Nailed It!!!

I tried my hand at homemade buttermilk biscuits this morning and I must to say that I nailed it!!!!  And my family agrees. My husband had someone over for breakfast this morning and I made them, I pinned the recipe from Pinterest (where else?) They were moist, buttery and delicious. You can find the recipe under Grandma's Buttermilk Biscuits.   If you are too lazy to look or don't have a Pinterest account (Lord forbid) here is the recipe.  I tried to copy the link because it has instructional pictures but it wouldn't let me so...... here is the recipe.  

Bon appetit.

Grandma’s Buttermilk Biscuits

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

¾ tsp salt

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp cream of tartar

¼ cup butter flavored shortening

1 cup buttermilk – at room temperature

Butter

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and grease a 9” cake pan (or cast iron skillet if you really want biscuits like my grandma’s). I typically use Pam Baking Spray for this.

Whisk all dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Then using a pastry blender (or a whisk, if like me you don’t own a pastry blender) cut the shortening in until well blended.

Create a well in the middle of the flour/shortening mixture, leaving about ½” of flour on the bottom of the bowl, then pour in the buttermilk. Slowly start working the flour into the buttermilk evenly from all sides. I usually spin the bowl and leave the whisk mostly in one place. Once all of the flour on the sides has been incorporated (and it’s become a bit too difficult to mix with the whisk, I flour up my hands and dive in to finish mixing in the flour left on the bottom of the bowl. The dough will stick to your hands a bit, and it’s okay to add in a bit more flour to get the right consistency, but try not to add more than an extra ¼ cup of flour or the biscuits won’t rise properly and they’ll be a bit heavy.What is the right consistency? Well, it’s a bit like Play-dough. The dough should be a bit elastic and should remain moist. If you've added too much flour, the dough will become too dry.

Once the Dough is mixed, you can start to form your biscuit. Pluck off a piece of dough about the size of a large egg and roll it in your hands until it’s formed, then place it in the pan and squish it down a little bit. Repeat 8 times until all the biscuits are in the pan. It’s fairly important to make sure that all of the biscuits are about the same size, and I often find that I need to pull one biscuit back out of the pan and add a little bit more dough to it (there’s always a bit left in the bottom of the bowl).

Alternatively, you can roll out the dough to ½” thick on a lightly floured surface and cut biscuits out with a 2” biscuit cutter or a juice glass. Place the biscuits in the greased pan. After the biscuits are formed and in the pan, put a thin pat of cold butter on top of each biscuit. Side Note:  I only use real butter, not margarine, so I’m not sure how margarine will work with this.  Next step: baking! Pop the pan of biscuits in a completely preheated oven. Bake for 10-14 minutes or until the biscuits are baked through and golden brown on top. Cooking length will really depend on your oven, but they’ll take at least 10 minutes to bake through. My oven, 

which is a bit off temperature takes 14 minutes. So keep an eye on them once they hit that 10 minute mark and pull them out when they look good to you.

From South Africa With Love

Set Fire To The Rain

There was a torrential down pour on Saturday and my son's were performing at one of the parks in Mitchell's Plain.  As a mother I was worried about electrocution but God is sovereign and they were fine.  The exciting thing was that people from the neighborhood were standing out there in the rain with us and listening.  It was awesome!!!! Our church outreached and then we had a concert that night with visitors, and some of those same people came out Sunday morning and night.  My children get it, they want to reach their generation and that makes me one proud Mom.

From South Africa With Love

The Beast

For every Beauty there is a Beast.  I've shown some very beautiful pictures of South Africa.  There is another side that you won't find advertised by travel agents, but it is still there.  Those houses are called Wendy's, they are made out of sheet metal and have no insulation, when it rains it sounds like a thousand horses running on their roof. It gets very cold at night and very hot in the summer, like living in an oven.  The Wendy's are cheaper to live in than paying rent so many people have them, some can't afford them and sleep anywhere that they can lay their heads.  The crime rate is high so all of the beautiful homes have barbed wire, dogs, alarms and security. It's amazing how you can have so much and still be a prisoner in your own home.

