Giddy Gastronome

Gourmet pizza, emulating the Chinese dumpling!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:51:00 +0000

See the inside of this "pizza bun" here at my new home

www.giddygastronome.com

I emulated the Chinese" dumpling/bun"concept here and in return got a healthy investment of smiles and hugs!

Love,
Nazarina.

Cooking pumpkin stew & enjoying a ginger beer libation while dancing to the beat of Shakira

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:33:00 +0000

Do you want a good pumpkin stew recipe and this ginger beer/ pear concoction? then come on over to my new blog site www.giddygastronome.com

Thanks,
Nazarina.

Easy entertaining: featuring fabulous fruity drinks & a scrumptious moussaka!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:52:00 +0000

I love to play with my food and in so doing armed with a craft knife, this little guy's fate ended up in my scrumptious vegetarian moussaka!

See what happened to him here( my new domain) www.giddygastronome.com

Organic sesame cookies kissed with dark chocolate!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:17:00 +0000

Join this tea convivial, see more pictures of this post and
get recipe here at my new blog www.giddygastronome.com

Thanks,
Nazarina.

Go to Las Vegas.....when possible!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:52:00 +0000

Read more about this trip here on my new blog www giddygastronome.com

.

Nazarina.

Cooking sweet potato love and sharing my fashion for less!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:48:00 +0000

Please go to my new home for the rest of this post and more exciting pictures!!!!

Click here www.giddygastronome.com

Thanks,
Nazarina.

I am leaving, but hope you will follow!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:24:00 +0000

There comes a time when one just has to move on.......to a new home that is! I hope you will visit me occasionally at my new domain!

click on www.giddygastronome.com

Much love,
Nazarina.

A dreamy chocolate ladyfinger cake and the birth of my book!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Could this dreamy ladyfinger cake possibly dismiss
my inexcusable hiatus?
See recipe below. ( made with hazelnut TEECCINO)
Unequivocally the most delicious success!!!

Do you take this velvety chocolaty wonder,
to savor and at times, devour,
and let no man cast asunder?.........I do!
for this evocative image is indeed a welcome
appeasement to my undying, creative and hungry soul!.......Nazarina.

My absence, even though inexcusable, has however
produced an undertaking in me compiling a book of
my very own, chic sweet and savory treats. Establishing
parameters for this undertaking are by no means easy
but my goals are to reflect my attention to detail and
present you with flavorful cuisine! This book is still
in progress and will be worth the wait!

I shall continue to post recipes on this blog ( whenever
time permits me) but the best of the rest as they say,
will be saved for last and that is my book)
Recipes will somewhat be indicative of this ladyfinger
cake above and the custard cigars below. Even the savories
will not disappoint!

This vision of juicy cherries embedded in creamy custard
is just one of the recipes that will appear in my book.

I shall also share lots of tips and tricks in the book.
Here's one, how to maintain the crispiness of this baked
creamy custard and cherry cigars and you do not even
have to crack a single egg for the custard! Also pitting
cherries if you do not have a cherry pitter at hand!

This cherry soup is adorned with mascarpone and is a
perfect accompaniment to these custard and cherry cigars!

Go ahead and dunk that crispy cigar!

Thank you teeccino for sending me a wonderful
gift of different herbal coffees. It does my digestive
tract good! ( see picture of this coffee in my previous post).
I used the hazelnut flavor in the making of this ladyfinger cake.
All I can say is that the resultant gianduia aroma of this cake
drove my friends and relatives insane! Irresistible things come
in small packages!

Here now is the recipe for the ladyfinger cake. As usual, please use organic ingredients whenever possible! This is a 7 inch spring form ring, opened to its widest setting.
Do not use the bottom of this pan for this prep.

Brew a cup and half of hazelnut teeccino and add only the 1 cup to 1 cup of hazelnut cream. Use the other half in the prep below. Let cool completely and set aside.

Other ingredients:

half cup brewed hazelnut teeccino
8 fl oz organic milk
2 T cornstarch
2 packs of ladyfinger cookies ( You will not use all the ladyfingers!)
4 egg yolks
11 oz dark chocolate plus( use only 9 oz for the cake and the rest melt with some milk for the decoration on top of cake.
5 T unsalted butter( rm temp)
1 t pure vanilla ( I use the brand from Santo Domingo)

Method:
Beat the egg yolks lightly. Pour the 8 oz milk and teeccino into a pot and add the the egg yolks, vanilla and the cornstarch. Heat this mixture, stirring constantly until it bubbles. Set aside to cool slightly. Meanwhile break the 9 oz of chocolate and melt over a bain- marie ( hot water bath). Stir until smooth. Cream the softened butter and gradually add the melted chocolate. Add this to the egg yolk mixture beating constantly until thickened.
Lightly soak ladyfingers in the mixture of teeccino and hazelnut cream and cover the bottom of the spring form ring. Cover with a layer of the chocolate custard and then continue the layering until the top of the ring, making sure that the final layer of ladyfingers is arranged in a very pretty manner. Set the whole cake in refrigerator to set overnight . Tip: I removed the ring gently, ( the aluminum foil makes it easier to handle), after 4 hours and smoothed out the chocolate custard around the sides and then cooled overnight in the refrigerator.
Decorate the cake with the melted chocolate 1 hour prior to serving. Serves about 10 or 8 hungry people.

Please enjoy!
Nazarina.

Reeni, my dear, your Mom is the bomb! Thank you for the portrait of my cat!!!She is an incredible artist!!!!

Delectable hot cross buns, a fun egg project, all for Easter!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Greetings!

Turn boring hard boiled eggs into a fun project for Easter!
Engage your kids as well! I did this project in less than 20 mins.
This is a chick, a bunny and "big eyes." ( organic eggs please!)

I hope that everyone will truly enjoy a joyous Easter!

I have already started and that is because we shall be dining
out on Eater day ! I am spoiling house guests with this
delectable "Teeccino" Maya organic chocolate lattes which
I have brewed and embellished with chocolate and regular
whipping cream and my Mom's delicious recipe, Copenhagens.
They were all deliriously happy smelling this cinnamon aroma
coming from my kitchen. This currant bun is not your typical
hot cross bun recipe, but I made it into one by piping them
with powdered sugar mixed with fresh lemon juice. These
Copenhagens are not sweet at all. I only used a half cup
of organic sugar for 5 cups of organic cake flour.

I used a stencil and chocolate cocoa for the word "latte"
and the "coffee beans picture."
"TEECCINO" rocks!( non acidic coffee alternative).
It is freaking awesome and gave me my java groove
back!!! Get your buzz on!!!

petite buns in white

I also made some of the Copenhagen dough into a round
"cake." They are star studded with a boat load of
currants! I was feeling quite embarrassed at every one's
ooooh's and yummy's when I set the table for breakfast.

pretty in pink! Hot cross bun cake

I had to adorn some of the Copenhagens with blue icing
for all the "boys." A "break apart" concept that was soft
and warm and cinnamonny !

The dough is spongy and springy and the buns
have to be baked the same day! Bear in mind
all these buns are for a boat load of guests ha! ha!

These Copenhagens have a tender crumb with a glossy,
golden crust and were all so very delicious. After this
breakfast, I proposed a long hike in the mountains!

Easter also marks the beginning of spring which brings to mind spring cleaning ( maybe also cleaning up all those crappy demeanors of some) LOL! , the beautiful tulips blooming here in Colorado and also just that "get up and go feeling" providing that "go" has not upped and went ahead of you! However, here in Colorado, we might have to wait until the end of June for spring to really set in!
We have also been very busy tilling the soil in our garden in preparation for sewing all those wonderful seeds. I cannot wait for those fat juicy tomatoes!!!

Groete Suid Afrikaners!
Ek wens almal n' aangename Paasfees!
Paasvees is n' kerklike waarneming en ook n' plesierige vakansie. Die Paas naweek is die beginsel van lente, meer opgewekte gedragte en kinders oral wil op n' paaseier soektog gaan. Vir my is lente die beste seisoen want dit voorspel warme weer en n' nuwe groeikoors!

