Hot tips & Tricks for the Festive Season

What a year! And hasn’t if flown by. All of us here at EAN wish you a safe and relaxing break and look forward to working with and seeing you in 2019.

Feeling lazy – grab a good book, a coffee (or a magarita) and RELAX! Preferably in a hammock or on the beach!

PICNIC!

Another great way to spend your break with family and friends is to grab some delicious food, a picnic rug, and set up a picnic at your favourite spot. Dress it up with some bunting, napkins and a decorative rug. Here are some tasty food ideas to prepare in lieu of your summer picnic.

Thirsty – prepare some refreshing and tasty drinks for your crew. Pack in a cooler with slices of mint and lemon and a colourful straw!

2 summer picnic drinks refreshing and zesty



Home made country style thyme lemonade

Hands On Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

8 cups water
2 cups sugar
1 ounce thyme sprigs, stripped, plus more for garnish
1 3/4 cups fresh lemon juice
Ice cubes
Lemon slices, for garnish

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water with the sugar and thyme and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer for 10 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a separate container and let cool to room temperature.

Once syrup has cooled, combine stir in the lemon juice and remaining water. Serve over ice, garnished with a lemon slice and thyme sprig.

Pineapple Mint Sweet Tea
Serves: 10
Hands On Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours and 0 minutes

Ingredients
10 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
8 large sprigs fresh mint, plus more for serving, if desired
8 black tea bags
3 cups pineapple juice
1 (6-ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
Lemon slices, for serving

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar and mint sprigs.

When the sugar has dissolved, add the tea bags, cover and steep for 20 to 30 minutes.

Once the tea is stepped, discard the tea bags and transfer the tea to a large pitcher. Stir in the pineapple juice and lemon concentrate. Refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 2 days.

Remove the steeped mint sprigs and serve over ice with lemon slices and additional fresh mint, if desired.



FOOD PICNIC IDEAS:


CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

• 150g butter, chopped

• 2 x 180g blocks dark chocolate, chopped

• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

• 1/2 cup caster sugar

• 3 eggs, lightly beaten

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 cup plain flour, sifted

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 cup milk choc bits

• Cocoa powder, for dusting

METHOD

Step 1
Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 3cm-deep, 20cm x 30cm (base) lamington pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, allowing a 2cm overhang on all sides.

Step 2
Place butter and dark chocolate in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until smooth and combined. Remove from heat. Stir in brown sugar and caster sugar. Cool for 5 minutes.

Step 3
Stir in eggs, vanilla, flour, milk and choc bits. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Level top. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until top is firm to touch. Cool in pan. Cut into squares. Dust with cocoa powder. Serve.


ROAST VEGIE COB LOAF:

INGREDIENTS

• 200g butternut pumpkin, peeled, thinly sliced

• Olive oil cooking spray

• 1 large zucchini, thinly sliced

• 15cm approx (460g) round cob loaf

• 150g tub rocket with cashew and parmesan chunky dip

• 4 slices green olive mortadella

• 200g chargrilled eggplant

• 60g swiss cheese, thinly sliced

• 200g chargrilled red capsicum

METHOD

Step 1
Heat a large frying pan or chargrill pan over medium-high heat. Spray pumpkin with oil. Cook, in batches, for 3 to 4 minutes each side or until tender. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat with zucchini. Allow to cool completely.

Step 2
Place loaf on a plate. Cut top quarter from loaf. Scoop out centre and discard, leaving a 2cm-thick shell. Spread dip inside loaf and over cut side of top. Place pumpkin over base of loaf shell. Top with zucchini, mortadella, eggplant, cheese and capsicum. Replace top.

Step 3 
Wrap loaf tightly in plastic wrap. Top with another plate. Place a heavy object on top to compress filling. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavours to develop. 

Step 4
Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan-forced. Unwrap loaf. Place on a baking tray. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until crust is crisp. Slice and serve warm or cold. 

CARMELISED ONION AND TOMATO MINI TARTLETS

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 large onion, thinly sliced

• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

• 1 teaspoon caster sugar

• 3 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed

• 2 eggs

• 100ml light thickened cream

• 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, halved

• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan

METHOD

Step 1
Preheat oven to 200C and grease two 12-hole muffin pans.

Step 2
Heat oil in a heavy-based frypan over medium-low heat, add onion and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add vinegar and sugar and cook for a further 5-10 minutes until soft and caramelised.

Step 3
Cut 20 rounds from pastry using a 6.5cm cutter. Press into muffin holes to cover base and a little of the sides.

