{OGGI Cups}

{this is NOT a paid endorsement}

{image}

These cups caught my attention on a recent shopping trip to Victoria's Basement. I bought a blue one and a red one for my boys. At about $12 each, I was glad I only had two kids to buy for :) I wanted to get one for us too, but thought I'd trial these two and see if they worked. I have to say....

OGGI CUPS = BIG HIT!!!

For a few main reasons these have been a great addition to our house.


FACT: They are BPA free (to read more on Bisphenol-A click here)
WHY I CARE: ummm....nnot poisoning my kids kinda seems self-explanatory ;)

FACT: They are double walled insulated.
WHY I CARE:Practically for me, this means you don't get the slippery condensation on the outside of a cold drink that makes cups slippery for little fingers.

FACT: The straw has a little 'nodule' on the bottom of it.
WHY I CARE: My adventurous almost 3 year old cant get the straw out once the lid is on making it a travel cup equaling MUCH less mess (tested many times!)




When I was out at trade secret last week, I found them for $8, so I bought a white and purple one for myself and hubby. Now we can take smoothies and other drinks in the car with a whole lot less mess than I have had in the past! WIN - WIN!


Lauren x

Craft meets Food - Just Delicious!!!!

Well, I have been so captured by this amazing talented and local lady who MANIFICINTLY combines two of my favourite things food/ baking and craftiness.

The amazing picture above are yes, you guessed it cupcakes! Hard to believe I know. But The Cupcake Gallery have an incredible talent for making some gorgeous creations! Hop over to their website or their facebook page and be in awe at their creations!!! I will stop typing now and leave you to have a look, cause you'll be amazed!

Enjoy;
Lauren x

Product Review ::: Pollini Design Accessories

My last post was sharing a purchase from Hide&Seek Market that I was VERY happy with. The second (and last) review from the market I wanted to share with you was my new ring from Pollini Design Accessories. My ring is the white flower as above however the band is more of a gold colour.
I saw a ring like this years ago (with a VERY expensive pricetag mind you) and have always wanted something like this. Then I found this stall and the white ring stood out at me like it had flashing lights on it!
I have loved wearing this ring and have had so many comments on it.
To find more of her designs, see you at Hide & Seek markets or go to her facebook page or Etsy store :)

Enjoy;
Lauren x

Product Review ::: Eve's Soy Candles

I have been a little slow in blog land as we had sickness visit our house in a nasty way last week and also a family wedding to energise for on the weekend. So appologies for my absence.

Last Sunday I went to the third ever Hide and Seek Markets and had a ball. I am loving the way this market is expanding each month and seeing the new stall holders. I want to highlight two of my purchases that I am so happy with!

Today I want to share Eve's Soy Candles with you all. Why Soy Candles you ask? Well there are many reasons why this important. Whether it is the health reasons or the ease of cleaning reasons that attract you, soy candles are something I am definiltey hooked on!
The scent I bought was hazelnut and cappuccino and WOW! I just wanted to eat it, it smelt so delicious. The beautiful candle left a beautiful scent in the house as I spent the night crafting. Just lovely.

You can find info about this handmade buisness on facebook or on the web.

Enjoy these as much as I did;
Lauren x

AussieGrown Garlic

I was recetly informed that a lot of our garlic sold here is actually imported from china. We buy lots in our house and I never knew the difference. The garlic without roots is from china and the garlic with roots is locally grown here.

Aussie Garlic

Chinese Garlic

I like buying local produce, and now am going to be paying attention for the Aussie garlic with roots. Garlic is so good for us and to find out more about the health benefits, take a look here.
I hope that you find this helpful anyway :)

Product Review : Cooks Pocketbook Companion

I recieved a book for my birthday from my darling brothers that just is nothing like I have ever seen before! It is a cookbook with a difference thats for sure.
It makes a great gift for someone that loves cooking and food (Male or Female). It baisically is tonnes of bite sized bit about everything and anything to do with food!
It covers (in tiny snippets) interesting facts about food, history of foods and interesting people that influenced the world of food in some way, how food has changed over the years and SOOO much more.



Some facts include :
* Largest bunch of bananas was grown in Canary Islands, 2001.
* The cocoa tree was so valuable that the seeds were used as currency. A slave cost around 100 cocoa beans, and the services of a 'public woman' cost 10 cocoa beans - the same as a rabbit.
* Do not pass food from one chopstick to chopstick; this is only done with the bones of the creamated body at funerals.
* Geumatophobia = a fear of taste
* For evert dollar that the World health Organisation spends on trying to improve the diets of people across the globe, approx US$500 is spent by the food industry worldwide on promoting processed foods.

Product Review: Table of Plenty

I am one that loves to give new things a go and in my last grocery shop I picked up a box of Dukkah and thought I would give it a go. I really to be honest just chose this particular brand cause I liked the brand name "Table of Plenty", the packaging caught my eye as did the price (on special at woolies for $3.26). But as I started to do more research into the brand I was so impressed with it. Kate Weiss founded the company and she is commited to donating and founding great causes. Along with being an entrepreneur - she is a devoted Mum of two one of which has a disability.
Now that I have given you the details that have impressed me - what about their product???
I bought the pistachio dukkah and there is SO much scope for this condiment that you can let your imagination take over! As it says on the packet " sprinkle, roast, crumb, dip".

I will put some ideas here, but there are some more great recipes on the website.
*Using a nice fresh turkish loaf of bread and a good quality olive oil, dip the bread in oil and then dukkah.
* Mix juice of 1/2 lemon, 2 tbs olive oil, 4 tbs dukkah into a paste. Place 4 chicken breasts on an oven tray with baking paper and then place paste on the chicken and bake at 180 for 20 mins. Serve with salad.
*Sprinkle over potatoes with a dash of olive oil and roast

For more of their recipe ideas see here:

Give it a try......

I was shopping at a local fruit shop recently and saw a fruit i had never heard of before. I quite often like picking up something new and always let my 3yr old choose a fruit too (keeps him involved and busy - lol).
So i took home a dapple dandy and was licking my lips to try the first bite! AND WOW! it was kind of like a plum cross a nectarine or something. Then i did some research and found that you will often find them listed as a "pluot".


"Pluot is also known as a 'Dinasour egg' which is a trademarked name for the Dapple Dandy variety. Pluots are a hybrid between plums and apricots with the majority being plum (often a ratio of 75%/25%)"


So, next time you go out to the fruit shop, pick yourself up a dapple dandy and give it a go. I am keen to try to cook with thgis fruit and think it would be amazing stewed and make a delicious jam. So i will give that a go and post it at a later time!

Feature: SUMAC

I just love finding unusual ingredients or using things in a new way. A latest discovery of mine is SUMAC. This spice comes from the berry of a plant called Rhus coriaria. The name refers to the word corium, Latin for leather, as the leaves and bark are used in the tanning process.
This shrubby tree grows wild in the Middle East and parts of Italy. The brick-red fruits are sold as dried coarsely ground or whole berries. The spice is also known as "Sicilian sumac," "sumaq" or "sumach," and other similar variations.
It has a tart and slight lemony taste and Sumac is often referred to as a "souring agent." It was once used to calm the stomach. Today sumac is considered mainly a condiment used much like salt in that it is passed in small dishes at the table.
I used it recently on some cooked chicken. I just addes some to a salt, pepper and olive oil mix and brushed the chicken with the mix and grilled it. Then served with a salad, DELICIOUS!