colour inspiration in unexpected places - the butterfly dome

Vanilla Caramel and Cayenne Caramel Macarons

I AM SO EXCITED YOU GUYS!

I made macarons for the very first time ever and they were amazing!

Vanilla and Caramel

I've been wanting to try my hand at macaron making for aaaages. But I kept procrastinating because, although I was keen to challenge myself, I was also super nervous that they were going to flop.

I bake like I cook, with reckless abandon. So my thoughts were that, since the macaron is meant to be the most difficult and temperamental baked good. I would definitely flop the first attempt. And my, oh my, I hate spending time dirtying dishes when the result is an inedible mess. I guess everyone does.

So, after months of avoidance, I bit the bullet and went for it. I ended up with 2 batches. One Vanilla and Caramel Pudding and one Cayenne and Caramel Pudding.

Both were fantastic!!

Even surfaced, well footed and chewy sweet. What more could you ask for?

Vanilla Caramel and Cayenne Caramel Macarons

Macaron Shells Ingredients:

1 cup icing (powdered) sugar
1/2 cup finely ground almonds/almond flour
2 large egg whites (aged for 2 days in fridge)
5 tbsp normal table sugar
1 tsp Vanilla essence
2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Filling Ingredients:

1 x box Caramel Instant Pudding
400ml Cream

Method:

• Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.
• Mix almond flour, icing  sugar, until combined.
• Beat egg whites with the on medium low for 2 mins, gradually adding in the normal table sugar.
• Increase speed to high to whip until soft peaks form. Do not overwhip.
• Fold the dry ingredients in 2 batches. Add the vanilla essence and, if using, the cayenne pepper. 
• After about 40-50 foldings it should look smooth and thick.
• Fill your pastry bag and pipe batter onto the prepared baking sheets in 3cm circles.
• Leave a gap of about 1.5 cms between each. 
• Drop your baking tray on the table a few times to even out the macarons
• Let them rest at room temp for 20 mins. The tops should be dry and not sticky to touch. 
• Preheat your oven to 150 celcius. 
• Bake the pans separately for 15 mins each.
• Make your caramel instant pudding using cream instead of milk.
• Some ovens don't have great ventialation, if this is the case open the oven door for a few seconds a few times during the cooking process.
• Let cool completely and remove. 
• Stick similar sized halves together using the pre-prepared caramel pudding mixture.

Cayenne and Caramel

off the registry - Woolworths

It's time for another exciting edition of Off the Registry. YAY! *canned applause*

Some cultures don't believe in gifting but in many cultures celebrations go hand-in-hand with gift-giving and, let's face it, receiving a thoughtful gift is awesome. Something that someone has clearly noticed about you and acted upon that means something to you. Warm and fuzzies. Gift giving also offers a unique type of joy. Seeing the recipient's delight at receiving a gift they love is a great feeling.

Sometimes gift giving isn't easy though. At a wedding, perhaps the couple in question has been living together and already has 'everything'. A distant colleague's birthday party where you don't know the guest of honour well enough to give a thoughtful gift.

This is where a wedding registry (or baby shower registry, or birthday registry, or bat mitzvah registry) comes in handy. You can be certain that there will be no strange will-never-be-used-foot-spa-type items in your near future if you organise one of these bad boys. It takes the surprise out of the gift receiving but, on the bright side, you get exactly what you want, what suits your taste and what you'll use. Isn't that the basic trifecta for any gift?

Here's my pick from Woolworths' online store. Take a peek.

1. Penguin Cushion
2. Crocheted Cushion
3. Floral Cup
4. Crocheted Blanket
5. Tapas Bowl (a)
6. Tapas Bowl (b)
7. White Plate with Blue Flower
8. Pale Blue Plate with White Daisy Rim
9. Lamp

Celebrating USA - DIY Rope Necklace

You may be wondering why I, a South African with no real ties to the USA, would be keen to celebrate with the American's on 4th of July (yes, technically, it's the 5th over here but time differences mean its still 4th in some parts of the USA).