Ingredients:

Please use organic ingredients when possible

Copenhagens( currant buns)

half cup super fine sugar
1 and 3/4 packages of dried yeast( little packages)
5 c cake flour extra for dusting your hands
1 t fine cardamom
1 and 1/2 c lukewarm milk
2 Egg-lands best eggs beaten
1 stick plus 3 t unsalted European butter( soft)
pinch kosher salt
Currants and sultanas
mix some sugar with cinnamon

Cream the yeast by adding it to one teaspoon sugar, quarter cup of the lukewarm milk and stir until dissolved. Let this sit until frothy and bloomed. Sift the flour, sugar, cardamom and salt in the kitchen aid bowl. Cut up the butter into small pieces and rub into the flour mixture until the flour mixture resembles small peas. Whisk the remainder of the milk (lukewarm) and the eggs together. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add the egg mixture. Now mix in the kitchen aid or by hand.
Mix until incorporated until the dough has a sticky consistency.
Dust your hands with flour remove the dough and knead for about 2 mins, it will be very sticky, but it will come together and then let proof in an oiled bowl for approx. one and a half hours.
Pinch off little balls, flatten into circles, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and then some currants and sultanas and roll up into a tiny roulade. Roll the little roulade into a spiral, place either into a round cake tin or bake individually. Give them an egg wash, let proof again covered in the pan for about 20-40 mins until they look spongy and then bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for about 30 mins. If you see that the buns are not browning, turn up to 375 degrees until the tops of the buns are golden. Dissolve about 1 tablespoon sugar into 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Remove the copenhagens , brush with this mixture to give its glaze and return to oven for another 5-10 mins. of baking time or until golden brown like mine in picture!
Decorate by mixing powdered sugar with fresh lemon juice and a little water and pipe designs with a pastry bag, or for the buns in the last picture, just drizzle the powdered sugar and the lemon mixture over the buns when it has cooled.

For the hard boiled eggs:

I cut off the bottom part of the egg and cut that into two halves for the bunny ears and used tooth picks to secure them into the body of the bunny. I used cloves for the eyes and a piece of cauliflower for the " cottontail." I used a carrot for the "tail", " beak" and 'cocks comb" of the little chick. Just use your imagination!

Enjoy!
Nazarina A

When chicken kitcheree meets swank!..... A dish inspired by Chicken Kitchen.

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:19:00 +0000

Read it on:
Chefs.com

Here now is my version of this absolutely stupendous dish!!
This is absolutely my favorite dish!!!

Chicken kitcheree with khuri( curry yogurt sauce)

click on pic.

I was going to post this menu two weeks ago but unfortunately my sweetie dropped my camera on the slopes. This "mogul maniac" was going at a crazy speed when the ski patrol chased him halfway down the mountain and finally caught up with him and cited his a.. He did however finally buy me another camera, hence the reason for me blogging again. So all is forgiven!

Khuri (curry yogurt sauce)
Drizzle over the spring salad/ or the bundt

click on pic

Language itself cannot explain how absolutely palate pleasing this menu is!!! I find myself saying ooooh! mmmmm! wowweeee and acting completely inappropriately when I prepare these dishes. I am overcome with a paroxysm of glee and I cannot suppress it! It is that good!
This dish was inspired by "Chicken Kitchen"( restaurants in Miami). I took it a step further by encasing the chicken and rice in phyllo dough and now everybody says "Now you've gone and done it missy!"

Groete Suid Afrikaners!

Woorde alleen kan nie hierdie heerlike maal beskrywe nie. Die geur alleen sal jou voorsmaak heeltemal bedwelm! Die enigste motief agter hierdie spoggerige maal met al die ingewikkelde voorbereidings is pure plesier. Geniet asseblief!
Die uwe,
Duiselige gastronomer.

Chicken kitcheree encased in "Athens" phyllo pastry baked in a bundt pan. Adorned with toasted nigella seeds ( Kalonji) and a spring salad (lettuce, avos, cucumbers and grape tomatoes).

click on pic ( A crispiness that only "Athens" phyllo delivers!)

A little slice of Heaven! I prepare the basmati
rice with sauteed onions, roasted garlic, vegetables etc....

click on pic (This bundt slices perfectly)

This was my Mom's bundt pan which is giving
me the same amount of joy. Only she used to
make the real McCoy.
Lightly grease your pan and layer several
sheets of phyllo dough into the pan, brushing
only the 5th layer with melted butter.
Layer alternating rice and chicken layers
and then cover with several sheets of phyllo
brushing only the 5th layer. I only used about
2T butter in all.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 mins.

Ingredients:

Please use organic ingredients when possible.
4 large chicken breasts with bone and skin( The skin and the bone in keeps the breasts juicy when baked. You will however discard these after baking.
garam masala( I roast my own mixture)
pure pickle masala
fresh oregano
dry mustard powder( Coleman's )
kosher salt
lemon pepper( I make the lemon part from scratch)
1 ball of pounded garlic
olive oil
freshly squeezed lemon juice
my homemade prepared panko mix. See turkey roulade for this panko mix

Wash and dry the chicken breasts. Sprinkle with kosher salt and the spices on both sides of the chicken. Add the pounded garlic and the juice of the lemon to the olive oil and baste the chicken with this mixture. Bake for 20 mins, remove and sprinkle with the prepared panko mix and the herbs and bake for another 15-20 mins until golden. Shred the chicken into pieces and discard the skin and bones. Prepare your rice. Serve with rice on the bottom, a layer of shredded chicken, a layer of the spring salad and then drizzle with the khuri.

For the khuri:

quarter cup organic Greek yogurt
half cup Miracle whip plus 3 t
1 t turmeric
1 t Annie's organic yellow mustard
1 t dry Coleman's mustard powder
half cup freshly squeezed orange juice
half t red pepper flakes
pinch organic sugar
pinch kosher salt

Mix the turmeric and the orange juice together until incorporated. place the remainder of the ingredients in a blender and pulse. Add the turmeric and the orange juice mixture and blend until incorporated.

This is what my neck of the woods looked
like today. Blizzard conditions with zero
visibility. Last week we had springlike
weather but apparently Father winter
made a comeback!

click on pic to see accumulated snow in just a
short time

Thank you Selba for this really cute award.

Please everyone grab it and pay it forward.

This post is in memory of my Uncle Toyer. " Swank" was indeed his middle name!
"If I said to you and Mom, I want you back I would not be lying!"
"If only for a moment to abate this incessant crying!"

God knows best!!!!

Experiment globally!
Nazarina A

Drinks are on the house and definitely no designated drivers needed!!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:42:00 +0000

Greetings everyone!

Happy birthday Galiema!!!!!
Happy birthday Takoa!!!!

Sorry for my absence! I hope I can make it up with this labor of "drinkin" love.

Virgin drinks are not exactly every one's idea of a good time but mine sure spells "Let's get this party started." I mixed several organic fresh fruity flavors to keep it 'serious' and for some silliness, I added a splash of fizz from my sexy red" carbonizer."
Intoxication over at my house only means that you will be high on life. Not only will these non- intoxicated beauties entice you but my "bar aesthetics" sure will thrill you. So come on over and join in on this "wet your whistle" nostalgia, boogie until dawn and still leave in the morning with your good name in tact! LOL!

Groete Suid Afrikaners!

Alhoewel, hierdie drankies nie vir n' skemer partytjie is nie, sal dit nogtans n' indruk maak op jou gaste . Met n' bietjie karbonering en vars organiese vrugte sal jy groot sukses behaal met hierdie drank resepte. Jy hoef ook nie jouself bekommer oor gaste wat sal besope raak nie en daarom is aangewyse persone ook nie verpligtend om gaste huis toe te ry nie.
Kom ons jolyt en geniet asseblief!

"Seedless raspberry and coconut cream dream"

This is listed first because it was my ultimate favorite!
What a drink!!!! This dreamy concoction will envelop
your taste buds and melt all your inhibitions!!!

