Amaze-fest smoothie

So I started the Well I am challenge a few weeks ago. Lets not go into the depths of how I am doing but I am eating a lot healthier than I was and have cut out nearly 90% of the junk I normally eat. So it's a start in the right direction. One thing I am loving are the smoothies, I'm not a breakfast person so having a fruit smoothie works and this one I can't get enough of. It's going to sound weird and gross but it's like drinking cake batter but 100% healthy cake batter.

We calling it the Amaze-fest

1/2 cup raw oats (you can soak it over night in fat free milk so it's soft)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (I use Woolworths Fat-free)
1 Grated apple
1 Banana
Cinnamon to taste

See simple, quick and tasty!!!

Let Me Eat CAKE!

Last Friday I was invited to a High Tea at Junipa's for there Media Launch, although quite a distance for me it was a journey worth travelling to this heaven sent coffee shop at the Hobart Grove Centre in Bryanston.
This might sound cliche' but I mean it when I say, you haven't tasted what cake is supposed to taste like until you have put one of this perfected creations in your mouth. It quite literally melts in your mouth and for a few seconds, while you have that sugary goodness teasing your taste buds, everything is right in the world.

My favourite treats for the day was were the Red Velvet Petite Fours ( that's the little one with the strawberry on top) and the Sundried Tomato Galettes (the little pizza on my plate).

  

They welcomed us with warm smiles and filled us with baking knowledge, offered us perfectly brewed coffee and treated us to little bites of heaven. Wish I had more space in my tummy to fill it up and try everything they had to offer but will definitely be going back to taste the rest.

The launch was not the opening of this gem as they have been in business for years but the launch of there new Cake Studio. From tiered wedding cakes almost as beautiful as the bride, to birthday sponges drenched in Frangelico covered in chocolate Ganache, every creation designed and baked by Junipa's is unique.

"As an artisan bakery, we differentiate ourselves by using only the freshest ingredients to increase the depth of flavour and diverse textures that are a permanent feature of all our baked products. This attention to detail and passion for quality food is our trademark is of course extended to the beautiful cakes we create," explains owner Julian Platt.

Along with planning my wedding cake now before I have even found a suitable man, Junipa's also offers novelty cakes for your wee one and while they look great for them, we can now have cake that actually tastes as great as they look.

You really should go have a look and encounter this mouth watering experience for yourself and treat yourself to bakers, George and Michael, as they create gorgeously delectable confectionery. To order your own baked creation call (011) 706 2387 or visit their Website.

You can also like them on their Facebook Page and follow them on Twitter

Hummus, Yes, No, Maybe

I don't like peas, beans, any bean, I don't like food touching, I don't eat soup, actually anything blended, you do know somebody could just drop a finger in there and blend it for extra flavour.

Now Hummus is all that in one, its basically a pea, with the texture of a bean, it's a whole lot of things touching, blended like soup with the colouring of a human finger.

I don't eat Hummus, until Christmas last year, my aunt brought a home-made one over. Needless to say I was starving (proves if we stranded on an island I would probably eat you) so I tried some and I ended up eating the whole bowl.

Now since then I have tried numerous Hummus versions and well its a pea with the texture of a bean and some even smelled like a rotting human finger.

So here's the recipe to the only Hummus I will eat, write it down and when you have forgotten my description of Hummus and human fingers, make it, I promise, it's good and I'm told it's healthy.

Hummus Recipe


1 Tin Chickpeas drained
1 Tablespoon Tahini
50ml Olive Oil
80ml Lemon juice (put a little more in)
Salt and Garlic to taste
1 Teaspoon Toasted Cumin Seeds (called Jeera in Indian spices)

Totally blend until ultra smooth (can add a bit of water if needs be)
Oh blend with love and prayer that the texture isn't bean like, bleh, I hate that.

Most Amazing Muffins

I don't bake a lot and I very rarely try something before I have tasted them. I normally wait till somebody makes something and I love it and then I get the recipe and it has to be blow-my-mind good before I even think of going to the trouble. One of the ladies from my mom's cell group makes these Bran Muffins, I love muffins but Woolworths does great ones so why make them. Well these I am made yesterday, because they are that awesome. Here's the recipe, if you do make them and you end up loving them please let me know.

Bran Muffins

• 3 Cups Kellogg's All Bran Flakes ( I used Special K)
• 1 Cup Boiling Water
• 2 Eggs, lightly beaten + 1 teaspoon Caramel Essence
• 2 Cups Buttermilk
• Half Cup Sunflower oil
• 250g Chopped Pitted Dates
• 2 and a half Teaspoons Bicarb
• Half Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 2 and a half Cups Flour
• Sprinkle: Cinnamon/ Ginger/ Mixed Spice/ Nutmeg ( The more Cinnamon the better)

In a large mixing bowl combine cereal with boiling water, stirring to moisten.

Set aside until cool, and then add - Eggs, Buttermilk, Oil, Dates and blend well.

Mix together the Bicarb, salt, sugar flour and spices.

Add to Bran mixture.

(At this point you may cover and refrigerate in a tightly covered container for as long as two weeks,

baking muffins at your convenience: I loved that part)

To bake, spoon batter into greased muffin pans (fill each cup 3 quarters full)

Bake at 220c for 20 minutes or until tops spring back slightly when lightly touched.

Serve hot/cold.

Makes approx 24 muffins.