We're into the second week in December which really means this is the last week that anyone will actually be doing work at work. It's crazy I know but this year has really managed to evade me in many ways. A lot of stuff has been going on and I've been saying and I'll say it again I will share the information with you guys when I'm ready.. I promise it will be this year though ;)
Today I wanted to share a variation on a recipe which I've seen floating around the magic Nutella Cookie that doesn't need the oven.
Here's what you'll need:
2 cups sugar 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 tsp vanilla essence pinch of salt 1/8 cup peanut butter (if you use crunchy peanut butter there's an extra texture which is delicious) 1/2 cup Nutella (or more if you're passionate about it) 3 cup Rice Crispies (depending on how much crunch you want)
So here's what you do:
1. In a pot, bring to a boil the milk, sugar, cocoa and butter. After a minute or two remove from heat.
2. Add in remaining ingredients and stir! Try not to over stir it because the rice crispies will get soppy which isn't much fun.
3. Use a large tablespoon and lay them onto a baking sheet. Then pop them into the fridge. They won't get super hard so you may need to leave them in the fridge until you want to eat them
. We had cookies for a good week and a half which was our go to snack. they aren't as sweet as you would think they would be which is good because it satisfies the sweet craving without turning you into a complete diabetic. Fun, right?
I have recently rekindled my love of baking and I haven't really blogged about it but my mom asked me to make her this cake but I thought it wasn't going to be any good - turned out I was wrong! This cake would not have been my usual type of cake to eat but it was really good and it was so easy and incredibly tasty that I can't wait to make it again.
Cake:
175g (6oz) Flora Regular
175g (6oz) self-raising flour
½ tsp baking powder
175g (6oz) caster sugar
3 extra large eggs
2 tbsps low fat milk
Finely grated rind of 2 lemons
Lemon Syrup:
Juice of 2 lemons, strained
115g (4oz) caster sugar
Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Then add the remaining cake ingredients and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth.
2. Spoon the mixture into a greased and base lined 19x12x9cm loaf tin.
3.Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 1 hour or until cooked.
4. Take out of the tin and allow to cool on a wire tray.
5. Put the lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved.
6. Whilst cake is warm, drizzle the syrup over so that it soaks into the cake.
Have you ever tried a cake like this? If you make it, let me know how it goes?
I must tell you when I thought I was going to have a hectic week this week I had no idea how busy I would be! This is the longest I've gone without posting or reading any blog and I really missed it!
I'm rushing off to dinner but I wanted to share three awesome things I did this week.
1. I celebrated Mandela Day by baking and raising funds for an awesome cause, the Walter Sisulu Hospital, specifically the pediatric cardiac unit!
Here's my red velvet cupcakes which was a huge hit!
2. I sold my first cake!!! It's chocolate with a spiderman inspiration. It wasn't what I envisioned but all things considered, I'm happy with it...
And ...
3. My biggest accomplishment this week was that I lead my department to work as a team in our Mandela Day initiative and when I was asked if I wanted to head up the initiative I was told that I would be met with a whole lot of resistance because my department is known for not participating and today - everyone around the office was buzzing that our team surprised them. I must be honest I feel like a proud mom :)
Anyway off to dinner, I'm actually typing this on my Blogger App in the car...
I saw this post and loved the idea of sharing exactly what is happening "right now".
Feel free to tell me your "right now" situations!
What I am doing I just baked Choc Chip Cookies for the first time and they are gooey and soft inside but crispy on the outside
Reading
If you remember my previous post on Sing you Home you will remember that I also said I wanted something light hearted. Well, walk into your closest Exclusive Books and tell them that and you know what they reccommend? The Alchemist! So That's what I'm reading at the moment. It's not light hearted by any means and is completely opposite to what I wanted to read but on the upside I am finally reading a book I've heard so much about. I'll be posting my review soon.
Watching
I've been going to the movies a lot, but the movies haven't been great and I didn't want to review them just to give them average reviews but I will tell you I have recently watched "After Earth", "The Hangover Part 3"and "Spud 2". Spud 2, was the best of the 3 and while you can easily watch all of them, none will change your life and none of them are likely to leave a lasting impression.
On the TV front, I am watching the usual Greys Anatomy, Masterchef, Girls and the Bachelorette. Although a new show I am watching is Political Animals and I am quite enjoying it. Have you watched it?
Listening to
I haven't been listening to much new stuff but I am loving the new Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, Daft Punk's Get Lucky and some of my favourites One Direction's Take Me Home and The Script.
I love that RnB appears to making a comeback and I am really hoping I get an album soon that I can listen to, to death. I usally buy an album and then play it all day, everyday and then switch but for a while now, I've been in limbo. Do you have any suggestions for some good albums?
Thinking about
So many things.. mainly I'm thinking of Nelson Madela, his health, his family, his contribution to the world and what exactly is mine? I'm thinking where will I be in 5 years time? Will the exchange rate be so ridiculous that I have to alter some of my future plans? Like I said, I'm thinking about a lot of things. I'm always thinking. I am guilty of overthinking.
Sad about
Nelson Mandela and some family members who are not well. That I am not getting enough sleep! That there is a fear of the aftermath of Madiba's passing and that I'm not entirely convinced that there is no basis whatsoever for the fear. That One Direction have not announced that they are coming to South Africa, yet (Seriously guys, come here!!!) and that I am so caught up in my thoughts that I may ir may not be reaching my full potential.
Loving
That I get to layer clothes in winter. That despite all the drama, I am proud to be South African. That Fernando Torres is scoring anf hopefully he will continue with that tonight in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup against Italy, that Steven Gerrard said that he is feeling better (Hate it when he is injured) and I am loving this.. blogging - it truly is the sunshine at the end of my days.
What is happening with you, RIGHT NOW? Tell me about it?
Also I have included my favourite song of the moment (and current ringtone) , in case you've been under a rock and haven't heard it: -
