Monday, July 29, 2013

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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

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A CHARMING DINNER SETTING WITH A SOUTH AFRICAN
THEME AT THE HOME OF HELENA AND PETER

JUST LOVE THIS CREATIVITY


Thomas Edward Brown. 1830–1897
  
My Garden
  
A GARDEN is a lovesome thing, God wot!
  Rose plot,
  Fringed pool,
Fern'd grot—
  The veriest school
  Of peace; and yet the fool
Contends that God is not—
Not God! in gardens! when the eve is cool?
  Nay, but I have a sign;
  'Tis very sure God walks in mine.

THIS WAS PAINTED BY MY DAUGHTER SEL
 SHE IS TALENTED IN SO MANY DIRECTIONS,
BUT BEING A BEAUTIFUL PERSON
DESCRIBES HER PERFECTLY.
 I HAVE JUST SPENT
 QUALITY TIME BEING WITH HER AND ENJOYING
THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER GIGGLES,
IDEAS AND CREATIVITY.
  SHE HAS HER OWN SITE..
"CREATE BALANCE."
.GREAT IDEAS AND TIPS      

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

.FRUIT SALADS

Everyone has a favorite fruit salad. The fresh fruit salad of fruits in season, is healthy and easy to digest. I feel that it is ideal for a dessert, a quick alternative to cakes, healthy for breakfast and delightful with the addition of yogurt, ice creams, granita, and iced lollies.
Fruit salad does not have to be restricted to dessert, so use varied containers to serve. A bowl, glass fruit bowl, tall glasses, oval plate and even a flat plate with a little ice cream cup on it. This way it is comfortable and looks like a meal, dessert or fun treat. Sprinkle chocolate sprinkles, coconut, drizzle honey, maple syrup or puree of apple sauce with the choice of fruit presentation.

BREAKFAST FRUIT SALAD.
Cut up pieces of fruits in season. ,
This is a quick addition to yogurt, granola or simply alone. Eating fruit away from meals is excellent. You feel light and the natural sugar is easily digested. You can make it and take it for school and work lunch. Simply take a banana with. This can be cut in, before you eat. This way, nothing will go mushy or discolor.

HEALTH SALAD. This is fruit, cut up and blended with some sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, some flax seeds and raisins. Eat with buttermilk, yogurt or with soya milk.

WATERMELON AND MELON SALAD.
This is made from cut up melon, watermelon and green grapes. Simply place in a bowl and add a cup of apple cider juice and mint leaves. Chill and serve in tall glass with some lemon ice on top. This is one I love with crackers and cheese. Yummy……………

EXOTIC FRUIT SALADS
Pomegranates, Granadillas Strawberries, Mangos, Kiwis, Persimmons, Berries Litchis and cherries.
These luscious fruits are great in fruit salad. Not just for color, style and taste, but for nutritional value. Do not overdo the amount you use. Use a base, like melon or honeydew, cut up apples or papaya.

HERE ARE SOME QUICK AND INTERESTING COMBINATIONS FOR SALADS

1. Watermelon cubes, cut up Golden Delicious apples, one teaspoon Pine Kernels and half a cup of grape juice. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds on top. Looks cool and tastes good. You can freeze pomegranate seeds in a small container in the freezer.

2. Watermelon slices, grated Bulgarian cheese on this with a little apple cider juice, and a few mint leaves. Serve on a large plate with a fork and knife. Of course there are people who pour wines and liquors on all the fruit servings. I prefer to cook in a way that is suitable for everyone, kids, mothers to be, older folks and people who have dietary needs to consider

3. Ahead of time. If you are busy and need a head start, steam cubed apples the day before. Simply cut into small cubes and sprinkle a little lemon juice and cinnamon on them Steam and cool. Place in fridge. On the day you prepare the salad, put the apples in a bowl, add cut up washed apricots, two figs and some almond slithers. Add frozen fruit juice and mix all.

4. Figs and Goats cheese. Chill halved figs and sprinkle a few drops of balsamic vinegar on them. Grate goat's cheese on the top and serve on a wedge of melon. Use a large plate and you can decorate the plate with crushed halva.
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5. Papaya
Melon in season or sponspek, oranges and cut up fruits of the season. Dice all and add orange juice. Stir and stand in the fridge with a cinnamon stick in it, Serve with an ice cream ball.


