Inside Jozi Wahm's Kitchen- Easy Kiddies Fun Food

I am always looking for creative ways to get my kids to eat healthy foods. This sometimes needs a bit of creativity. For previous ideas see Margy Vally from the Olive Branch Cookery School's enticing recipes see here. 

Today I am going to share a couple of the quick, easy staple favourites in our household:

Smiley Sandwiches

While regular sandwiches covered in salad bits tend to get wasted, these smiley sandwiches get gobbled up every time. These are very simple to make. 

I take a roll (when I do these smileys,the kids do not notice if I sneak in wholewheat seeded rolls) and cut them in half. Then I spread with a layer of cottage cheese (or a cheese spread, as used in the above picture).

Next, we arrange the various salad bits to make a face, depending on what we have available (eg. lettuce hair, pepper nose, tomato mouth, cucumber eyes etc, there are dozens of variations). Noodle wanted freckles on the ones in the picture, so we sprinkled with poppyseeds.

You can use regular bread to make 'Minions' (cover bread with a piece of pre-sliced cheese and cut cold meat or cucumbers for the eyes and mouth. Alternatively, flower or butterfly shapes on the bread have also proven popular.

Crunchy Munchy Muesli

This is a quick and easy breakfast idea. I take plain yoghurt (our family loves the Lancewood double cream one) and add a generous drizzle of honey and some muesli (I like the Vital one because it is tasty and comes in a convenient strip of little packets, which works for us since we do not have muesli daily).

The top was decorated with a grape face with banana hair.

Eggstatic Eggies

I make sunny side up eggs in various shapes (mainly hearts and teddy bears). When cracking the egg, it is poured into a cookie cutter which is placed in a hot, lightly greased pan with a flat surface and left to set for a minute or two. Season as desired. You could also separate the whites from the yokes and have separate yellow and white eggs. 

Hint: use a metal cookie cutter as plastic may melt and hold the cutter down firmly until the egg white starts to set, otherwise it will ooze out of the bottom and not hold its shape. If it does ooze, you can salvage thus by using the cutter to shape once cooked, but it looks much neater if you can avoid oozing.

I serve with toast, also cut with cookie cutters.

Oaty Snacks

For an easy toddler snack, I take leftover jungle oats (about a cupful) and add a mashed banana. I add lots of cinnamon, drop spoons full in a greased baking tray and bake for about fifteen minutes. You can add a bit of honey to sweeten, but my kids don't seem to mind when I omit it. Grated apple can also be added for variety.

(These work well as teething biscuits).

Scissor Happy- Easy Cut and Paste Activities for Little Ones

Noodle has just mastered the technique of using scissors to cut paper, so cut and paste activities are very popular with her at the moment. This means paper cuttings all over the house but I have indulged her as this is great for encouraging the development of fine motor skills. (Also, these are activities which she can do on her own with little intervention from my side, so I can get some work done while she does these).

Here are some of the cut and paste activities we have been doing:

• "Shopping cart"- This is something Noodle requests over and over. We draw a big trolley on a piece of paper. Then I give Noodle some grocery store pamphlets and get her to cut and paste the items she is 'buying'. I sometimes add a twist by telling her to find only healthy food or some other specific category of items. Another variation of the above is that we draw a house and make her cut and paste furniture and other items and place them in the correct room of the house. 
• I let her cut out shapes using paper, foam, wool and cardboard and paste these onto paper to create pictures.
• Paper jewellery creations- I let her cut strips of paper and glue the ends together to make bracelets. Several smaller, thinner 'bracelet' loops can also be interlinked to make paper necklaces. Larger sheets of paper or cardboard can be used to make crowns.
• We have tons of paper plates left over from past birthdays and these are cut to make masks (Pooh Bear and the Ninja Turtle ones were big hits), flowers, clocks and many more. 
  
  
• I help Noodle to make 'snowflakes' out of paper. (Use a square piece of paper, fold in quarters and then cut patterns).
  
• Craft scissors can be used to create all kinds of exciting patterns (though Noodle still finds these hard to use).
• There is also a wealth of cutting printables available online and these also prove to be popular.