My Container!!!!!!

It arrived!!!!!!! It came on Monday but I was too busy to write about it.  Now we have to get everything situated.  My husband noticed it parked down the street at someone else's house, someone was about to be very happy about their new things.  They had the address all wrong, they did unload the container though.  Very, very slowly.  Like turtles moving through a stream of molasses, I didn't think that they would have it done in the allotted three hours but they did.  They did because my husband and son helped (they did not get paid and we didn't get a discount).   It did feel like Christmas just like everyone said.  Just happy to have my things!!!!!!

From South Africa With Love

Sushi!!! Because It's Still Raining....

The Ocean Basket. I don't particularly care for seafood but I do love sushi and this place has both and they are very good.  I think that it taste better because everything is fresh, I love it!!!!! I can't eat it all of the time because of  the rice and fried shrimp.  Rice and fried shrimp hate my hips and thighs. 

From South Africa With Love 

The Mugg & Bean

It is raining here, again. It should be warming up but it's not. I have been told that repeatedly, I don't know if that is supposed to be encouraging.  So, the only excursion that I have been on is to the mall (yes they have malls).  We have gone to the Mugg & Bean for breakfast several times (and by several I mean a 100).  I need to find a hobby besides eating, but not knitting or anything like that.  This restaurant has the best white hot chocolate and croissants. We are not coffee drinkers but my husband had a cappuccino and it was wonderful.  I would recommend this restaurant for breakfast to any foreigner visiting Cape Town. I would also recommend sticking to what you know when ordering, trust me.

From South Africa With Love.

Marketplace Treasure

As promised here are my $2 scarves!!!!!!! I love the colors, I will probably own 100 of them by next year.

The Marketplace/Mitchell's Plain

We went to The Marketplace this morning and
this is part of what we saw.  People were selling
things like stockings, hair bows, shoes, food, and any other kind of goods that a person would look for in Walmart. We have stores where you do one stop shopping, here you have to go to 3 or 4 stores to get everything that you would need. Seriously, if you want plastic ware you have to go to a plastic ware store. (Back to the market) It was packed with people doing their Saturday morning shopping, the fish that you see above looks like a Spanish Mackerel but it isn't and I cannot spell nor pronounce it's name so we'll just call it a fish.  The smell was not so pleasant but once you got past that there were some really cool items to buy.  I bought two scarves for 40 rand which is 4 American dollars, so not too bad at all.  I'll post pictures of them tomorrow, they are locked in my car and I am too lazy to go out and get them. So...I had a pretty good day, scored two scarves and ate curry.  Not a bad day at all.

From Africa With Love

Farewell Mitchell's

The Mitchell's left yesterday but I am just getting around to posting this.  The are back in America as I type.  We had a great time, it was accelerated because we had to accomplish a lot in a short time.  I forgot how funny Larry is, we all laughed a lot. Raleigh you are in for a treat!!!!! Thanks for everything guys. We love you!!!


From Africa With Love,

Cape By Light

This is Cape Town by light, looks like an American city from a distance.  Once you get a little closer you can see the differences though.  We will be officially on our own tomorrow, the Mitchell's will be on their way back to America in the morning.  Dum, dum, dum, dum...... Just kidding we will be fine, we have been venturing out on our own and we plan on doing more as soon as our container arrives.  If you work for customs and you are reading this please let my container go, it's innocent and it is scared and confused.  I can't wait until I get my things then I'll feel more at home, my surroundings.  When I go out it will be South Africa but when I come home a touch of America.

From South Africa With Love

Cape At Night

Beautiful.  We are on a hill overlooking the city, during the day you can see Table Mountain behind it.  Hiking Table Mountain is on my list of things to do.  I just wanted to share this picture so that you can see what I see at night. Isn't it awesome?


