as a gift for someone which they actually liked...and so kept going.

At the suggestion of my bu and parents, I decided to launch my own online shop featuring my hand crafts. Lord knows, in the current economic climate, it's a risky and idealistic choice...I'm aware. But even so, heart.felt stuff was born! A little dream made real. 

Will it work? I don't know. 

But I know I need to try! 

Because if you never try, you'll never know, right? :)

Please celebrate with me by: 

1. taking a look at my shop, and 
2. by entering my giveaway for yourself or someone else, in which you can win a version of this little hand sewn stuffed felt owl brooch - perfect for adding a little quirkiness to an outfit, or a little bling to a purse! Just leave a comment below saying: "Hi" or something of the sorts, and make sure that I can get hold of you (either through your profile, or by leaving an e-mail address).

Comments will close on Monday, 13 June 2011 at midnight (UTC -12), which would make it 14:00 in South Africa on Tuesday, 14 June (UTC +2). 

The winner will be announced here shortly thereafter (using random.org), along with a post featuring a gluten-free pizza (and the flour mix it was made from) I discovered which will change your home made pizza life forever...I promise! :-)

Thanks for reading and good luck!

The Fat Dog Cafe

An e-mail from my brother-in-law's wife arrived today, announcing their imminent departure from their home in New Zealand on a round-the-world tour before settling in Australia.
It got me to reminiscing about our visit to NZ last year, and a wonderful cafe they recommended to us while in Rotorua.

The Fat Dog Cafe and Bar sits off one of the main streets in Rotorua, a stinky little town due to all it's sulphurous hot springs with a wonderful forest, lake and Polynesian spa that makes up for the smell!

The place is wildly popular with the locals, which is always a very good sign. But while the lines are long, the service is quick and friendly, and there is always more than enough to be looking at. 


I mean, just take a look at the menu, scribbled delightfully on the wall in a multi-coloured profusion of options!

Table numbers aren't used there. Instead, it's a mish-mash of kitsch paraphernalia like turning flowers and plastic red duck tea-pots which take the place of drab old numbers! 

The array of dishes on offer is truly astounding, and yet labelling and knowledge is excellent in terms of what dishes contain/don't contain on the allergy front.
We treated ourselves to the Butter Chicken Curry served with a very unusual side salad (yay for people using root vegetables like beets raw and spiralised!)
We also tried the Kumara Wedges (like roast sweet potatoes), served sprinkled with spring onions (unusual) and with a sour cream dipping sauce (no tomato sauce/ketchup here!)

There is no part of this cafe that is boring....the wall, tables, chairs, roof....they're ALL fodder for artistic inclinations. And the end result is just one of sheer and utter fun!

For more photos, please visit my Flickr Set for the Fat Dog Cafe! Their cool water branding is truly something to behold. :)


P.S. If you're feeling shoppish, or giftish, please mosey on down to my new Etsy shop for some good deals...I'd sure appreciate it y'all!


P.P.S. I'll be back later this week for a giveaway, so keep your eyes peeled (which if you take it literally, could be terribly uncomfortable!)

Gluten-free, Egg-free Chocolate Cake

This recipe from my Mom is just wonderful. 

It never flops. 

It gives you the most moist and tender crumb around, and it stays soft for days. It's chocolatey and delicious without being too sweet either. 

You can whip it up from start to finish in under 35 minutes.

And best yet: when served to people who don't know it's gluten-free, and are expecting some sort of "different" taste.....all resistance crumbles!

Mom's Choccie Cake

Prep Time: 10 - 15 minutes

Baking Time: 20 minutes

Yields: 1 bundt cake (serves 8 generously)

Ingredients:

• 2 large bananas
• 250ml gluten-free cake flour (e.g. in SA, Nature's Choice GF Cake Flour)
• 125ml lukewarm water
• 60ml vegetable oil (something neutral, like sunflower, works best)
• 60ml cocoa powder
• 200ml sugar
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 178 degrees Celsius.
2. Mash bananas with a fork in the bottom of a mixing bowl.
3. Use an electric mixer to mix in the sugar.
4. Add in the remaining ingredients, and mix until just lump free.
5. Grease a bundt cake tin, or a rectangular baking dish (approx. 28cm x 17cm).
6. Add batter and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 20 minutes, or until a cake skewer inserted comes out clean and the cake has pulled away from the sides ever so slightly.
7. Remember, ovens vary in their hotitutdes, so err on the side of caution and check with a cake skewer/toothpick rather than relying only on time.