Puree 6-8oz of fresh organic raspberries and then
strain to remove the seeds. Blend with quarter cup
of pineapple juice and some ice.

For the coconut part of the drink, blend 1 cup of coconut milk,
1 teaspoon coconut extract, 1 teaspoon of banana smoothie powder,
quarter cup of organic rice milk or you can use dairy and some ice. I
added a half of a cup of premium coconut ice cream as well( optional).

Banana and dark chocolate milkshake

Blend half cup of premium chocolate ice cream with
1 cup of organic milk, some ice and for the banana part of the
shake: blend 1 banana, 2 teaspoons of banana smoothie
powder, quarter cup of coconut milk and quarter cup
of organic rice milk( you can use dairy) and some ice.
Garnish with a Flake chocolate.

Click on this pic.

Lychee and Asian pear( or Bosc pear if you so please!)
Ostentatiously Oriental! Lychees have a subtle and fragrantly
sweet taste and also contains a significant amount of vitamin C.

Freeze some lychees for the garnish ( I used the canned variety).
You can of course use the fresh ones if you are lucky enough to have
them in season. Blend 1 cup of lychees and some of the juice,
1 small Asian pear(peeled and cored), quarter cup of coconut milk,
quarter cup of pineapple juice half cup of ice and top it off with a splash
of Australian ginger beer .

Place some of the frozen lychees in the bottom of your glass and enjoy!
I drank both of these all by myself. I dipped the fortune cookies in dark
chocolate and sprinkled them with white nonpareils as a garnish!

Virgin party drinks Click on title for all these recipes!

The orange drink is my " lilikoitizer" Hellooooo Hawaii,
the two tone drink is a strawberry and mango coconut concoction
and the red drink is a Pom( pomtizer)

These are premium virgin drink mixes( blueberry, mango,
lime, pomegranate and cranberry). Add the seltzer and
you are all set! They are a little tart and fizzy!! Just freeze
some ice cubes in a mold for some added whimsy.

No drink will be complete without some kind of a nut!!!

Mix together 1 cup each chopped chili mangoes, roasted
cashews ( and freeze dried cherries and blueberries.
My idea of a trail mix!!!

Cashews roasted in a 350 degree oven for 15 mins.
or until golden, with organic agave honey, a little organic olive oil,
a splash of fresh orange juice and a sprinkle of sweet pickle masala
( just like the sweet Hungarian paprika)

My sexy" carbonizer"

Participate in Yummy food! Click on logo!

I received this award from Yasmeen.
Thank you so much! I love your blog too!

I received this sweet award from MaryBeth.
Thank you! I feel the same way about you too!

I would love to pay these two awards forward to everyone that commented and also visited my blog!

Chefs.com

click here for more virgin drinks

and here for cool garnishes for fruity virgin iced tea!

4 thumbs up for this butterscotch almond crunch thumbprint!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:33:00 +0000

The saying goes " Give only what you want to receive." Well, I have been working on this recipe to make the end result more than just "great and was inspired by my butterscotch cat here in "All my Giddy Kitties"!!! I have not made dessert since December and I figured now was as good a time as any especially when a good friend asked me to bake for the less fortunate! What I received in return were many" dirty chocolaty faces", all 40 of them and most importantly "smiles!"

This is also my entry for a garnishing event hosted by Food Fanatic also Chitra Ammas kitchen for her kitchen masterpiece event. See details below!!

I really have no rules where presentation and garnishing are concerned. I will use just about anything to complement the main dish. The edgier and the more unconventional, the better!

These are butterscotch almond crunch thumbprints with a stencil of a bear made from dark cocoa powder as a garnish. I used the tip of a skewer to "draw the strings that is tied to the balloons." These thumbprints have melted dark and butterscotch chocolate and this is my "kid" version of the presentation. The dough itself is made with very little sugar so it is not that sweet!

Please lick my tummy! I love you thissssss
much!

Visit Food Fanatic, click on her logo below for more on this beautiful event!

This is the more " grown up" presentation with the
butterscotch mousse and cream on the inside. The
taste.....naughty but oh! so nice! It is a close second
to S.. and being seduced!

This " buttery creamy mousse" reminds me of a South
African toffee ice pop I used to love!

Ryk en lekker!

Lightly brush the melted chocolate inside the cavities!
Use "Valrhona Gran Couva" for the dark chocolate. I
received a few bars from the manufacturer to try in my
desserts. Now I am hooked!!!

Praline: this is a half cup of organic sugar and three oz.
of almonds. Pour the organic sugar in a heavy bottom pan
and cook over medium heat until golden. Place
the almonds evenly on well sprayed parchment and
then pour the melted sugar evenly over the almonds.

When the Praline is cooled down, process in a food
processor to this consistency below. Or you can use a
mallet to crush the praline.

Brush the balls with beaten egg-
white and then roll into the praline.
Place these unbaked thumbprints
about two inches apart. They do spread!
Once baked and the aroma hits the "fan,"
you will have friends (..... and maybe admirers ) , ones you never
knew you had!!

These butterscotch chocolate morsels are the stars in my "Butterscotch
almond crunch thumbprints!

Food Fanatic is hosting a "garnishing and food presentation" event. Check out her site for details! Now this is an event that is just so much fun!!!Click on the logo below!

Recipe: Makes about 12 ( I bet you are going to triple this recipe!!!!!)

Please use organic ingredients when possible

3 T sugar
1 stick unsalted European Butter
pinch of kosher salt
1 egg yolk( use the egg white as indicated below) Egg-lands best please!
1 t vanilla ( I use the one from Santo Domingo)
2 oz melted butterscotch morsels( use the rest for filling cavities}
3 t instant butterscotch pudding ( kosher kind)
1 cup Mc Arthur's ( I meant to say King Arthur ha! ha! ) all purpose flour( sifted) plus 3- 4 T extra if dough is too wet.
some dark chocolate to fill cavities
whipped heavy cream

Cream the sugar and the butter and the salt until creamy in your Kitchenaid ( I make times four the amount). Add the vanilla, the yolk and incorporate and then add the melted butterscotch morsels and mix again. Sift the flour and the butterscotch pudding together and incorporate this by hand , do not overmix, and then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Make little balls and then brush with beaten egg white and roll into the praline. Make the indentations with your thumb and bake at 350 ( pre-heated) degrees for 15 mins until golden. Take the cookies out after 10 mins. of baking time and use the back of a wooden spoon to define the hole again and then place back in the oven for that last 5 mins. of baking time. Cool completely! I make mine the day before and then the next day I fill the cavities with chocolate so that cookies are completely dry on the inside.

For the mousse:
Make the rest of the butterscotch instant pudding according to package directions with very little milk and lighten this with some organic whipped cream. You can also pipe the two tone colors with the butterscotch mousse and the plain whipped cream like in my picture above.

This entry is also going to Chitra for a blog b/day masterpiece event! Visit and enter and have some fun!!! Click on her logo below!

Nazarina A

Falafel and tzatziki no longer in its comfort zone!!!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:25:00 +0000

Earmarking anything in my house will be of no avail! I would never allow for anything to just have a single purpose. I could never be that rigid, never has been and never will be. So with that said, whether it be kitchen gadgets or specific types of groceries, my mind goes into overdrive just contemplating what I'm going to manipulate next!
" There is absolutely no need for this showmanship!" I am thinking. It is only a Saturday night and my family just wants a simple dinner on the table already, but no, this need to please has become a neurosis that I have adopted from my dear Mother. Preparing something simple just "aint going to happen."
I was eyeballing the falafel mix and decided to coat the chicken kebabs with it instead of breadcrumbs and hey, maybe when I am in the mood for falafel, will I then gladly oblige but for now it has another destiny! The tzatziki, too, is also presented just a little differently.

