Shaz

A food post, finally almost 9 months later!

Last night we finally had a bit of rain and thunder on the Highveld, but it wasn’t nearly enough to clean the streets and houses under the layer of dust and soot from all the veld fires. Hopefully its just the start of a generous rain season to come! I couldn’t help wondering if Little Jessica will love thunderstorms as much as I do? And whether she will be able to sleep through the storms? My little Pumpkin… 

Talking about Pumpkins, I finally made some Pumpkin ‘Fritters’/ Pampoen Poffertjies that came out well and delicious. Got the recipe from my Mom, who got it from an old Huisgenoot, Wenresepte (circa 1990) and came from a Mrs. Nel from Worcester. Its real easy to make, with either left over pumpkin or freshly made. I’ll post the recipe in both Afrikaans (die Groot Taal) & English. Hope I translated it correctly…

Afrikaans

Pampoen Poffertjies (maak +/- genoeg vir 4 – 8 mense)

750gr pampoen (gaar, mashed met ‘n knypie sout)

2 eiers

5ml sout

275gr (500ml) bruismeel

15ml bakpoeier

500ml kookolie (vir braai)

Metode:

-          Klop die pampoen, eiers & sout saam.

-          Sif bruismeel en bakpoeier saam en meng met nat mengsel tot sagte deeg.

-          Verhit kookolie tot warm.

-          Skep ‘n lepel vol en bak/braai tot ligbruin en gaar *ek het ‘n halwe eetlepel gebruik, dan is dit ‘n lekker ‘bite size’* Dit vat omtrent so 2-3 min, as die olie lekker warm is – hou maar dop!

-          Dreineer en hou warm.

Stroop

400gr (500ml) suiker

250ml water

125ml melk

25gr (30ml) botter of magarien

Knypie sout

10ml mielieblom (maizena)

*knypie fyn kaneel (my eie byvoeging, opsioneel)

Metode:

-          Verhit saam tot kook punt

-          Meng die mielieblom met bietjie koue water en roer by stroop.

-          Gooi warm stroop oor warm poffetjies en sit voor.

English

Pumpkin Fritters/ Puffs (makes enough for 4 – 8 people)

750gr pumkin (cooked, mashed with a pinch of salt)

2 eggs

5ml salt

275gr (500ml) selfraising flour

15ml baking powder

500ml cooking oil (for frying)

Method

-          Mix the pumpkin, eggs and salt together.

-          Sift the selfraising flour and baking powder together and mix into the wet ingredients to form a soft dough.

-          Heat the cooking oil to warm and add dollops of the dough to the oil, fry till golden brown and done. *I used half a table spoon measure, makes little bite sized puffs) It takes about 2-3 min if the oil is nice and hot – do watch over them!

-          Drain the excess oil and keep warm

Syrup

400gr (500ml) sugar

250ml (1 cup) water

125ml (1/2 cup) milk

25gr (30ml) butter or magarine

Pinch of salt

10ml cornflower (maizena)

*pinch of grounded cinnamon (my own addition, optional)

Method

-          Heat together until boiling point (exept Maizena)

-          Mix Maizena with a bit of cold water, add to syrup.

-          Cover puffs with syrup and serve warm!

I only added the bit of cinnamon to the syrup, because it goes so well with pumpkin!

Enjoy with your family for with a Sunday Lunch or I think it might even go well with a scoop of icecream!  Perhaps a belated pregnancy thing… only added the pinch of cinnamon, because it goes so well with pumpkin!

Have an awesome day!!!

xxx

My oh my has time flown! I 1st thought what would I do with myself for 3 months while on maternity leave, and now there’s only days left before I start working full time (long story, but been helping out at work half day for the past week)! Little gorgeous Madam kept me occupied most days!

Tomorrow she will be 14 weeks old. She’s the cutest little thing and I love and enjoy her sooooo much! If we didnt need the money I’d so be a stay-at-home-mom in a flash!

Baby details:

* Her last weighin (12wks) she was 5.2kgs and measured 60cm. Tomorrow she will have her next weigh in and set of innoculations (poor child!).

