A friend sent me this document full of biscuit recipes, right click here to download it.

I strongly suggest that all women read and then print and paste this on a fridge or bedroom cupboard door. Believe me it will enhance your relationship with your boyfriend/ partner/ husband and will definitely save a lot of heartache later..

1. Never ever complain that you are not receiving any attention. Accept it

2. From 7 Sep to 20 October 2007, you should read the sports section of the newspaper so that you are aware of what is going on regarding the World Cup, and that way you will be able to join in the conversations. If you fail to do this, then you will be looked at in a bad way, or you will be totally ignored. However, no matter how informed you are about the game, players, rules etc etc ., never ever pass any comment to your boyfriend, partner, husband, ESPECIALLY in front of guests or his friends… You will always be wrong… Its better to keep your mouth shut and let everyone believe you know nothing rather than opening it and proving them right.

3. During the World Cup, the television is mine, the VCR and DVD are all mine, at all times, without any exceptions. If you even take a glimpse of the remote control, you will lose it (your eye).

4. During the games I will be blind, deaf and mute, unless I or my buddies require a refill of drink or something to eat. You are out of your mind if you expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the telephone, or pick up the baby that just fell from the second floor....it just won't happen OK.

5. It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV between 12pm and 3pm, unless they replay a good game that I missed during the day.

6. Please, please, please!! If you see me upset because one of my teams is losing, DO NOT say 'get over it, it's only a game', or 'don't worry, they'll win next time'. If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never ever know more about rugby than me and your so called 'words of encouragement' will only lead to a break up or divorce.

7. You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the half time score is pleasing me. In addition, please note I am saying 'one' game, hence do not use the World Cup as a nice cheesy excuse to 'spend time together'.

8. The replays of the tries are very important. I don't care if I have seen them or I haven't seen them, I want to see them again. Many times, and record them.

9. Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any other child related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance because:

a) I will not go,
b) I will not go, and
c) I will not go.

10. You are more than welcome to invite some of your friends to come over. However, you will all be restricted to either the kitchen, or other rooms where there is no TV or where movement and noise will distract me from the game. It might even be beneficial to organize an “ironing” party with your friends where you all can iron the family clothes and whatever else you iron, together. That way none of you will miss out on any gossip, be gainfully employed in your normal household duties and at the same time be ready to carry out your expected hostess duties of ensuring there are always, snacks, drinks and ice available for me and or my buddies. You always brad about being able to multi skill so here is the chance to prove it.

11. But, if a friend of mine invites us to his house to watch a game, we will go OK. Even if it’s a Sunday night to watch any re-play.

12. The daily World Cup highlights show on TV every night is just as important as the games themselves. Do not even think about saying 'but you have already seen this...why don't you change the channel to something we can all watch??', the reply will be: 'Refer to Rule #2 of this list'.

13. Please save your expressions such as 'Thank goodness the World Cup is only every 4 years'. I am immune to these words, because after this comes the re-runs of the Rugby World Cup, etc etc. Should you continue to do this, it could have detrimental consequences for our relationship.

14 During halftime you will be expected to offer me or my buddies another drink, empty any full ashtray and top up the snack bowls. At the same time you are also expected to quickly clean the floor of any spilt, crisps and other snacks and things that might have unfortunately fallen of the plate. Should a man sized effigy of the referee be located in the room it is also advisable to clean it as well as the surrounding walls of any mess that might have been thrown in its general direction. This is referred to as anger management and at times plays a significant role in our mental and emotional state of mind during the game. Do not leave the mess till after the game. We do not want my buddies or other guests to think we are common. Besides it means you will have double the amount to clean at the end on the game.

15Do not, repeat, do not ever, walk or crawl in front of the TV during the game, any replay and or pre match or post match commentary even if it is to refill glasses, snack bowls, ice buckets etc. Walk around. Even if it means entering the room from another direction.

16.If you or any of your female friends wish to celebrate a fantastic try, first half or win by dancing naked / flash in front of the TV, please, please refrain from doing do until the end of the game, once all the other “match formalities” are over. It upsets our focus and mental conditioning for the game. This activity not be attempted “to raise the spirits” should our team loose or if participants are not suitably attired (men simply hate fluffy / furry bits as it’s most distracting). Should you for whatever reason decide not to part take in this activity, you might want to encourage some of your younger friends to do so as long as the above criteria is met.

