How cute is this?

So excited...

That I could be in my pants...The website for my business is finally done!!!!

I started my business in September last year and it's only NOW that the website is ready. I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted to love it as much as I love Nunuza. And I do...they're both my children in a silly sense but Foondee is the main baked bean right now!!

My amazing sister created it for me...after a few days of me constantly nagging her and often saying "When I say, you do" hahaha..

I need to get her something nice at the end of the month to say thanks for all the help. For both my sisters in fact! They better not read this post because they'll use it against me.

Yay...pee in my pants!

Oh if you'd like to check it out: Foondee.blogspot.com

Hello...my name is...Nunuza :)

This was the first thing I said to Sarah, the angelheaded hipster, when what I actually meant to say was Hi I'm Carlette and my blogs name is nunuza...

I attended my first ever blog meet up at Wolves Cafe on Wed eve this week. I found out about it from a friend of mine and was so game. Until I realised that I did not know or follow the blogs of the people who organised the event. Sherdamn that's when panic set in. What would I say/Would I talk to anyone/Do I take my camera with me/I'm not a serious blogger I just write about stuff so what if this event is meant for serious bloggers only....those were my thoughts! But all of that disappeared when I arrived and was told "here's a free glass of wine". Immediately I thought ahhh  I like these people! :) Wrote my name down on a list and started to mingle...

It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, it was freaking fabulous!!!! I loved speaking to new people, I loved listening to their different stories about blogging, life, things, and now I'm going to love reading and following their blogs.

What's even better was that...I won a prize!!!BOOYAH!!! I didn't even hear my number being called and the girl next to me said hey that's you...number 29!! (I still have the label that had my number on it - nerd I know ;)) I was so freaking excited hahaha I'm still happy that I won a *canderel hamper*! I don't generally so canderel, but now I will!! I loved taking my box home and unpacking it..and taking pics of it! :) :) :)

Photo 'borrowed' from http://littleandbunny.blogspot.com/2011/07/when-bloggers-get-together.html#comment-form

I loved how friendly and real everyone was!

Thank you to everyone who I spoke to. Welcome to the new followers. Thank you to the organisers (oo this is a great acceptance speech hehe) you guys did such a freaking fantastic job!! Really and thank you to the sponsors...

and lastly ..thank you to my dear friend Amy who let me know about this event!! Uya-rocka sisi!

Okay really ...last thank you...thank you to myself for mustering up the courage to attend the event.

Natasha, who was one of the organisers, placed a list of all the bloggers who attended the event on her blog. Click here to see that list..Enjoy the read :)

OH:  for some pics of the event visit:
http://littleandbunny.blogspot.com/2011/07/when-bloggers-get-together.html#comment-form
http://just-let-em-eat-cake.tumblr.com/
http://www.jeanetteverster.com/blog/

Photo "borrowed" from http://just-let-em-eat-cake.tumblr.com/

PS: Thank you ladies for letting me "borrow" these pics :)

 

An ode to the office toaster

I just received this email from my boss:

----------------------- Original Message -----------------------

  

From: 

To: All 

Cc: 

Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:22:24 +0200

Subject: Sandwich toaster

  

Hi All,

The sandwich toaster (I could call it a Snackwich but I fee like that's a trademark so I won't) is dead. Long live the sandwich toaster!

Someone dropped it, and the plastic case cracked and compressed onto the heating element. Consequently, when it was used, it emitted a foul-smelling plastic burning odour that got me worried about where our nearest fire extinguisher was.

If there is significant (or even overwhelming) motivation, we can replace it. Vote by returning this e-mail with a Yes or No reply.

We mourn the loss. Personal acts or mourning may involve eating non-toasted sandwiches for a day, or a week, or bringing cold toasted sandwiches from home. (Personally, I wasn't that close.)

+ Boss (no he doesnt sign boss I changed his name in case you know him haha)


My lovely poetic response:

On 2011-07-13 14:56, Carlette wrote:

My ode the dear sandwich toaster:
Toaster toaster where for art thou toaster
your sizzling heat made me comfortable in my work seat
so much so that life without you
is terribly blue
There's something so comforting about melted cheese, wrapped in a crisp buttery blanket of bread
So please, do not bury the toaster forever
Because without it, life will be like a ball of "whatever".