* She sleeps like a baby (should) from 7pm to 4 – 5am (yay for mommy! )

* She’s got 3 or 4 teeth lingering just below the ‘surface’ on the bottom jaw. Think the K9/ ‘oog tand’ will be the 1st to emerge – the little white tip just showing.She’s eating up her hands and everything she gets hold of goes directly to her mouth!

* She just wants to sit (hence the bumbo chair), got the strenght just needs a bit of balance. Prehaps wishful thinking, but I think she might sit by herself in the next month or so!

* On the weekend she started to roll over (back to front), too cute when she laughts when she gets it right.

* she started going to the creche last week, no hassles or crying. Think she will adjust well. Its just been difficult for me to get into the new routine in the mornings – would rather sleep late curled up with Little Madam!  (who wouldnt?)

* Meeting Poplap for the 1st time, all smiles and then she tried to eat her dollie… hehe

Hope to post more often from now on, and perhaps even blog about food! For a while now I have been the food!

Have an awesome week, its good to be ‘back’!!!

Big Hugs!

xxx

Hello Blogland!

Yesterday our little Madam was 5 weeks old already! 

Since my last blogpost, we’ve had bad days and really good days. We took Little Madam Jessica to the pediatrician 2 weeks ago. She was very difficult and the spitting was a bit much for this Mom – of course being a newby at all this – we worried, so off to the Dr we went. She’s got a bit of a reflux going (call it baby heartburn) so now we are feeding, burping and sleeping at an angle. It makes a huge difference. She still has days that she drives me almost insane, but think those are the ‘growth spurts’. She’s probably weighing close to 4kgs. Some of the newborn clothes are already too small!

But the ups, she’s been smiling and coo-ing since last week, which is totally adorable. If only she would smile when the camera is close! J

She’s already got her sleeping pattern established. And No, she has not read any of the books I have, because she’s not doing much of what they say the baby should be doing! According to the books, new borns should be sleeping at least 18 – 20 hours and only be awake for 45-60min at a time. She likes being awake 1 – 2 hrs at a time, and probably only sleeps about 16 – 18hrs! Our evenings are ruled by her bathtime – she doesn’t settle for the night without her bath. But then when she sleeps, she sleeps at least 5 to 6 hrs before feeding time. Only getting up once in the night, and then early in the mornings (from around 5am or 6am). Giving us a well deserved rest too!

She’s met all the milestones for the first 4-6weeks, its going very well! Cant wait for the burping/winding to stop though – she hates it just as much!

Food wise nothing much exciting has been happening in my kitchen! Im allowed dairy again, but still limited quantities sugar. Still sucks, but its better for Jessica for the time being. I was so looking forward to baking all things nice and sweet, making delish food – but hardly have the time. Oh and the cupcake challenge…darnit!!! The past weekend it took me 2 days to make simple meatballs. Just when I start with it, Madam wakes. So of course you leave the food and tend to her. She also doesn’t want me to watch MasterChef or take a shower. Just when I think I can do either of those, she’ll be calling! J Getting use to that now, nothing like spending your day in PJ’s! LOL’s

On the job front, seems the whole company is fighting since I went on leave. Last week my direct boss was in a car accident, so now they only have the receptionist in the office alone. She cant do everything by herself… Feel sorry for her. If I got paid, I might have offered to help them out from home, but since the Maternity Payment issue, they can suck it up… I’ve adjusted my loyalties accordingly. (Vat so flaffie).

Apologies for being scare on the blogs, we have limited cap at home and some days its just down right impossible to connect or its so slow you might as well be using smoke signals…

Do Keep well and look after yourselves!

BiG HUGS!!

xxx

And what would this post be without pics??! 

Will be doing our own home babyshoot this coming weekend if it all works out!  

xxx

Good day blogland on this freezing day! Can only type for short bursts before my fingers need to be reheated! 

