Bazaar Strawberry jam cookies! 

Whenever I think of these little wonders - memories of childhood Church Bazaars at Harare NG kerk are conjured up!! The 'ou tannies' always made the BEST strawberry jam filled cookies... hhmmmm ...i thought I'd give it a go (:

This recipe is easy and very versatile! I made the basic dough and then divided it into 3 cute little dough balls. 1 - I filled with strawberry jam goodness, 2 - I mixed with chocolate chips for some chocolaty goodness, and 3 - I topped with almonds and cinnamon.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup of white flour
3/4 cup of butter
2 egg yolks
1/2 a teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla essence
Jammy goodness for the filling ]

Makes roughly 28 yummy cookies..

How to ??

PREHEAT the oven to 190' c

1. Cream the butter, sugar and egg yolks.Once it is nice and creamy, add the vanilla essence .

2. Add the flour in a little bit at a time, until a nice dough forms. Roll it into little balls and place on a baking tray. Place them about 2 cm apart. 

 3. For the jam filling - Use your finger to gently press a small 'well' in the center of the cookie. Spoon in the jam ( not too mush or it can boil over in the oven )

4. Bake for 10 minutes, or until they are starting to get golden brown. Place on a cooling rack . and ENJOY with a good cup of Rooibos tea!

 

Delectable Chocolate Protein Peanut butter brownies!

(did i MENTION they are made in the microwave (") quick, easy and ready within 4 minutes!)

oooh, i recently made this for a friend on a lazy Sunday afternoon- and actually wished i had made it one for myself  2.. lol.. Ok, so maybe it's not ranked highly on the 'healthy' scale - but a good treat now and then is a MUST!  ( and hey - it has some good protein in!! )

Here go's

Ingredients

3/4 cup of flour
2 heaped scoops Chocolate protein powder
half a cup of melted butter
3/4 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
3/4 cup of Organic Cocoa powder
2 heaped tablespoons of peanut butter

How to??

1. Mix flour, sugar , baking powder and cocoa together..
2. Melt butter and ons it is soft mix it with the eggs and peanut butter.
3. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together.
4. Line a microwave proof dish with wax paper, or grease the dish and pour the yummy, rich, chocolatey mixture in!
5. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, check that it does not 'cook over'  .. then nuke it again for 30 more seconds ( so in total 3-4  minutes) it should be ready now- and a knife / toothpick should come out mostly clean .. The brownies will be moist, yummy, and well... GOOD! Even if they are a bit tooo moist, don't worry, when they cool down they will be just right.
6. Allow to cool down completely before taking them out / cutting them into squares.

For added peanut butter power I spread some yummy peanut butter on the top and sprinkled with cocoa..

Afresh

I adore writing. Plotting down on pen and paper and giving voice to unheard thoughts.  It somehow makes unsaid truths more tangible. 

Insert 1. 

" Father, when reason seems dim and decision fainted. When impulse urges on brashness and interferes with cognizance. Lord…at that time, in those quaint moments of transitory retreat; may I allow you to BE. To be the hope that restores, the heart that consoles and the knowing that deludes uncertainty. That my soul may mouth the words, and utter the verse “It is well”

In retrospect, it is is peculiar to inspect the human heart. For often it is deemed unsteady in decision and changing in notion. Swiftly fleeting from a motionless pool of reason to a raging sea of deluded decision.

Abba. Delving deep into thought and contemplation leaves me once again wondering and marveling. How complex and intricate you formulated man to be. How marvelously detailed. For who can really know the thoughts and intentions of man but You.
Swaying steadily in Your love, I am comforted by the timely nudge of your hand; A gentle push, a friendly prod. “ Go my child. Go and live. Go and be ” For beyond habitual routine, and mundane tasks lies purpose. A purposeful, timely and meaningful life; not just an existence. "

Tuna microwave quiche 

 So, unlike back home most apartments in Korea ( if not ALL ) do NOT have an oven!! If however you are lucky enough to have one it's about the size of a small microwave / just bigger than a toaster! Ok, quiet a lot bigger, but they are still called 'Toaster ovens'.. lets just say NOT having a microwave has made me .... VERY CREATIVE! Hence the microwave quiche (: 

ingredients

Makes about 6-8 

1 large can of tuna

half a cup chopped mushrooms

100g Tofu ( cubed)

half a cup of broccoli ( chopped)

1/4 cup diced carrots

2 whole eggs

3 additional egg whites

1 tbs mayonnaise

1/2 a tsp salt 

HOW TO ??

1. Prep all ingredients.

2. Mix ALL the ingredients together in a bowl and then spoon into silicone baking cups. 

3. Put two cups in the micro at one time. ( on medium for 3-4 minutes) if they are still a little on the soft side, put add only 15 seconds at a time. 

done and dusted(: 

See you ladle. 

Sanja

Tuna fishy cakes!

 I came home from work one day, took out a few random ingredients and just decided to make
'my take ' on fish cakes.. My love for these little wonders comes from fond childhood memories of my mom whipping them up as a quick delicious treat for us kids!

Ingredients 

2 tins of tuna ( drained )
half a green pepper
half a cup of chopped mushrooms
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch of mustard powder
3 egg white ( or 1 whole egg and 1 egg white)
half tsp of baking powder
3 -4 tbs of oat flour / wheat flour

Method

1. Mix tuna,  mushrooms , and egg in a bowl. Add green pepper.

2. Add oat flour, baking powder, salt and mustard powder.

 3. There you go!! if you find the mixture to be too 'runny' just add some more flour / if it's too dry add a tad of milk. Spoon mixture into a heated pan - and watch them transform into delish little cakes of goodness.

I had mine with some tofu and a side salad

Easy and wholesome.
See you ladle!
Sanja