The result...... nothing less than spectacular! The falafel chicken kebabs were juicy and that alluring spicy aroma sent everyone into a ravenous "tizzy"( Is there such a word?) . Well, they refused to wait another minute for this much prolonged supper! The couscous was so flavorful with the addition of the green chili and the orange juice and the tzatziki, a refreshing finale to a memorable meal! Silence always follows when we sit down to eat and like a rich benefactor, I always come to the rescue of my family's dinner dilemmas. In the end the wait was definitely worth it and the clean plates alone were all the "thanks" I really wanted!

Couscous prepared with oven roasted garlic, bell peppers, green chili and citrus juice. I had to be very careful unmolding this delicate design !

Chicken kebabs dusted with falafel mix and spices
and then baked

Click on the picture!

Cucumber "spaghetti" tzatziki and baked zucchini
on the side

Groceries

Without further ado, here now is the recipe:

Please use organic ingredients when possible.

Do not forget to soak the skewers for an hour in water!

3 lbs organic boneless and skinless breast pieces ( cubed)
falafel mix
tahini
roasted bell pepper seeds
garam masala mix( I make my own mix, toasting all the spices and then grinding them)
fresh lemon juice
lots of pounded oven roasted garlic ( roast with the bell pepper)
olive oil
parsley
pure pickle masala
red bell pepper( roast in the oven)
small can green chili
Orange juice
fresh lemon juice
Greek yogurt
couscous ( garlic and olive oil)
cucumber
a little miracle whip

Sprinkle the chicken kebabs with kosher salt, 2t bell pepper seeds, 2t garam masala and then squeeze with the lemon juice. Stir the pounded garlic( about 2 t) into olive oil( just a little more than quarter cup but not quite a half cup) and then pour over the chicken and let sit for an hour.
Meanwhile chop the bunch of parsley( no stems) and mix into the falafel mix and half teaspoon of pure pickle masala . Dredge the kebabs very heavily in this mix, thread onto the skewers and then bake ( convection bake ) on 375 degrees for 30 mins. Do not forget to pour all the remaining garlicky olive oil over the chicken kebabs prior to baking!

For the couscous:
Remove the skin from the red bell pepper and chop, drain the can of green chili and mix together. Prepare the couscous as per directions on the box but substitute a quarter cup of the water with the orange juice, also use a little less H20 than suggested on the box . Make sure that the liquid is a rolling boil!!!!! I used the little sachet in the box as well and when you add this add some roasted pounded garlic as well ( 1 t) . When the liquid has evaporated add the green chili and roasted pepper mixture, fluff the couscous and then close the lid and let the couscous steam.

For the zucchini;

Slice the zucchini into thin slices, sprinkle with some pure pickle masala( very little) and some bell pepper seeds, brush with olive oil and then bake for about 20 mins until crispy.

Tzatziki:

Cut the ends off the cucumber and rub these ends on the sides of the cucumber. Peel and slice into thin strands. Take some of these strands and chop into small dice and mix into half cup of yogurt , leave the rest for presentation , 2 T tahini , 1 T fresh lemon juice, 1 T orange juice, some bell pepper seeds and some kosher salt. I also added 2T of miracle whip to this mixture.

Nazarina A.

Probeer hierdie resep. Jou hele famielie sal jou liefhe en die wereld van jou dink ! Ek is verseker dat jy sal vriende he wat jy nie eens geken het nie!

Slippery when wet : zero calorie Valentine's Day gifts and more...

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:37:00 +0000

Greetings everyone! Thank you so very much for all those inspiring comments on my previous post! I am indeed touched and have that "warm" feeling inside me when I hear that you also miss me when I am gone ha! ha! I had no idea. Well the feeling is very mutual! You are my support system!

I have been busy with Valentine's Day soap baskets and also a few baby showers ( all these moms- to- be are going to have boys!!! I had to work really hard during these past two weeks so that I could go skiing on the weekends! Let me tell you, I have been making soap in my sleep! These soaps have Goats milk, olive oil, shea and cocoa butters and essential oils.

A Recollection

I still remember the day, I wanted to attempt the art of saponification( soap making). I had the audacity to think that it was not that hard to do. Boy! was I mistaken! It can in fact be very laborious and dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. I, for one, do not like to resort to an absurd hyperbole and discourage people from trying, by saying that it is so difficult, it will break your entrepreneurial spirit. All I am trying to convey here is that when you follow certain precautions, have a " mise en plus" work ethic and little bit of inspiration and patience, will your anticipated results turn out half way decent and not like crap! Hey, even if the result turns out to be a piece of crap, you will get over it and start afresh!

I would like to think that I am actually a soap diva ha! ha! especially since I spend so many hours making them. Let me tell you when I want "to turn down the volume and tune out annoyances," I turn to this satisfying hobby. It keeps me sane!

A message for my South African and Dutch friends:

Ek kan nog altyd onthou die dag toe ek wou leer hoe om seep te maak. Die vraag was hoe swaar was dit werklik? Wel, ek het my lekker misgis want verseping was nogal nie so maklik nie! Ek will ook nie oordryf en se dat dit te swaar is om te leer nie. Wees verseker my doel is nie om u te ontmoedig nie "Probeer is nogmals die beste geweer."
Voorsorg maatreels moet toegepas word en met geduld en n' bietjie inspirasie kan jy hierdie kuns vermeester en leer liefkry. Wees ook gereerd vir uitslagte wat sal misluk!
Verseping is n' stokperdjie wat ek terdee geniet en dit is ook n' wyse van inkomste vir my!

If you are looking for love, then two Cupids are
better than just one! Hope you have a swell
Valentine's day!

A Chanel#5 type of fragrance!

If Cupid can't do the job, then maybe these cupcakes will set that amorous tone!
Chocolate and mulberry fragrance ( cupcake swirl)
Click on this picture!

This "ball and claw tub" served the purpose of my
Valentine's gift baskets. A zero calorie cupcake while
soaking in the tub! What more does a girl want?
Seduction in the making!!! Work it girl! .........and boys?

Here I used a leather tool to "write" on the
soap. Click on the picture to see the words
more clearly.

One of my customers' wanted this pina colada fragrance
pineapple soap in the basket. Who am I to question?
Ask and you shall receive! I kinda dig this pina colada
fragrance!

]

"Its a boy" Yay!!!!!Soaps for the baby
showers!

Chocolate and vanilla fragrance ( cupcake swirl)

Banana and pineapple fragrance ( Finally a bug that I like!)

Platypus and duckies( baby powder fragrance)
Click on the picture !

Click here for older baby soaps

Please enjoy!
Nazarina A.

Grass-fed, organic beef cooked low and slow and fru-fru potatoes: It's what's best for dinner!!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Just like a steamy cup of Milo( malted cocoa) and that infamous ritual robe can evoke a fuzzy sense of security on a cold winter's night, so too, can a pot of beef cooked low and slow and not forgetting a crispy potato topping, capture that efficacious effect. Yes, patience is truly virtuous when adopting this mode of cooking. Intense rich gravies, juicy rumps and tender loins are but a few of the many rewards when" slaving over a hot stove." In this case your "pot runneth over" with flavor and goodness and who knows who will join you at the dinner table! I can assure you that even a raucous "obligate carnivore" ha! ha! or even a meat loving motor head for that matter will be on his/ her best behavior just to get a piece of this pie no matter how fru fru!

Here the cook will be graded if you will on this slow cooking method and the love put into the dish and not the intramuscular white fat content found in grain-fed beef which is all the rave with certain restaurateurs and others and frankly may very well be the cause of modern health concerns. For me the slogan"more fat, more flavor" which is revered by so many is far from the truth! I can assure you that you will achieve the same "ta da" with a minimal ingredient list and grass-fed organic beef because here the beef actually taste the way beef is supposed to taste!

A condensed translation for my Afrikaans and Dutch readers:

Net soos n' warme koppie Milo en n' rituaale kamerjas op n' koue wintersaand, so sal n' heerlike en stadige gekookte organiese biefstuk bredie jou troos. Hierdie stadige metode is n' beloning vir enigeiemand wat bereid is om die heeldag voor n' stoof te slaaf. Bo alle twyfel, hierdie ryk en lekker vleissous is waar jy sal gradeer word en die slagspreuk "meer vet meer geer" is nie rerig n' waarheid nie, nie vir my nie. In elk geval, vee wat gras vreet is meer gesond vir ons as vee wat graan vreet. Ten slotte, daar is talle ander bestaandele wat vir jou geer kan verseker maar vir my is liefde die vernaamste. As daar niks liefde is nie, hoef jy nie moeite maak nie.