Obviously, with children, blunt nosed safety scissors should always be used. We try to recycle where possible using leftover material from other projects.

Working From Home Series- Ten Tips on How to Actually Get Work Done

I previously posted a broad guideline as to getting started with working from home.

So now you have all your ducks in a row, business registrations sorted, a website and a home office. How do you manage to practically get things done from home?

• Do not fall into the trap of slumping on the couch in your pyjamas or tracksuit every day. You may be able to afford to sleep in for a few more minutes as you do not need to beat morning traffic, but start your day as if you are going to the office. Shower, get dressed, put on your make up (if you usually wear make up). It may just be a mindset thing but you will feel more productive and more confident.

• Plan, plan, plan. You should have set goals for the month, for the week and set a (flexible) schedule at the beginning of each day setting out what you need to achieve for the day. Be realistic and make provisions for any disruptions in your day that you know are going to occur (like school pick ups or doctors appointments). Similarly, figure out when your most productive times are and schedule key tasks for those times. Then- stick to your plan.

• That having been said, life happens and you have to accept that. Especially if you are a parent, there will be days where a cranky, teething baby or a school emergency derail your plans completely. Have a plan B, see to the most urgent tasks at hand, manage any expectations from clients by keeping them informed of any deadline shifts and then get back on track the next day.

• Out of sight, out of mind. As you might not physically be seen every day like those who work in offices or retail spaces, it is easy for potential clients to forget that you are there. While you do not want to harass people or appear to be spamming, some gentle reminders that you are there are crucial. This does not have to be direct marketing, perhaps posting an article on LinkedIn or forwarding a joke or article of interest to a client will mean that they remember you when your services are needed. Hopefully, the next time they need the services that you provide, you will be the first person they have in mind.

• Speak to others who have started similar businesses (possibly in a different area if it is a fiercely competitive market). While this may seem intimidating, they will likely be honored that you consider them as role-models. 

• To use your time most efficiently, diarise intensive work slots where you are completely focused on the task at hand with no distractions. Use these slots for more complex tasks. It is easy to think you can multitask, but distractions such as having the television or radio on or even social media feeds can hamper productivity. Log out of Facebook and Twitter completely during these slots unless you need to be active on there right then for work purposes.

•  Be flexible in your working hours. If late nights or 5 am is your best chance to get work done, then work at those times. However, you also need to be available during regular hours so that your clients can actually communicate with you.

• Delegate where possible. For example, if you can afford to get help with the housework a couple of times a week (or to watch kids for a short while), you can free up valuable time to get work done.

• Use technology to free more time. Use your laptop, smartphone or tablet to enable you to work while getting other tasks done. Have Wifi available across your property so that you can send off emails etc while watching your children play outside.

• If you are working with your children around, set boundaries for older children (for example that they need to be quiet if mommy is on the phone). Have pre-planned activities ready for them to keep themselves happily amused with minimal adult assistance. With babies, a wrap may be a good hands-free investment. Use nap times to your advantage to get the most done.

This Month's Featured Blog- Hayley's Joys

There are so many great South African mommy bloggers out there and we will be showcasing a new amazing South African mommy blogger each month.

This month we feature the beautiful Cape Town based Hayley Malan of Hayley's Joys- to find her amazing blog you can click on the featured blogger button in the left margin or go to https://hayleysjoys.wordpress.com/ 

Here is what she had to say. 

Who is Hayley and what is your blog all about?

I'm a wife, working mom of 2 kids and my blog is a portrayal of my love for all things pretty which includes some lifestyle, DIY decor, fashion and mommy stuff. 

What inspired you to start blogging?

I always had a passion for writing and always loved the idea of a blog. Last year I just decided to make that happen! 

You have a newborn baby boy and an older girl (they are both gorgeous by the way!). How do you find the time to blog?

It's sometimes difficult to find the time as I have a full time job too. I however reserve a few hours on a Sunday to plan and draft posts for the coming week which works out well.  

What are the three strangest things you have ever done?

I have serious Mommy brain at the moment and the only thing I can think of is more recent where I literally pulled my baby out while giving birth. It was a weird yet amazing experience.

What do you when you are not blogging?