17. You shall not develop a migraine, headache, or tiredness before, or after the game or before going to bed especially after our team was earned a hard won victory, or we have been invited to watch a game /replay elsewhere else. Migraines, headaches and tiredness don’t just start immediately. When you feel the symptoms take 2 Disprins or similar tablets. They work very effectively and fast these days

18. You are also welcome to invite the partners of your friends . However should they " like rugby less than you, then they are not a real men and shall be bound by these rules as well. In addition, should any such partners be of the same gender they will not be welcome as they will definitely cause a mental, emotional distraction from the game which will inevitably lead to a physical confrontation either before during and even after the game and World Cup. the duration of the World Cup.

Thank you for your understanding & cooperation.

Love you..

Men of the world

This is going to be another regular feature......

I was running on the beach yesterday when I saw a man with a body type I'm sure you're familiar with. From behind, his weight appeared normal. His legs and arms were thin, and he hardly even had "love handles." But as I ran past, I saw that his belly stuck way out. It looked as if he had swallowed a beach ball.

My intention here is not to make fun of him, but to illustrate a serious health risk. Numerous studies show that the more your belly sticks out, the greater your risk of developing heart disease. In fact, how much fat you have in your abdomen is more important than how fat you are overall.

Researchers at Kaiser Permanente of Northern California measured the abdominal diameter (the distance from the back to the upper abdomen, midway between the top of the pelvis and the bottom of the ribs) of101,765 men and women. They then followed the subjects for about 12 years.

Results of the study indicated that the men with the largest abdominal diameters were 42 percent more likely to develop heart disease as compared to those with the smallest. The increased risk for women with the largest diameters was 44 percent. The researchers noted an increase in risk even when these subjects were of normal weight.

The message is this: If you tend to carry excessive weight in your belly, you should be aware that this indicates an increased risk of heart disease. That means you should be extra careful to avoid sweets and high-glycemic carbohydrates. Consume plenty of omega-3 fatty acids (in naturally raised meats, fish, and fish oil) while staying away from foods that are high in omega-6 fatty acids (fried foods, vegetable oils). And engage in high-intensity exercise at least several times per week.

From: Bewell

The UK Lottery never pays less than £3 million every Wednesday and Saturday (± R43 million) with frequent rollovers. Click here to play! This past weekend one lucky winner walked away with just under 5 million pounds, thats about R75,000,000. Now that's a whole lot of zero's. You can't win it if you aren't in it!

My Recipe CD has now been updated and now includes 50 Recipe eBooks as well as 8 Bonus eBooks (4 eBooks on making, marketing and selling crafts for profit) Click here to take a look and also download your free Low Fat recipe eBook (that works out to about R2 per recipe book! sheessshhh!)

Hello Peter,
Just to let you know that I received my recipe CD today in the mail and I'm over the moon about it.
I'm going to spread the word to others to order copies too. It's most certainly worth every cent..........
Thanks again,
LC

Glenacres Superspar sends out a really nice newsletter full of super recipes. To subscribe, click here and send the blank email. 

MEALIE PAP DISH

500g mealie meal
salt
1 tin condensed milk
1 pkt. bacon bits
1 tin sweetcorn
2 onions
2 tomatoes
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 dessertspoons oil

1. Cook mealie meal according to your taste, but not too stiff
2. Add condensed milk and sweetcorn and mix well, then allow to stand for a while
3. To make the sauce, brown the onions, garlic, tomatoes and bacon in oil until golden brown
4. In a serving dish layer the mealie meal then the sauce making the last layer sauce
5. Allow to cool slightly and serve with a braai, if desired the dish can be sprinkled with grated cheese

Go take a look at my Wacky Sarmies page, there are some great sarmie ideas!

Pat Goltz, Arizona, USA
We have a kind of sarmie here that is distinctly Mexican. Take a corn tortilla (flat bread), fry it in oil and mold it to make a u-shape. Fill with beef or chicken mixed with salsa (cayenne pepper and other interesting spices in a sauce). Add any or all of the following: onions, tomatoes, lettuce, avocado, cheddar cheese, sour cream. Delicious! It's called a taco.

Source: Sunday Times

1951: Winston Churchill is re elected British PM, Herman Charles Bosman dies, Kiki Haakonson of Sweden is crowned the first Miss World, Drum magazine is founded, the first commercial computer is unveiled in the US.the first Dusi river canoe marathon is held. 