.6. If you are stuck with guests in five minutes, you can open a can of pears,, peaches or pineapples. Dice and place in the oven with a dash of butter, cinnamon and grill for three minutes. Serve with ice cream.


7. COMPOTE-THE TAKE FIVE DESSERT.

My late mother, Sonia, made this as a stand by for those who suffered from constipation, little kids and as a good dessert after a heavy meal.

TAKE FIVE of each of the following, dried prunes, dried apricots, dried figs and dried apples. Add half a cup of light and dried raisins. Wash well, drain and cook in three to four cups of water. Add half a teaspoon of cinnamon, two teaspoons pine kernels, one teaspoon of fresh ginger, or two or three crystallized ginger pieces. Cook on a low flame for twenty minutes. Chill and serve for breakfast, after a meal or when you need the benefits of this compote. It is great with cooked custard, pureed apples, yogurt or low fat cream.

8 STRAWBERRIES. Fresh strawberries are great culled, washed, drained and placed in a bowl with a few drops of balsamic vinegar sprinkled on them Chill and serve with mini meringues. For ultimate style sprinkle icing sugar on through a strainer.

9. FIGS.
Wash, dry and chill the figs. Split them in half, arrange on a platter and sprinkle arak on them.

10. NECTARINES, ORANGES, GRENADILLA PIPS AND DICED APPLES. You can serve this with mini marshmallows and yogurt.

11. FRUIT SALAD ON A STICK


Use a long stick Place pineapple, cut up plums, grapes, apples, peaches and whatever is in season. Blend three fruits with orange juice or an iced lollie and marinate in a shallow bowl until you serve them. Sprinkle with a little coconut

12. BAKED APPLES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED WEIGHT MAINTENANCE DESSERT.
You can core apples, fill with a cut up apricot and fig, squeeze a few drops of lemon juice over the fruit, Place in an oven dish with two cups of fruit tea and cinnamon, bake in a medium oven until soft. Serve with mint leaves and cut up lemon grass.

We all have our favorites. Some people do not create dessert. They simply pu the fruit on the table. What ever works for your family, is what you do.

Thank you for the encouraging comments. I am interested in your ideas too.

Have a great week and enjoy the wonder of each day. Feel grateful for the calm we have and embrace the moment.

Share the joy of the day with those you love. Rona

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

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Sunday, July 14, 2013

RAW FOODS, EASY SALADS AND QUICK PLATTERS OF GREAT EATS .
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I like the idea of having a fridge full of vegetables and fruits. You can create two or three salads in thirty minutes and have a meal that simply needs additions of nuts, dried fruits and some quick extra nourishment ideas.

GREEN SALAD.  This is a basic  Go for lettuce, kale, spring onions, broccoli,  spinach leaves and some mint leaves. Wash, pat dry and arrange in a bowl. Make a dressing of  a red onion, juice of one lemon, salt , pepper, dried or fresh parsley and blend with two teaspoons of olive oil. Pour over and serve with crushed walnut or pecans on top and a few thinly sliced washed dried apricots or dried tomatoes.   You just need a few boiled eggs, olives, bred and butter and the meal is ready  Enjoy.


CABBAGE, CARROTS, KOHLRABI, APPLES OR PEARS.  Cut the cabbage very thinly. Use three cups of cabbage, two grated carrots, one grated kohlrabi   and two grated apples or three cubed pears.  Mix these  and arrange in a bowl. Then make a dressing of  juice of an orange ,juice of a lemon, three teaspoons techina sauce and two chopped dates. Blend all with a little olive oil and mix in and ,decorate with a few chopped almonds. Serve with  omelettes, quiche or with baked potatoes.

 BEETROOT, APPLES, KALE AND CABBAGE.   Grate three beets, two apples, chop a cup full of Kale leaves and two cups of cabbage. Mix all and dress with  one red onion, two teaspoons horse radish, called chrain, juice of a lemon, salt and pepper and sprinkle sunflower seeds all over the top. great salad with whole wheat bread,  humus, techina. olives and lebane.

Enjoy and remember cover the salads and leave in the fridge until you need them at the table.

 Love and light for happy meals  Rona



Enjoy fresh flowers, fresh foods and a charming ambiance when you eat meals. Remember to express GRATITUDE FOR THE ABUNDANCE WE HAVE. Say a blessing for the foods we are so lucky to enjoy, the homes that protect us and the families that give us love and support. Be thankful,be aware and spread the feeling of joy.   Love and light, Rona