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Greetings everyone!
And a special welcome to all the new subscribers!
New subscribers and
everyone else,
get your eBook at the Freebie link below.
Well, we are back
from a great visit to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe. The falls were awesome even
though the river was low, the result was less spray and a better view of
the falls. I even went up in an ultralight to get pics from above, really
awesome! Another highlight was an elephant safari, ended up walking like
John Wayne for a while. The town of Vic Falls seems totally apart from the
chaos in the rest of Zimbabwe. We did experience some shortages like fuel
(none available while we were there), bread sometimes and also sugar on
occasion. The town is in need of a bit of spit and polish but we felt
quite safe there, much safer than in SA! The locals have that look of
desperation and were offering really nice wooden and soapstone sculptures
at prices way below their value just to get some money. I really hope
change comes soon.....
For the Vic Falls
story and photos,
click here . For our route with GPS co-ordinates,
click here
While at Vic Falls
we crossed the border into Zambia. I had heard of a bistro in Livingstone
called Funky Munky and I just had to go visit it. Sure enough, as we drove
into Livingstone, there it was,
click here to see the pic. With me is Ruth, the manager.
I just had an idea,
wouldn't it be just great if on the sightings boards at Kruger National
Park, we had the opportunity to enter GPS co-ordinates of sightings? Then
they would be MUCH easier to find......
Next week we are
off to Ngwenya Lodge for a few days. Ngwenya is on the Southern border of
the Kruger National Park, hope to get some great photos....
I did an Afrikaans
version of my
Wacky Sarmies page that I titled Wille Samies, then went and added a
few hundred more sarmy ideas including open samies and snackwiches. Which
brings me to the recipe theme for this letter, snacks. Scroll down to the
recipe section for some yummy ideas.
Wowww!
Once again the UK Lottery is a rollover! It's quick and safe to get a ticket, just
register and buy online, I do it regularly. Just
click here! You can't afford NOT to have a ticket in the draw!
Freebie!!
Fancy yourself as a
great mixer of cocktails? The freebie is a great eBook with recipes for
cocktails. Just
right click here and download it! Makes a perfect gift!
I also collect
photos of Coke signs from all over and my
Coke online photo album
is coming along nicely. If anyone from outside South Africa happens to see
a Coke sign on an interesting building, please take a pic and email it to
me. Please include the building as well to get the overall effect. I have
added some of the Zimbabwe and Zambia Coke signs.
A Mouse Story
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his
wife open a package.
"What food might this contain?" the mouse wondered - he was devastated to
discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. "There is a
mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I
can tell this is a grave concern to you but it is of no consequence to me.
I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the
house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there
is nothing I can do about it but pray.
Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said, "There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my
nose."
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the
farmer's mousetrap......alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house......like the sound
of a mousetrap catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.
In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the
trap had caught.
The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer
took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbours came to sit
with her around the clock.
To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.
So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to
provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great
sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it
doesn't concern you, remember......when one of us is threatened, we are
all at risk.
We are all involved in this journey called life.
We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to
encourage one another.
Really old recipe:
I came across this one the other day.......
Toad in a hole
Take some broiled
chops and lay them in a pie dish. Pour over them a batter made of a pint
of milk, 3 eggs, a little salt, and sufficient flour to make a batter as
thick as cream. Bake in a moderate oven.
One of my fav
songs, I would like to share the words:
The Sunscreen
Song by Mary Schmich
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists,
whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own
meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But
trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall
in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how
fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed
your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle
Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who
are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes
you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in
doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to
do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know
still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when
they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you
won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on
your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate
yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half
chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of
what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever
own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be
nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people
most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should
hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because
the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were
young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in
Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will
philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that
when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and
children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund.
Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one
might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look
85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past
from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and
recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
Another OLD
recipe.
Cape Blatchang
(Chutney)
Take 1 lb of
chillies, 1 tablespoonful salt, 1/2 lb almonds blanched and pounded, 1
teaspoonful powdered coriander seed, 1 teaspoonful powdered ginger, 1
large onion sliced and 1 clove garlic. Pound the chillies in a mortar. Mix
all the ingredients and boil in 3 bottles of vinegar to the required
consistency.
I happened to find
this really nice Blog, please click on the link below and go browse
around.....
Following with
thanks from Brian at
Kitsch'n'Zinc (an article from earlier this year)
Klippies n' Coke
Potjie
Another week end on the horizon and before we get into the serious hot
Sundays and lekker braais the weather is still cool enough to enjoy the
odd potjie and I reckon they don't come any odder than this beauty. It's
quite simple really, a sort of Dutchman's Baked Beans with apologies to Mr
Heinz, but just to pique the interest a little, this one's laced with one
of our favourite braai tipples - brandy and coke. Once you tell them that
there's Klippies and Coke in the pot you won't be able to keep their
fingers out.