Where did winter suddenly come from? I should consider myself lucky being able to stay at home, but it doesnt help much if the one side of the house is terribly cold!! Then again, I could just unplug the latop and move my ass…  

I guess this has been a post a lot of people have been waiting for – apologies for taking so long to update all, but time is not my own, its ruled by a wee little person called Jessica… 

Again I have to warn you – this is not a foodie post! 

Our Little Jessica came into this world on the 17th of May @ 13h09, weighing 3.3kgs and 51cm tall (or small). 

*Punk Rock Girl* 

Went in for the C-section – and it is now officialy the most terrifying thing I have ever done/gone through. I kinda had an anxiety attack when they wheeled me into the teatre – it was aweful… and bittersweet, since this would also qualify as one of those spectacular moments in life – giving life. When she gave her first scream, all we could do was cry. Op went normal otherwise, healing nicely. 

Im not going to sugar coat the past 2 weeks (Jip today she is already 2 weeks old!!). It has not been easy, especially the 1st week, she kept us (and herself) awake for hours on end, just crying. It was such a frustration not knowing what to do, when you’ve ticked all the boxes (nappy, feed, burp). Having bouts of the baby blues also didnt help, still get those and the other extreme moodiness that goes with it. If it doesnt get better I will get myself checked out… Not sure how long it takes for your hormones to get back to ‘normal’??

But in the meantime, we visited the Baby Clinic, they established our poor little girl suffers from cramps, so now Mommy needs to cut her sugar and dairy intake. Which has been most difficult, I can go without sugar, but dairy??!! Just cut off my arm…  The only ‘hot’ drink I can do at the moment is Rooibos tea, with honey and lactose free milk. No hot chocolate, no coffee…. AARGH.

So all my foodie inspired thoughts I had for this period at home is out the window: lock, stock and barrel. We are eating normal ‘boring’ food, nothing too spicy etc… incase it upsets Little Madam. Also the 1st while, we were so occupied and busy, you forget to look after yourself, we only ate 2 meals a day at one stage, like a brunch and supper if you are lucky. Oh and get to take baths (showers) only late in the afternoon! 

Its all a bit better now – she’s got a more ‘regular’ sleeping pattern. Awake every 3 -4 hrs. Still have some days that she fights going back to sleep (this can last up to 2hrs, but its cope-able). If we get her pattern right for the day, then its only 2 wakes in the night – which is awesome. 

A bit of a vent: My employer, after knowing for 9 months, Im having a baby, after numerous requests, begging, enquiries etc with regards to my maternity leave/pay, decided Im NOT getting any pay and NO ONE told me!!! You can imagine my surprize when I got less than half of my salary last week.  Im so disappointed in that lot, Im fed up and seriously thinking of applying for something else as soon as the time is right. How heartless must a person(s) be?! As my husband puts it, I was 37wks pregnant and still putting in 10hrs a day for them and for what? Thank goodness for UIF, hope we can have it all sorted for end June! This additional stress is also not helping our cause…  

Hubby returned to work today, and Im missing him terribly… days like this that I really wish we were rich (read BILLIONAIRES) and didnt have to work, if we didnt want to… hehe. Wishful thinking hey? (but incase Bill Gates or someone reading this – Im accepting donations!!! He is the most awesome Dad to our Jessica, he helps so much, cant thank him enough. 

I dont know when I will be on the foodie blogs again – wont have much foodie-talk… Hopefully soon it will be back to normal! 

(or I will have to move my blog to the Parent side…LOL) 

Have a great day and week!! 

HUGS

xxx

I hope you are all doing well and preparing for the coming winter – which most days seems its coming, and other days going! But its time none the less to take out the winter woollies, refill the gas heaters and dust off the blankets. Best of all: its time for soup, stews and all things heart and gut warming, including sufficient stock of OBS (Old Brown Sherry).  And for our little family its also time for the “bun to come out of the oven”. Time sure flies!

