Gnocchi with Chunky Vegetable Sauce
Posted by: homeflair on: May 14, 2012
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We had bought some potato gnocchi from Milk an Honey over the weekend and decided to take it out of the freezer and cook it yesterday. We had thought of just tossing it with olive oil and some fresh parmesan cheese but then it began to sound a bit dull. I had loads of vegetables that I had ordered from Ripe and thought it better to make a nice vegetable sauce. So here goes…a nice chunky, healthy and quick sauce.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic chopped fine
1 onion diced
1 medium orange pepper/capsicum diced (any colour will do)
1 small aubergine diced
1 cup tomato puree
1 cup water
1 medium tomato chopped
Half a bunch of parsley chopped
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
450 grams gnocchi
Method:
Prepare the gnocchi as per directions. Heat the olive oil in a pan. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minute. Add the onion and pepper and saute for a further minute. Add in the aubergine and stir gently for 2 minutes. Add the tomato puree, water, tomato, parsley, salt, pepper and sugar. Stir to mix well. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
Although we had it with gnocchi, this sauce could be served with pasta or rice.
Happy Mother’s Day
Posted by: homeflair on: May 13, 2012
I spent many a Mother’s Day in Mt. Kisco, NY, with my aunt, uncle and cousins when I was in my teens. It’s from there that this wonderful tradition to honour mums took root in my life.
It is a day I look forward to every year and it has taken on an added significance ever since I became a mother. I was blessed with two daughters more than twenty years ago and especially on Mother’s Day, I feel the need to express my deep appreciation of having been given this opportunity to experience a love that transcends everything else in this world.
Their love and trust, which I have worked towards earning is my eternal gift from them. We have learned many things together, had many inspired and spirited conversations, encouraged one another, have laughed and cried together and have grown as individuals and as a family. I have a deep and passionate respect for who they are and what they stand for.
Since I am a mum because of them, it’s our family tradition that I take them out to dinner and we celebrate our having built something beautiful and strong together.
So we’re all looking forward to a Sunday roast at The Wharf tonight! Cheers and a very HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to my beautiful mum, my dearest aunt and all the other wonderful mums out there.
Garlic Cheese Potatoes
Posted by: homeflair on: May 9, 2012
- In: Appetizers | Food
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I just made these for my younger daughter. One of her favourite snacks is usually small baked potatoes with butter and cheese. I was using the oven so thought it was time to try something a little different. Either she was hungry or really liked them since they were gone quite quick!
Serves: 1 to 2
Ingredients:
4 small to medium potatoes washed
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic chopped fine
Salt
Pepper
2 tablespoons grated cheddar cheese
Method:
Boil the potatoes till just tender. Remove, cool slightly and slice. Heat the pan, add the butter, add the garlic and fry till just brown. Add the salt and pepper to the pan and stir. Add in the potatoes and stir well to coat. Fry on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes stirring all the time. Remove to a place and sprinkle the cheese over.
Sorry but didn’t get a chance to take an even just about okay pic!
The Empty Family
Posted by: homeflair on: May 6, 2012
A collection of nine short stories, The Empty Family by author Colm Tóibín covers a vast range of emotions. He puts feelings out there that we don’t always understand or more importantly deal with. There is a thread of poignancy running through them all; people coming home, lost chances, passion fulfilled and passion lost. The characters face difficulties and loss but the stories leave you with the feeling that they can always be overcome. The writing is economical and sparse but sometimes wonderfully poetic and he tells us a lot without actually saying too much. The longer stories of the collection have a more lasting impact as we can engage with more complete characters. It’s a simple lesson that The Empty Family leaves us with; that eventually all we really need is comfort in a place that we can call home.
Hands – Hygiene or Obsession
Posted by: homeflair on: May 2, 2012
I was quite amused the first time I saw the advertisement for a no touch soap dispenser. Actually it was a sort of unbelievable amusement, you know the kind that makes you laugh at how downright not so smart something is!
Okay so I was in the supermarket this morning doing the shopping and passed this kit with the dispenser and the soap. Right next to it was the immense variety of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer and looking at so much of this ‘hygienic’ stuff made me go, “OMG this obsession is ridiculous!” I’ve actually seen people wash their hands and immediately use a hand sanitizer!
Generally speaking, I’m a great believer in moderation, so yes, by all means be careful and aware, maintain a high standard of personal hygiene but the more we protect ourselves, the more susceptible we become to everyday germs.
Haven’t we always been taught that there are good germs and bad germs? We need both to balance life, that’s how it goes, the flip side, yin and yang, black and white.
Having this kind of no touch nonsense in the home is a bit far-fetched. It’s welcome in the malls and other public places but I assume no one has that kind of footfall in their homes!
So now given this above scenario, I couldn’t help thinking that maybe this isn’t about hygiene at all. The world has changed, it’s a lot ‘dirtier’. More pollution, more species dying out, changing weather patterns, wars, brutality, senseless killing. Is all of this driving some people to try and balance their personal eco–systems?
Has the world falling into disarray caused an underlying need to cleanse excessively? Do we need to be obsessively hygienic to keep our seeming helplessness in many situations at bay?
It may come across as a very random idea but it is something that crossed my mind and so I thought, hey, why not put it out there and share 
Would be cool if you let me know what you think.
P.S. Hand sanitizer kills the germs but doesn’t clean your hands. If your hands are dirty, you’re only rubbing the dirt into your hands.
Strawberry Surprise
Posted by: homeflair on: April 30, 2012
- In: Desserts | Food
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My younger daughter is turning out to be quite the master baker! Her first coffee cake last week was really good and disappeared so fast! Here’s what she baked today…a Strawberry Surprise cake! It’s super yummy and goes down great at any time of day, so try it the next time you want something light and summery.