The kids keep me pretty busy and at this point in time my husband and I are trying our best to make our daughter feel just as special as she did before her little brother arrived. 

             

Right now:

a.    What are you wearing? Nursing tank and leggings

b.    What is on your reading list? ‘David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

c.   What was the last thing you watched on television?  America’s next top model

d.   What was the last thing you ate? A wrap 

Inside Jozi WAHM's Kitchen- The Birth of the Gingerbread Pie

I was making chicken pie for supper and Noodle was playing with the leftover pastry dough. She was playing with my cookie cutters and cut out a couple of gingerbread man shapes.

And so the idea of the gingerbread pie was born.

This is how we made it:

-Cut out two gingerbread man shapes out of the pastry;

-Add the filling. We used apricot jam for one and Nutella for the other.

-Top with the second piece of pastry and press down on the edges so that the filling does not leak.

-Sprinkle generously with sugar, cinnamon powder and ginger powder. (Alternatively, the spices could be added when mixing your pastry batter.)

- We added two raisins for eyes.

-Bake at 180 degrees celsius for 25 minutes (this may differ depending on your oven).

-Serve with a side scoop of cream or ice-cream.

Unfortunately I did not get a picture of the end product as they were scoffed up before they even cooled down, but I think piping like a traditional gingerbread man would take this treat to another level.

Inside Jozi WAHM's Kitchen- Strawberry Cheesecake

I am a sucker for cheesecake and having made my favourite, super rich, decadent and very fattening one this weekend, I have decided to share the recipe. Did I mention that it is easy to make and does not even need baking? Go on, try it... you know you want to!

NO BAKE STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

BASE: 

• 125g melted butter
•  1 box marie biscuits

Crush the biscuits (I am lazy so I whizz in the blender) and mix with the butter.
 

Press into a greased springform tin lined with wax paper. I cut the wax paper into a circle slightly larger than the pan and let the wax paper overlap slightly out of the bottom of the pan for easy removal.

FILLING:

Mix:

• 1 tub smooth cream cheese, 
• 1 tin condensed milk, 
• 1 cup fresh cream, 
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 
• a dash of vanilla essence. Beat until almost stiff.

Boil 100ml boiling water with 2 tbsp gelatine. (Alternatively you could use 3tbsp agar agar, but I find that gelatine gives more consistent results. I use the halaal variety available from the spice shops). Stir until dissolved and pour into cream cheese mixture and mix well. Pour over the biscuit base.

TOPPING:

Top with strawberries (or any other fruit). On Sunday I did not have fresh strawberries so I used granadilla pulp and a bit of tinned strawberry. Kiwi fruit, tinned peaches or any other berries also work well.

Glaze the fruit with a layer of jelly (following the instructions on the box).

Let the cheesecake set in the fridge for a few hours, preferably overnight. 

Tip: To get the cheesecake out of the tin without cracks, loosen the edges with a hot knife. Dip the knife in hot water as you go along for a smooth edge. Then unclip the springform pan and slide the bottom off. Alternatively, you could make mini cheesecakes in greased foil cups.

ENJOY!!!

An Epic Family Long Weekend in Jozi

This long weekend, Jozi WAHM and family decided to have a family fun weekend and explore what was on offer in Jozi. We decided to holiday in our own city and cram as much fun into the long-weekend as possible with a one-year old and four-year old in tow. Here are the highlights:

Friday:

The highlight for me was getting to sleep in late(ish), which never happens since Noodle and Squish are both early birds. Noodle slept over at granny's house and Squish had a bit of a rough night so he slept in the morning.

In the afternoon, after Friday prayers, a family bowling trip at the Zone, Rosebank was on the cards. I am not very good at bowling and have not been bowling in about seven years, but it was fun nevertheless (although I did spend much of the time running after Squish, who was determined to pick up bowling balls that are literally heavier than he is). Noodle loved the experience. They are able to modify the lanes to be quite kiddy friendly. Besides the child bumpers on the sides of the lanes, they have a contraption with an incline so that little ones with weak little arms can roll the balls with enough momentum to actually knock something. I appreciated the fact that the establishment did not force us to wear stinky bowling shoes. 