Start out the day before by soaking your dried beans. Basically any beans
will work but if you can get some small white haricot beans then so much
the better. Start your potjie early because there's a good 3 or 4 hours of
cooking on a low heat to do and once the cooking is finished the potjie
will almost keep forever so better to be finished early than to be waiting
on the pot. Now pay attention here, this is a potjie, a Klippie's and Coke
Potjie, it's not for the faint hearted, so forget about your olive oil and
lean meat. Get some real lard, not that white cooking fat or margarine,
real lard and fire it up in the potjie. Next toss in some really fatty
pork, chunks of smoked pork belly are excellent or maybe some shoulder or
neck for the little ladies. Colour the pork along with roughly chopped
onions and then add a spoonful of brown sugar, a spoonful of mustard, add
two thirds beans to one third meat and enough tinned chopped tomatoes to
cover. Then add Klippies to taste, I reckon 1/4 bottle to start, half a
litre of Coke, the real thing not Tab or Coke Light, oh and don't worry
about the ice . A little bit of bite in the form of some chopped up
peppadews, garlic, 2 spoonfuls of tomato puree and some salt and pepper.
All you have to do now is cook it until the beans are like Mr Heinz's.
Stir frequently and if it starts to get too dry you can add liquid as
required in the form of coke, Klippies or water dependent on your nerve.
if you really want to add a Cape flavour then what about some tamarind ?
Serve with plenty of dripping garlic bread and you'll be good enough to be
anyone's second cousin.
PERKS OF BEING
50 & OVER
1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run--anywhere.
4. People call at 9 pm and ask, " Did I wake you ???? "
5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 pm.
9. You can live without sex, but not your glasses.
10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
11. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the
room.
13. You sing along with elevator music.
14. Your eyes won't get much worse.
15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the South African
national weather service.
17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember
them either.
18 Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
And you notice these are all in Big Print for your convenience.
Never buy another recipe book
again.
I have put together my South African Traditional Recipes in English
and Afrikaans plus another 36 recipe eBooks on one CD.
Click here to take a look and also get your free Low Fat recipe
eBook
Hello Peter,
Just to let you know that I received my recipe CD today in the mail and
I'm over the moon about it.
I'm going to spread the word to others to order copies too. It's most
certainly worth every cent..........
Thanks again,
LC
Another oldie but
goodie, as traditional South African as they come:
JAN SMUTS
COOKIES
PASTRY
750ml Cake Flour
10ml Baking Powder
1ml Salt
250g Butter or Margarine
200ml Sugar
2 Eggs Beaten
FILLING
125g Butter or Margarine
150ml Sugar
2 Eggs Beaten
225ml Cake Flour
5ml Baking Powder
100ml Smooth Apricot Jam
1. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together
2. Rub in softened butter till mixture resembles breadcrumbs
3. Add sugar and mix lightly
4. Add eggs, and mix to a stiff dough
5. Roll out 3mm thick and cut rounds of 80mm
6. Line oiled muffin tins with the pastry circles
FILLING
7. Cream butter and sugar
8. Add eggs and mix well
9. Add sifted flour and baking powder to egg mixture and mix well
Glenacres Superspar newsletter recipe.
EGG
SUPPER DISH
6 large eggs
1 can condensed asparagus soup
4 Tbsp top milk (before you shake the bottle)
3 thin slices white bread
50g grated cheese
parsley for garnish
1. Place the eggs in a small saucepan of boiling water and boil for 6
minutes until set, but not hard
2. Empty the soup into a saucepan and stir in the milk, heat gently,
stirring until almost boiling
3. Toast the bread lightly on both sides under a hot grill
4. Cut into 12 triangles and keep warm
5. Shell the eggs and cut into half lengthways, place cut side down in a
shallow ovenproof dish
6. Pour the soup over, and sprinkle with the cheese
7. Grill until the top is brown and bubbling
8. Arrange the toast triangles round the edge and garnish with parsley
Glenacres
Superspar sends out a really nice newsletter full of super recipes. To
subscribe,
click here and send the blank email.
Another Wacky Sarmie
Go take a look at
my
Wacky Sarmies page, there are some great sarmie ideas!
Judy.......Montana
Hard boiled eggs chopped with dill pickles,onions, black olives and mix
with a dab of mustard and miracle whip ....lots of pepper and little
salt....can add celery also....spread on toasted bread of your choice.
Butter and sugar on fresh warm bread.
Fried egg with yoke broke and fried green tomato slices on dill rye
bread....
Artichoke hearts mashed and mixed in Ageago cheese on dark rye bread....
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A Blast
From the Past |
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1933 - Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany, the Loch
Ness monster is apparently sighted, white SA women exercise the vote
for the first time, polythene is discovered, catseye road reflector is
invented.
Source:
Sunday Times. |
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Bush Buzz
Nature is wonderful. I envy
the jobs of the game rangers and their wealth of bush knowledge. I
have often wondered where one can read up on all the interesting
facts. I would like to make this a regular feature of this newsletter,
if you are able to contribute or would like to comment on the
contribution below, please
email me. |
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The Sable
Antelope |
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We spotted some
of these magnificent animals alongside the road between the Kazungulu
border post and Vic Falls in Zimbabwe.