I thank you and look forward to meeting the new toaster! :)

hahaha I thought he might appreciate the humour especially because our office is going through some tough times. His response below (I think he smiled a bit)

"I can see productivity levels are at an all-time high :-)

Vote acknowledged."


Can you tell that I was not poetically inclined in school and nothing much has changed hahaha

JHB Bloggers meet up party - TONIGHT

GUYS!!!! There's a bloggers meet up party tonight at WOLVES CAFE in Illovo! I know I'm delayed with this message but hey Ive been busy (wink wink)

The party starts at 6pm and..wait for it...there are prizes to be won!! Can. You, Believe. It!!! And WOLVES is hust the dopest venue as it is so if you're a blogger based in JHB and don't have any plans for tonight, make sure to come on over!!

I will be going! But must admit I'm nervous as hell! Isn't that always the case when you enter a new environment?? I'm sure there are bloggers who are friends online who will be meeting up tonight. I only recently learnt about this event so cannot say I am friends with the bloggers who are hosting this party..
But the point is to meet new people...and Im all for it!

I'll have a shot of tequila before I go there hahaha nothing like some dutch courage.

For more information on the event, please visit Tasha's blog at :

http://littleandbunny.blogspot.com/2011/07/if-you-have-blog-your-face-is-invited.html

Challenge...bring it

With each new cake or set of cupcakes that are created, come new challenges. It's almost as if they always go hand in hand..challenges and new jobs I mean. Then again cupcakes and cakes do go hand in hand sometimes :) 

I may have made the same cake a million times (not really a million but you get the point), but each time I deliver or someone collects it, I get nervous..anxious.Anxious to see their reaction. The level of anxiety is even higher when its a completely new design...I'm there to see their reaction when they receive the cake but  I wish I could be there when they take that first bite so I can get their truest and most honest response to the work I have given them. Even if they don't like it, at least I will know how they sincerely feel. 

Thank heavens that to date..all responses bar one have been good!Cheers to me and the continuation of my passion. Because it really is!! Regardless of the challenges I face every now and then, I keep mon going back for more, I wont call it punishment because its a learning curve...

PS: Forgive me next time I stare into your mouth while you take a bite hahaha it's done out of love! ;)

Sweet for my sweet, sugar for my honey

 

It's been so cold lately, as is expected with winter ;)) and anything that's cakey or sweet seems to just hit the spot and make you warm and tingly inside. I got tired of the standard chocolate cake or vanilla sponge and decided to try out Zabwans recipe for Honey Cake.

This cake is quick and easy to make (really easy) and so tasty. 

T and I enjoy a few slices (read the entire cake) with some warm homemade custard.

DEE-VINE!!

Click on the image or here for the recipe.

Thanks Zabwan for the recipe :) 

Rocking Independance Day heels

 

I love love love these shoes..I don't think anyone in their right mind would safely wear these....

Unless you're an alien from one of our neighbouring planets and are coming over for dinner tonight. It is Independance Day afterall :) *

*this is a tongue in cheek comment

Hawaiian Themed Cake

This was the first...no the second fondant cake I made! I made it for a little 3 yr old girls birthday party! It was such a hit! Such hard work though but SO worth it. I started making the cake on Friday at about 11am and finished at 4am on saturday morning. The cake was being collected at 9 so I managed to get some sleep before they arrived :)

She was such a sweetie pie and wanted to wear the flip flops hahaha

It's always worth it when you see how happy they are to see their cakes! Worth the long day of stress, the sleepless night...all melts away.....

A "some-more" snack...without the calories

When winter starts, the number of clothes you pile on increases ..and so does the amount of food that you put in your mouth. The need to always be warm is met with the need to well..always be eating. This of course is a generalisation as I have a few friends who do not eat like bears who are about to hibernate for the winter season haha but in my case, I always have the need to want to snack on something.

I found a healthy snack option which is too good to not share with you. 

Ingredients

1 can chickpeas

Extra virgin olive oil

Mixed Herbs

Cayenne Pepper (optional)

Salt (optional)

Method

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees celcius.

Drain a can of chickpeas and throw into an oven proof dish.

Sprinkle some EVOO on it - enough to get some of the peas covered in it.

Add your spices and shake the bowl around so that this mix lathers as many chickpeas as possible.

Put in the oven and bake for 40minutes or until it reaches the desired crispy, crunchy texture.

