Meat Dishes
As Promised - Some Simple Summer Salads and A Crackling Good Pork Belly
OK. If I loathe one thing, it must be a promise made and not kept. I can remember Butch’s mom Bets’ disappointment when a lady at her bible study (nogal) PROMISED to visit and never did. She was profoundly hurt. The person who made the glib promise (as we so often do.. “Oh we must get...
The Final Whispers of Winter – Recipes to charm
I can feel it in my bones; spring is in the air. I hadn’t forgotten the recipes for our warm get together with friends last week. I’m in a reflective mood today, reminiscing good times around the island in the kitchen. The cookery classes I attended and the meals my children and I had at home...
Weekend Inspiration - Moroccan Soup With Spicy Beef Meatballs
I’ve been preparing three meals a day for 43 years and counting. There were days that I wished someone would tell me what they felt like for supper, or suggest a change in menu. Inspiration is what we all need. Some of the best meals were simple ones like a fresh, crispy French loaf with...
Winning Winter Warmers When It's Welly Cold
Recipes to warm your heart – Cinnamon Pancakes, Beetroot Risotto and Lamb necks on the braai. This quotation inspires today’s blog “Don’t think about making art, get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even...
Around The World With A Wooden Spoon And Spatula
Pfft, to armchair travel we might think. For the foreseeable future, it’s a new reality whichever way we look at it. The thought of not travelling is like telling a ladybird she may not save her children burning in their house. Dreadful. Unthinkable. Depressing. Every morning I throw back...
Bolognaise Arancini - Flavour Bombs
Arancini is an Italian dish consisting of small balls of Arborio rice, stuffed with a savoury filling, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried. Arancini is synonymous with Sicily. If you’ve never tasted arancini or made it yourself now is a golden opportunity to impress. Here it’s raining, cold...
My Saucy Pepper Beef Pie
We thought the pie was delicious. Butch’s mouth has been salivating for something like this for a while so I thought “Well why not?” I didn’t make my pastry but bought a ready-made Puff pastry instead. We all have our favourite one, I like using the Woolies All Butter Puff Pastry Sheets. ...
Sunday's Roast With Sweet Onion Tarte Tatin
Using staples from our store cupboard is always a bargain, especially over a weekend when you don’t want to put a foot wrong, or into a shop. On most Sundays we like to take things easy, meals should be hassle free, but, always, delicious and preferably with something new. My parents often...
Sunday AKA The Wife's Day Off
In South Africa husbands give their wives “the day off” when THEY cook. This often happens on a Sunday Fun day. What it means is that we don’t have to stand in front of the stove, (normally a barbecue fire), and sweat it out. This day off doesn’t come cheap though. We earn it. Before we...
Safari On Super Suppers And Snacks
Gosh it’s been a long time since I’ve felt that spring in my step. A new shop opened in town, Nibbly Bits. As the name suggests they stock all sorts of delicious nibbly bits. I went all out and got us some treats. After my spree I met up with friends en-route to Prince Albert in the Karoo and...
Comfort Food Prince Albert Style
Whenever I think of the Karoo and food, only one thing comes to mind. It has to be lamb. Karoo lamb with lots of rosemary. Of course, at this time of year you might imagine a roast leg of Springbok; that’ll do too. Treat it like lamb, and the results are spectacular. Like the French, I...
Keep Korma And Curry On - Curry Recipes
My new favourite quote, especially when my tiara slips a fraction. Yes! Sometimes it takes a change of heart, a change of attitude, and the courage to control our minds and emotions. It’s unlikely we all wake up each morning feeling on top of the world. Years ago, someone said, “The woman of...
Dumpling Delicious
We don’t have central heating, so our homes are sometimes colder inside than outside. This has advantages: we warm our homes with huge log fires, burn candles, have heaps of blankets and throws, wear pyjamas and bed socks, fill our hot water bottles and switch on heated blankets. Meals...
