Some more 'Green' inspiration for a wedding celebration.

Yesterday I concentrated on many organic, floral ideas for a green wedding. Maybe you will not believe me, but I have more to add to the category of floral ideas for your wedding celebration.....

Who can forget the cake....of course.....and we have not as yet touched the bridal posy / tussie mussie!

My bucket full of inspiration....you will need many of these buckets to complete the task of decorating and arranging for your green, organic wedding reception!

The humble Ladybird is well recognised as a symbol for going green and organic. The reason for this is because the Ladybird is the natural enemy of the mealybug, one of the most threatening pests in the vineyards and in your vegetable patch at home. I stick little decorative ladybird's on the cellophane when I create floral posies....and here I have a beaded wire creation in my bucket.

And now back to one of the most important features of any wedding celebration.....the cake!

This cake is a carrot cake, as requested by the bridal couple..... a great choice as it has loads of moist fruit, carrots and pineapple in it. An easy recipe to go totally organic on...... the icing was cream cheese based.

Decorated with only herbs and flowers, some grated orange rind, a sprinkle of pecan nuts and porcupine quils.... as there were quils on the wedding invitation.  The challenge of decorating with everything fresh is to decorate the cake at the last minute....or hour! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Green' and Organic Wedding Ideas for the month of April.

Since April is the month we celebrated our wedding, I thought it would be fitting to add some green and environmentally friendly wedding ideas to my blog.

There are so many options and choices available to the bride to be these days ...... adding more pressure to one of the most stressful day's of one's life. Just start planning early, making those endless lists of things to do, and check, check and check again......

Here are some of my ideas for a Green Wedding.

These  Iceberg Roses and Mint  leaves and flowers floating in a bowl of water  reminds me of the famous painting by Monet.

 

 

 

 

When planning one's budget for a wedding, the cost of flowers is bound to give any bride to be a shock....especially if you intend to make an impression. My solution to that is to make use of flowers and herbs from friends gardens and simply float them in bowls of water. This makes a wonderful and peaceful table arrangement. Floating candles can be added for evening receptions.
 

How simple and effective just floating mint leaves and floating candles can be?

 

While you are thinking about flowers, the other reason for raiding your friends gardens is to plan for creating your own homemade and organic confetti. Collect rose petals, jasmin flowers, carnation florets, lavender, mint leaves and any other fragrant petals and herbs that  you can lay your hands on. Simply dry them in open baskets. Many churches and reception venues do not allow paper confetti, so this option is a user friendly one!

This homemade Pot Pourri also has cinnamon sticks and dried slices of orange in it. Should you want to spice up your pot pourri, add a selection of spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

Bougainvillea's are among the most colourful plants in the world. If you can find some of these white flowers to add to your organic confetti, you are lucky!

Mix this Crimson Jewel with your dried petals....or use them entirely on their own. Dried, they make wonderful paper flowers for organic confetti.

 
Before we leave the Floral department, there is another area where you will want to use flowers or herbs for decoration.....on the chairs at your ceremony and at the reception.

Use something that will last, such as these Bay leaves. This gives you the opportunity to prepare and decorate well in advance of the ceremony.

 

Should you be placing gifts on your guests seats, you can also add a fragrant touch with some herbs..... once again, it is best to use something that will last for the duration of the ceremony.

 

This hand towel was decorated using lavender and raffia. A lovely touch for the Ladies Room or guest suites.

 

Another reason to search for herbs.... make a small posy to be attached to each guests seat...... you are going to need a lot of help for this one!

 

Add a no cost, Organic touch to your charger plate with a sprig of something from your garden collection .... once again, something that will last.

 

I just have to add my favourite serviette fold with a sprig of herbs ...... the ultimate touch to a formal sit down dinner. I will have to do a step by step shoot to show you how to fold this serviette.

 

 

Should you be placing a small gift at each guests place setting, it could be placed inside the shirt fold instead of a sprig of herbs or a single flower.

A gift for the guys..... add a herbal touch to a bottle of something red ....the guys will love you!

 

 My ideas are endless....there is loads more to follow this blog! I have not yet finished in the floral department either.....
Until my next floral blog, happy gardening!

Family Recipes.......this one a special cake baked for a family reunion.

How wonderful is it that a simple flavour, smell or sound can bring back bright memories of the past......

This time I turned back the clock by baking a Marble Cake introduced to our family many years ago by a business associate of my Dad's. What magical memories I have of being a young girl eating this simple cake with my Dad and his German friends.

Elsabeth's Marble Cake...... with Heidi's touch!

 

Ingredients:

First Bowl:

3 Cups Self Raising Flour
3 Tablespoons Melted Butter
3 Eggs
2 Cups Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Milk


Second Bowl:

3 Tablespoons Cocoa
3 Tablespoons Sugar
100 ml Milk

Method:

Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add melted Butter.

The egg and sugar mixture should leave a trail behind when the blades are lifted out of the bowl.

 

Next, add the sifted flour alternately with the milk until a smooth batter is formed.

Work from the centre of the bowl to incorporate all the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl using a spatula to ensure that no lumps of flour have collected.

Second Bowl:

Remove a third of the batter from the first bowl and add the ingredients for the second ( Cocoa) bowl.

Cocoa and sugar mixed together and milk ready to add to the batter to form the Cocoa mixture.

 

Preparing the Cocoa batter.

 

Grease a large ring mould, a Kugelhopf mould also called a Bundt Tin, very well. For added safety, give the ring mould a light dusting of flour to ensure that the cake does not stick!