This dates from the late 1800's

Smoked sausages
Take 12 lb. pork, Season with pepper and salt and a little spice. Mix well before mincing. Fill the skins, which must be rather large. Lay the sausages in pickle for 12 hours, then dry and hang in a chimney where only wood is burnt.

Nature is wonderful. I envy the jobs of the game rangers and their wealth of bush knowledge. I have often wondered where one can read up on all the interesting facts. I would like to make this a regular feature of this newsletter, if you are able to contribute or would like to comment on the contribution below, please email me.

For the next few issues I will be featuring the Small Five starting with the Elephant shrew, next was the Leopard tortoise and this time its the Ant Lion

Have you ever heard of a "doodlebug"? Well, you're looking at one right up above! It is actually an insect called an antlion. The antlion gets its name because it is a voracious predator of ants and other insects. Actually, it's only the antlion larvae that is a predator. They capture ants and other crawling insects which accidentally fall into their circular pits. These pits are usually 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter and about the same depth. The antlion larva, or doodlebug, waits at the bottom for an ant or other insect to slip on the loose sand and fall in. As soon as they do, the antlion has its next meal. In the process of making their pits, antlion larvae create spiral-shaped trails in the sand. These trails are why they get the nickname "doodlebug", because it looks like someone has been doodling in the sand! The pits are usually found in dry places like under shelter of farm buildings. Some species hide under bits of debris or wood and attack passing insects.

From: Ivyhall

Do you have family and friends all over the world? Does it cost you a fortune to buy and mail gifts to all of them? Why not buy one Recipe eBook and email it to everyone! Just think about the savings on postage! For my selection of eBooks (and CD's) just click here.
 

Afrikaans Newsletter

Subscribe to my Afrikaans newsletter . Visit my Afrikaans website
 

Potjiekos recipe

Another new feature, from now on I will feature a potjie recipe with each newsletter. For those of you who are not familiar with a potjie (cast iron three legged pot) you may use a dutch oven.

Dambie ( the Tswana name for "dumplings")
If you can make dumplings with stew, why not with potjiekos?
Sample this true African cuisine.

To cover a saucy meat stew or potjiekos:
2 cups bread flour
1 tsp instant dry yeast
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water

Sift the dry ingredients together into a deep bowl. Add the egg and lukewarm water and mix well for about 5 minutes, till it forms a very soft , sticky dough, rather approaching a thick batter. Alternatively you can whip it up using a food processor.
Let dough rise for 2 hours covered. Scoop the frothy, soft dough onto the stew and quickly stroke it to spread evenly on top.
Shut the lid and do not lift till ready, about 30 minutes, or else it may implode into a chewy mess. Then insert a skewer into the dumpling, if it comes out clean it is cooked.
Enjoy!

A man walked into a very high-tech bar. As he sat down on a stool he noticed that the bartender was a robot. The robot clicked to attention And asked, "Sir, what will you have?"

The man thought a moment then replied? "A martini please."

The robot clicked a couple of times and mixed the best martini the man had ever had.

The robot then asked, "Sir, what is your IQ?" The man answered "Oh, About 164."

The robot then proceeded to discuss the 'theory of relativity', inter-stellar space travel, the latest medical breakthroughs, etc...

The man was most impressed. He left the bar but thought he would try a different tact. He returned and took a seat. Again the robot clicked and asked what he would have? "A martini please."

Again it was superb. The robot again asked "What is your IQ sir?"

This time the man answered, "Oh about 100". So the robot started discussing NASCAR racing, the latest basketball scores, and what to expect the Dodgers to do this week end.

The guy had to try it one more time. So he left, returned and took a stool.... Again a martini, and the question, "What is your IQ?" This time the man drawled out " Uh..... bout 50".

The robot clicked then leaned close and very slowly asked,

"A-r-e y-o-u a- W A L L A B Y s-u-p-p-o-r-t-e-r-?????"

DILL
The word 'dill' comes from the ancient Norse word dylla which means 'to soothe' and bunches of dill were hung over the door to protect the home and ward off evil spirits.
A soothing syrup was made from dill by the monks during the Middle Ages to ease colic, indigestion, coughs and colds, flu, headaches, spasms and as a diuretic. Modern day research proves all these properties, and dill remains a popular crop throughout the world.
Dill is better as a cool weather plant, needing frequent watering, so it is best to sow as a winter annual.
Leaves and flowers can be picked at any time. Leave seed heads to ripen on the plant, then tie a brown paper packet over them to catch the seeds.
Plant alongside lettuce, cabbage, mealies, cucumbers and tomatoes. Don't plant near fennel, as they cross-fertilize and don't let it flower near carrots as it reduces their yield.