Don't Mind The Gap
Age gaps and generation gaps are getting narrower as I get older. I have a beautiful friend who turns 18 today and shares the day with another who turns 80. Yet another BFF turned 70 last week; I’ll be celebrating my 40th for the 21st time in a few days. Later, I’m going to enjoy High Tea at...
I Can Conclude I'm No (Food) Prude – Moroccan Lamb Shanks, Françoise’s Famous Brown Onion Soup, Orange Flavoured Oxtail, Malva Pudding
My beloved, who eats anything and everything, never complains and always says, “Thank you, that was a delicious meal” (even when, on the rare occasion, we have deli pies (or garage pies, as they’re colloquially known) with a good dose of salt for lunch), decided he had a weekend menu: comfort...
What's Cooking Good Looking? PICANHA STEAK
A few weeks ago, Butch went off to the butcher to see what we could braai (barbecue); we regularly enjoy a steak, especially on Fridays. This time he returned with a Brazilian cut, PICANHA, recommended by the butcher. Tender, packed with flavour, and full of cultural history. It's a cut...
Celebrating Effortless Summer Fare
I am so inclined to repeat my menus that a luncheon with friends inspires me to delve into old recipe books, files, and faded food magazines I hoard. Sharing my personal tips often sparks new ideas and keeps the process fun. Our guests arrived dressed to the nines, their lavish hats befitting...
Bang! My Bubble Burst
Like a shot in the dark, 2017 caught us by surprise. Yet I feel hopeful about the future, embracing 'Put pressure aside' as my mantra to foster peace and resilience in the year ahead. Although Christmas and New Year are sad times for us as a family, we’re divided and scattered across...
Stocking Up For Our Trip To Zimbabwe - Camping lists and Recipe Moroccan Tagine
In December, all roads lead to Cape Town, Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay. But in July, we take revenge, and as soon as the school bags slam shut, we flip our lids and head north to warmer climes, crossing the Orange River in droves as we migrate. Planning and packing the Engel (camping...
Around The World In A Coffee Cup With A Storm Brewing
A whirlwind weekend wandering is possible from home, one just needs to know how. When the seasons change as they do every Easter weekend we have four seasons in a day. It’s hard to pack considering the weather. The only certainty is that it’s time for comfort food. We travelled the world...
Hot Chick Spicing Up The Kitchen
Winter food to spice up your life: add heat to your menu with colourful spices, bring out the tartness of citrus with a saucy pudding, go tropical with a pod of vanilla, and pick up an exotic thread of saffron. These international recipes from around the world will spark curiosity and motivate...
Friday My Day
The clock ticks. January draws to a close, not a day too soon. It’s been a long month, and I bet many of you feel the same. A fortnight ago, my bank balance went negative. My tan’s faded, and I’m not as diligent about counting calories anymore. Thank goodness it's Friday, my favourite day....
Open Secrets, Closed Books, and Fishy Tales
Speckled eggs, peanuts, and raisins with Mustard leaves and ginger are my new addictions; if I didn’t know better, I’d think something fishy was going on! I juggle the three, in no particular order, while I make a salad and think about Village life on a Saturday morning. I love the bunch...
Five Fish and Four French loaves - Beef Stroganoff and Mushroom Soup
Five fish and four baguettes won't cut it if you're planning on feeding a multitude. Here are a few basic recipes for everything divine. Double them up for a crowd. My motto is: Consistency is unimaginative, dress them up or pasta it down. Girls want to have fun, and preparing a meal must be...
Pass Lee's Age Rose Merry and Time - Orange Scented Oxtail Casserole
It’s snowing in Canada, and a fine mist covers my mountain. Comfort food is called for, which is perfect because it stews in its own juices while I dig spring out of my garden and prepare for summer. Clay pots will be filled with culinary herbs, including parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme....
Herb Crusted Pork Neck
Be bold and ring the changes with this simply delicious de-boned Pork neck. The fresh herb crust is versatile and can be used successfully with either fresh fish or chicken breasts. Lemon zest adds zing. I have used this recipe for pork chops, and the coating is perfect for the meat side of a...