From South Africa With Love

Baker's Joy

I went into a bakery supply store today named CAB Foods, I was ecstatic.  They have everything that you need to make awesome cakes and desserts.  You just can't find those things anywhere in Cape Town. I know that some of you are thinking "You were so excited about clean eating , what is this?" Well, sometimes the best way to people's hearts is through their stomach.  Let's be honest a majority of the time it's the only way.  Those are not toy decorations you see but pre made fondant!!! Holla!! They only cost about 8-20 cents each and trust me they are worth it. It is the only store that sells American brown sugar that you use to bake, the other stores sell the coarse brown sugar that you find at Starbucks as brown baking sugar.  I know, I know..... I was just as shocked as you are. I plan on asking my friends who are coming to visit to bring me brown sugar because the holidays are right around the corner (You can't see me but I have puppy dog eyes).  Well, another discovery has been made and there are roads yet to be travelled (literally).  I'll keep you posted.

From South Africa With Love

Yes, it's an Octopus

So.... I had to post this because, I just had to. The price is six American dollars per pound almost 7, the price you see now is rand which is the South African currency.  The name of the store that we are in is called the Fruit and Veg it's basically a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, HEB Central Market, Sprouts, or a Fresh Market any health food store that you can think of.  Before I left San Antonio I had a conversation with my good friend Hannah about grass feed beef, cage free chickens, organic milk and you name it. I wanted to change the way that my family and I eat, I'm getting older and my body is letting me know that the junk that I put in it is not welcome there any more.  Don't worry I'm not about to go on a four page rant about eating healthy, this is something that I need to do for me.  So, back to the topic.  Everything here is organic there are no steroids or hormones injected into the meat, no preservatives in the breads and milk or dairy.  Clean eating for a fraction of the cost!!!!!!  There are down sides to this because you have to use everything in about 4 or 5 days unless you freeze it, but the good definitely out weighs the bad. This is not my shock and awe day that is coming up, this was my oh my gosh an octopus on ice moment. I promise not to disappoint!

From South Africa With Love

New Beginnings

The pastoral change went well, we are so looking forward to what God has for the Mitchell's Plain church.  We had three of our baby works in service.  Larry and Mona Mitchell did an awesome job, they will be missed.  Everyone was very welcoming and they are looking forward to what God has in store for their city.  The morning and night services were powerful.  We thank God and Pastor Joseph Campbell for the opportunity to minister the gospel, it is such a privilege to be here and we don't take it lightly. Thank you for your prayers!!! And don't stop now, we are going to need as much prayer as possible!


From South Africa With Love


P.S. We are about to go on another excursion soon and I promise you will be shocked and amazed!

Club Eternity

My family and I had the pleasure of going to the Gugulethu Church tonight and participating in their music scene named Club Eternity.  Don't you just love the name (rhetorical). It is a totally free concert that the church host to preach the name of Jesus.  It was amazing, the talent there is unbelievable!!!!!! Pastor Bobby and Barbara Rugnao are such wonderful people, they really love the people in their church. Their daughter Shelia is visiting from California and her and my kids clicked immediately (pastor's kids).  The girl singing is Vuvu. Her name is longer but to spare us both the pain of me learning it she shortened it to Vuvu, God bless her precious soul. She was so incredible that I had to post it. My son's also rapped it was awesome the equipment went out so they took turns rapping and beat boxing, the church loved it. You learn to improvise, the show must go on.  I had a great time tonight and I look forward to even greater things.

From South Africa With Love

Where There's A Will....

My kiddos will find a way to have fun no matter the circumstance.  It was too cold to get into the water so they decided to entertain themselves in other ways.  They are truly resilient, always have been.  They make the transition to another country look easy.  There are noticeable differences but they look through rose colored glasses, thank God. Except for the ketchup, there are numerous complaints voiced about the ketchup.  It taste as if it has cinnamon in it and it's really sweet. The ketchup will not receive a pardon.  Lyzzette, my sister in law would love the coke here (although she has sworn off of soft drinks) it taste like the coke from Puerto Rico. We can't wait until summer!!! Then the adventuring will really begin!!! As soon as my container (whom I now consider a hostage) is cleared from customs, I will post recipes that I am making (mostly from pinterest). I'll give making bread, homemade cakes, cookies and other sugary substances a shot.  You'll be privy to my successes and failures, there will probably be more failure than success. Never fear, I will be victorious!!!!!

