Lamb Racks & Pesto

If you are a meat lover then this recipe might be something for you - vegetarians I have something lined up for you next week! Lamb is my favourite meat and my son Torrez loves it too (however, well done not so rare like in the picture above!). For a quick and simple meal these lamb racks and pesto sauce are so easy to prepare, it's also a great meal to serve
when you have guests over for dinner. 

Healthy Eating: Lambs Lettuce Salad

Hello everyone, sorry it's been quiet on the blog lately. I had some personal issues going on at home, my husband recently suffered a heart attack so you can imagine what a roller coaster my life has been since it's happened. Thankfully my husband is doing better, recuperating at home and we are  now following a strict diet for him, which is why I am posting my first salad ever on the blog. I have to admit growing up and even in my current household salad was never really a big deal, I don't really like my vegetables raw so hardly ever eat salads. But since my husbands heart attack I really don't want this to happen to him again and I want a healthier life for myself and children too. So today I would like to share a simple salad that is quite popular in Switzerland (known there as Nüsslisalat) that my sister who lives there recommended. I think for people who don't really like salad this is a great first step since it also has boiled eggs, sweet corn and pieces of fried bacon - I skipped the fried bacon as we are really trying to eat healthier. 

Monday memories!

Just thinking of my trip to Zurich last year and thought I would share some of the images with you!

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I've been on a bit of a baking trip lately! The boys loved the cookies I made last week so I thought I would share the recipe with you too in time for the weekend! I use the following BBC chocolate chip cookies recipe: 

Tandoori Prawns with mint sauce

Tandoori Prawns 
500g prawns
1/2 tsp tumeric powder
1/2 tsp crushed ginger and garlic
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp tandoori masala
2 tsp oil
Salt to taste

Marinate the prawns with all the ingredients above and leave in the fridge for at least one hour. Bake in the oven for 8 minutes.

Mint Sauce
Mint leaves
Natural yogurt

Crush mint leaves and mix with yogurt - serve chilled.

Chocolate Milkshake

My boys and I love milkshakes! Since I am not always able to just make a trip to Milky Lane when we have a sudden craving for milkshakes I have learnt to make my own. So here's what you need to get started:

300ml Milk

2 scoops Chocolate ice cream

Whipped Cream

In a blender add the the milk and ice-cream, blend together and in seconds you have homemade chocolate milkshake! Top it off with some whipped cream and you all done :)

3 Day Trip Ideas For Kids in Kwazulu Natal!

Being a stay at home mum of two very active boys the minute my oldest gets school holidays I am always thinking of ways to occupy them both otherwise i'm in for a very crazy few days! So if you are looking for fun ways to pass the time with your kiddies during the October break here are some fun ways to keep the kiddies and yourself entertained!

1. A day at the beach

Nothing beats a day at the beach, the boys can play endlessly in the water and build sandcastles all day!  Our favorite beach is in Umhlanga Rocks. 

2. Makaranga Lodge 

This is the perfect spot for the kiddies to run and explore through the beautiful gardens, you can also order a picnic basket and enjoy lunch on the grass. 

Hot Chicken Wings

As you know from my last food post here my family and I love spicy food so I thought I would share another easy recipe that is a huge pleaser in my home: Hot Chicken Wings! This recipe is so easy, you must give it a try. 

Ingredients for 4

16 chicken wings

4 chillies finely chopped 

2 medium sized onions finely chopped

Coriander chopped 

3 tablespoons Peri Peri sauce optional

3 tablespoons oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Place the washed chicken wings in a dish and mix all ingredients together, leave overnight or a few hours in the fridge and then bake at 180° in the oven until golden brown. Serve with mashed potatoes or a salad.

Let me know how the recipe goes!

Mel

Euro Disney & Paris with kids

I thought I would share my experience of Disney Land and Paris with a 5 year old and 17 month old at the time. We only spent one day at Disney itself - which really isn't enough time to do much of the rides. With all the queues we ended up going on only 4 rides which was still 4 fun rides! It was June, the French children were still in school but there were so many other tourists there that it was all just a bit too much at times, in the end when I asked my 5 year old son Torrez what he liked the most about Disneyland - he said his Mickey Mouse balloon ;) I would still say if you have children and are going to Paris it is still fun to see the actual theme park which is pretty impressive though it's probably best for children over 6 years of age or to stay at least 3 days so you can really enjoy everything that Euro Disney has to offer.

Spicy Fish Cakes

Todays Fish Cake recipe is one of my favorites and loved by both my sons and husband too. In our home we love spicy food and even though Gerrard is only 2 years old he has already developed quite the spicy palate. If you are not a huge fan of chillies just skip it from the recipe! 

Ingredients serving 4:

400g Fish - you can use any type of fish in this recipe I used salmon filet

400g Mashed Potatoes 

A bunch of coriander finely chopped

1 medium sized chopped onion

2 finely chopped Chillies

Salt and pepper 

Vegetable oil for frying

1 egg, beaten

Flour 

Poach the salmon, then break into chunks without the skin and mix with the mashed potatoes, coriander, onions and chillies. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the mix and then make little balls in your own desired size and slightly flatten for frying. Dip the balls in the beaten egg, roll in the flour and fry in a medium heat pan until golden brown. Serve it with a dip of your choice, we used a bit of mayonnaise and some sweet-chili sauce. 

Hope you enjoyed this quick and easy recipe! If you try it out don't forget to let me know how it goes on Facebook!

Hello Cape Town!

Thank you all for the kind comments on my last few posts. I am really getting into this blogger mode :) Today I am writing about my trip to Cape Town, after Cape Agulhas we decided to stay a few nights in wonderful Cape Town! I have been before but for the boys it was their first time so you can imagine their excitement going up to Table Mountain, discovering all that Cape Town has to offer and more! Hope you enjoy the pictures :)

Cape Agulhas

A while back while on holidays in the Western Cape we got to spend a few days in Cape Agulhas a lovely, peaceful little fishing village. We stayed in one of the beautiful log cabins, with stunning views of the ocean which was only a few feet away. We enjoyed many braai's and chatting around the fireplace. It was truly a memorable stay and we were quite sad to leave in the end but on we went to Cape Town! More of that in my next travel post coming soon.

Morning Tea at Mount Nelson Hotel

I really wanted to share my wonderful experience at the Mount Nelson hotel where I had a lovely morning tea. What a stunning hotel with a lush garden and inviting swimming pool that the boys later got to enjoy. We dined alfresco and were spoilt for choice, everything from the petite sandwiches to decadent desserts served with refreshing tea made me want to come back the next time I'm in Cape Town. 

Welcome

Hi and welcome to my first blog post! I'm Melissa a wife and stay at home mum to two wonderful boys (Torrez 6 and Gerrard 2). This blog is my online space where I get to share happy moments with family and friends, travel adventures and my interests in fashion and cooking. I hope you will enjoy my posts and don't forget to like the Facebook page here and follow on Instagram to stay updated about new posts. 

Thanks for reading!

Mel