We also had a late lunch at Burger King. I was salivating at the Oreo pop-up shop directly across it but the idea of those long queues with two little ones was off putting.

The Zone, Rosebank

Saturday:

We decided we would spend a couple of hours at the Rand Show, another event we had not attended in several years. To our surprise, there was so much to keep us busy that we ended up spending the entire day.

We did a bit of shopping and were surprised to find quite a bit of free entertainment for the kids in the shopping halls- the Pirates Paradise (a big play area which had a variety of giant jumping castles and slides), putt putt, gingerbread making, lego's and even free popcorn and candyfloss. There were booths for kids to watch their favourite cartoons but I was relieved that this was not even requested by my kids. 

There were also fun learning experiences. The science hall had plenty of interesting things for kids to try and Noodle enjoyed the Sci-bono displays. Another hall had little roads for kids to learn road safety and also displays of police cars, ambulances etc, which Noodle found fascinating.

Top: An electric experiment | Bottom: Noodle successfully builds the tangram puzzle

The favourite for Squish was the animal farm and he enjoyed interacting with the animals and even a dog show. No surprise, the amusement park rides were also a big hit for both kids. 

By far the biggest highlight of the day was that Noodle and I went on a helicopter ride, which is something Noodle always said she would love to do one day (and something I had never tried before either). We promised her that we would take her if she walked through all the halls and she kept her end of the deal. I was worried that she might be frightened but she LOVED every second of it. The ride was very short but we had fantastic views over the south of Johannesburg. Okay, some of it is just mine dumps but the view of the FNB Stadium with the Johannesburg city centre as its backdrop was spectacular. 

Helicopter ride over Jozi at the Rand Show

Sunday:

On Sunday, A's family came over for lunch. Luckily, my sister-in-law, who is a great cook, offered to make the main course of chicken biryani, served with the traditional accompaniments of dahi  (a spicy sour milk sauce), papar (a spicy crisp) and achaar (spicy pickles). I did salads and desserts (cheesecake and chocolate mousse). I will post the recipe of my strawberry cheesecake, which always ends up being gobbled separately.

We do not celebrate Easter, being Muslim, but I must confess that we love scoffing down the easter eggs (any excuse for chocolate is good in my books).

In the evening we had family movie night at home (a tradition we do at least monthly) with a family friendly movie, lights dimmed and popcorn. It is rare that we find a movie that the kids like and that we can tolerate, but the evening's choice of Disney's 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' fit the bill.

Monday:

The highlight of the day was a trip to the Sultan Bahu Fete, an annual event which is held every Easter weekend in Mayfair, Central Johannesburg as a fundraiser for Sultan Bahu's various social outreach projects (which include a children's home, a dialysis centre, feeding schemes, drug rehabilitation etc.)

It is pretty much like a smaller, Indian version of the Rand show (sans the hefty entrance fee), with lots and lots of bargain shopping and an amusement park (which is almost as big as the Rand Show one). Despite having large grounds, the turnout was massive this year, so it did get extremely crowded, which made it difficult to see all that was on offer at the flea market. After some shopping, Noodle went on even more amusement park rides (like she did not get her fill on Saturday). After some snacks, it was time to call it a day.

Working From Home Series- Getting Started with Your Startup

We previously blogged on the idea of working from home and what you should consider before making the decision to do so (see previous post here). 

So now you have had that big epiphany as to what business you will start and have made the big decision to work from home. You have a business plan in place and have done your market research (if not, go one step back- a business plan is crucial!). You have set aside some space at home for your home office and are ready to get started.

What next? Well, you will have to sort out some of the more tedious details. First get lots and lots of coffee (and make sure you include a good coffee machine in your office equipment list) and then proceed to the steps below.

(Note: the below information is of a general nature and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. Please consult a professional where required). 

