This and that

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party - July 13/12

It is Friday again... these weeks seem to just fly by and I hope you all are having a great summer.  I have only 3 more days and my summer vacation is over :(, but I have had a great time... company, cooking, and  spending time on the shores of Lake Superior.
 But summer isn't over and neither is our Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party.  We had a great time last week and  we hope that you will join us again this week.  Tell your friends this is were the party is.... come and join us, one and all.  If this is your first time just link up your recipes at the at the frog below and then come back to vote  for your favorite recipe. Remember a link to one of the members that is hosting this party means a link to all the members blog!
                            Last weeks Top 3 Votes were:
               #1 with 4 Votes:  Smores Cookie Cake from That Skinny Chick can Bake

                 #2 with 3 Votes and 29 Clicks:  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars from
                  From Calculus to Cupcakes

                 #3 with 3 Votes and 13 Clicks:  It was a 4 way tie!!
                          Light Blueberry Donuts from All is Amazing
                          Cheesy Breadsticks and Marinara from Cooking from a Stay at Home Mom
                          Berries and Cream Muffins from Baking by Precious
                          Skinny Mint Choc. Chip "Ice Cream" Sandwiches from The Part Time Housewife

Maybe this week, this could be you!

The Recipes that had the most "Clicks" are:
#1 with 29 Clicks:  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars
from From Calculus to Cupcakes

                   #2  with 23 Clicks:  Falling Off the Bone BBQ Ribs from Walking on Sunshine

#3 with 22 Clicks:  Black Bean Lime Salad from A Virtual Essence

This could also be you!

I had a very hard time to pick my favorite from last week.  They all looked so good but as you know that I am partial to African food so my pick had to be South African Doughnuts.  I am hoping to make these one of these days soon. Doughnuts are one of my favorite foods and then to be African besides... YUM!

Koeksisters Recipe – South African doughnut
Don't these looks so good.  Photo courtesy of Kadirecipes.com
You can grab the "Host Favorite" button under "Hosts" tab at Foodie Friends Friday.  Also go over to each of the hosts blogs to find their favorites:
Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom  http://www.busyvegetarianmom.com/
Robyn at Robyn's View  http://www.robynsviewathome.blogspot.com/
Angie at A lil Country Sugar  http://alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com/
Wayne at Passione Per Cucina http://www.passionepercucina.blogspot.co.uk/p/welcome.html
Sarah at Everything in the Kitchen Sink  http://everythingkitchensink.blogspot.com/
Michelle at From Calculus to Cupcakes  http://www.fromcalculustocupcakes.blogspot.com/
Marlys at This and That  http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com/
Brianne at Cupcakes and Kale Chips  http://cupcakesandkalechips.com/
Lois at  Walking on Sunshine http://wifeofthecolonel.blogspot.com/
Erika at Chef Picky Kid and Me  http://chefpickykid.com/
Lindsey at Family Food Finds  http://www.familyfoodfinds.com/
Cindy at Cindys Recipes and Writings  http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com/
Dawn at DJ's Sugar Shack  http://www.djssugarshack.com/
Skye at http://www.avirtualessence.blogspot.com/
Sheri at http://www.homemadeservedhere.com/
Keira at Luscious Delights http://www.lusciousdelights.blogspot.com.au/
Amber at Mama's Blissful Bites www.mamasblissfulbites.wordpress.com 

Now on to the fun:
           We have changed the rule some, so please read them once again:
Step 1:  Make sure that anything you link up is:
  • A Recipe...and is made and photographed by you
  • Not part of a sponsership/sales/giveaway or other promotions/linky parties
  • Linked to a specific page of your recipe, not your homepage
Step 2:
* for example:  This recipe is featured on "Host Blog Link" and  http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com  Linky Party)
If you want to be the very best Foodie Friend Ever...
  • Grab our button at http://foodiefriendsfriday.com and put it on your page and share Foodie Friends Friday!
  • Take some time and check out other submitted links and the blogs of all of our gracious hosts
  • Come on over and "like" us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter and Pinterest
***Please note that by linking up you are giving permission to use photos/links on Foodie Friends Friday and any of it's affiliated websites or publications.  If photos/recipes are used, proper credit/ linkbacks will be published with them.  We just want to share your amazing recipes and spread some foodie <3 !

Have Fun and Thank You for Visiting!!