Throw in a bowl and enjoy in front of the tv :) The great thing about this snack is that it in fact low in calories (if you watch the amount of EVOO and salt you use).

You can add other spices as an alternative to the ones I mentioned above. The amount of spices also depends on your own personal taste buds. On this particular occasion I was looking for a mexican chilli-ish kinda of taste hence the cayenne pepper. On another occasion, I used just salt and vinegar (sprinkle of vinegar added after the chickpeas were done) – smelled just as good as sloppy slap chips :).

Mix it up any-which-way you like. It is after all going into YOUR belly :)

Looking good..the Lost & Found way

ROARRRRRR

 

That's how receiving a pair of shoes or a new bag makes me feel! Tonight, I got a pretty package that my heart jump! :)

Oh happy days!!

Let's go back a bit so I can explain the excitement. There's this amazing woman who has an eye for treasures. Her name is Amy Rawhani. She is the owner of Lost & Found. An amazing concept that allows you to bid, yes bid like you're at an auction, for one of a kind timeless pieces – all from the comfort of your chair/bed/office. Whichever you prefer.

The process is as such. She buys clothes, shoes, belts and bags----> styles them----> pics of these styled items go onto FB and you have the pleasure of viewing them for about 2 weeks before the BIG day.

I must admit that I only really care about the final Auction Day – when bids close. That's the real exhilerating, heart pumping-blood flowing- white knuckle-chair clutching time because it's during this time, that you watch the minutes tick by on the screen, all the while bidding against someone else hoping to get your little hands on the item. You don't know until about 20:05 (bidding ends at 20:00) as to whether you were lucky enough to get your bids in just in time or not.

A few of the treasures that can be found at Lost & Found

It.gets.hectic. And is not for the faint hearted . BUT if you love the chase and love looking good with one of a kind items, then make sure you're online when the next bid takes place.

LOVE this belt

ANYWAY back to my excitement: For the last bid that happened, I was sitting in Paris (oh poor me I know haha) nowhere near a computer and worried that I would miss out on this bag. Luckily, my meeting finished early and I spent a couple of minutes running back and forth between drinks at the bar and my computer in my hotel room. As we neared 8pm though, I decided to stay in the room and continue bidding until 20:01.

I eventually outbid 2 other ladies and the bag was mine, allllll mine. My precious. Cue Lord of the rings guy who looks like an animal hehe

For this gorgeous bag, I only paid R150.00. Where else in JHB do you expect to get a timeless piece that NO ONE ELSE WILL HAVE for that amount?? At Lost & Found, that's where!

Just as exciting as unwrapping a xmas present

Hopefully I'll outbid you at the next event :)

My GORGEOUS one of a kind bag! *smile*

If you would like to view images from the last bid, or if you would like to read about how the entire process works, then click here and view the Facebook profile.

Coffee with your cake??

Or cake with your coffee?? Then again, why not jut mix the 2 up and have COFFEE CAKE? Licking your lips yet? ;) This is a great dessert option after Sunday Lunch. If you're like me and loveeeee coffee, you could have this cake Monday, Wednesday, Friday …you get the picture ;)

Ingredients

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar (I used castor sugar)

¼ tsp salt

226 grams butter (I used unsalted)

3 Tbspns Instant coffee crystals

½ cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1tsp baking soda

2tsps vanilla

How to hook it up

Heat oven to 180 degrees and grease 2 sandwich pans. Alternatively you can also grease a 22cm baking pan.

*Mix sugar, flour and ¼ tsp salt in large bowl and set aside

*Melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. While that's melting, mix the coffee granules with 1 cup boiling water and set aside.

*Once the butter has melted, add the coffee mixture to the same pot. Let it boil for about 20 seconds, then turn off the heat and set aside for a minute. Ensure that you don't burn the butter(The butter and coffee mix has an almost nutty/coffee/exotic smell while its boiling).

*In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla – mix until well combined

*Pour the coffee mixture into the flour mix and stir gently. The aim here is isn't to mix it perfectly, but to allow the coffee mix to cool down slightly. While mixing you'll notice that the colour of the mix will be a creamy caramel colour.

Add the egg mixture and stir gently until well combined.

Pour into greased baking pans. Bake for 25 minutes or until set. In my oven I bake this cake for about 45 minutes at 180 degrees celcius. At moms house, it bakes for 35 minutes so time depends on your oven, You will smell when its ready.

