Foodie Friday- Let's Picnic

I found this "Spring Bucket List" Poster above from howtonestforless.com and just had to include it in my post today- the only problem was it said "Spring Bucket List" and we are just about to go into Autumn! BUT...the wonderful thing about living in Africa is that you don't need to limit all the awesome spring activities to well...Spring! Our weather allows us to be outdoors almost 365 Days a year! So scratch the "Spring" part and use this bucket list for any sunny day. Today's post will help you scratch off the first thing on your bucket list and show you how to create the perfect picnic. This is what I did...read on...

Just Darling's Top Tips for a Perfect Picnic. 

• Don't use paper plates or plastic tupperwares- do it style and put all your picnic food in glass jars
• Think practically! Make easy to eat foods like wraps, finger sandwiches or small salads in jars.
• Although Juice/Punch in a Jug may look appealing- it's a logistical nightmare. Put your homemade punch in glass bottles instead and pretty them up with ribbon and a pretty drink label.
• Drink/Food Labels can be printed onto sticker paper or alternatively use normal printing paper and stick it on with a glue stick.
• Kill two birds with one stone by using an old crate as a way to carry all the goods to your picnic site and then simply turn it over and use it as a make-shift picnic table!
• There is no need for expensive ribbon and decorations for your food- brown paper, string and some doilies will do the trick!

Just Darling's Original Picnic Recipes

Ingredients:

• A small bowl of chopped spring onion 
• A small bowl of diced tomato
• A small bowl of watercress
• About 600g Haloumi 
• 2 Avo's Sliced
• 1 Packet of Woolies Multi-Seed Wraps
• 1 Tub Woolies Trio Dip (Basil Pesto, Sundried Tomato & Feta)

Method:

1) Slice the Haloumi into long thin strips and pan sear for 1 minute on each side.

2) Generously smear some of the Trio Dip onto each wrap- covering the whole surface area.

3) Arrange about 3 long strips of haloumi, some avo slices, some chopped spring onion and

some diced tomato along the centre of the wrap- vertically. Take care not to overfill the wrap as it will be difficult to close

4) Fold the bottom of the wrap over, and then tightly roll one side over to the other to close the wrap.

    Secure with brown paper, a doily and string.

Ingredients:

• 1 Packet of rocket
• 1 packet of mixed sprouts
• About 190g Danish Feta cubed
• About 15 Asparagus Stalks, washed and chopped
• 1 Clove Garlic- chopped
• Olive Oil for Frying
• 1 Punnet of button mushrooms cut into quarters.
• * For a Meatier Version- Add Roast Chicken or Cooked Ham.

Method:

1) Saute the mushrooms and asparagus in the olive oil and the garlic. Season with Salt & Pepper.

2) Combine the rocket, sprouts, danish feta & fried mushroom and asparagus in a bowl.

3) Transfer the mix into individual glass jars.

4) Serve with a light vinaigrette.

Wasn't quite sure what else to name this pudding!

Ingredients:

• 1 Vanilla Sponge Loaf or Madeira Cake
• 1 Packet of Strawberry Jelly made according the the packet instructions
• 1 Punnet Fresh Strawberries Chopped
• A Woolies Cherry, Cranberry & Pomegranate Smoothie-300ml
• 1 Can of whipped cream
• Toasted Almonds or Pecan Nuts

Method: - Read carefully because it's really, really complicated!

1) Layer the glass jar with the sponge cake at the bottom, then the jelly, a bit of the smoothie mix, some strawberries, whipped cream and some nuts to top it off. Repeat the pattern until the jar is full! Told you it was complicated!

So that's that folks! Follow the tips and recipes above and you can't lose! The picture below is proof that a good picnic can change the world. Well- maybe not THE world but it can change YOUR world.

Image Source:
Bike Picture - Tumblr.com
Tree Bunting Picture-  http://images.lover.ly/71_1b1a8275bf362662a.jpg

Celebrating Silverware

One of the most popular collected items amongst women is silverware and even if you are not a collector, most women have an antique silver heirloom tucked away in a dark cupboard somewhere. We always say we are going to use it for a special occasion but then no occasion ever seems "special enough". I love silverware and have decided to use it whenever and wherever I can. After all, life is too short to wait for the perfect moment.

So if you want to display your silverware, but you don't quite know how then this post is for you. Below is a little project I did for my mom. She has tons of silverware- tea pots, sugar bowls, gravy boats- you name it- she has it. Sadly though, the items were collecting dust and not being showed off as they should. So we decided to create a "silverware mobile" that would hang directly above her coffee and tea station. We just screwed some hooks into the roof, hung the silverware with some ribbon and it really was as easy as that! I also decided to use the sugar bowls and milk jugs as mini-vases by putting some water and some pretty roses in them. The best part is that if my mom ever needs to use the items- she can just slip them off the ribbon! Check out the pics below to see the finished product.

I've also shared some more inspiration and ideas from Pinterest of how you can Flaunt the Silver that Yo Momma Gave You! Enjoy...

The Silverware Project...

Love & Blessings
Abz

Valentines Day Paper ideas

First of all, I bet you're all wondering why you didn't get Just Darling delivered to your inbox last week? I'm sorry I was such a bad blogger. I was, wasn't I? Last week was hectic for many reasons, one of them being that we added a new member to our little family! And no, I'm not preggers...not yet, I'm referring to our new 6 week old retriever pup, Mila. She's been a hand full, keeping us up all night with her whining, barking, and chewing. So in between her toilet breaks at 2am in the morning and various other commitments I had last  week- there was no time to write (sad face). Nevertheless, here she is. Isn't she gorgeous? I'm sure you will see more of her in the posts to come and come to love her as much as we already do.

Paper Lamps

Speaking about LOVE- Valentines Day is a couple of days away, so if you are planning a romantic evening with your beloved this Thursday, then check out the lamps I made below. They really are beautiful once they are lit up and they are super easy and cheap to make. So instead of using boring tea lights on your dinner table this year- try this cute paper craft for Valentine's Day or your next dinner event.

What You Need:

• Scissors
• Sticky Tape
• One Sheet of Scrap Booking Paper - as thin and transparent as possible (You can also use light wrapping paper)
• Washi- Tape, Lace or Ribbon
• A champagne glass
• Tea Lights

Instructions:

• Cut the paper into a circle. The bigger the circle, the bigger the lamp shade will be (I traced out the shape of a dinner plate).
• Cut a small hole (about the size of a squash ball) in the middle of the larger circle.
• Cut a chunk out of the paper to form a "C" shape. You may need to cut out more if necessary
• Overlap the gap of the circle to form the lampshade and secure with sticky tape on the inner-side. The method is similar to that of the paper cones posted on Just Darling a while ago- see the template here.
• Decorate the end of the lamp shade with washi tape, lace or ribbon. (I used a lace washi-tape).
• Place a tea light into the champagne glass and pop the lamp shade on-top of the glass. Eazy Peazy!

Paper Treasure Hunt

Another really cute paper idea is to set a trail for your Valentine. Send him/her on a treasure hunt by devising a path leading to yourself or the gift. I bought my treasure hunt pack from In Good Company and it included 3 hanging signs, floor scatters and a heart shaped gift box. The entire thing is made out of paper and so it would be really simple to make it by hand if you felt like being creative.

In Good Company Address:

52nd Sixth Street,

Parkhurst, 2193

Gauteng

South Africa

So for those in pursuit of love this Valentine's Day...I hope you find it, not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

- Sam Keen, from To Love and Be Loved