The Sable Antelope is regarded by
many as the most magnificent antelope in Africa. The males have the
glossy, jet-black coat set off by striking white facial markings and
underbelly. The females are rusty red and handsome creatures in their
own right. In common with other members of the Hippotragini antelope
tribe, both sexes have horns, and what horns they are! Few antelope
have anything to compare with the massive swept back spikes which
commonly exceed one metre in length in the males, and are somewhat
shorter in females. Like its close relative, the Roan, the Sable has a
conspicuous mane and this, combined with its horse-like build, have
earned them the family name of Hippotragini, which means ‘horse-goat'.
Sable live in small herds consisting of numerous adult females, which
have a strict hierarchy according to seniority, and their offspring.
Each herd is accompanied by a dominant bull which - although it may
often feed away from the harem - will never be far away and will
always accompany them to water, where attack from a predator is most
likely. Even Lions show a great deal of respect for these antelope,
however, and there have been numerous instances of the big cats having
been gored to death by Sable bulls. Females and calves are at risk to
Spotted Hyena, Leopard, Cheetah and Wild Dog. Non-breeding bulls occur
singly or in small bachelor herds. After a gestation period of eight
to nine months, expectant females leave the herd to give birth to a
single youngster. The sandy-coloured calf is then concealed in long
grass for the first three weeks of its life, before its mother leads
it into the herd.
Sable are primarily grazers of dominant grass species, either of
medium height or in new growth. During the dry season they are
typically found in valley bottoms and along drainage lines, where they
are able to find drinking water on a daily basis. In the wet season
they leave the heavy spoils of the lowlands to move into broad-leaved
woodlands
From:
www.wildwatch.com
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The Herb
Section |
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Some handy herb hints
The following is a list of herbs to use for various ailments.
abscess: comfrey, honeysuckle
aches & pains: basil, bay, cayenne pepper, chervil, lavender,
lemon grass, loofah, mustard, rose, thyme
acne: anise, calendula, dandelion, echinacea, garlic, oats,
parsley, silver birch, sorrel, tea tree
anti-aging: buckwheat, dandelion, evening primrose, pennywort,
thyme
antioxidant: cayenne pepper, green tea, hawthorn, paprika, roselle
backache: bergamot, evening primrose, goldenrod, lavender, thyme
bites: basil, bulbinella, catmint, cumin, dandelion, echinacea,
green tea, lavender, nettle, parsley, tarragon
blocked sinus: eucalyptus, mint, violet
breath sweetener: anise, caraway, coriander, cumin, dill,
marjoram, oregano, parsley
burns: bulbinella, elderflower, field poppy, olive, St. John's
wort
colic: anise, bergamot, caraway, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill,
fennel, ginger, lavender, lemon verbena, mint
diabetes: aloe vera, barley, olive, rosemary, soya beans,
strawberry
disinfectant: lavender, nasturtium, rosemary, sage
dizziness: olive, sesame
eczema: basil, borage, chamomile, dandelion, evening primrose,
sesame, turmeric
flatulence: anise, bergamot, caraway, chervil, coriander, cumin,
dill, fennel, ginger, mint, parsley, tarragon
hangover: thyme, violet
heartburn: anise, caraway, cayenne pepper, coriander, cumin,
fennel, mint, turmeric
hysteria: lavender, melissa
insomnia: bergamot, cumin, dill, elderflower, lavender, melissa,
rose, thyme
laxative: dandelion, horseradish, linseed, sorrel, watercress
leg cramps: evening primrose, lavender
lice: lavender, rosemary, thyme
migraine: basil, cayenne pepper, feverfew, mint
milk production: cumin, dill, milk thistle
nosebleed: yarrow
palpitations: basil, lemon verbena
psoriasis: basil, borage, elderflower, evening primrose,
pennywort, silver birch, soapwort, turmeric
relaxing: lavender, melissa, mint, rose-scented geranium
ringworm: garlic, rue, strawberry, tea tree, thyme
shingles: cayenne pepper, melissa
slimming: celery, dill, fennel, parsley, silver birch
sore throat: barley, burlock, cumin, elderflower, honeysuckle,
lavender, mint, mustard, paprika, raspberry, sage, tea tree, thyme
strains: comfrey, horseradish, St. John's wort
tonsillitis: basil, cayenne pepper, echinacea, pennywort, sage
Fennel and Rosemary
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seed, crushed
1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
Bring water to a boil. Add the fennel seed, reduce heat to medium,
and simmer 10 minutes. Pour the hot fennel water over the rosemary
leaves, cover, and steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten with honey, if desired. Allow to cool a bit and
sip slowly while warm.
This is a mildly stimulating tea, useful in increasing mental
alertness. If you have fresh rosemary, you may substitute 1
tablespoon of bruised, fresh rosemary leaves for the dried amount
shown.
Garlic Cocktail
1 cup water, barely boiled
1 large clove garlic
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
Pinch of cayenne
Combine all ingredients in a cup and pour boiling water over the
mixture. Stir to dissolve the honey and allow to steep 5 minutes.
Do not strain. Sip while warm.
This is a wonderful all-purpose tonic, good for boosting immune
function as well as energy level.
More links to herbs on my
Herb Page
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Thanks to everyone who has mailed us fridge magnets depicting your
State, City or Country. If you collect fridge magnets, I will gladly
swop with you!
Please
email me
and we can make arrangements. Thanx a lot! |
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