Allow to cool COMPLETELY!! I was in such a hurry to taste this cake that I only let it cool for about 10 minutes or so before attempting to remove it from the pan. That's not enough time as the cake is very moist and needs to be very cool before being removed from the cake pan. Trust me on this one.

The smell is sooo divine and you'll want to eat the cake straight from the pan (and lick the air!!:)), but exercise some control and wait until its cooled. It is WELL worth the wait.

I was in a rush to get to mums house for Sunday Lunch that I didn't have time to make icing for this cake, so instead we served it with custard (home made ;)) and/or fresh cream. I wasn't able to get any pics of the actual serving suggestion because by the time I looked, it was all finished (thumbs up).

Don't be afraid to have it with a cup of coffee. In my world, you can never have too much coffee!

Enjoy! :)

Colours of Autumn

I have to admit that Autumn is not my favourite season BUT I will take it...only because it's followed by my best season!

WINTER!!!
*I love the cold of winter..more reasons to snuggle up under the covers.
*Crackling Fireplace, Soft NEW blankets that are smooth and almost velvety *
*Comfort Food...bring on the oven baby! :) :)  and the slow cookers (I still need to get one of those)
* I can stay home on a friday night and not feel bad or old for staying in when others are hitting the streets. * The thing about summer is that youre almost compelled to be outdoors. Don't get me wrong., I love being out and about with peoplw, but I love the intimacy of winter more than anything else.

Come on, we can still have braais in winter!:)

Bite That Bunny

My boss gave each of us these Lindt bunnies last week, before everyone went away for the Easter break. Now, I LOVE chocolate, but no other chocolate quite compares to Lindt. I had such a busy weekend though that I was unable to devour the liwwle bunny wabbit until yesterday evening.

Unwrapping this bunny neatly was so much fun. What was even better was ...snapping the head off..some say this sounds sick and violent..but I say..don't knock it till you've tried it! hahaha

I have to mention though that as amazing as Lindt is, there are limitations to its "awesome-mous-ness" (I know thats not a real word) - you cannot dunk your lindt into a cup of hot tea or coffee without it coming out with a weedy/mary jane flavoured taste. Then again, that could just be me...but I don't think that's the case ;) I still love you Lindt.

Chocolate anyone?

DEFINITELY not for the calorie counters. 

this chocolate cake was part of a table full of cakes at a party I attended this weekend. All I wanted to do the entire time was just stick my hand in the cake. haha weird I know but yes that's what I wanted to do. 

Needless to say this was an event so there was no way in hell I would get away with it...I did have a slice (or two) of this....for breakfast the next morning. 

My baby might be broken...along with my heart.

Tonight my camera that I have had since 2003 died. Well I think its dead, I might be a little melodramatic right now because I am not sure. What I am sure about is that every possible way to try and take images, view images on pc screen or print images is just not working. Sometime this week, my baby will go in for repairs.

My heart is sore. My camera is an appendage that I might as well have been born with...she went everywhere I went! I snapped the most random pics but this act is what filled my heart with joy.

I recently bought myself an SLR but its not as easy whipping it out to take pics of your lunch or dinner without the random waiter or waitress asking me to stop because of the managers fear that I am a reporter! And besides - as much as I love my new baby, nothing can replace my first love..

To add to my pain...my pics from trip to Paris last week were all on there! Lord, please let them at least be saved. If my baby has died, then okay it's her time and she served her purpose so well! But..please...can I just have my pics from my amazing trip to Paris. Please

Dear Camera Gods.

Amen.

"Budget Beater Bourgeois Tart" or just Caramelised Onion & Courgette Tart

If you live in JHB, you had to have experienced the torrential rains this past weekend which probably also means that you were also stuck in doors.  I for one LOVE the rain. I love its cleansing nature and the fresh sandy smell that follows the downpour! The only time I will ever sing 'rain, rain, go away come again another day' is when I plan on being out 'on the streets (cue RJ Benjamin :)) Okay corny I know I know  :)

Because T and I opted to stay indoors, I chose to make a tart that I've been meaning to make for sometime now but the idea of rolling out pastry just seemed so damn daunting. Fear not: that is not the case with this recipe. Store bought pastry that need not be rolled out (WHOO HOO) and is done in about couple of minutes (enough for you to cuddle while it rains outside :))