Cake tin ready for the two batters.

 

Place half of the batter from the first bowl in the base of the cake tin.
Add the Cocoa batter next, and finally the remainder of the first batter.

Pouring the Cocoa batter on top of the plain batter.

 

Once the last of the plain batter has been poured on top of the cocoa batter, take a knife and pull the batter up and down all the way around the tin to create the marbled effect of the two batters.

 

Bake in a pre heated oven at 180 Degrees C for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the cake.

Allow cake to cool before removing from the cake tin.

 

Cool cake well before decorating with sifted icing sugar.

 

Miniature Easter baskets will add an Easter touch to my Marble Cake.

 

The final touches added...Icing sugar, mint sprigs and a white Iceberg Rose with the Mini Easter baskets........Happy Easter!!!

Aha.....and this is what the inside of your cake should look like! How beautiful is this small hibiscus flower? Hibiscus flowers are edible and safe to use as garnishes for food.

 

Enjoy this cake for afternoon tea.....sitting outside in the garden enjoying the last of the sunny days before Winter sets in....well, that is for us here in South Africa.

Some more Easter Inspiration........

.....to get you motivated to be different this year and to look beyond the strips of marshmallow easter eggs hanging at the check out counters in the supermarkets. There IS more to Easter than marshmallow eggs!

Be colourful and creative, pull out your long lost baskets, buckets and bowls and fill them with Easter treats!

 

 

Easter is not only for choc-aholics..... it is also a time for those of us who enjoy collecting ( as in my case....these eggs) , to showcase our goods!

Department stores are dripping with beautiful Easter decorations such as these in Europe at the moment.

 

 

.... and of course the obligatory Easter Tree is a must in any European home where Easter is celebrated.

 

While you are decorating, you might as well add an Easter touch to your chairs as well. A surprise for your guests when they arrive for your Easter Brunch or Tea!

Easter is all about Eggs... so why not indulge in the perfectly boiled egg accompanied by the ever classic toast and homemade Seville Marmalade?

 

Ensure that everyone receives their dose of Vitamin C ,  with a glass of freshly squeezed Orange Juice!

If you are lucky enough to head out into the Winelands for a hearty Country Breakfast....enjoy, otherwise set up your own country retreat at home.

Easter is all about baskets, so pack up your picnic basket, rugs and cushions and head off to the hills and collapse and enjoy the wonderful smell of nature.

 

 

Until next time, keep on dreaming of that wonderful, sunny, Easter Sunday with friends and family.....and your secret stash of Easter Eggs!

How was your Earth Hour last night?

I trust that you all enjoyed 'time out' in the dark last night?

My favourite candle holder helped create a bit of magic last night.

 

Start planning early for Earth Hour 2012 and spread the word amongst your friends and plan for a large group Earth Hour get together where everyone contributes to the offering by bringing a platter of snacks to be enjoyed without any heating....unless heated using another source of energy!

How about planning a 'Multi Culti' type evening where you enjoy a mixture of taste sensations from various cultures? This image conjures up a mix of Oriental and Moroccan styles......just allow your imagination to flow and see how creative you can be.

Why not create an ethnic and African themed evening, where you can literally 'go wild' and make use of African crafted bowls and dishes and beaded ornaments?

 

Remember to take a walk around your garden and collect herbs, flowers and foliage to adorn your table and to add interest to your garnishes.

Fresh from the garden.... Gooseberries and mint add an elegant touch to this platter. Love the reflection, as always!

 

Remember to complete your commitment to the earth by ending the evening with a recycling mission? Ensure that all guests are reminded of the importance of recycling at their own homes as well....so simple to seperate your glass, paper, plastic, cans and organic matter for compost.
If you require some help, visit  the various websites which will offer advice on drop - off points and recycling depots in your area.

To make the task of collecting empties a little easier, place a suitable container close to your party and insist that all guests place their bottles in it...... it is as easy as that!

 

 I could go on all day....but I am sure you have enough ideas now to get going with your plan for next year's Earth Hour. In the meantime keep up with your recycling, compost making and gardening......Oh yes, and the cooking, crafting and creating as well.

Next time more Easter Inspiration and also more on the Food trends for this year.

mmm...... I wonder what special treat is tucked away in my Easter Box?????

Earth Hour is upon us....are you ready ?

I trust that all who follow my blog will be joining in the largest mass participation of an environmental event in the world? If you are following this worthy initiative, then you will be ready to switch off lights and all non essential pieces of equipment for an hour between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm tonight.

Lanterns, Hurricane lamps and candles are ready to create an enchanting evening?

Oh what a special way of showing that you care  about our fragile earth.....go all out and support this event. YOU will help by adding extra time to the earth hour....why not extend this period to beyond an hour and enjoy no noise, no lights, no television and no interruption of a special quiet time with mother nature?

Pack your picnic basket and head off  to a special location and enjoy the company of friends and family all uniting to celebrate this mighty occassion.

If you are staying at home, make this a special evening where candles burn bright in your home.... and make the magic last a little longer as well.

Enjoy the magic of sunset in your own backyard...... and make a special occassion of it....it is as easy as that!

As well as being aware of Earth Hour, be aware of your carbon footprint and where you shop and what you eat.

Why not commit to shopping locally at farmers markets, eating organically grown produce and commit to support the local community and be ethical? It cannot be that difficult to make a small difference? Imagine IF we ALL tried to do this......?

Enjoy your special time with Mother Nature......I will be back tomorrow with more inspiration for next Earth Hour and beyond......