Beef cooked low and slow in a rich gravy with crispy fru fru potatoes

The potato topping is crispy and has a hint of lemony spicy goodness.
As you bite into it, it just melts in your mouth! The beef is as tender
as can be and that rich gravy will have you singing for more!

This is also known as a "bredie" in South Africa. ( Snyboontjie bredie)

Slow cooked beef, fresh green beans and crispy star shaped potatoes over fragrant basmati rice and mustard seeds.

What are these? They are not what you think they are!

Stuffed with roasted and then pickled beets in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce

These are actually pear-shaped potatoes ( made from mashed potatoes)

Please use organic ingredients when possible

2 big onions, thinly sliced
2 lbs organic grass-fed stewing beef, cut into cubes, washed and drained in a colander
olive oil
1 whole ball garlic pounded
roasted bell pepper seeds
1-2 dried red chilies
about 5 big potatoes( I made fancy cutouts, but you can just peel and slice thick rounds)
some crack black
2 T balsamic vinegar
lemon pepper ( I make the lemon part from scratch, will show in another post)
kosher salt

Saute the onions and the garlic in 2 T olive oil until caramelized. This has to be really golden in color but not burnt. Add the beef, roasted bell pepper seeds, chilies and kosher salt and then cook until the meat is tender( about 2 hrs). Keep stirring and add water if the meat looks like it is going to burn. The meat has to reach a deep golden color. Then add the balsamic and a few turns of crack black and cook for 5 more mins more , making sure that there is enough water for the rich gravy to develop. turn off the hot plate and leave to cool. While the meat is cooking, peel the potatoes and slice into thick rounds or cut with a cookie cutter for the fancy shapes. Boil the potatoes until just tender with a little kosher salt and then drain.
Grease a casserole dish with olive oil, spoon the beef mixture into the dish and pack the potato slices on top. Brush the potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with lemon pepper and bell pepper seeds and bake in a 375 degree convection oven for a further 20 mins or until the tops of the potatoes are golden.

For the green bean version:
Follow the same procedure as for the cubed beef casserole but add the green beans to the cubed beef mixture in the pot and cook further until tender( another 20 mins). Bake the star shaped potatoes in the oven, with olive oil and the lemon pepper and bell pepper seeds until crispy 375 degrees for 25 mins and then just place on top of the meat and green bean mixture when you are ready to serve.

Pear- shaped baked potatoes:

1 lb floury potatoes
1 egg plus an egg yolk
3 oz grated Parmesan
3 T fresh chopped cilantro
some bell pepper seeds
some raw spaghetti to represent a stalk
1 cup heavy cream
3 cloves chopped garlic
1T grated Parmesan
1 extra beaten egg
some panko
some flour

Peel and cook the potatoes until tender 7 mins. Do not forget to salt the water with a little kosher salt. Drain and mash thoroughly. While the mashed potato is still hot, gingerly add the all the beaten eggs, 3oz Parmesan, bell pepper seeds and the cilantro. Divide into 12 portions on a tray and refrigerate for an hour. Flatten each portion on the palm of the hand, place one teaspoon of the beets in the center and then close this filling tightly.
Shape these portions into a pear shapes , dust with flour, dip in the beaten egg and then the panko, stick a small piece of spaghetti into the potato for the stalk and refrigerate for another 30 mins.
Drizzle with olive oil and bake in a pre-heated 375 oven until golden( about 25 mins.)

Creamy Parmesan sauce:

Cook the cream and the, 3 cloves of chopped garlic until reduced down just a little and then add the Parmesan and cook until creamy about 10 mins. Spoon over the baked pear shaped potatoes.

Pickled beets

1 jar organic small dice beets/ or you can roast 2 in the oven
chopped green chili
2 chopped shallots
1 T balsamic
3 T rice vinegar

Prepare the beets by draining all the red liquid and add to the chopped shallots and the green chili. Add the vinegars and a little kosher salt and set aside.

I never make all these dishes on one day. One dish per day!

Please enjoy!
Nazarina A.

Chicago Sun-Times

South Florida vacation

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:32:00 +0000

I trust that all my blogger friends had a joyous Holiday season and a very grand new year! I am back and ready to dazzle you( or not ha! ha!) with my culinary creations but first I share with you, my vacation in South Florida!

South Florida could very well be a playground for sun seekers, especially if one wants to escape the snow and the cold, even for just a little while. Unwinding and having fun comes to mind and is this not ultimately the premise of a vacation?

While this destination boasts the sun, surf and clubbing in South Beach ( mind you activities of which we did and enjoyed), it was actually an exhilarating helicopter ride that was the highlight of our vacation this time! At times it was pretty unnerving, flying over tall buildings because the airflow can become turbulent and cause the helicopter to "sway "from side to side. This did make me a little giddy! The view from the helicopter into the blue ocean was spectacular and I swore I saw a shark but quickly dismissed the thought for fear of trusting my vivid imagination which can be quite overactive during extreme bouts of fear coupled with pleasure.

Miami to me is the gateway to South America and most of all, Cuba. There is a jamboree of nationalities that screams warmth and good times and they have this profound naivete' ( I mean no disrespect!) that South Florida is the best place to live. I, on the other hand, love the mountains, skiing and the four seasons.

En route to the Florida Keys

Flying over West Palm Beach

Even though, I had fun with my family and friends in South Florida, I missed my home in Colorado. Some would exclaim that I am the one being delusional, preferring an icy Tundra above a tropical paradise. Why shovel and scrape snow when you could bask in the lap of the sun and the surf! I say, "home is where you hang your hat" and Colorado surely for me is where I lay my head!!!

This is the sun room in the front part of my home

Scraping the snow from our truck, comes with the territory!

You decide! Where would you rather live in Colorado or in Florida?

Nazarina A

Inedible Holiday musings.....drinks and a whole lot more!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:27:00 +0000

Please read this poignant report, concerning dogs on Jo's site!!!!!!! It is a must read!!!!!!!!!

On a much more lighter note, here's wishing everyone happy holidays !!! I hope only for peace and that all your wishes be granted! I am taking a little break from blogging, but hope to "see" you in the new year, God willing!
I lied, my only other wish is that there be more than 24 hours in a day for all my unfinished projects!!! I just cannot seem to cope this year!!! I shall however visit all of you when I am in need of beautiful cuisine and company!!!
I leave for now with a few of my inedible creations. These will however complement the dinner table and powder room!

I made so many of these this past week....enough to light up all of Denver ha! ha! People love to put these lemontini candles on their bar. They have a refreshing lemon scent.

Happy Hanukkah! (vanilla soap)

Kitchen flavors is hosting a "Food in colors"......white event where the end result has to be white. Click on the logo below for further details and join in, it is fun ! She wants a dish really but all I could come up with, were this candle, soaps and a napkin fold. Even though they are all inedible, they sure smell good!

Candy cane tini candle ( Moroccan mint) (Merry Christmas!)

Candy cane soap.( smells like spearmint )

White and dark chocolate soap.(smells like chocolate!)

My dinner jacket fold with a" shirt & tie" made from fondant. This "shirt and tie" is the only edible piece in this post but I still advise people not to eat it, it is just for the presentation.

Nazarina A

Its Yule time you'll !!!!....Coconut cream and chocolate striped cheesecake.

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:50:00 +0000

Here's wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful Eid!!!!! I thank God that I have met you all!!!!!

I also wish everyone a merry Christmas and just happy Holidays! Please guys do take care of St Nick by making him your lovely yummies! Remember he has to travel far and wide!!!!!! LOL!

