Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Homemade Christmas gifts

Tasteful 
Christmas Gifts From The Heart!



Rosemary & Garlic Infused Olive Oil 

Ingredients :

4- 5 sprigs fresh rosemary
3 - 4  cloves of Garlic
2 cups olive oil

Directions :

Wash the rosemary sprigs and dry them completely.
Pour the oil in a saucepan and heat. It should take about 2 minutes. Make sure that you do not boil it.
Now add the crushed garlic or minced garlic and let it cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat,
Switch off the heat and add rosemary to the oil.
Let it cool completely.
Use a clean dry bottle to store the oil . You can either strain the oil or leave the herbs in. It’s extremely important to discard the garlic.
You need to refrigerate this infused oil. 



Home Made Cedarwood, Rosemary & Mint Shaving Cream

Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream Homemade All Natural
Ingredients
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup #Shea butter
1 cup almond oil
30 drops
Virginian Cedarwood essential oil
15 drops rosemary essential oil
15 drops
Spearmint essential oil
2 teaspoons of baking soda


 In a double boiler, slowly melt the coconut oil and Shea butter over low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove the melted mixture from the stove and let cool for ten minutes. After the liquid has cooled a bit, mix in your almond oil and essential oils, then put it in the refrigerator to cool. This part is important-you want to make sure the mixture cools to a solid before you take it out of the fridge. Once it’s solid, take it out again (it should have the consistency of butter) and let it melt a little bit. 

Put the mixture into a stand mixer (or whip using a hand mixer), whipping until the cream is nice and fluffy. If you didn’t cool the mixture to a solid first, it won’t whip up to a fluffy consistency!
Transfer into a  jar of your choice and store in a cool, dry place. The shaving cream should have a shelf life of up to 3 months as long as water doesn’t contaminate it.

#Shea Butter is perfect for nourishing and protecting the skin.  Shea Butter is important for improving a number of skin conditions  including blemishes wrinkles, eczema, and dermatitis. It is sourced from Africa from the nuts of the Shea-Karite tree.

Lavender & Rose White Chocolate Rocky Road 
 

1-2tsp fresh lavender
400g Turkish delight
500g white chocolate
1 cup toasted pastachio kernals
1cup dried cranberries
200g white/pink marshmallows
1/2 cup freeze dried strawberries
Extra white chocolate may be required to combine ingredients
1.Melt chocolate 
2. Combine all other ingredients in a large bowl
3. Pour melted chocolate over ingredients & stir to coat all 
4. Spoon mixture into a loaf tin
5. Refigerate
6. Cut into 1-1 1/2inch slices
7. Wrap in baking paper & tie a pretty ribbon around it & you have a lovely gift

Happy Making!
Wishing everyone  a wonderful Christmas & a safe, happy & healthy 2016!


Sunday, 15 November 2015

Christmas Wreaths

I'm Going Wreaths For Christmas!



The wreath has significant meaning for the season. It's circular shape represents eternity, for it has no beginning and no end. From a christian religious perspective, it represents an unending circle of life. The evergreen, most frequently used in making wreaths, symbolizes growth and everlasting life.









 
Air Plant Wreath

Herb Wreath

 

Succulent Wreaths

I just love wreaths and love the fact that you can create something that is living and different by using succulents.



Have fun creating!


Check out S.C.R.A.P. blogspot 2012 for some wonderful recycling ideas!

Sunday, 6 September 2015


For The Love Of Italy!

Produce!

Our recent trip to Italy has been my inspiration for this post.  My Italian roots have been reinvigorated with the love of all things Italian; namely the country, culture, history, style, food and family. 


Bello Bellagio!





 
 Italian staples!



 Venice
 
 Nougat!

 Colourful Burano!




 Under The Tuscan Sun!


  Florence!

 David!

 Sicilian Cassata!

Cassata is a rich cake containing liqueur, layered with ricotta, candied fruit and chocolate; typical of Sicily.





 Snapshots  OLovely Taormina!




 


We met this cute little fellow, Gordino, enjoying his day on the beach at Letojanni. When he wasn't playing with his ball in the water he was sitting on his beach mat, entertaining the beachgoers. We saw him again the next night, strolling along The Corso at Taormina.

Mount Etna by day & by night! 
 



 Catania!


 Rome!




 Limoncello!

Limoncello  (sometimes spelled lemoncello) is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi, and islands of Procida, Ischia, and Capri. It is also produced in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Apulia, Sicily and Sardinia.



Salute!