*Warning – not food related blog… but perhaps this will count towards Tandy’s Sweet Challenge? Or will I need a baby pic for that?? *

Its been 38 and a half weeks, and in two days on the 17th of May, our Baby Jessica will be making her way into this world of ours.  As we suspected all a long, she will be coming a bit earlier, and will be delivered via C-section, because little Madam loved all the food so much that Mommy has been stuffing her face with, she’s been growing very very well indeed. With our last visit to the Dr, she weighed an estimated 3.5kgs!!! She grew about 300gr in 9days. Hectic I tell you! And did I mention – she’s got a mop of hair! I cant wait to see her and see what she got from whom, her eyes, hair color, smile, little nose and to count her fingers and toes… 

I am half calm, half nervous – it was not an easy decision to make… Kind of hoped for a natural birth, but dont want to chance it – incase she wants to stay beyond 40 weeks and by then she will be too big or you end up with an emergency C-section etc… So we opted for the ‘safer’ option. I dont like hate needles, and am really not looking forward to the op, still hoping they can/will give me something for the nerves!  I mean lying there awake, while they operate – that part still gets to me! *wonder if they will notice a vase or 2 of wine in my bloodstream?* 

So next time I blog – I will be a Mommy! A real Mommy – with a little precious baby girl!! I hope to come visit more often. Will definitely put up some brag pics as soon as I get a chance. 

Thank you for all your comments, encouragement, love and hugs during my pregnancy – it was (is) much appreciated! I can only hope that one day, Jessica will also have a circle of blog friends like yourselves!! 

Rather late than never: BELLY PICS!! (taken today)

Here’s to chatting to you soon!! *clink*

Lots of Love to You All,

Shaz, Hubs & Baby Jessica

xxx

Hallo’s to you all!

Today Im not even apologising about my absense the past…. yikes, its been more than a MONTH!!

Everything is still going kickingly – except if we dont have ADSL line problems, Im working (as my boss puts it so nicely *put sarcastic smirk here*) like a little soldier… which doesnt leave much time to read blogs, comment and even less to post something. Im behind with about 4 months worth of filing – but simply just dont have the time to it. (besides its just filing, more important and urgent things to do).

Preggy wise – all is going well. Due date is slowly but surely creeping closer, still(for now) the 25th of May. With our last Dr’s appointment Little Madam Jessica was weighting 2.4kgs (33wks on the 6th of Apr) seeing the Dr again next week, and from May will be going once a week… more days off/halfdays and more work to get back to… Dont you just hate that?  It feels at times Im being punished for taking a day or half day (and the looming maternity leave), so when I am back, I have twice the work load to catch up on… Every week I start with good intention to do less – I mean, they have to get use to the idea of me Not being here and doing almost everything. I have 4 weeks left before I go on Maternity leave, of which 2 weeks are public holidays galore (YAY)… so really next week Im putting my foot down (or rather feet up…) Besides – what if Madam decides to come earlier?! Can you spell C-R-I-S-I-S!?! hehe

My only real gripe is the work-me-to-death plan… Which by the way – does anyone know when is the Pasella rerun??? While you guys were happily watching Pasella featuring Nina, Ally & Marisa – I was still at work. You might think, but Pasella starts at 19h30, what the hell was I still doing at the office… I asked myself the same question… only left here just after 20h00, not fun I tell you – NOT FUN!!!

*Enought moaning ne’?*

Im still saying Im having an ‘abnormal’ pregnancy… but Im not all sure what some people moan about (maybe not that bad) But perhaps I’ve just had this one VERY easy, and the next one will be twice as hard!

- Im not having any mood swings, still just plain old me. I do cry easier, so as long as you dont make me sad, Im fine!

- I can count on 1 hand the number of times I’ve been sick.

- I can still eat pretty much what ever I want

- No funny cravings or constant eating, actually since ‘arriving’ at the 3rd trimester, I’ve lost my appetite. Had many evenings when I came home, just not hungry and Hubs having to help himself with either a sandwich or left overs or cereal!Most days I eat for the sake of eating something, for Madam’s sake.

- Im not overly tired, I still work my full day, get home, cook (when I have to) and only go to bed from around 9pm (some people from 30wks suffer terribly from fatique etc…).

- I sleep through most nights, as Little Madam is not all that active during the night – she has yet to wake me with kicking etc. (may she continue this when she’s OUT!!) I only get up to go to the loo once, and think its because it became more of a habit than a must!