• Branding is a whole topic on its own, but to begin with, you will have to create a brand for your business by creating a name for your business, a logo, a website, get business cards, a business letterhead etc. 
• Consider how you will keep your business financial records and whether you can do this yourself or if you need the services of a part-time bookkeeper going forward.
• You will need to set up a business bank account. It is worth your while to shop around and compare pricing and also the services the various banks offer to start up businesses. Your bank may turn out to be an invaluable business partner in the initial set up phases as it is in their best interest for your business to thrive. If you require funding, while banks are not your only option, it is the most common choice.
• Regardless of your business type, you will need to check what the requirements are in terms of income taxes, VAT etc. and do the necessary registrations in this regard via the Receiver of Revenue. (You will do this after your company registration if you are going to be trading as a company).
• Do some research as to the compliance requirements for your business and how you will be affected by legislation like the Companies Act or the Consumer Protection Act. Depending on the industry, certain licenses may be needed. Seek legal advice if necessary.
• If you are employing staff, you will also have to register for UIF (unemployment insurance fund), PAYE (pay as you earn), COID (compensation for injuries and diseases).  These are done via the Department of Labour.
• Consider whether you need business insurance, including liability insurance and key person insurance.
• You will also need to consider whether your business will require BEE certification. While small start ups are typically exempted from having to apply for a BEE certificate, it may give you a competitive advantage to do so.
• Finally, how will you trade? You might choose to be a sole proprietor, close corporation, private company, partnership, trust etc. Each of these options have important consequences and it is important to know what the pro's and cons of each option are (and also ensure that you understand the tax consequences of each). Once you have decided on the type of entity, you will need to proceed with the necessary name reservations and registrations (if any). We will go into some detail regarding the options as to the type of business entity below.

TYPES OF BUSINESSES

1. Sole Proprietorships

This is the simplest form of business and has no formal requirements to start up. Basically, you are the business and there is no separate legal structure, making it a very easy and simple option. You will have to pay taxes on your income but this will not be separate from your personal taxes, some of which you can set off with business expenses.

The downside is that your personal assets are not separated from your business at all and if the business fails, your personal assets are at risk. If you are married in community of property, your spouse's assets are also at stake. 

The new Companies Act requires trading as names to be registered with CIPC if you trade in a name other than your own.

2. Close Corporations (CC's)

 
This form of business has been discontinued and new CC’s may not be registered. You may buy and transfer membership of an existing CC but there is no real benefit in doing so.

3. Partnerships

A partnership may be set up between two to twenty individuals going into business together. Like a sole proprietorship, there are no real formalities, although a written partnership agreement is not a legal requirement, it is recommended that you do have one in place, preferably professionally drafted.

The downside is that, like a sole proprietorship, the assets and liabilities of each partner are linked to the business and creditors may attack personal possessions if the business fails. You are also liable for all of the partnership debts, even if incurred by another partner. The partnership also ceases to exist if one partner dies, in which case a new partnership has to be constituted.

4. Private Companies ((Pty) Ltd)

 
The new Companies Act aims to make it simpler to set up a private company. The advantage of having a company is that the company is a separate legal entity, so your assets are separate from those of the business and in most cases, only the capital that you have invested is at risk. Trading by way of a company can create a more professional image and instil confidence in potential clients. If you trade by way of a company, there will be a lot more formalities required, board meetings, resolutions etc. However, this structural formality may be a blessing in disguise as it will force you to operate in a disciplined manner.

The company will be owned by one or more shareholders and managed by one or more directors who will run the company. For a home business, it is likely that you will be the sole director and sole shareholder.

So how do you start a company? The company has to be registered with CIPC (you can do this yourself and the forms are available from their website but it is time consuming, especially if you are new to the process). It is recommended that you consult with an attorney or chartered accountant who can advise you on the best structures for your company and handle all the paperwork needed in order to register. You will need to submit annual returns and companies of a certain size will need to be audited.

Note: there are various other types of companies, including public companies, personal liability companies (those ending with "Inc") and non profit companies (those ending with NPC") but we have looked primarily at private companies as these are the most likely fit for businesses run from home.

5. Business Trusts

A business may also be set up as a trust, which is formed by way of a trust deed registered with the Master of the High Court. This vehicle is often used for family businesses as it allows for some form of business continuity from generation to generation. There are also slightly fewer formalities than with companies.

On the flip side, trusts are taxed at a high forty percent in South Africa. In addition, you need to know what you are doing as a poorly drafted trust deed can severely restrict your ability to conduct business.