He's 4!!

Maxi's birthday was a blast......literally hahaha! All who attended, both kiddlets & parents alike, enjoyed themselves thoroughly. We had plenty of delish food & home bakes, 2 enormous jumping castles & a bucket full of laughs. The joy I witnessed on the face of Max & his little guests at the unveiling of the 'Rocket cake', was worth all the effort & late nights. Tersh did such an amazing job of shaping & icing the cake......my bloke is such a star!!!

It has been a whirlwind last couple of days after the party, with this weekend being an extended one. We have done not much but relax and enjoy each others company, so not much in the way of yummie news I am afraid other than Maxi's delicious cake.

Here is the recipe for anyone who loves chocolate:

Pre-heat your oven to 180C or 350F

3 cups all purpose flour
4tsp baking powder
1tsp baking soda
2 cups any regular sugar
1/3-3/4 cup cocoa (depending on your preference)
1/2tsp salt

Mix all dry ingredients together in a big bowl & make a 'well' in the middle.

2 1/4 cups boiling water
(optional~ dissolve 1Tsp coffee powder into the boiling water. Coffee enhances the chocolate flavour)
3/4 cup oil or melted margarine/butter/fat replacer
1tsp vanilla

Mix all liquids together & pour into the well in the dry ingredients.
Mix well with a spoon, making sure to keep batter aerated.

Take 1 Tsp white vinegar & mix well into batter (this replaces eggs)

Pour batter into a well greased pan (+-20cm length)...bang out air bubbles.
Cook for about 20min or until firm but springy to touch.

Ice with soft butter icing while still warm.
(2Tsp butter + 2Tps cocoa powder+ 1 1/2-2 cups icing/powdered sugar).
Sprinkle with chopped walnuts & allow to cool.

Voila!!~ delicious, sticky, very chocolaty, browny type cake.

ENJOY!!

Mad house!

Here in the Watson household we are frantically preparing for Maxi's 4th birthday tomorrow. He is so excited he could pop....hence the new anthem being sung at full volume whenever any of us remembers:

"It's MY birthday!!!It's MY birthday!!!"

Last night this is what the kitchen looked like at 9.30pm.....

but by this morning I was able to shimmy Maxi off to school with Aunty Sarah, armed to the teeth with delish looking cupcakes.

Leaving me to quickly head off to buy party boxes for the kiddies grub & sparklers because what is a rocket cake without sparklers???? Yip....I have been commissioned by Max to make him a rocket cake. Each year the kiddlets get to choose a cake, which T & I make & decorate with love & complete dedication.

Faithful fans I will keep you posted!!
Have a fab! day!!!

Trifle anyone????

I don't know about you but we only ever eat trifle at Christmas time with our Christmas meal. Well yesterday we decided to do it differently.......Trifle in September. I decided to risk the state of the kitchen and let Maxi help me. {I was nervous} . I am please to say he was a STAR!!! He spooned ingredients into the bowl like he'd done it a million times before......flattened.........smoothed...........sprinkled.......& VOILA! a beautiful dessert.

I also thought we'd be cleaning up carnage for hour afterwards but not a drop was spilt......he didn't even demand to lick the spoon but opted to wait until after supper. {I was shocked but I didn't push the issue...I mean that's the rule right??? No dessert until supper is eaten??} It did, at that point cross my mind that we might be a tad strict with that rule, hence the lack of nagging. I now feeling hectically guilty offered and offered him block of dark chocolate from the sprinkles on top. I am relieved to say he didn't hesitate in taking it and before I could change my mind, it was in his beak & gone forever. If my memory serves me right, that was the first block of chocolate Max has ever eaten and swallowed...... we have been reluctant to give him chocolate but knew it couldn't be avoided forever so caved @ Easter. It turned out to be an interesting day......each chocolate egg consumed, was promptly spat out into the waiting hand of the grossed out Mama, with a loud exclaimation: "YUK!".......the things we will do for our offspring, hey?


Success!!!! and delicious too.....bad for the hips of all over 10 but life is short I say. You have to be able to eat "bad" food sometimes??? All green & crunchy, all the time, makes for very boring eating wouldn't you agree????

What you need>>>>
Stale cake
Jelly
Cold custard
Fruit...fresh or stewed
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings or dessert nuts
Cherries for the top {we had run out}


The following pic is for my parents>>>>

Guys remember that ratty Yukka plant that grew on my balcony in Sea Point...that stood forgotten in the yard....unloved, dry and sick while we renovated?????

Well look at him now>>>>>>

It is almost as high as the roof of the house and at least 3m wide....we are going to have to tame him soon otherwise we won't be able to get into our front door soon without getting impaled on one of those deadly spikes. Amazing what the right soil, sunlight and enough h20 will do for one of these baby's.

Well chaps, I am off to watch an episode or ten of Lost, on our freebie web site. For all those TV series's fan who over the years missed something unmissable, your life will be forever changed by this link : TV-link ......happy viewing XXX

Nite-nite, chat again soon.

KJ
XX