I hope that you will join me at this linky party once again... It is great fun and lots of exposure.
             Til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys










Lemon- Lime Sugar Cookies


   

This past week has gone by in a flash and I seem to not get very much done again.  We did have my husband's cousin from Togo over at the beginning of the week and I spent the first part of the week cooking for him.  I decided to make an African meal for him and our other guests, mainly because he will be here in America for close to a month and it is always nice to get comfort food when you are traveling, especially when traveling alone.  But I did make an American dessert and with that dessert I made some Sugar Cookies.
I heard via facebook (my only news I read :)) that Monday July 9 was Sugar Cookie Day, and as I was trying to figure out something light and good to have with the Key Lime Pie Parfait that I was making, Sugar Cookies seemed perfect.  So out came my cookbooks and I found a recipe that I thought would be perfect, although I did want it to complement my dessert so I added lemon and lime zest to my cookies and WOW! They turned out wonderful... I am not sure I will ever make plain sugar cookies again.

                                                  Lemon-Lime Sugar Cookies


Lemon-Lime Sugar Cookies, just for you....

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening (I used butter)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream tarter
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp lime zest

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tarter in bowl and set aside.  In big bowl beat sugar and shortening until mixed, add eggs and beat until smooth.  Slowly add flour mixture to sugar mixture until thoroughly mixed.  Once mixed add lemon and lime zest (this is to taste so you can add more or less as you want).  Roll dough into balls and roll into sugar.  Don't press.  Bake on an ungreased pan at 375 degrees for 8 -10 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Home Cooking from Wolf Lake Cookbook
mix in eggs

mixing sugar and butter 

add lemon and lime zest to mixture after flour has been added
roll in ball and roll balls in sugar 
place rolled balls on cookie sheet
they do spread so place far apart 

                                                                                       




leave on cookie sheets for a few minutes before placing on
cooling pans.
Enjoy!
a sneak peak with the key lime pie parfait
These cookies were so delicious that they are all gone and I have to make more... they are chewy and still a little crunchy... just perfect!
                          Til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys

PS don't forget to check out the linky party tomorrow at Foodie Friends Friday.  It starts tomorrow and it is a great place to link your recipe as each link goes to all the host sites ~ so lots of exposure and if you are not a blogger, it is a great place to find some wonderful recipes... I am going to link this recipe! 















Links:::






BWS tips button                                                                        Monday Link Party

Photobucket


SixSistersStuff.com                                                           Thursday Treasures

The Mandatory Mooch


apinchofjoy.com

Freedom Fridays

Lemon Sugar

A LIttle Nosh Mommy's Sweet Confessions

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Rice and Beans...

Rice and beans have been eaten if Africa for a long time.  It is a very economical meal.  You cook both in the same pot.... so less dishes to wash.  We use black-eyed peas when we make rice and beans and serve it with my African sauce .  Although this recipe takes a while to cook it is very easy...  Here goes...

                                                            Rice and Beans


1 cup black-eyed peas
1.5 cup rice
salt to taste
water.

   First I rinse the black- eyed peas and take out discoloured ones.  Place the beans in a pot and cover with water... I usually pour about 3 -4 cups of water as I always forget to check and the water boils down and I burn the peas.  Add salt to taste and boil until peas are soft.  This usually takes about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.  If you notice that the water is evaporating before peas are done, just add more water.  And no I do not soak the black-eyed peas first like the bag says.
     Once the beans are quite soft add the rice and more water... Once again I just guestimate how much water I need.. The water should cover both the beans and rice.  I usually taste the water to see if it is salty enough.  You may have to add more salt.  Cook until all the water is gone and the rice is soft.

          My husband likes crunchy rice so I cook this on a medium heat for about 1/2 hour and then turn the heat down slightly and cook for another half hour.  The rice will be brown and stuck to the side.  Once you turn off the heat and let rest for about 5 minutes you will be able to get the rice from the side.  Good crunchy rice.

rinsed peas

cooked peas

added more water and the rice

rice and beans cooked

rice and beans with sauce

As you can see in this picture, the rice is brown and looks crunchy
Enjoy
   When I made the African sauce this time, I added some green beans to the sauce... YUM!
                                   Til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys




LINKS:


Thursday, July 5, 2012

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party


                                                          Foodie Friends Friday

YES, you heard right, we are going to have another linky party.  Last week we had great  success and hope to even have a better time this week.  I know that I did get alot more traffic to my blog from this, so here is hoping that it continues...
Last week the top three links that had the most clicks were
#1 Lois from Walking on Sunshine with her recipe for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.  Peanut butter and cookies, who wouldn't like them... Lois is a wonderful addition to this group and an inspiration to us all.
Don't they look so delicious.
#2 Dawn's divine delight came in second and she says on her blog that she loves to bake and that there is always time to bake.  I think I need to spend more time on her blog as if her link for Key limed filled lemon cupcakes is anything to go by she looks like a wonderful baker.  Thanks for sharing Dawn and I hope you join us again with one of your masterpieces.
They look so yummy! picture from
Dawn's divine delight
# 3 was a tie between Cindy from Cindy recipes and writings with her link for dutch potato salad and Angie from A'lil Country Sugar with her link for mini s'more cookies.  Both of these girls belong to our group and have been alot of help to me.
dutch potato salad  from Cindy recipe
and writing 

mini s'more cookies from
A'lil Country Sugar
Don't all of these look so yummy.... and you can find more if you join us for the linky party this weekend - hosted by the wonderful group Foodie Friend Friday.  Link up some of your great recipes, the link up will be at the bottom of this post or just come and browse for some great recipes that will be linked up.  If you link up a recipe the links will be on each of the member's post ~~ so good exposure!  Come join the fun! Also if you would like to join Foodie Friend Friday, ask for an invitation, we would love to have you!  Here are links for each of our member's blog for you to jump over and check them out.  If you do, please let them know that I sent you.


Angie at A lil Country Sugar  http://alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com/  

Sarah at Everything in the Kitchen Sink  http://everythingkitchensink.blogspot.com/  

Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom  http://www.busyvegetarianmom.com
Michelle at From Calculus to Cupcakes  http://www.fromcalculustocupcakes.blogspot.com
Marlys at This and That  http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com/
Brianne at Cupcakes and Kale Chips  http://cupcakesandkalechips.com
Lois at  Walking on Sunshine http://wifeofthecolonel.blogspot.com/
Donna at Cafe Blue Ridge  http://www.CafeBlueRidge.blogspot.com
Erika at Chef Picky Kid and Me  http://chefpickykid.com
Lindsey at Family Food Finds  http://www.familyfoodfinds.com
Cindy at Cindys Recipes and Writings  http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com
Dawn at DJ's Sugar Shack  http://www.djssugarshack.com


 I also want to mention a new member of our group.  I have been following her for awhile now and she has some great recipes.............. Skye at Virtual Essence.  I am hoping that it was my influence that gave her the courage to join our group.   Here is the link to the recipe she linked with the linky party last week: pomegranate feta salad.  Please go over to her blog and check it out... It is fantastic.

picture courtesy of vitual essence

This is a wonderful group with many talented members and I have learnt many things about blogging from them.  If you a new blogger like me this group is wonderful and I am sure that if you are an older blogger there is always something to learn.  If you want to join... Check out the website for Foodie Friends Friday and check out that tab... how to be a member.

Make sure that anything you link up is:
  • Made by you
  • Not part of a sponsership/sales/giveaway
  • Linked to a specific page of your recipe, not your homepage
Other nice things you can do:
  • Show some love and link back to my blog and Foodie Friends Friday (http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com )
  • Grab our button and put it on your page and share Foodie Friends Friday!
  • Take some time and check out other submitted links and the blogs of all of our gracious hosts
***Please note that by linking up you are giving permission to use photos/links to post on Foodie Friends Friday Hosts Blogs and/or Foodie Friends Friday.  If phots are used, proper linkbacks will be posted with them.  We just want to share your amazing recipes and spread some foodie <3 !

  • Have Fun and Thank You for Visiting!!



                             Remember to link up your recipe... Link is below.
                                          til next time <3 <3 <3   Marlys






Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Children

  I have decided to do something a little different. Along with writing about my journey in cooking African foods, I thought that I would also use this blog to show parts of Africa through my eyes.  One of the things that always brings joy to my heart is little children and the African children that I saw and meet brought lots of joy to my heart.  They always seemed to be happy, smiling and playing even thought they seemed to have so little, at least in my eyes.
  As we traveled through the streets of different cities in Togo, often was heard shouts of "Yevu, yevu" and small children stopping what they were doing and pointing at me.  Yevu means white and many of them have never seen a white person or at least not very many of them.  They were as fascinated with me as I was of them, we had lots to learn from each other.  I had children wanting to touch my hair ~ I am sure they had never seen so much gray in their life, they wanted to hold my hand and I had some children scared of me, running behind there mother's skirts.  Shortly after we were married we were shopping at a market in Kpalime when this girl probably around 8 or 9 took my hand and pointed at my wedding rings, I thought at first that she was liking my rings but no she was scolding me for wearing 3 rings instead of one and telling me that I need to take two of them off :).
  On my first trip to Togo, we toured many schools.  The children were always happy to see us and were very gracious of the gifts we gave, even though I felt we gave them so little.. I had pencils, erasers and notepads to give them.  The graciously accepted which ever one that I gave them with a "Merci".  I always wonder what would happen if I went to a school here and handed out pencils, erasers or notebooks ~~ I am thinking they would be thrown back at me.  These children have so little, yet are so happy with what they have, I think a lot of us could and should take lessons from them.
   I am going to leave you with some pictures that I took at a primary school.


