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Photo: kalavinka / Flickr

Step foot in Argentina or Bolivia and you may find yourself asking “what are these people drinking?” it’s not unusual to see people holding a bowl filled with hot water that is lined with leaves that is sipped, unusually, through a straw. It’s called Yerba Maté and it’s to some South Americans what tea is to the English. It’s made from a small shrub, while the hollow gourds that this drink is served in are found in marketplaces throughout the continent and makes for a popular trinket for tourists. (more…)

Photo: dr.coop / Flickr

This butternut bake recipe does not require any pastry skills as the crust is made with breadcrumbs making it great for cooks who want to get a simple – if indirect – introduction into what goes into making pastries The breadcrumbs are blended with chopped tomato, sesame seeds, grated cheddar cheese and olive oil. The crust doesn’t require any rolling as it is simply sprinkled over the filling and baked until golden brown. Ingredients for the filling include butternut, onion, garlic, feta cheese, hyme, olive oil, mixed spice and seasoning. Replace the butternut with spinach for a spinach and feta cheese dish. Serve with couscous. (more…)

Photo: Smashwords

Amanda Hocking is a writer of paranormal fiction. She published a novel as an ebook in an attempt to raise some urgently needed extra cash. Her previously unpublished book has since sold over 1.5m books. Not only has it made the author a fortune but it has changed the publishing game as we know it. Ed Pilkington points out in his article for The Guardian that Hocking ‘has emerged from obscurity to bestselling status entirely under her own self-published steam.’ (more…)

Photo: fritish / Flickr

Waffles can be served in the traditional way with ice-cream and syrup or they can be served as a more sophisticated dessert with strawberries and Creme Chantilly. To make 12 single waffles or six double waffles, you will need regular flour, sugar, butter, eggs and milk. A waffle iron is essential, as is a bowl and an electric mixer. Preparation and resting time shouldn’t take much longer than half an hour. Allow for a few minutes extra for cooking time. (more…)

Photo: devinlynnx / Flickr

Working creatively not only brings fulfilment but it helps one stay on top of their game. But for many people, the creative muse is a mysterious creature: here one day and gone the next. So how do professional creatives remain inspired? The Guardian recently interviewed a handful of top artists to find out where and how they find their inspiration. Do they have to keep on coaxing themselves like the majority of us do or are they blessed with an endless creative flow? (more…)

Photo: Milkwooders / Flickr

The word permaculture combines the words permanent and agriculture, suggesting a sustainable method of farming. Permaculture works with nature while incorporating organic, agro-forestry and other useful techniques. Poor soil, for example, can be given a boost in the beginning by introducing artificial fertilisers or by planting a green manure crop. Once the soil has been given a kick-start, there need be no further dependence on chemical supplies. A steady release of nutrients can then be supplied by compost. Read on for more permaculture principles. (more…)

Photo: smcgee / Flickr

How often does one bite into a gorgeous-looking celebration cake, only to find that it is tasteless or rubbery? Planet Cake offers several recipes which actually taste as good as they look. There are offers of vanilla cupcakes, chocolate mud cake, white chocolate mud cake, carrot cake and coconut cake. There’s also a flour-less orange and almond cake recipe for those who require a dairy-free and gluten-free cake. These recipes can be prepared in advance, allowing for plenty of decoration time. (more…)

Photo: Stock.Xchng

If you believe you can’t cook or that you need to study cooking to improve, consider this: ‘The truth is you’re already a cook.’ These are the words of celebrated cookbook author and chef, Edward Brown – who also happens to be a Zen priest. As a cooking teacher, he wants his students to taste not only the food but ‘the unique flavour of reality.’ Instead of relying on outside cookbooks, he encourages looking around and asking yourself: ‘What have we here?’ (more…)

Photo: –Mike– / Flickr

‘There are a million and one ways to make a million dollars,’ says Tim Ferriss in his book The 4-Hour Work Week. ‘From franchising to freelance consulting, the list is endless. Ferriss’ tips on how to achieve this are aimed at those who want to own businesses and not spend any time on them. They’re not aimed at people who want to actually run businesses. He admits that the response he gets when he introduces the concept is ‘more or less universal: huh?’ (more…)

Photo: kongroove / Stock.Xchng

Leftover bread should never be thrown away just because it is a few days old. It may have lost some of its moisture content but that means it’s perfect for making bruschetta, croutons and breadcrumbs. Croutons require frying cubes of bread in a pan. For bruschetta, fry sliced bread in olive oil, then rub the crispy surface with garlic and ripe tomato. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could also create a rich and decadent bread pudding, French toast or garlic bread. (more…)