RECYCLE & REUSE

So much of what we have ends up on the rubbish dump or in landfill. Space is an issue, as well as the fact that some of the substances, specially packaging, is a long-term problem if just discarded. MUCH of it can be reused, re-fashioned or recycled. Take for example, this hanging I made for a glass inset of a door in my home .... Friend helped me by supplying their bottle tops and other containers. Easy to make, functional, and a good reminder to RECYCLE. 

SO HOW DID I DO IT?

I used not only bottle tops, as you can see, but bits of containers as well as beads and other plastic shapes etc. Gut, or fishing line, was the thread. To make the holes to thread together, I heated up a big needle, which I then poked through where I wanted the line to go. With the bigger pieces, I varied it to 2 or more holes, so that the beading becomes more decorative. You can use any such sharp, thin tool. The gut was threaded through, making use of beads in between and as decoration & spacers. Cut-up drinking straws are also good spacers. The more colorful, the more I loved it! You could concentrate on one or two colors if that takes your fancy ... 

To attach to the door, I screwed in tiny hooks and hung each strand individually. The result is that you can hang one or more on one hook, for a fuller or denser finish, as you can see below.

I hope you found this informative and will try one of your own individual creations. Let me know if you do and tell me where to find your pictures...
Have a great, creative recycling day!

WEEKEND EASY COOKING

One thing nobody wants to do on the weekend is to slave over the stove all day ...

But we need to eat : ) so the solution is to pick easy dishes, maybe that the family can get involved in preparing!

I had some cooked snoek left over from the other day, so decided to make a Seafood Pasta, just adding some mussels to make it go further.

I fried a chopped onion, added garlic, a touch of chilli, chopped dill and seasoning. I then added a drained tin of mussels and the left-over flaked snoek. On the side, I made a white sauce and cooked the pasta. Mix seafood with white sauce and add cooked pasta. Garnish and serve.

Quick, easy, TASTY. A glass of wine on the side, good company .... mmmmmm. That's what I'm talking about : )

What is your favourite recipe for the weekend?

TEATIME TREAT

I was going to visit a friend who had not been well, and wanted to take something yummy with for tea. So out came the trusted recipe book, earmarked and blotched with splashes of milk and egg and other unknown ingredients ... there must be something special that I haven't made in ages .... something that will lift the spirits .... that will make her .... SMILE.
Then I saw it - the Queen Mothers Favourite Cake. That was it! I will take you thru the process of baking this very special cake.
THE QUEEN MOTHERS FAVOURITE CAKE
Pour 1C Boiling water over 1pkt Dates (chopped). Add 1t Bicarb.
In a separate bowl, mix 1C Sugar, 1 Egg and 100gr melted Marg/Butter.
Fold in 1 and a half C Sifted Flour, 1t Baking Pwd and half t Salt.
Now add the softened Date mix and stir well.
Pour into greased square dish and bake for 35 - 40 min at 180C.
Once out the oven, spread with the following topping:
Simmer together 125ml Cream with 125ml Sugar for a few minutes.
Poke cake with knife before spreading topping so it can soak in.
Optional: Sprinkle chopped nuts over.

DELICIOUS on its own or with whipped cream. Needless to say, my friend was very impressed!!!
This is a very easy cake to make and a favourite in our home.
ENJOY !!! and try some of the other recipes on this blog.
Well, the weekend is looming and there is lots to do. So Have A Good One :)
Till later xx C