The babyroom/nursery is just about done. Just need the cot, my dad is repainting our (sister and myself) old cot of 30yrs ago. Then we can do the final moving around. Colors are still neutral walls, turquise with splashes of pink and white. I dont want the room to be too ‘baby-ish’ since they grow out of that phase so quickly.

I’ve had my baby shower(s) and got lots of goodies and the cutests outfits! Madam is sorted clothes-wise until 3 months (at least), and has 9 warm blankets! She will be snug as a bug for the winter. Still have a few things to get, hope to have that all sorted by next weekend. Should probably start packing my hospital bag…

I will put up some pics once its all done and dusted, and of course a pic of the Boep/ Preggy Belly! Ive been told twice now, Im carrying small… I dont think so! Perhaps they mistook my Butt for my Belly! LOLS

Let me ‘soldier on’ here!

Im still ‘trawling the blogs’ just not commenting – hope to get back to normal soon!!

Have a fabulous weekend!!! and week… perhaps I should be wishing you well for the rest of the month… you never know your luck in the big city!

xxxx

PinkPOlkadots Foodie Quiz #  49

1. Is watermelon a fruit or a vegetable?

Fruit

2. In culinary terms what does to “refresh” means?

perhaps putting cold water over something, hoping veggies of sorts

3. How can you make your own “crème fraiche” at home?

Open fridge, and remove container from there.

Or keep fresh cream till it goes sourish?

4. What is the difference between Rösti and Kartoffelpuffer?

Rosti is a ‘roasted’ grated potato

Kartoffelpuffer – sounds more like slippers… But assume it is a potato puff of sorts

5. Where did Gem squashes originate from?

Garden of Eden

6. What are the main ingredients of Breyani?

Rice, spices (cumin, cinnamon) meat

7. What is a Galette?

A distant cousin of Gillette

8. What is the difference between Umqa and Umngqusho?

 Dont know – samp & beans?

9. A real bagal is not the same as a breadroll with a hole in it! Why?

Its a difference texture, perhaps they dont use any yeast?

As for the hole – perhaps to bake it faster.

10. What is a “brunoise” of a vegetable?

The brown nose of a vegable?? no idea!!

I ‘ve been tagged by Gobetween .

So here’s what it is: Take the first letter of your blog name (S for Shaz) and answer each of the following questions. They have to be real places, names, things and nothing made up. Always nice to use different answers to the blogger that tagged you if you have the same letter. Then tag five other bloggers and let them know.

The Questions Are:

What is your blog name ♥♥♥ Shaz

 Animal ♥♥♥ Snake

A boy’s name ♥♥♥ Shaun

 A girl’s name ♥♥♥ Sharon

 Occupation ♥♥♥ Specialists (of any sort I guess)

A colour ♥♥♥ ‘Swart’

Something you wear ♥♥♥ Shoes

A beverage ♥♥♥ Sprite

A food ♥♥♥ Soup

Something found in the bathroom ♥♥♥ Soap

A Place ♥♥♥ Spain

A reason for being late or missing a lunch date ♥♥♥ Side tracked

Something you shout – S*&%t!

Im not tagging anyone else… If you’d like  to play – please do!!

xxx

The moment has come and gone – our 3D/ 4D scan….

So at firstLittle Madam didnt co-operate and then yesterday the placenta was in the way. So by the 4th try – this was as good as it was going to get. Since this was a mahala (for free/verniet) ‘service’, you can only go back so many times! Thank goodness the girl who helped me – was very pleasant and gave me the 4th chance, in between her other appointments.

Meet our little Puffy Cheeked Jessica! Apologies for the quality, its a cellphone pic of a pic…

You can clearly see her little nose, chin, eyes and little mouth. Unfortunately not enough if she’s got any hair going, but if she’s anything like Mom and Dad, she will be blond/fair and probably have little to no hair.

Today I believe she had her first hiccups (that I know of anyways) if felt weird, but very cute. 

Have an awesome day everyone!!

xxxx