chocolate syrup

This recipe makes a delicious chocolate syrup that could rival some of the better (think, more expensive) bought ones.

1 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan. Stir constantly until sauce begins to thicken (2-5 minutes of boiling). Store in a jar in the fridge.

You can use it to make both hot & cold drinks or as a delicious ice cream topping! Use one tablespoon of syrup for each drink!!

the recipe box swap; Spag Bol

Spaghetti Bolognaise

2 tbsp oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, chopped
500gm minced beef
1 x 400gm can's of chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp mixed herbs - optional
1/2 glass of wine - optional

Brown the garlic and onion in the oil. Then add the mince and the other ingredients and boil until nice and thick.

Serve with fresh pasta and yummy cheese on top!

(photo to come!)

New look to the blog...

Huge KUDOS to my wonderful hubby, who saved the day when I updated the blog to the not-so-new blogger. I managed to lose everything except the posts - it was a sad, sad moment! Still here we are with a new blog template and two sidebars!!!

Let me know what you think in the comments!

The Recipe Box Swap

From Randi's I have to say blog; My little recipe box is in need of some new ideas, so I think that a recipe swap is in order.

On Thursday, February 7th, I will be posting a couple of my favourite recipes here on my blog and I invite you to do the same on your blog. I will provide an auto-link at the bottom of my post so that you can leave your post URL so that others can visit and see what you have cookin'.

Any recipe you choose will be perfect! I hope to see you on Thursday!

What a great idea - I say! :D

Shrove Tuesday - Crepe's

Using the crepe recipe and yummy ice cream recipe on this blog created a wonderful Shrove Tuesday experience for our family!

By way of explanation;
Shrove Tuesday is a great day for pancake lovers, but Shrove Tuesday also has a special religious significance for Christians, and provides a valuable message for people all over the world.

Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day as it is often called, is the last day before the Christian festival of Lent begins. Lent is the time when Christians prepare for Easter by giving up something special for 40 days. Traditionally Christians would fast (give up food) as a way of remembering the 40 days that Jesus spent alone in the desert, but nowadays people give up all sorts of things for the 40 day period. Television, meat, wine and chocolate are common sacrifices, but people can choose to forgo anything in recognition of the festival.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Traditionally Christians would rub ashes on their forehead on this day, as a way of showing they were sorry for their sins. The ashes are made from the palm crosses from last year’s Palm Sunday celebrations, and symbolise the death and resurrection of Christ.