This seductive cheesecake will have the "jolly fat man" fire up his sleigh and head on over to my house in a jiffy LOL! This Christmassy delight with its sassy stripes hit the jingle bell jackpot and will have anyone dance to the tune of yule time rock!

Look at the inside of this beauty!

It has a Mcvites digestive wheat cookie crust, mascarpone,
coconut cream, chocolate and very little cream cheese.

Adorned with cranberries and a sugared rosemary garland,
this yummy delight will have you ready for any Holiday
action, whatever it may be! Just brush the rosemary with
warmed agave nectar and lightly roll in organic sugar.

My home made cranberry preserves has a haunting
crimson color but these antioxidant little jewels scores big
in taste, nutritional value and presentation alongside this
luscious dessert. No nightmares here, only sweet dreams!
Pure "pucker - up" delight!

A sprinkle of orange powder!

This " orange haze" my dear friends, is one of the many
projects that I am currently busy with. I am on a mission
to develop my own organic natural food colors with their
respective flavors to match and have already developed
several other colors as well. Stay tuned to future posts,
you might just like what I have to offer!

Recipes: See also other cheesecakes

Please use organic ingredients when possible! I have developed my very own recipe because I do not like the idea of too much cream cheese. Also place a separate pan of hot water on the bottom rack just under the spring form pan, this will keep the medium somewhat humid and moist and will prevent unnecessary cracking of the cheesecake. This is another thing I try to avoid and that is baking the cheesecake in a water bath. Set your oven on 325 degrees!

Coconut cream and chocolate striped cheesecake. This is for a 10 inch spring form pan

Crust:

4 cups crushed Mcvites digestive wheat cookies ( A British product). About 1 and a half packages
1 stick unsalted European butter
1 t ground ginger
1/4 teaspoons cardamom, cinnamon
1/4 cup almonds ( Roasted)
1/4 c roasted dessicated coconut. ( coconut powder)

Process the cookies and almonds in a food processor, mix in the spices and also roasted coconut, melt the butter and incorporate into this mixture. Grease the pan, place a round piece of parchment on the bottom of the pan and then press this cookie mixture firmly over the base and up the sides to form a shell. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.

filling:

8 oz mascarpone ( Rm temp)
6oz coconut cream. ( It has to be cream and not milk!)
8 oz cream cheese (Rm temp)
4 Egglands best eggs ( Rm temp)
1T vanilla extract ( The one from Santo Domingo is really good!)
2t coconut extract
2/3 c organic superfine sugar
6 oz of melted dark Valrhona chocolate
1/4 c H2o

Beat all the cheeses and then add the sugar and beat until incorporated. Add all the extracts and beat for another minute. Add all the eggs at once and beat until incorporated. DO NOT OVER BEAT! I found out that if you over beat, you incorporate more volume into the batter, and this expands in the oven and later "deflates" and causes the cheesecake to crack really badly. Much worse can happen to the makings of a cheesecake here in Colorado (5280 ft above sea level). Ha! ha!
Divide this mixture and fold in the melted chocolate and the water into the one half. So now you have a white batter and a chocolate batter. Spoon a cup of the white mixture on the bottom of the crust and tilt the pan so that it covers the bottom. Now take a cup of the chocolate mixture and pour into one steady motion in the middle of the white mixture. This motion will spread the chocolate mixture outwards. Continue with a cup of white mixture on top and in the middle of this chocolate mixture and so forth..... and so forth until you have no more batters. At this point you will be able to see very distinct white and chocolate circles. Place in the preheated oven on a sheet pan and bake for about 45-55 mins. Also cover with aluminum for the first 30 mins. of baking time. Turn up the oven to 350 degrees for the rest of the baking time and remove aluminum foil. When done, turn off oven and leave the cake in the oven to cool with the oven door ajar. You have to refrigerate this cheesecake overnight and decorate with more melted chocolate on the top, like my picture that is of course if you love chocolate the way I do!

Cranberry preserves ( simmered in Cran raspberry Ocean Spray juice)

Boil a package of cranberries with 2T organic sugar crystals and a half of a package of "Kojel" in about 2 cups of cran raspberry Ocean Spray juice( this juice is amazingly not sweet at all like other juices), the juice of a fresh orange, teaspoon of vanilla and a stick cinnamon until a rolling boil and then simmer for another 2 mins. You do not want the cranberries to be mushy! Sprinkle with some orange powder or orange zest. I shall divulge the recipe for the natural food colors later!

Please enjoy and e-mail me if you have questions!
Nazarina.

Chefs.com

Holiday cookies: Celtic shortbread galore and a whole lot more.....!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:28:00 +0000

It feels like I have not been blogging for the longest time! Yep, the Holidays are certainly my busiest period for my crafts and culinary delights and deadlines have to be met! You guys have become my family in the blogosphere and I do miss you all so terribly when I do not communicate with you on a regular basis. May you only have joy and peace during the Holidays and may all your wishes come true! God bless!!!

Celtic Designer shortbread ( Made in a mold) I made this design with all my Irish friends in mind but it is to be enjoyed by all in kind!!!

This shortbread is a far cry from the boxed version! When you bite into my homemade version, the "crumb" simply melts on your tongue. This shortbread offers absolutely no resistance to your taste buds! A shortbread connoisseur knows just by looking at this cookie that there will be no "snap" here just a soft crunch and then ahhhh...... complete and utter meltdown! This buttery cookie is made of the most superior ingredients and they may just make you dance an Irish jig . Ha! ha!
Please see my Grandmother's recipe below! I owe Her and my Mother a great debt of gratitude for this innate culinary and crafty artistry I possess! I have an insatiable quest to adapt all my Grandmother's recipes to above 5280 ft above sea level here in Colorado!! Believe me this altitude is a force to be reckoned with and I want nothing less than that same superior quality that she demanded!

Click on pictures! Rich buttery shortbread

A little dip in chocolate heaven!

Click here for recipe "Ginger choc crust cookies with eggnog shots"
Another one of my Grandmother's favorite Holiday cookies. One has to use roasted dessicated coconut in this cookie. See the eggnog recipe below if you prefer a homemade one.

Click here for recipe " Aero peppermint cookie"
This was my favorite chocolate bar when I was growing up in South Africa. Now I have made it into a cookie! This cookie has matcha powder in it and exudes an air of Christmas spirit because of the peppermint extract.

Holiday cookies 2007! Last year I taught a bunch of little children to make cookies for their trees. Their parents approached me again this year, but I said that I was busy! Oh come on!, I am really snowed under!!!

"Gingerbros"( This is what my nephew calls it and may I add that this gingerbread is not hard like some gingerbread tend to get if they should sit for a day!! It has a light crisp and a delightful chew! I shall have to post this recipe another time or e-mail me if you guys are really interested in this gingerbread). I use golden syrup in this cookie, a British product!

Edible shortbread cookie ornaments ( stained glass and royal icing)

Holiday cookies of 2006! ( My first attempt at the edible Christmas ornaments ha! ha!

Recipes

Celtic shortbread plain:

Organic ingredients an absolute must!

4 oz European butter ( rm. temp). During the winter months in Denver, the butter is still cold and a little hard even though it was left out of the refrigerator for 3 hours)
1T rice flour
1\3 c powdered sugar
1 c McArthurs unbleached all purpose flour, minus 2 tablespoons
1 T organic corn starch

Please double the amounts! Place all the dry ingredients in a bowl ( do not sift) and then rub the butter into this flour mixture until it resembles little pebbles. Press the dough together firmly and then knead into a smooth shiny ball. If you do not have molds, then just press into round cake pans( 7 inch well greased), prick with a fork all over and bake in a 325 degree oven for about 45- to 55 mins until golden. Cut into wedges if using a round cake pan or you could use an 11 inch x 7 inch rectangular pan and cut into squares. The idea for this shortbread is to have thick bar- like shapes!

Ginger and cardamom shortbread

1 stick European butter( rm. temp)
1/4 c brown sugar
2t ground ginger
1/4 t cardamom
1 c all purpose McArthur's flour minus 2 T
1 T rice flour
1 T cornstarch

Mix the butter until creamy. Add the brown sugar, ginger and cardamom and mix well until smooth and creamy . Add the unsifted flours and incorporate and then knead into a smooth ball. Follow the same baking instructions as for the Celtic shortbread !