Frosting/Icing:

• 80 grams of 70% dark chocolate
• approx. 2 Tbsp milk

Method:

• Heat on a low stove, stirring occasionaly, or use the microwave on a low setting to melt it slooowly (don't burn the chocolate...it'll make you want to cry!)

Born-up-a-gluten-free-tree (or bon appetit!)

And the winner is...

Thank you to the eight of you that entered my first giveaway (1 in 8...those are pretty good odds!)

Thanks to RANDOM.ORG and their "True Random Number Generator", the winner of Bed Rest by Sarah Bilston is:

COMMENTER # 1

Congratulations oomph! Your book will soon be on its way to Hawaii :-)

BOOK GIVEAWAY: Bed Rest by Sarah Bilston

The lead character, Quinn, is a successful young English lawyer, married and living in New York. Her life so far has been relatively painless, until she gets knocked-up and subsequently has to spend the last three months of her pregnancy lying in bed. As her career and personal life changes, she begins re-examining her whole life - her marriage, relationships with family and friends, and her job.

It's a fun and neurotic little read, perfect for a Summer vacation for those in warm climes, or a night on the couch under a blankie for those of us in the grips of Winter.

To stand a chance of winning, leave a comment below (even if it's just: "Pick me!"). Please make sure I have a way of contacting you (either via your profile or an e-mail address).

The winner will be drawn by a random comment picker thing. Entries close on Tuesday, 31 May 2011.

I will pay for postage regardless of where in the world you are, so don't hesitate to comment away! The winner will be announced on Wednesday, 1 June 2011. :-)

Happy Towel Day Everybody!

I asked him if he wanted a bigger towel. 

He said nah. 

He's keeping it chic and understated.
:-)

Some Curry for Comfort

The world is full of good curry. A marvelous idea if I ever saw one, perfectly welcoming to meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Most of the time, welcoming as well to those avoiding gluten, as cream is a fab thickener.

Cooking some version of curry at home is a labour of love (of sorts), where time and patience (and sometimes multiple pots) is necessary for a good end product.

Well, on a day with some time and some inclination, this recipe is what emerged. And it made me happy. For dishes that bring nourishment and contentment are always worth the effort.

What is your favourite comforting dish?

Ingredients for the curry:

• 1 cup brown rice
• 4 small onions
• 3 x-large potatoes
• 4 medium carrots
• 3 cups frozen peas
• 1 fresh chilli (medium-hot)
• 1 sprig each of thyme, lemon thyme, rosemary, mint
• 2 tsp of curry powder
• 1/4 tsp each of cumin and cinnamon
• 4 cardamom pods
• olive oil for frying
• salt
• 2 tsp coconut oil (optional)
• fresh chives (optional)

Method for brown rice:

• 3 cups of water added to the cup of rice with 1 teaspoon of salt, set on medium heat to simmer for 40 minutes usually does the trick!

Method for curry (use one big, flat-bottomed pot that is suitable for all the steps below = less washing up):

1. Chop the small onions finely, and fry in 1 tablespoon of olive oil till soft and translucent. Remove from the pot, and set aside in a bowl for the moment.
2. Chop the potatoes and carrots into even dice. Add 2 tsp of salt to the pot and enough water to cover the ingredients. Boil till soft (this will depend on how big the chunks of potato and carrot are...anywhere from 15 to 30 mins).
3. Drain about a half of the liquid away, and then put the pot back on the stove top. Add to the potatoes the cooked onions, 3 cups of frozen peas, a chopped chilli, the curry powder, herbs, cardamom pods, cumin and cinnamon. Boil until the peas are done (about 5 - 7 minutes).
4. Remove from the heat and season to taste with salt. 
5. Stir through 2 tsp of coconut oil and sprinkle with freshly cut chives.
6. Serve with brown rice. 
7. Good eating! :-)

P.S. The inspiration for my curry recipe and post title came from drooling over this site, written by the truly inspired curry maker, Ramona.