Facebook Photo Competition

Looks like I'm beating my cheating (googling) husband at a photo competition... :o) (we've both entered)

Go to www.facebook.com, Go to THE LENS AFFAIR and ask to join, then vote for my Glass of Water on rainbow background photo... Please!!! :o)

Today is the last day :o)

Sandy Bigara
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

Kudu Biltong and Cheddar Sauce - Wheat Free

I am on a wheat free diet (see: lifestyle) and have had to experiment with various types of flour, to find one that doesn't set off my allergies *curse them* - Rice Flour seems to be the shizz at this point, and so I'm having fun trying all of the usual sauces, fritters, flapjacks - but with Rice Flour.

On Saturday we decided to have a braai (Barbecue) and I bought a gorgeous, tender, thick Rump Steak. (I also used a store bought tenderizer/marinade called 'smokey beef' which tasted amazing!) Set the steak to soak up the marinade and decided to make a sauce.

Here it is:

Kudu Biltong and Cheddar Sauce (Rice Flour)

-100g Kudu Biltong* (chopped/cut finely)
-6 Tbsp Rice Flour (add more one spoon at a time till sauce is the thickness that you like, but watch out, rice flour continues to thicken the longer it stands, so have hot water available to add and mix in before serving)
-1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese
-Ina Paarman's Cheese Spice
-1 cup full cream milk
-1 heaped Tbsp Margerine/Butter
-1/2 tsp Rajah's Mild Curry Powder

1. Put the curry powder in a non-stick pan and heat it.

2. Add Margerine/Butter and mix till it melts, add the rice flour and Ina Paarmans spice. Mix quickly.

3. Add milk and whisk till smoothe.

4. Add cheese and mix well.

5. Add Kudu biltong and mix well (the meat flavour will instantly add such an amazing twist to this traditional cheese sauce)

6. Let the sauce settle and check to see if it needs salt.

7. Before serving add hot water to get the consistency just the way you like it!

This sauce, spooned over piping hot 'smokey beef' rump steak, fresh from the griddle was *-AMAZING-*
This dish can be served with steaming hot jacket potatoes and fresh vegetables. Marvellously more-ish :)

Let me know if you try it!

Sandy Bigara

*Kudu - an African buck, the game meat is dried, salted and eaten once it is completely dried out. The appearance is almost black, and glossy when sliced. Much like beef jerky, but much, much tastier! If you ever come to South Africa make sure you try some. It is incredible!

Photo from: international.stockfood.com
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Irene has been downgraded to a "Tropical Storm"

Update: Irene has been downgraded to a "Tropical Storm" but has left a wake of destruction behind her. 4 million are without electricity, many on the word of weather officials, spent a lot of money stocking up on food and supplies for a "two week at least" lock down due to evacuation, flooding and destruction of power lines, sewerage concerns etc. Now the question is being asked "What do we do now? We have all this stuff..." - There are calls for people to donate the extra supplies to shelters and church ministries.  

Live news feed via cnn:
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/29/live-blog-death-toll-now-at-21-irene-no-longer-tropical-storm/

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Tweets this morning:

Death Toll-
@hyam2126: Live blog: Death toll now at 21, Irene no longer tropical storm: [cnn-ireport-uploader topic=646284]Are you ther... http://t.co/R4oLKQ1

People are questioning 'how' weather authorities got it all wrong?-
@GINman2: Irene Weakened More Than Most Hurricanes: Forecasters admited misjudging the storm's struc... http://t.co/A3PQyJd http://t.co/znD9hHD

Photo's of the destruction-
@nydailynews: Flood photo: Paddling up 9th Street, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn: http://t.co/ESPXsfL

@oboelady: Irene leaves damaging and deadly floods, rushing waters #cnn http://t.co/laDBMuL tragic

And has obviously caused some 'joking' to break out-
@WiseMona: funny x"@ModernFarmette: Dead on, love it. RT @HarveysPoint Hurricane Irene has now been downgraded to an Irish summer...."

Interesting fact-
@romana1977: RT @JimCantore: If #Irene is retired (hard to believe it wouldn't be) it will make the 7th "I" named storm in the last 11 years. #hurricane #tropics

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Let me know if you have been affected by the Storm/Hurricane at all.


Sandy Bigara
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

Hurricane Irene Hits New York!

Sitting in my car, post-cupcake-sale, I noticed a mention of 'Irene' on the other side of the globe... WOW. I am shocked and saddened for the millions of people left displaced in New York City, Philadelphia and Boston (and other surrounds) I hope that most of you are alright, and that those who have been adversely affected will recover quickly :o(

These are a few facts that I could gather from www.twitter.com the trending topics are #irene #HurricaneIrene.