Ingredients

1 Roll Puff Pastry (left out to defrost naturally and cut into 4 squares)

2 tablespoons butter (salted or unsalted doesn't matter really)

5/6 courgettes thinly sliced

2 large (or 4 small) brown onions

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Salt and Pepper

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

½  cup grated mozzarella

fresh Thyme

¼ cup of milk

Rocket for serving

Ingredients

1 Roll Puff Pastry (left out to defrost naturally and cut into 4 squares)

2 tablespoons butter (salted or unsalted doesn't matter really)

5/6 courgettes thinly sliced

2 large (or 4 small) brown onions

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Salt and Pepper

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

½  cup grated mozzarella

fresh Thyme

¼ cup of milk

Rocket for serving

Method

Melt butter in a pan

Add sliced onions and cook for 20 mins or until caramelised (cook on a low setting to avoid them burning)

Add sugar and balsamic vinegar. Cook for 3 mins

Season (with salt and pepper) and set aside

Toss baby marrows in olive oil

Roll out (not using a rolling pin just unroll it) pastry and score a 2cm border around each pastry square. Place pastry squares on greased baking tray (I lined mine with tin foil and sprayed it with spray and cook)

Top with cheese, onions and courgette

Brush pastry edges with milk

Bake for 15-20 minsor until cooked through.

Top with rocket. Or alternatively serve with pesto and a side salad.

This meal is enough to feed four people or 8 people who choose to eat more salad than pastry :)

Expensive – not at all!!

Time to make – not long :)

I'll definitely serve this tart again...and with all this rainy weather that's predicted for JHB, it's a good enough reason to get all TARTY! :)

Johazardousburg

 

I made these last week...I should have written JOHAZARDOUSBURG after the break in we had earlier this week!

Ohhh well...right now I have a love hate relationship with my city

I will love you again ...... sometime soon ;)

Tomorrow, I shall have you in my heart.

Vegetable Tagine with olive and parsley couscous

Last week I was guilty of gluttony. A certain pizza establishment based in the Hyde Park shopping centre had this great special on(they still do if you're interested) – a small pizza for 29 bucs. The special – you could choose ANY pizza (yes even if it had expensive things like seafood on it) and you would only pay R29..anyway I took fulll advantage of this and ate 3 pizzas in a space of 5 days..they were good pizzas but certainly not good for my waistline..

So this week I have vowed to eat healthily hoping that my body would forgive me! Visited fruit and veg and stocked up on all the 'love-my-body- goodies I could get...

Dinner last night would make any vegetarian proud. Here's the recipe.

Vegetable Tagine with olive and parsley couscous

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 med red onion thinly sliced

2 cloves of garlic

1 tsp dried chilli flakes            } I combined these two and used the chilli and garlic mix and just                                                      added 2 tsps.

1tsp ground coriander

1tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp tumeric powder

500g pumpkin  - I used roasted butternut

2 med potatoes chopped coarsely

2 ½ cups veg stock

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

½ cup coarsely chopped coriander

- Heat oil and cook onion (till soft) and garlic and chilli mix

- Add spices and seeds: cook, stirring until fragrant (such a great smell u'll know when its fragrant)

- Add the potatoe (As mentioned above I used roasted butternut which I didn't add to the tagine but instead placed alongside the meal). If you don't want to do that then at this stage add the butternut to the potatoe and spice mix.

- Stir in stock, bring to the boil. Reduce heat and let simmer uncovered until veggies are tender.

- Add can of chickpeas.

- Cook (simmer uncovered) for about 10 minutes (sauce will thicken slightly by now). The veggies should be 'tender' at this point,,,which means its READY!:)

Olive and Parsely Couscous

Cook couscous according to packet instructions, I made 2 cups of couscous

spoon of butter

1 1/3 cups black pitted olives

½ cup coarsely chopped flat leaf parsely

Couscous: Add olives and chopped flat leaf parsely to couscous and mix all together. I added another spoon of butter to this mix ;)

Side Note: If you want, you can cook the couscous with 1.5 cup of veg stock instead of plain old water.

It's ready to be served. As you can see in the pics I took, this time I chose to put the butternut alongside the tagine instead of mixed in with the tagine...both ways work just as well! I felt full and welllll nourished after this meal! :)

Hope you enjoy. Oh if you want to make it a day ahead, you can...just store the tagine and couscous separately in the fridge!