Chocolate shortbread

4 oz European butter
1/2 c powdered sugar
1 t good vanilla extract
1 c flour minus 2T
1 T rice flour
1 T cornstarch
11/2 T Dutch cocoa powder.

Follow the same instructions as above.

Homemade virgin eggnog ( I do temper the eggs!) Then again if I do not want to make it from scratch, I rely on the Borden for the canned or just a good organic refrigerated brand. I must confess that the freshly made version does have that extra creamy taste!

3 Egglands best eggs
1 T organic turbinado sugar
3 and a half cups organic milk
some nutmeg
1 c organic softly whipped heavy cream
11/2 c melted New york vanilla ice cream
some imitation rum extract( I do not use liquor)
1 T of deep vanilla( the one from Santo Domingo rocks!!!)

Separate the eggs and place only the yolks in a bain marie( water bath) and whisk with the sugar until frothy about 15 mins over medium heat. Save the whites for another time and another use. Take off the heat and let cool and then add the milk, flavorings and spice and whisk vigorously. When this mixture is really cool to the touch, transfer to a pretty punch bowl and then whisk in the melted ice cream. Gingerly whisk in half of the cream and last but not least "float" cannelles of the remainder of the whipping cream on top!

This eggnog will knock your socks off! It is a good thing Christmas only comes once a year!

An award ( Click on the "Superior scribbler award") , it should transport you to its birthplace for all the rules of this prestigious award!!!

This outstanding "Superior Scribbler Award" was given to me by REENI. ( Queen of American comfort cuisine) Thank you so much! I do scribble and doodle all the time but this is exactly where great creativity is born LOL! So, off it goes to:

http://kitchenflavours.blogspot.com/
http://literallyinthemoment.blogspot.com/
http://yasmeen-healthnut.blogspot.com/
http://inmymind-ncfoodie.blogspot.com/
http://chitra-ammas-kitchen.blogspot.com/

Please enjoy!
Nazarina A

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! ..... Panna cotta

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:06:00 +0000

I have taken my panna cotta out of "blahs ville" and gave it a face lift. One, mind you, even Joan Rivers would approve of!!!! This ethereal dessert was waiting for us after a fun day snowmobiling in the mountains! I made it Friday during the day, giving it a full day for setting up in the refrigerator. I don't know what it is but we love eating cold treats after skiing or snowmobiling.

White chocolate coconut Christmas panna cotta with a raspberry and cranberry gelee in a snowflake form! What a mouthful!!! LOL! Lindt white coconut chocolate

See recipe below!

Or in a snowman on skates form! Make a raspberry coolie and pour over the panna cotta.

Last Saturday, I took a much needed break away from my work and went snowmobiling. It was the first day after a couple of unseasonably warm days with some real snow, not much though, just enough for snowmobiling but definitely not skiing! The time for skiing is yet to come! Later during the day, the sun came out and I just had to take off my hat, gloves and coat! Welcome to the Rockies folks!!! This trail is about 3 hrs drive away and is very close to Aspen.

Recipe for the white coconut chocolate Christmas panna cotta. Vegans you can just substitute the heavy cream for coconut milk.

Please use organic ingredients when possible.

For the raspberry and cranberry topping:

Sprinkle 1 t kosher gelatin or agar agar over 2 T water and let stand for about a minute to soften. In a pot over medium heat, warm 11/4 c raspberry and cranberry juice, add the kosher gelatin and cook and stir until dissolved for about 1 minute. Pour this juice mixture into lightly greased molds or ( about 6 small custard cups. Let cool and then refrigerate until set. Grease the molds with grapeseed oil.

For the panna cotta:

1 c coconut cream
1/2 c coconut milk
1/2 c organic heavy cream
2 T organic powdered sugar
2 T hazelnut syrup ( Torani brand)
1 t coconut extract
4 squares Lindt white coconut chocolate

On my soapbox!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:59:00 +0000

The chocolate part of the cupcake smells like chocolate and the cherry and the "frosting " have a raspberry aroma.

Watch out! do not let anyone take a bite out of you when using these whimsical soaps.

I love the aroma of cranberry, so I put it in these cute snowmen. At Christmas, many of my clients decorate their bathrooms with these miniature soap trees and just allow their guests to help themselves to these soaps and scrubbies. When I first suggested this idea, they loved it and so did the guests. Soaps also make great stocking stuffers

I have a couple of clients who always complain about stress and sore necks, so I started making these 3D " ENERGY" bars with eucalyptus . I love this bar because somehow or other the aroma of eucalyptus makes everything better. I love the song "amber is the color of my energy" This bar has that two toned effect going from yellow to amber!

It is strange how a simple bar of soap can give me such joy! I was extremely sad these past two weeks about my cat and just threw myself wholeheartedly into this art of saponification ( art of soap making). I am still sad but I am coping much better now. Thank you to all those who uttered those kind words!( You know who you are)!
Also, ever since I started showcasing and talking more in depth about my soaps, people have emailed me and actually ordering them from me. Thank you! I make them with great pride and the greatest ingredients and I know you will love them too!
Ingredients are: Goats milk, olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, essential oils, fragrance etc...
Enjoy the pictures! Email me if you guys have questions Nazarina@karston.com
Nazarina A.

All you can eat salad in my bar !

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:00:00 +0000

A pineapple, banana, roasted bell pepper salad with a 3 citrus dressing

Do not forget the attention to detail! Ha! ha!

Or an Asian pear, kiwi, radish salad with a "Mrs Balls bladjang" dressing.
( I folded the napkin to resemble a fortune cookie)

Or a carrot salad and juice with my hand carved carrot and bell pepper palm tree!
Beta carotene taken to the extreme! This carrot juice has a fizzy element of surprise. I make this salad all the time!!!

Click here for ingredients

Or a cucumber, guacamole and tomato salad with sambal oelek (intermittent pangs of spicy pleasure !)

After all that chocolate on Halloween I felt the need to make a colorful salad everyday these past few days. Armed with such healthy and beautiful presentations of fruits and vegetables, one can almost skip the main course which is normally meat and potatoes or a seafood dish! In fact here in "my salad bar" these salads will be the entrees and all you are going to eat ! All the meat and seafood dishes will have to take a back seat!

Pineapple and banana salad : (Please use organic when possible)

Scoop out the flesh of pineapple with a melon baller
2 green onions chopped
Roast a red bell and green bell pepper, remove the skin and chop
2 bananas diced , squeeze fresh orange over this to inhibit oxidation
1 apple peeled and diced and again coat with some orange juice
Half of a small red onion chopped.
1 T chopped cilantro
1 T brown organic sugar crystals
1 orange juiced, 2T lime juice and 1T lemon juice
1 small jalapeno ( seeds removed and minced/ or add the seeds if you like the heat)

Place all the chopped ingredients into a bowl and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Mix the citrus juices and pour over the fruits and veggies. Present inside the hollowed out pineapple.

Asian pear salad:

I used 2 Asian pears, 4 kiwis, some radishes and a spring lettuce mix.

I used cookie cutters to cut out Asian pear hearts and just used my garnishing skills to make little radish flowers. "Mrs Balls bladjang" is a South African apricot chutney available at World market. Use the salad dressing packages and make according to instructions. I use brown rice vinegar and olive oil and just mix in some of the apricot chutney. This dressing is killer!

Cucumber and guacamole salad:

2 avocados diced
half of a small onion finely minced
jalapeno chopped
half of 1 t pounded garlic
1 t roasted garlic and bell pepper seeds
kosher salt to taste
some lime juice (fresh)

Mix all the above ingredients for the guacamole. Do not mash the avos!! Cut cucumbers and arrange on the plate. Place a small pastry ring in the middle of the cucumbers and spread the guacamole on the bottom of the ring and then the chopped tomatoes making sure to season with kosher salt. Remove the ring carefully and you will have a perfect presentation. Dot the cucumbers with sambal oelek.