Step 4
Whisk eggs and cream together. Place 1 teaspoon each of onion and egg mixture on each pie. Top with a tomato half and some parmesan. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden. Cool slightly, then turn out.

For the next few weeks hopefully we will be doning a sarong! So here are 4 Ways to wear a sarong!


With beach season fast approaching, a summer cover-up in the shape of a sarong is a must-have to take you to the beach and beyond. We’ve rounded up four easy ways to wear this versatile garment

Summer is around the corner and with it comes beach season and plenty of vitamin D! Whether you’re happiest on the beach or are a tentative visitor, it’s always a good idea to have a cover-up handy. Take yourself from the beach to a restaurant with one of these great sarong cover-up ideas. Use your sarong as a towel, a dress, a skirt and more. And with the variety of colours, prints and fabrics available, you’ll want more than just one in your summer wardrobe!

Here are 4 ways to wear a sarong:

Style 1: This style is probably the easiest and most popular. Instead of pulling on a pair of shorts, simply tie your favourite sarong around your hips for a comfy, relaxed look. Choose a fun tropical print for an island-style vibe!



Style 2: This pretty sarong dress is the perfect option to take you from the beach to the bar. With a sophisticated neck tie, the casual beach basic is given a sophisticated twist that’s appropriate for a sit-down meal away from the beach. Simply drape your sarong around your body, bring the corners up around your neck and tie it at the back.



Style 3: Here’s another dress option to keep you cool yet stylish. This simple silhouette is a great choice for afternoon drinks or a quick and casual lunch break. Don’t forget to accessorise with a gorgeous beach bag and a sun-savvy summer hat. 

Style 4: If you’re wanting a sophisticated look for your sarong, this is the style for you. Tied at both the waist and the shoulder, this dress style shows a little skin while still remaining sophisticated and cool.

DIY PEDICURE

Finally we can expose our feet in sandals and thongs. Get your feet sandal-ready with these easy steps to the perfect at-home pedicure.

Turn up that Spotify playlist, pamper yourself, and let’s dive into this at-home pedi feet first.

Soak

Start with clean, polish-free nails. Fill a basin (or your bathtub) with warm water and add in your favorite body wash or gentle hand soap. Soak your feet for two to five minutes.

File

Remove your feet from the soak. While they’re still slightly wet, scrub both feet with a two-sided foot file, focusing on the rougher areas. Start with the coarser grain side to file calluses. Follow with the fine grain side to smooth things out.

Foot Scrub

Take your DIY pedicure up another level with a soothing and pampering foot scrub. Look for one with natural pumice particles to remove the last remnants of dry skin. When you’re done, dip your feet back in the foot bath and wipe off any excess with a damp towel.

Shape

Now it’s time to get your to clip and shape your nails. Clip each nail straight across and use an emery board underneath the edge to gently shape and smooth each nail. It’s important to do this step before the cuticle softener to avoid damaging your nails.

Clean Up Cuticles

Apply a drop of cuticle softener and remover to the base of each nail. Let your toes sit for one to two minutes so Vanish can really soak in and do its thing. Using your two-sided cuticle pusher, gently push back the cuticles by laying the curved end on your nail plate.

At-Home Pedi Tip: Using a cuticle nipper is entirely optional. If you do, only use it to nip dead skin and hang nails—never live skin or any parts of the cuticle that are protecting your nail bed.

Polish

Put toe separators on both feet and sit in a position that’s comfortable and allows you to easily reach them. Apply a base coat and allow to dry. Then it’s time to polish. Apply one or two coats of color and finish with your favorite top coat.

Home Pedicure Tip: For longer-lasting polish, apply in thin layers and allow each coat to dry before applying the next.

Finish with Foot Lotion

When your polish has completely dried, finish off your at-home pedicure with some soothing mositurising lotion. All that’s left to do now is show off those beautiful feet and let them bask in the sunshine.

CHRISTMAS HUMOUR – perfect to tell at the family Christmas day……

• What is the best Christmas present in the world?
  A broken drum, you just can't beat it!
  
  
• Who is Santa's favourite singer?
  Elf-is Presley!
  
  
• What song do you sing at a snowman's birthday party? Freeze a jolly good fellow!
  
  
• What did Adam say to his wife on the day before Christmas?
  It's Christmas, Eve!
  
  
• Why is it getting harder to buy Advent calendars?
  Because their days are numbered!
  
  
• Differentiate between Christmas alphabet and ordinary alphabet?
  Answer: The Christmas alphabet has Noel.