Here are my top two reasons to celebrate 4th of July this year:
1. It's hard for me to pass up any opportunity to celebrate anything.
2. I pulled USA in our work FIFA World Cup draw so I've been celebrating USA and their great performance at the Soccer World Cup for weeks now. Sadly, they were ousted by the Belgians, but the game was a nail-biter and, in my opinion, worthy of celebration.

So there.

At the office we were asked to dress in the colours (or, if I'm American, colors) of the team we pulled. 

I made this necklace and wore with a blue shirt in support of the Red, White and Blue.

What you need:
Candy Cane Striped Rope
Red Embroidery Thread
Needle
Clasp/Hook
Elastic Bands

1. Take three equal lengths of rope.
2. Wrap embroidery thread aroud the ends to avoid fraying
3. Fasten the one end with elastic and plait the rope.
4. Fasten the other end of the rope with an elastic band.
5. You now have a long straight plait.
6. Wrap embroidery thread around all three rope ends on either side.
7. Attach a clasp to one end and a ring to the other.
8. Wear

Nautical Party

There's something about the ocean, with all it's mystery, that is both terrifying and exciting. 

And there is nothing quite like traversing the ocean by boat. Heading out to sea for a day, or a week, or a year (depending on who you are) to enjoy the abundant bounty the water has to offer.

Not all of us are boat owners. Sadly. But that doesn't mean we can't channel the nautical vibe into our own party time. Coral and Navy? It's good.

Get it:
Bangles, Blue Blouse, Lip Gloss, Invitation, Skirt, Octopus Bangle, Hair Slides, Blue Wedges, Blue and Coral Earrings, Nail Polish, Rope Bracelet, Mug, Hair Slides, Dress, Clutch 1, Clutch 2, Stud Earrings, Scarves, Coral Heels, Tropical Boyfriend Shirt

pulled pork sandwiches

We're doing a FIFA World Cup competition type thing-a-majig at the office. Each of us pulled a country from the hat and are required to dress in the team's colours on the days they play. It's pretty festive with prizes for best dressed and a secret prize for the owner of the team that wins the tournament.

The team I drew was the USA, so it's safe to say that my chances of winning the secret grand prize are slim. But the title of Best Dressed Supporter could be within reach if I play my cards right. In the meantime I thought I'd start channeling the United States of America with a supper I've seen over and over on North American food blogs. 

Pulled Pork Sandwiches. 

Bonus points for an excuse to dust off my slow cooker.

As a side note, I was convinced the sauce was going to flop, but I am happy to say that I was completely wrong. It was delicious. The whole meal turned out so much better than I could have expected. GO USA!

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients

Pork 
Hamburger Buns (4 or 6 depending on how heavy handed you are with the filling) 
1kg hunk of pork (you can really use any big hunk of pork but best to have some fat on it for flavour)
1 tblsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tblsp chilli flakes
2 tsp paprika
4 cloves chopped garlic
1 onion chopped finely
1/2 tsp ground mustard seeds
1 bottle of beer (I used Black Label)
1 cup pineapple juice 

Coleslaw 
2 carrots sliced thinly
Half a mini cabbage chopped finely
1 tblsp olive oil
1 tblsp apple cider vinegar
2 tblsp pineapple juice 

Sauce 
1/2 cup tomato sauce (I used All Gold - Heinz may work better)
1/2 cup of honey
1 tblsp worchestershire sauce
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/2 tblsp white vinegar
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground mustard seeds
1 clove of crushed garlic

Method 

• Rub pork with spices and let it sit overnight (or, if you're me, forget to do this and rub in the spices 5 minutes before searing, it'll be great either way).
• Fry the onion and garlic until soft and then sear the pork on all sides.
• Throw all the ingredients listed under 'pork' into the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-9 hours.
• For the sauce, mix all of the ingredients under 'sauce' in a saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes.
• For the coleslaw mix, all of the ingredients under 'coleslaw' together and leave aside until ready to serve.
• Once the pork is cooked remove from the slow cooker and shred into bite-sized pieces.
• Mix the shredded pork with the sauce until well coated.
• Scoop the pork onto the hamburger buns and top with coleslaw.