Mansi over at the Fun & Food cafe is hosting a vegetarian Thanksgiving. Click on her logo below and experience this holiday carnival that would open up a whole new world of culinary delights!

Enjoy!
Nazarina.

Fall soaps that smell like pumpkin pie

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:42:00 +0000

Pumpkin soaps that smell like pumpkin pie

I make these little pumpkin soaps for a client. She has four bathrooms and has them decorated with apothecary jars filled with these little conversation pieces during Thanksgiving ! She reckons that if the kitchen has a pumpkin pie aroma, then why not the bathrooms as well! I bought the " pumpkin pie" fragrance from an on-line soap company in Seattle. These soaps are packed with olive oil, goats milk, shea and cocoa butters and weigh 3oz each.

Enjoy!
nazarina@karston.com

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers who celebrate Diwali, to have a joyous one!!!

Nazarina A

Happy halloween! eat, drink and be scary!.....and another award!

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:22:00 +0000

An edible dark chocolate ( yes the martini glass is all chocolate!) with chocolate mascarpone mousse.

Neither shaken, nor stirred but definitely whipped!

http://www.onestopcandle.com/blog/mousse-filled-edible-martini-glass/

Peanut butter boy is sending out a call for all your favorite peanut butter creations and is also trying to create awareness for the millions of people that starve daily!!! This is serious, so please click on the peanut butter jar and visit his site. You have until Nov. 30th to send in your recipes!

Chocolate peanut butter caramel wafer cookies and my crafty fondant pumpkins.
( See recipe below)

Decadent frozen malted hot chocolate in a real glass ha! ha! ( Like Serendipity's)
Serendipity was the highlight of my New york travels!

3D martini mold

http://www.onestopcandle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=OSC/PROD/CMAO128AB

Here's wishing all you witches, warlocks, gargoyles, ghouls etc... a frightfully good Halloween!

I am invited to a Halloween party and was asked to make chocolate desserts. This was my very first chocolate 3D martini glass and boy! did I struggle! Chocolate is nothing like soap at all! I am such a wizard with my soap creations! Chocolate is way more unstable( temperamental) and it also has to be tempered. The cup ( hollow) part of the glass kept on breaking as I unmolded it. I can mold little chocolate objects with ease like in my " Livin la vita coca post"
Well, as you can see I finally got it right hooray! I hate giving up on anything, so I tried and tried again. Now I have to make about 19 more for the party!

Chocolate mascarpone mousse

Dark chocolate
Organic heavy whipping cream
mascarpone

Melt about 6oz chocolate and let cool. Whip up about 1 cup cold cream and 1/2 c mascarpone for about a minute, add the slightly cooled melted chocolate and whip further until the mousse holds its integrity.

Frozen malted hot chocolate

Chocolate ice cream
Organic whipping cream
Milo
Malted milk powder
chocolate shavings
ice cubes
Organic milk

Heat 2 cups milk on low until lukewarm, whisk in 4t milo and 2t malted milk powder, then take off heat and allow to cool . Pour about 1/2 c cream into blender and the milo mixture and blend. While the motor is running add ice cubes one at a time( about 2 cups), until mixture is slightly thickened. Pour into glasses with a scoop of chocolate ice cream, a little whipped cream, shavings and melted chocolate as garnish.

Chocolate peanut butter caramel wafer cookies

24 ice cream wafers ( I either use the ones imported from Denmark called " Loacker"( available at Cost Plus world market or sometimes my family sends me ones from South Africa.
6 oz dark chocolate
1/2 c condensed milk
1 oz organic unsalted butter
1T Lyle's golden syrup ( British product)
3t smooth peanut butter

Cover an 11in x 7in sheet pan with aluminum. Cover the pan with the wafer cookies until it completely covers the pan, cutting the wafers so that it is a perfect fit, then remove the wafers and set aside.Melt the chocolate and 1/2 oz of the butter in a bain marie( water bath) and then cover the base of the cookie sheet with half of the melted chocolate and arrange half of the wafers over this and refrigerate. Add the golden syrup, remainder of the butter and the condensed milk to a saucepan and stir continuously over low heat until mixture begins to bubble, continue stirring 3 more minutes, then add the peanut butter. Spread the caramel over the wafers, arrange the remainder of the wafers over this and last but not least spread with remaining melted chocolate. Refrigerate for 30 mins and cut into desired shapes. These cookies are a cross between Reeses and a kit kat but not that sweet!

All I can say is that I truly enjoyed these dark chocolate goodies. They were not overly sweet because I did after all use the dark chocolate! I know my friends at the party will all be lured to my rich dark desserts and if not I shall cast a spell on them !

Do you think that I am a true chocoholic????

Well Reeni seem to think so because she passed this award on to me! Many thanks Reeni!!!

I am paying it forward to:

http://kitchenflavours.blogspot.com/
http://couturecarrie.blogspot.com/
http://sakura-lovebaking.blogspot.com/
http://yasmeen-healthnut.blogspot.com/
http://literallyinthemoment.blogspot.com/
http://girljapan.wordpress.com/
http://vanillakitchen.blogspot.com/
http://agreatpleasure.blogspot.com/
http://hotgarlic.blogspot.com/
http://helene-lacuisine.blogspot.com/
http://foodhuntersguide.blogspot.com/
http://snookydoodlecakes.blogspot.com/
http://novice-baker.blogspot.com/
http://anjumsrasoi.blogspot.com/
http://everydaycookin.blogspot.com/
http://createeathappy.blogspot.com/
http://www.saltnturmeric.com/
http://www.angelasfoodlove.com/
http://www.becomingwhole.typepad.com/
http://inmymind-ncfoodie.blogspot.com/

If I forgot anyone, please just come and claim it, with love from me!!!

Nazarina A

A crooked house in Sopot, Poland. (Vacation spot by the Baltic sea, Poland is where my Sweetie's from)
Can you imagine having a Halloween party in this place?!!!

Power of pink, Awards and on my soap box......

nazarina@karston.com (Nazarina A) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:27:00 +0000

Jen of Beantown Baker is hosting The Power of Pink challenge! Please visit her site to join in and help spread awareness for the battle against breast cancer! Also read her amazing story about her Mom!

Both Yasmeen and Lubna have interesting posts about this debilitating disease so please drop by their sites as well.

I was busy almost all of this week making the pink ribbon soaps for a silent auction, to help raise funds for a breast cancer awareness event. I had to make 35 soap gift baskets and I am pleased that each and every basket went for quite a large sum of money!!! Thanks to all those gracious people who bid high for such an honorable cause !

Rose fragrance

These were some of the other soaps included in the basket. These have a very deep vanilla fragrance.

These are most probably one of the most time consuming soaps to make and thanks to the pure lemon oil, I tend to "trick" people! A lot!

Pure orange oil soaps. The orange groves does not even come close! Just kidding!

Finally, my own homemade mango butter face and body cream. As you can see from the list of some of the raw ingredients below ( shea, cocoa, mango butters, almond oil etc....) , it is all natural and so gentle. It contains no alcohol that so often dries out sensitive skin ! Each and every ingredient plays an important role in keeping the skin healthy!

Last but definitely not least Lubna of Yummy Food has bestowed this beautiful award upon me. Thank you Lubna for this cute butterfly award, it is very much appreciated! The rules are that I extend this award to ten other folks, so I shall comply. I also would like to take this opportunity to let everyone know that I truly extend this award to everyone out there because the fact of the matter is, we all work hard to make our blogs look "cool!" So you are more than welcome to claim it with love from me!

And this award goes to:

Reeni, Girl Japan, Arfi, Anjum, Prudy, Hopie, Meeso, Maimoona, Ochikeron,

Mamafami, Sweetbites, Nemo at daily dabble, Icook4fun, Kevin, Couture Carrie

Sweetipie

Please visit these folks, you are in for some good food, fun and not forgetting couture ha! ha!

Nazarina A.