this was when we first got there... they had to check over the wall to see us.

these children are around 4 years old and they were singing us a song.


one of my favorite pictures.  I love the determination she is showing.


they weren't sure if they should watch their teacher or us.
    I hope you like this small glimpse into the school and you see the hardship that they have attending school. Not all children have school books, so they need to share and they also share their desk with at least one other student but there may be up to four students at one desk.
                            Til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake

     Nanaimo Bars are pure Canadian... and probably one of my favorite Canadian treats, after butter tarts that is...but Butter Tarts will have to be done for another post...
     Per wikipedia Nanaimo Bars is a Canadian origin dessert popular throughout North America.   It is a bar cookie that needs no baking and is named after a west coast city, Nanaimo, British Colombia.  The nanaimo bar is a wafer crumb layer, topped with a vanilla or custard flavoured butter icing, covered with a chocolate layer.  Now-a-days you can find many different flavors of Nanaimo Bars - mint, peanut butter and mocha being the most common... Also the flavoured butter icing filling can be coloured any colour for any occasion.
      Saying all that I decided that I wanted to make them into cheesecake.  I love cheesecake and the combination would be wonderful and also because I didn't have Bird's custard powder and had no idea where I would find it here in upper Michigan.... I did some research.  I did find a recipe for the Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake on allrecipes.com ~ (you can go here to find the original recipe), but this recipe didn't have the right base that I wanted, so I started through my recipe books and found what I wanted.... So, once again my recipe is a mismatch of multiple recipes from multiple sites.  Now, what do I use for the bird's custard powder... there wasn't alot out there for a substitute ~~ corn starch and vanilla, vanilla pudding and other places and cooks said there was no replacement.  So I decided to try vanilla pudding ~~ it was ok but not the best and I know now what will be on my Canadian shopping list - Bird's Custard Pudding... or if anyone wants to send me some... hint! hint! hint!  I did find it on Amazon but am thinking that this may be a good excuse for me to make a trip home.  So, now that you are total bored here is my recipe....
                                                 
                                                   Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake                                                                    
Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake


Ingredients:


1/2 c butter
1/4 c sugar
5 tbsp cocoa powder ( I used Fry's cocoa so it was more Canadian)
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 c graham cracker crumbs
1 c shredded coconut
1/2 c walnuts ( I didn't use this time)

4 pkg cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1/4 c custard powder ( I used vanilla pudding ~ not instant)
4 eggs

6 squares semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 c heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Melt butter in saucepan, stir in sugar and cocoa powder until smooth.  Once smooth, whisk in egg and vanilla extract.  Make sure the butter mixture isn't too hot when you put in the egg or you will get pieces of scrambled egg in you mixture.  Take off heat and add graham cracker crumbs, coconut and walnuts.  Place mixture on bottom of pan.  Put in fridge while you make the rest of the middle layer.  I used a 11 inch spring-form pan for mine. 
Beat cream cheese, sugar and custard powder until light and fluffy.  Then beat in eggs, one egg at a time.  Make sure each egg is thoroughly mixed in before adding the next.  Pour over crumb base mixture.  Bake for 40 minutes (until center is almost set).  Refrigerate until fully chilled about 3 hours ( I did mine overnight).
Place chocolate squares and heavy cream in sauce pan and mix on low heat until smooth and chocolate melted.  Pour over cheesecake layer.... Place bake in fridge until chocolate layer is set, about 20 -30 minutes.

mixing butter,sugar and cocoa
crumb layer in pan


mixing cream cheese, sugar and vanilla pudding

ready to go in the oven




out of the oven
chocolate layer on
a piece for you

        This cake turned out wonderfully and I got lots of compliments on it.  I think it would even turn out better if I would have had Bird's Custard Powder to put in it... One lady told me that this is the best thing that I have ever made..So come and get some, I will have it ready and the coffee pot is always on...

too late... I already took a bite.
                                                 til next time <3 <3 <3 Marlys

Recipe linked Foodie Friends Friday GoodRecipesOnline.comManic Monday Party, Iron chef Mom
The Mandatory Mooch
Mommy's Sweet Confessions



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