Serves: 6 to 8
Ingredients:
For the cake
1 cup sugar
Half cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
One and a half cups self-raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Half cup milk
20 medium strawberries sliced
For the topping
One and a half cups whipping cream
Few drops of red food colouring
2 tablespoons icing sugar
Strawberries to decorate
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C/Gas mark 4). Grease and flour a 9″ x 9″ baking tin.
In a large bowl, beat the sugar and butter till fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and stir in the vanilla. Sift the flour and baking powder. Add to the mix a little at a time and mix well. Stir in the milk till the batter is smooth. Sprinkle on the 20 strawberries. Spoon the batter into the prepared baking tin. Bake for approximately 35 minutes till it springs back to the touch.
Allow to cool on a wire rack while you prepare the topping.
Whip the cream till stiff. Add in the icing sugar. Spread the cream topping on the cake. Decorate with strawberries.
Quickest Peach Melba
Posted by: homeflair on: April 29, 2012
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This dessert is so quick that it somehow feels you’re cheating somewhere with it! I’m always down for some ice-cream, add in the fruit and some nuts and I could convince myself it’s a healthy dessert! Oh, that’s where that cheating bit probably comes in 
It’s ridiculously easy and yummy so use it for that last-minute dessert if you have surprise guests, that nagging sweet tooth or just for some sweet ‘n simple fun.
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
1 tin peaches without the syrup (420 grams)
4/6 scoops vanilla ice-cream
2 tablespoons strawberry jam
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoon sliced almonds
Melt the jam and water in a small saucepan and set aside.
Toast the almonds under the grill and set aside. (It takes only a few minutes so keep watch)
To assemble: Divide the peaches between two round glasses/goblets. Place the ice-cream over the peaches, 2/3 scoops per glass. Spoon half the jam sauce over one and the remainder over the other. Divide and sprinkle the almonds over it all.
Enjoy:)
Leather Care
Posted by: homeflair on: April 29, 2012
I love leather, especially jackets. I frankly think pants and skirts are pretty cool too but somehow don’t wear them anymore. Anyhow, this isn’t about my sartorial sense, it’s a quick guide to caring for your leather garments.
- Store leather garments in cool, dry, ventilated places as they need to breathe.
- Do not store them in plastic bags or suit covers.
- Do not spray perfume over your leather garment.
- Do not insert pins or anything adhesive as it will not repair itself as on other fabrics.
- If your leather garment gets wet, dry it naturally at room temperature and keep away from any heat.
- If your leather garment gets a stain, take it to a professional cleaner.
- Large amounts of a stain/spill can be blotted with a light colour towel and taken to a professional cleaner.
- If you need to store your leather garment, use silica gel and naphthalene balls.
Washed Up or Washed Out!
Posted by: homeflair on: April 28, 2012
I’ve been washing clothes for too many years now and there are little things that you learn along the way. Some just kinda make sense and others that you have learned the hard way, like when your white clothes aren’t white anymore!
Here’s are some quick tips for those starting out.
DO
Check that the detergent you buy is appropriate for your machine, top loading or front loading machines use different detergents.
Buy detergent that has no added bleach as it may remove the colour/dye if the garment is not colourfast.
Buy hand wash detergent that dissolves in cold water and rinses out completely after washing.
Wash white clothes separately from other clothes to avoid colours running into them.
Read the labels for washing instructions if you’re not sure what to do.
Put underwear in a net washing bag before putting them into the machine.
Put net or delicate fabrics garments in a net washing bag before putting them into the machine.
Wash sensitive fabrics separately on a gentle cycle if necessary, it does make a difference.
DON’T
Avoid putting under wired garments in the machine, they may twist out of shape.
Starch all garments, only sheer fabrics.
Use shampoo to wash garments, they leave a film that doesn’t allow the fabric to ‘breathe’.
Use fabric softener with towels, it makes them less rough and they don’t work as well.
Wash dark garments in water that is above 50 degrees C, the hot water may fade the colours.
Experienced washers, please comment and add anything that may help someone out with their laundry!
KEEP YOUR FLOURS FRESH!
Posted by: homeflair on: April 24, 2012
- In: Food
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Flour seems like one of those things that can stay endlessly fresh. I think that may be the case because we use it to make plenty of food but it isn’t really a food in itself. It is a very important ingredient though – imagine a world without cake or the smell of freshly baked bread – yeah exactly, I just heard a universal gasp!
So here’s how to look after your flour(s) and keep them fresh for the next bake.
Basic Flours like all-purpose, cake, self-raising, etc. are more suitable for storage as they are more stable than whole grain flours. The grains are stripped of the bran and germ before grinding, hence it is only the endosperm that is processed. It is this stripping that gives the flour its white/creamy colour.
Store these flours in resealable plastic bags or airtight containers. If the flour is bought packed in paper bags, you could put the whole bag into the plastic bag. Remove the excess air, label with the purchase/expiry dates, put it in the freezer for two days. This will kill any bugs. Remove and store in the refrigerator or a cool, dark place, away from sunlight.
Whole grain/Alternative Flours are more flavourful, have more colour and texture as they contain more of the grain, starch and/or nut. The fat content of these flours is higher due to the oil in the grain and this also makes the flour less stable and more prone to going rancid.
Store these flours in resealable plastic bags or airtight containers in the freezer. If the flour is bought packed in paper bags, you could put the whole bag into the plastic bag. Remove the excess air, label with the purchase/expiry dates. Bring the flour to room temperature before using.
Tip: You can smell flour to the check for rancidity.
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