1/3 of the Way in the 31 Day Challenge!

Well I can hardly believe that we're already on day 10 of the 31 Days challenge! It's been so much fun to finally get a grip on my recipe file, and so fulfilling to see more of my recipes online. It's also been precious to take this walk down memory lane as each recipe brings back such vivid memories of a certain time or stage of my life.

It also reminds me of the precious loved ones who've shared their recipes with me. Some are family, some old friends, some I don't have the blessing of seeing anymore and some have passed away. But by sharing a recipe with me all those years ago, these recipes will continue to remind me of them and bring a grateful smile to my face each time I bake or cook.

I love how food is such a central theme around our times of getting together with the ones we love. Precious memories are made around the dinner table as we linger at the table while chatting and laughing about the day's events. Not to mention how we all gather around a memorable Christmas Dinner, or Birthday Champagne Breakfast! Eating and enjoying good food is at the core of our nature, across all cultures, and is a tradition to be treasured.

So the next time you prepare a meal for your family, try not to be rushed. Take your time, cook it with love. And encourage the recipients of your labours to savour and enjoy each bite. Linger longer at your table. Really engage with each other, take time to talk, to laugh and to listen.

And may I encourage you to take the time to share your recipes, and to leave a lasting legacy for your children, for a time when you will no longer be around to spoil them with your culinary delights!

Day 7 Bonus! - Bar-One Chocolate Sauce

I got this Bar One Chocolate Sauce Recipe from my sister, and when Danielle does things, she does them in style! This is one very tasty and rich Chocolate sauce delicious served on Ice Cream!

Photo credit: justeasyrecipes.co.za

Bar-One Sauce

Ingredients:
3 Bar-Ones / Mars Bars
1 Tin condensed milk
1 C Cream
2ml Vanilla essence

Method:
1. Unwrap the chocolates and place in a saucepan, with the condensed milk, and heat until chocolate melts.
2. Stir the sauce often, until the chocolates have melted and are well combined with the milk.
3. Remove from heat and add vanilla essence.
4. Serve hot over ice cream.

Serves 8-10 people

Amazing Fudge!

This is my Sister, Danielle Russell's recipe. It's fairly easy to make, although it requires your full attention. Don't intend to help kids with homework or run a bath while you make this! I also recommend that you get all your ingredients measured, chopped and opened BEFORE you start. (And grease your baking tray too!) Lellie, I think of you every time I make it! <3 <3 <3

Amazing Fudge!

Ingredients:
2 Small soup ladles (80ml each) of Milk
10 Small soup Ladles of White Sugar
70g Butter
1 Tin Condensed Milk
1 Slab Chocolate (100g)

Method:
1. Use a LARGE pot and put the milk and sugar into it. (The sugar should be just wet, not runny, add more sugar if neccessary.)
2. Stir this over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Now turn up the heat until it boils, stirring continuously.
4. Add butter and tin of condensed milk. Stir while it boils until you notice that it starts to thicken.
* If its like smooth toffee it's not ready.
* If it rises and becomes very frothy then it's ready. Remove from heat.
5. Quickly add the chopped chocolate slab and mix quickly.
6. Pour into a well greased baking tray, it will fill it, and smooth it on top. Be warned that it hardens quickly.
7. When it is dry to the touch you can cut it into blocks, before it hardens. You can use a ruler to be precise if you want perfect squares.

Makes about 60 squares

South African Banana Bread

This recipe belongs to my dear Mother, not sure who she inherited it from, but it's the best Banana Bread Recipe I have ever come across. Don't be tempted to add more bananas as I find it makes the bread too heavy and so it sinks once you take it out the oven. Why fix what isn't broken right! Stick to this recipe and you'll enjoy sweet success mmmmmmm......
Note: I make mine Dairy and Wheat/Gluten free, so I've added Dairy Free and Wheat Free notes for those with allergies

South African Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Margarine (DF: use Wooden Spoon Margarine)
1 Cup Sugar
2 Jumbo Eggs
1 Cup Mashed Bananas (2 large, 4 small)
1 tsp Vanilla essence
2 Cups Flour (W/GF: Replace with equal quantity of Gluten free flour mix)
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Bicarb (baking soda)
2 tsp Baking powder
1/2 Cup Milk (DF: Replace with rice or soya milk)

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 180*C
2. Cream margarine and Sugar.
3. Add eggs, banana, and vanilla essence and mix well.
4. Add sifted dry ingredients and milk alternately, mix well.
5. Turn into a greased loaf tin. (don't fill more than 4/5, it will overflow)
6. Bake for 60-65 minutes.

Muffin Variation:
1. Follow steps 1-4 above.
2. Pour batter into muffin cups, filling 4/5.
3. Bake for 30 minutes
4. Makes 12-18 depending on size

Melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread

The name says it all, actually just thinking about it makes my mouth water! This is the recipe my Mom used for many years. The smell of these treats cooking in my oven brings back such fond memories of Christmas-time at home. I miss you Mom!

Melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread

Ingredients:
270g Flour
120g Icing Sugar
250g Butter (don't be tempted to use margarine, it's just not the same!)
120g Maizena (Cornflour)
1/4 tsp Salt

Method:
1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Sift flour, maizena and salt. Gradually add this to the butter mixture and mix well. It needs to resemble large breadcumbs.
3. Grease a biscuit tray and pour the crumb mixture into it.
4. Press the mixture down evenly and prick some holes in it using a fork.
5. Bake at 160* for 38-40 minutes.
6. Cut into fingers while still hot. Allow to cool before removing from the tin.

Zoet Brood!

This morning I was Skyping my sister, and she shared this recipe with me. It's so easy to make, and goes really far! It makes about 30 little fist size buns (or fewer bigger ones!) Great with tea or at a braai. Thanks Lellie for sharing this winner!


P.S. These were a bit over done, so I've adjusted the recipe.

Zoet Brood

Ingredients:
1 bag of Bread dough
1C Cream
1C Brown sugar (or 1/2C Treacle + 1/2C White)
5ml Vanilla essence
Cinnamon sugar

Method:
1. Pre-heat the warming drawer.
2. Put the dough on a floured surface and flatten.
3. Cut into 3 equal parts, then cut each part into 2, then cut each into 5 (=30)
4. Put the bread rolls into a large greased rectangular dish.
5. Mix the cream, sugar and vanilla essence in a jug, and pour evenly over the rolls.
6. Sprinkle evenly and generously with Cinnamon sugar.
7. Allow to rise in the warming drawer for about 20 minutes.
8. In the mean time, preheat your oven to 180*
9. When doubled in size, bake for 25-30 minutes, until beautifully browned.

Makes: 30 small rolls