From Africa With Love

Penguins

Here are a couple more penguin pictures!!!!!

Surfs Up

It was 66 degrees outside and people were surfing!!!! Look at that cutie, they start them young. She wasn't surfing but she was dressed for it.  She was barefoot and running around squealing in delight.  I was standing there in a long sleeve shirt, jeans and a coat.  I looked ridiculous compared to the people on the beach.  There were people tanning for goodness sake!!!! I could not believe the amount of people on the beach, you would think that it as 90 degrees out and that the water was not freezing cold.  

We are heading into spring now, by December we will be in shorts. I'll swim then but, in safer warmer water.  Sharks love cold water.

Boulders Beach

Today we went to Boulders Beach to see the penguins.  We had to.  My daughter was driving us insane about seeing penguins and baboons, so we at least have the penguin part covered. It was beautiful as you can see.  Penguins bite. Were you aware of that? I wasn't and was quite shocked at the multitude of signs warning us not to touch them. Who knew that they were such blood thirsty creatures? They really are cute though, and their babies are blue.  I have a few more pictures, I wanted to post them all but there were too many so I will have to give detailed descriptions of them separately.  Just a tidbit of information on these cuties before I move on to the other pictures. These penguins were previously called Jackass penguins because they bray like donkeys. Ha! I think that's cool.  They have been renamed African penguins, not so cool. They leave their chicks at the age of 30 days, both parents go out to sea. They rally together for protection. Cool huh? I have a few more pictures to post, so I shall move along.

SPURS

This is perhaps one of the cutest restaurants that I have ever eaten in.  It was called SPURS.  Settle down San Antonio it has nothing to do with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker or basketball period.  It is their version of Tex Mex.  I was warned against ordering anything that was portrayed as Mexican food, so I stuck with chicken.  The service was great the waiter Tabo (pretty sure I botched the spelling) was teaching my kids Cosa, he also told them not to do the clucking sound that they do when they speak.  It would be offensive because they are not true Africans.  I appreciate those words of wisdom, I wouldn't want to cluck myself into someone's bad graces.  My father in law needs this bit of information, he was clucking and jumping around like a deranged chicken before we left. He thought it was cute.  On a different note, I bought a jacket!!!!!! I am so warm and happy now. I was sure that I would die of hypothermia before the weekend. No, seriously I did.  I can venture further out into the unknown, well unknown to me anyway. Good night, people. Same time, same place tomorrow? It's a date.

From Africa With Love

We're Here!

We have arrived!!! I am so jet lagged.  We are 6-7 hours ahead depending on what state you live in.  The flight went well, I slept most of it which is why I'm jet lagged.  I was also horribly unprepared for the weather!!  It gets cold in Africa, very cold.  I brought no winter clothes with me, and I hate cold weather. Although, I was informed that it was winter here it was too late my container with my winter clothes were already en route to South Africa. The only saving grace is that we got an email yesterday and our container will be here tomorrow!!!!! It still has to clear customs but it'll be here so that is good news indeed. I plan on taking tons of pictures as soon as we learn the city.  I absolutely love the diverse cultures here, the different dialects and ethnic groups. People are so shocked when I speak because they automatically think that I'm a native until I talk and then they are literally slack jawed. I can't tell you the amount of people that tried to speak to me in afrikaans (their native tongue), I just stared at them like a bull frog in a hail storm.  I plan on learning the language to at least know if I'm being talked about, there is nothing worse than sitting there smiling while someone calls you a lice infested donkey. We will take over the pastorate on Sunday so please pray for a smooth transition, I promise to keep you updated as we go along.  Thank you for your prayers! We covet them.