Thursday 10 April 2014

I   adventure  my cooking  using New Zealand honey instead of using sugar and tried the New Zealand famous Cooking oil -Rice oil instead of Canola. To my surprise the dish was a hit with my family. It is healthier for the whole family.
 Asian pork pita pockets
(serves 4)
· 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
· 1 tbsp soy sauce
· 2 tbsp rewarewa honey
· 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
· 1 tbsp sesame seeds
· 400 g pork steaks, trimmed and thinly sliced
· 2 tsp Rice oil
· Dressing
· 2 tbsp peanut oil
· 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
· 2 tsp fish sauce
· 1 tbsp peanut butter
· 2 tbsp chopped coriander
· 2 cups bean sprouts
· 1 1/2 cups grated carrot
· 4 medium sized pita breads
1. Combine ginger, soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, sesame seeds, maggi garlic stock powder and maggi french onion soup mix in a bowl. Add sliced pork steak. Mix, cover and refrigerate 2-4 hours.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan. Add pork and cook over a high heat for 3-4 minutes.
Salad:
1. Whisk together dressing ingredients. Combine bean sprouts and carrot, toss with dressing.
2. Warm pita pockets, cut open and stuff with pork and salad. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
Preparation time: 
10 minutes plus 2-4 hours marinating time
Cooking time: 
5 minutes

Thursday 13 March 2014

Hand Cream Review: Royal Skin, Maraca, Trilogy



We're all very concerned about our face and body but our hands are quite often neglected. 
Our hands do all the work and I think they deserve some serious everyday pamperin'!
Especially if you're someone like me (with dry skin), a hand cream is a must-have because nothing feels more uncomfortable than having dry hands! 



If you're with me, then read on, 
I will give you my thoughts on the four different hand-creams I've tried. ♥♥





Rich Nourishing Hand Cream – Royal Skin – 75ml

Bloom Hand Cream – Maraca, 100 ml

Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream – Trilogy – 70ml

Rose Hand Cream - Trilogy - 100ml


Made in New Zealand! :-)






Click to purchase

I think the best thing about Royal Skin's Rich Nourishing Hand Cream is the scent. It is very fruity & candy-like and you'll just want to reapply and smell your hands all day. 
It can feel just a little bit oily when fully applied but nothing extreme.

Also, what's more amazing about it, is the fact it contains Active 15+ Manuka Honey and New Zealand Royal Jelly!

It comes in 75ml but the bottle doesn't seem that big so you can carry this in your bag/purse.




Click to purchase


Maraca's Bloom (probably 'cause it smells flowery) Hand Cream was very lotion-like (Even the bottle makes it feel like a moisturiser) and very watery. 
It was less oily than Royal Skin's and very quickly absorbed. - very ideal for everyday use because you really don't want to wait for your hand cream to be absorbed and be able to do nothing while you do!

As you can see in the photo the bottle is quite hard unlike traditional hand creams, so you might want to leave this one at home. - On your study desk or maybe just beside your other makeup products.





Click to purchase

Designed to deliver ultra-hydration with a sophisticated vanilla fragrance, Trilogy's Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream (please ignore the photo; it says Body Cream) was the thickest out of the four I've tried. (probably because this is made for dry skin)

This also contains Manuka honey like Royal Skin's and also contains Aloe Vera, Rosehip Oil, White tea extract, etc.

It did feel a little sticky after it was fully applied, but I loved how it was quickly absorbed and was close to not being greasy at all.





Click to purchase



Full of essential nutrients from jojoba, evening primrose and certified organic rosehip oils, Trilogy's Rose Hand Cream is designed to repaid and help reduce signs of ageing. - Now that sounds pretty awesome for a handcream!

Again, like the Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream this also felt just a tiny little bit sticky after it was fully applied but was non greasy.







Here are some photos I took of my hands 
with the four hand-creams on.

- for a visual comparison. :)












All four products are made in New Zealand and they are all available at Shop New Zealand to purchase. - Just click on the individual images and they will take you to the website!







Sunday 19 January 2014

Henrietta Soaps: Made For Sensitive Skin



Henrietta Soaps started when its founder Henrietta Rutherford Jones from Queenstown started to make her own soaps following an old and closely guarded French Polynesian recipe that was passed down to her through generations.

Using natural ingredients like Goats’ Milk, Lavender, Palm Oil, Jasmine, Sunflower Oil, Honey, and purified Lanolin, Henrietta's soaps are unique and beneficial for those with sensitive skin.


- It’s the All Natural Soaps you’ve been searching for! :-)


Thanks to Goat Milk, the pH is naturally lowered


Sweet-smelling and contains natural antibacterial enzymes to help with healing


Great for children's delicate skin


Tuesday 14 January 2014

It’s Always… Cookie Time!

Cookie Time is a New Zealand snack food manufacturer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Famous for their large delectable cookies, Cookie Time’s story began in 1983, in the kitchen of a one-bedroom flat by Michael Mayell.

image from stuff.co.nz

Michael’s big Chocolate Chunk cookies were the first of their kind in the New Zealand market. After 6 months of promotion in America, Michael was ready to return home to set up his own business with $10,000 in his pocket. With the help of his family members, Cookie Time grew consistently and became an icon.

Still privately owned by the Mayell brothers, it is an iconic New Zealand company and home of most loved New Zealand food brands.
From 1996 to 2008 it held the Guinness Book of Records for making the world’s biggest cookie! :D





Original Chocolate Chunk Cookies - Cookie Time - 630g (9 Cookies)
The original Chocolate Chunk Cookies! What more is there to say?


Monday 6 January 2014

Family owned Happy Valley

Happy Valley was established in 1975 by the late Ben Rawnsley and his wife Dot. It started off as a hobby but quickly grew into a shop based on their farm in South Auckland. It has remained a family owned and operated business ever since. 

Due to the change in shareholding in 2011 Happy Valley is now run by two families; the Lipscombe’s and the Harvey’s. The Lipscombe family focus on Bee Keeping, bringing 5 generations of Bee Keeping expertise to the business. The Harvey family run Happy Valley, being in charge of marketing and sales to assist business growth.

If you’re interested in their overall company values and production of their delicious and beneficial honey products, you can view this video below.

One of the very special things about Happy Valley - The production of Fresh Royal Jelly began in 1990 in Happy Valley, and to this day they remain as the only commercial producers of New Zealand Royal Jelly. :-) 


Happy Valley is UMF certified!


Bee Pollens are rich in Vitamins and Minerals


Happy Valley is very proud of their New Zealand Royal Jelly!


Unique skin cream by Happy Valley formulated with antibacterial properties of Active Manuka honey and Propolis to fight a range of skin infections and ailments.