MY HAPPY ADDICTION FOR ROSE WATER AND TURKISH DELIGHT

So say that I am addicted to Rose Water and Turkish Delight is an under statement.  I love the smell of the natural rose water and the taste of  the jelly covered in chocolate is a taste I never get tired of.  My children know that if they ever need to sweeten me up for a favour - this is the way to do it and it works every time.

I also use the natural Rose Water every day - morning and night, on my face.  The smell is beautiful and because it has no harsh chemicals, it is so gentle for your face yet it is fantastic at removing dirt.  I have been using it for such a long time and never have any problems with my skin whatsoever.  I take it with me whenever I go away and for fear of ever running out, I buy bottles and bottles are a time and the absolute bonus is that for a big bottle - costs less than £1.00.

To my excitement the last time I went to my favourite Indian supermarket, I discovered a Rose Water Syrup  which is wonderful as a cordial on a hot day with lots of iced cold water and a block of ice or two.  

This wonderful syrup got me thinking - what else could I do with it and this is what I came up with....I love rice pudding so poured some of the syrup in with the milk and when it was creamy and done and had chilled slightly, I poured over homemade chocolate sauce.   Perhaps not to everyone's taste but to mine it was heaven.

however, when I tried it in ice cream and chopped turkish delight in with it, it was an instant hit - my family absolutely loved it and my sweet little granddaughter - stopped for a little while, to allow me to take a picture of her eating it.

When you get a cute smile like that from something that you have made, it must have been OK.

Love the Tipsy Tart
xxxx

LEMON MACKERAL PATE

I love this fish pate - I make it often as a starter when friends come for supper or 

as a snack when my husband and I go on a picnic.

Take a few slices or fillets of smoked mackeral

and break up into small pieces,

add the juice of one lemon

a tablespoon or two of cream cheese

and mix together

When mixed - put in a ramakin dish

Add some melted butter and pour over the top

and place in the fridge to set

As you already have the set butter on the top of the mackeral, 

all you need is a ryvita or any crispy savoury biscuit to complete

perfection......

Absolutely one of my favourites and that of my friends too.


Love The Tipsy Tart
xx

A FRENCH AFFAIR

Today has been one of those absolutely fabulous days where I have been at home all day.  The weather has been dull and cold with rain most of the day - but I have just been so warm and happy in kitchen having the most wonderful French Affair.

Some days are just so perfect and today has been one of those days.

Love The Tipsy Tart
xx

PEPPERMINT AND CARAMEL ICE CREAM

Many years ago in South Africa (most of my stories always are) I used to love reading a monthly magazine called Your Family which was full of wonderful recipes, sewing and knitting patterns, decorating tips and lovely short stories.  I would buy it just before I caught the bus home from work and spend a wonderful hour reading it from cover to cover.

The original

The alternative

In one addition, there were about three of four different ice creams that had been entered in a competition and the winning entry was Peppermint and Caramel Ice Cream.  

For those of you that do not know, Peppermint Crisp is a chocolate which most South Africans absolutely love.  Unfortunately is not sold at our local supermarket or corner cafes.  I have however found an alternative which although is not as nice, does satisfy my craving for the original.

I made the ice cream all those years ago and it became an instant favourite and although I cannot remember the exact recipe, I have adapted to what I remember.

 Whisk 500ml of double cream until you reach a lovely wobble....

Add a tin of caramel condensed milk and a carton of ready made custard (about 500ml) or if you are feeling industrious, make your own but make sure it is thick.
Mix all three ingredients together well.

Chop a handful of the peppermint sticks

And add to the wonderful caramel mixture and mix in.

Put in a plastic container and place in the freezer or your ice cream maker if you have one.

When it has frozen, you will end up with a stunning ice cream that was good  enough to win a

national competition.  

Just before you serve it, sprinkle a few extra

pieces of your peppermint chocolate over the ice cream.

It is absolutely delicious and just as I remember it.

I hope you will be tempted to try it.

Love The Tipsy Tart
xxx

THE JUICIEST GARIC AND HERB BURGERS EVER.....

My family love burgers - obviously homemade with loads of toppings.  However,  everytime, I made them, the burger patty broke and there was something always missing -  always slightly dry or lacking flavour....

However, all that changed when I discovered - Garlic and Herb Cream Cheese...extra light of course to keep the fat content down.....although sour cream or creme fraiche works just as well but the extra flavour that the garlic and herb gives the burgers is fabulous....I add nothing else other than a bit of salt and pepper and add a tablespoon of dijon mustard and the extra bonus is that they never ever break or crumble.....

It makes them so soft and juicy and absolutely delicious and I promise you - they will be the best burgers you ever make....you have just got to give it a try....

Add what ever toppings you want - last night I had cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and lettuce and some peri peri mayonaisse ...

I promise you, after this burger, you will never go to McDonald's again as only homemade will do.