MEDICINAL USES
Chewing dill seeds sweetens the breath, and the seeds were once chewed during long boring sermons in church to allay hunger pangs, ease digestion and to keep alert.
Dill tea is excellent for tension, upset digestion, hiccups, whooping cough, flu, colds and insomnia.
Dill tea will also increase milk production in nursing mothers.
It is a natural antispasmodic, a mild diuretic and will soothe menstrual pains, ease bloating and flatulence.
To make the tea, use ¼ cup of fresh leaves, pour over this 1 cup of boiling water, stand for 5 minutes, strain and sip slowly.

CULINARY USES
The faint aniseed-like flavour of dill, combines well with other flavours and a scattering of dill seed over cheese, egg and fish dishes seems to impart freshness to the dish.
Add chopped leaves at the last minute or sprinkle over fish, chicken, mutton, pasta, stir-fry and vegetable dishes just as you serve it.
Chopped flowers are delicious in stir-fries.
Flowers and seeds can be added to bread dough and in biscuit dough. It can also be sprinkled onto desserts and salads, and added to soups, casseroles and stews.
Dill is also added to cucumber pickles.
In Middle Eastern cuisine, dill water and dill liqueur is served at the end of a heavy meal to aid digestion.

The FunkyMunky Herb eBook is now available. 48 popular herbs, descriptions and uses with photos. Immediately available, will be emailed to you. Only R50 , send me an email for payment details.
I'm very impressed with what I've read so far. What I really like is that your book is a combination of medicinal and culinary advice, unlike many other herb books I've read.
And the format is great - thanks very much. I have an ambitious project to make a herb garden this year - so your section of herb gardens will come in very handy - Shelagh 
 

Zimbabwe update

I used to have a regular feature on my website that I called the Zimbabwe Letters. sadly my contact "went silent" and I didn't have a source any more. I am looking for another source (any volunteers?).

Print more money....

Harare - President Robert Mugabe promised to print more money to fund municipal projects, despite the hyperinflation that has created severe shortages of cornmeal, meat, milk and other staples, a government newspaper reported Saturday. Meanwhile, water shortages worsened due to pump breakdowns, and a senior government official said kidney patients were dying for lack of dialysis machines. The offical Herald newspaper reported that Mugabe told a meeting of local councilors they should put more pressure on government ministers to improve services. "Where money for projects has not been found, we will print it," Mugabe was quoted as saying. The printing of money is generally regarded as a recipe for inflation - which is officially at 4,500 percent in Zimbabwe, though private economists estimate it to be least twice as high. The government last month ordered sweeping price cuts of around 50 percent, accusing store owners and businesses of fueling the inflation.

Zimbabwe is in the grips of its worst crisis since independence from Britain in 1980. Power, water, health and communications systems are collapsing, and there are acute shortages of staple foods and gasoline. Unemployment is around 80 percent, and political unrest is high. Mugabe blames Western sanctions and rejects criticism that the meltdown is the result of mismanagement and the often-violent seizures of thousands of white-owned farms he ordered beginning in 2000. The biggest government hospital group acknowledged Friday that 10 of its 18 kidney dialysis machines were awaiting repair and imported spare parts needing scarce hard currency. Vice President Joyce Mujuru said kidney patients had died for lack of dialysis machines, and lambasted the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare for not fixing the problem. Mujuru accused officials at one hospital of not installing the machines in the first place, even though she personally requisitioned the equipment from abroad in 2004. "This is the sort of ineptitude that we have always been complaining about," she told The Herald.

Lack of hard currency for imports is crippling the health sector. Pharmacists on Friday advised AIDS patients to stock up on their drugs after local manufacturers warned they would soon run out of imported raw materials. Some 20 percent of Zimbabweans are infected with HIV. In a sign of other serious problems, water storage drums were sold out Friday in one main Harare hardware store as water shortages worsened. The state water utility said it suffered new breakdowns at its pumping stations. The government-ordered price controls have denuded stores across the country, with businesses saying they can't afford to sell at the new prices. Some 5,000 managers and gas station and store owners have been arrested and fined for defying the price controls since the order was issued June 26. Daily power outages are forcing Zimbabweans to light fires for cooking and heating water. State radio reported Friday that a woodlands park used for conservation classes faced collapse because wood poachers had stripped nearly 500 acres of its indigenous msasa trees and other long-burning hardwoods.