______________________


@finkelcc: RT @twc_hurricane: Hurricane Irene: 5 AM ET, 75 mph winds, Cat 1, 959 mb, moving NNE at 18 mph. http://t.co/dTlOPwM


@Liberty1960: RT @brianstelter: Govt's 5am advisory puts Irene 115 miles south of NYC, moving NNE at 18mph, w/max winds of 75 mph, down from 80mph earlier.


@smokefive: RT @cnnbrk: Nearly 3 million customers along East Coast are without power as #Irene heads north. http://t.co/Dni0ITc


@NBCNewYork: Some 9,600 people spent the night in city shelters. http://t.co/Qj5WhJx #Irene #HurricaneIrene

_____________________


For up to the minute info and a live sms feed:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14694087




Keep dry and safe please...


Sandy Bigara
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

Blasphemy and Swearing in Kids DVD's

let us entertain your kid's! 

When did it become 'OK' to allow blasphemy in Children's DVD's? Look, I understand, big producers like Disney have been promoting Witchcraft and Spells etc since their first days post Mickey Mouse. So we can't really expect them to look down on something

Profile: Casey Jeanne Fashion Designer

Recently I was lucky enough to be granted an exclusive interview with *the* ‘CASEY JEANNE’ one of this country’s leading new designers. After spending a good hour cruising through her photo albums I was amazed to see such detail and maturity in her work. Every bride wants to be a “princess for a day” and Casey-Jeanne makes that a reality. She uses gorgeous vintage style fabrics, layered with lace and finely sewn intricate detail she takes you back in time – to an era long forgotten and often longed for. Her red carpet gowns are going to become highly sought after and I look forward to the day that I see her work walking the red carpet at the Academy Awards… the Oscar’s and perhaps even on the red carpet at our Presidential Speech and the SAMA’s!  

South African Designer Casey Jeanne

I have known Case Jeanne for quite some time and I have to say; I am one proud ex-teacher! Casey Jeanne has always been ‘driven’ to give of her absolute best in everything; this is the recipe for her ultimate success I believe.

To my USA, UK and EUROPEAN readers – pass this article on, Casey Jeanne has that *something special* and deserves every great thing that is coming her way!

Sandy Bigara

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"Q and A" With Casey-Jeanne

Skeletons of Romance

1.      So, Casey Jeanne, where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see the future of the “Casey Jeanne” brand going very far. I’d like to be working with top celebrities on the red carpet, along with carrying on the wedding gown line...

Sneak Peek: Out The Box Festival!

OUT THE BOX

GOES GREEN!

Nicola Jackman in Mafrika-kie

YES!

In 2011 the

Out the Box  Festival of

Puppetry and Visual Performance 

is going green!

UNIMA SA is working with a number of artists and key stakeholders, including COPART and GREENPOP, to raise awareness around climate change and inspire

Out The Box: La Ribot

News! If you live in South Africa - Cape Town, and if you are interested then please email Yusrah with your details and mentioned below. Should be fun!

  _________________________________________

Out The Box Festival is hosting La Ribot, a distinguished dance / physical theatre company from Switzerland.

Their piece, PARAdistinguidas requires 20 volunteers with the following criteria:

20 people; very heterogeneous group (gender, ages, tastes and colours, physical aspects, backgrounds and profiles, professions etc).

 

Must be in good shape and able to concentrate.

 

Schedule:
2x4hr workshop,
from 18h00 to 22h00,

the 2 days before the

Skinny Jean Pant Rant

Please note: I am NOT attacking men of all shapes and sizes, I think that it takes all kinds of body types and 'looks' to make life interesting, I am merely poking fun at a very risky fashion item that is not being worn correctly - hopefully those few who are wearing these pants will make sure that they actually look good in them?!

Also, where I mention "I just happen to like men who look like men" I am referring directly to the bootleg and bellbottom pants mentioned previously, the Hugh Jackman part is simply because he's hot.

Seriously though... if my thoughts offend you then please, go to another blog that doesn't.

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I will probably be shot at dawn for stating my opinion here but… Oh my word. What is up with men and Skinny Jeans??!!?

I know who designed them.
Borat.
The same man who wore a green mani-tard on International Stage and Screen.

Mobile Picture

Took this today while waiting *ages* for my meal order at Centre Court Pavillion...

For a Blackberry photo, it turned out ok I think!

Sandy Bigara
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!