Love The Tipsy Tart
xx

NANDOS PERI PERI CHICKEN BURGER

As my son rushed out the door this morning for school - he shouted that he would love a Nando's Chicken Peri Peri Burger for supper tonight.  Nando's is the trade mark name of a restaurant company that started in South Africa and is now popular worldwide for their peri peri sauce.  The main food that they cook is chicken and it is based on a traditional Portuguese's recipe.  This sauce is hot but has an almost addictive flavour that once tasted, is so hard to resist time and time again.

I have made many peri peri sauces over the years and although they are all delicious and hot hot!!!  my son still remains loyal to the original one and refuses to have his mind changed.

What I always do is marinate the chicken in the peri peri sauce for a few hours and then just pan fry it for a few minutes on each side until cooked through.  You can add whatever toppings you like but my son prefers it just with lettuce and a dollop of extra sauce.

But as much as he loves the taste and heat - the soothing cold milk is never far away.......

So funny to watch as the sweat poures and the eyes water but nevertheless, he loves it.

Love The Tipsy Tart
xx

AMAZING AVOCADO AND BACON ON TOAST

A few years ago my husband and I went back to South Africa to watch our son play rugby for his school in the Western Cape and as it was the first time he had been back to Cape Town where he was born, we could not wait to show him where we had lived, meet his family and also to get him to taste and experience all the food that we had loved so much while living in Cape Town.

One of the "fruits" that both my husband and son love are avocados and they made a promise to each other to eat one every day for the duration of our holiday

While staying with my wonderful sister-in-law in Cape Town, she took us to her local vegetable shop and this was the display of avos that greeted us as we walked into the shop.  

My son had never seen so many avos together before as our local supermarket and fruit shop only sell a few at a time which are mostly hard and terribly expensive when you get them and are never as good as the ones in South Africa.

An avo a day for a a few weeks - we obviously left the shop heavy laden and for the next few weeks, two happier tummies you could not find.  They had one each for breakfast every morning mashed with a bit of lemon juice, salt and cracked black pepper.

Avos today still remain their favourite quick and healthy snack and my son stills has it for breakfast rather than cereal or porridge.

Last night, my family did not want a heavy cooked meal so we all decided that we would have avo and bacon on toast.

Take two slices of delicious walnut bread that has been toasted.

Mash one avo (not too finely)
add one chopped tomato, one red onion,
salt, pepper, a dash of balsamic vineger and the juice of half a lemon
and mix together.

Take a few slices of crispy bacon and crumble
it over the avo and mix together

And what you then have is one delicious healthy snack

that is packed with vitamins and rich in healthy oils.

It is a well documented fact that avos are one of nature's 

power foods - not to mention being so delicious

and creamy.

Love The Tipsy Tart
xx

ENGLAND'S FUTURE RUGBY STAR IN ACTION

Today I want to dedicate my blog solely to my absolute gorgeous grandson, Justin who is turning 6 in a few days.  He has just started playing rugby and yesterday he was chosen to hold the team flag and to wave the 1st team onto the pitch for the match that they were playing.   It was such an exciting time for him and just so sweet to watch the innocence of a child and how proud children do become when given a bit of responsibility.

 And during half time for the 1st team, the juniors played a little match and the ball was thrown to Justin and he managed to score a try and win their match.....

How lovely it is to spend an afternoon outside in the sun watching children play sport and enjoy exercise as all children should.  Simple pleasures are often the best.

Love The Tipsy Tart
xx

MINCE AND CABBAGE STUFFED SOFT ROLLS AND A POTATO BREAD

I love watching cooking programmes on TV and at the moment we have a fantastic show on called The Hairy Bikers Bakeation where they go around Europe tasting all the different food that each country has to offer and they especially love breads and pastries.

Last night they were in Germany and made a Potato Bread and the most delicious soft little rolls stuffed with mince and cabbage.

Today I spent a lovely afternoon making both while listening to K.D Lang on my ipod.  I think she has a fantastic voice - pure listening pleasure.

Potato Bread with  black onion seed

Soft mince and cabbage rolls

At the moment I am as happy as can be - my tummy is full and beautiful music  is playing and life is just perfect.

Love The Tipsy Tart
xx

BEER BIRD

My husband loves having a BBQ and will at any opportunity suggest we have one regardless of the weather.  We have even been known to cook outside in the snow with friends on New Year's Eve.

So when I saw this in a South African food shop, I just knew that I had to buy it for my husband for his birthday.  The idea is that you place a tin of beer (three quarter's full) inside the chicken's cavity

as the flavour of the beer leaves the chicken tasting absolutely wonderful as well as

keeping it incredibly moist.

As we had all my family for lunch yesterday for Easter Day, what better time to try it out and see if it is as good as it sounds.

 I am happy to report that not only did my husband love his birthday present but my whole family said that the chicken was absolutely wonderful.

Love the Tipsy Tart

xx