From ZWNews, To subscribe, please email ironhorse@zwnews.net
 

This South Africa - interesting facts and information

The A to Z of South African culture

A is for Archaeology
Mapungubwe in Limpopo is one of the richest archaeological sites in Africa. A Shona capital inhabited between 1200 and 1650, the city was a centre for the trade in gold and ivory with the Islamic areas of the East African coast, India and China's Song Dynasty. The Iron Age site, discovered in 1932 but hidden from public attention until only recently, has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
 

Source: SouthAfrica.info
The all-in-one official guide
and web portal to South Africa.  
 

Recipe Requests

Looking for a specific South African recipe? Email me and I will do my best to find it for you!

Add your suggestions to my Elephant Stew and Wacky Sarmies recipes.
 

Featured Website

Every issue I feature an interesting website with South African links.
 

The Recipes

Apricot cheesecake for diabetics

Ingredients
125 ml low-fat milk
15 ml margarine
2 extra-large eggs, separated
30 ml white sugar
250 ml cake flour
10 ml baking powder
pinch salt
COTTAGE CHEESE MIXTURE
15 ml gelatine
25 ml cold water
85 ml boiling water
410 g light Nestlé Ideal Evaporated Milk
250 g low-fat smooth cottage cheese
45 ml powdered artificial sweetener
410 g apricots with no added sugar
30 ml custard powder
125 ml water
apricot jam for diabetics

Method:
Preheat the oven to 180 ºC and butter a 22 cm loose-bottomed cake tin or spray with non-stick spray. Heat the milk and margarine to boiling point. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the egg yolks, followed by the sugar. Beat until thick and light. Sift the cake flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk mixture. Fold in until well blended. Turn the batter into the prepared cake tin and bake for 15-20 minutes until done. Allow to cool completely before slicing the cake in half. Spread the bottom layer with a little apricot jam for diabetics and place the other layer on top. Return the cake to the cake tin and press down lightly so it covers the entire base. To make the cottage cheese mixture, sprinkle the gelatine over the cold water and allow to sponge. Add the boiling water and stir to dissolve. Allow to cool. Mix the evaporated milk, cottage cheese and sweetener and set aside. Drain the apricots, but reserve the syrup. Blend the custard powder with a little of the syrup to form a paste. Heat the remaining syrup and water and bring to the boil while stirring continuously. Add a little of the hot liquid to the custard mixture and return everything to the saucepan. Stirring continuously, simmer until the mixture thickens and is cooked. (The mixture will be quite thick.) Add a little of the cheese mixture to the custard mixture and stir in. Add everything to the cheese mixture and leave to cool until slightly thickened. Pour over the cake and chill until set, preferably overnight. Arrange the apricots on top and glaze with lukewarm apricot jam for diabetics. Makes 1 medium-sized cake.

Pear and almond cake

Ingredients
one large egg
125 ml Sugarlite
125 fat free milk
3 ml almond essence
one tin of unsweetened pear halves

Method:
1 Beat the egg and the Sugalite until light and creamy. Beat in the fat-free milk and the almond essence.
2 Sift the flour and add it to the mixture. Mix well.
3 Lightly spray an 18 x 18cm cake tin with non-stick spray, then transfer the mixture into the tin.
4 Cut the pear halves into 1cm slices, and push the pear slices into the batter in the tin.
5 Bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool

DIABETIC PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
1 c. flour
1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. water
1 tbsp. liquid sweetener
1/2 c. salad oil
Mix all together in a large bowl. Shape into balls and place on
ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.
(You may add a little more flour if desired.)

SUGAR - FREE SPICE COOKIES
2 c. water
1 c. raisins
2 sticks margarine
1 c. prunes, chopped
1 c. dates, chopped
2 egg whites
2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Dash cloves
2 1/3 c. flour, and maybe 1/4 more
1/2 - 1 c. nuts
Cream margarine, vanilla and egg whites together. Sift all dry
ingredients together in a separate bowl. Add water, dry ingredients,
raisins, dates, prunes and nuts to creamed mixture. Drop onto cookie
sheet. Bake at 325-350 degrees for 7- 10 min. or until lightly brown

To subscribe to this newsletter and view previous newsletters, , click here, to subscribe to my Afrikaans newsletter, click here.

To unsubscribe, send me an email giving your name and the email address you want to unsubscribe from.