Recipes
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...
Dessert The Winter Chills And Berry It
No matter the occasion or the poshness of the menu, my eyes inadvertently always seek out the desserts. You might think I'm the spitting image of Queen Victoria and suggest I don't succumb to the desires of my sweet tooth. I’ll skimp on starters and nibble on lettuce leaves but, don’t deny...
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...
Fully Vaxxed We Celebrate Family, Friends and Firstborns
I've raged against injustice, prayed with prayer sisters for healing, we’ve wept for the grieving and consoled friends, colleagues and acquaintances in mourning; we’ve given thanks for healing and been enthralled by those who’ve recovered, often miraculously. While we wait for these...
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...
From Mexico To Kathmandu
Every sign and forecast pointed to a wet, wintry weekend. Soon we had the wall heaters blazing, our non-skid socks and fleecy jumpers on. We lay in late, dipping rusks into hot coffee, occasionally casting an eye outside. At this rate, we’d spend the weekend in bed. Nope, we needed to...
Let's Go Mexico
The weather’s turning, and we need a quick fix. There’s no time to beat about the bush. I’m ready and packed, just waiting for Butch to finish up at work. Seeing as we’re in for a spell of cold weather, I thought I’d give you this quick recipe for a really good, simple chowder/soup. ...
Rainy Days And Sundays - Butternut Relish
Inclement weather is expected to dry up in October. The rain running rivulets down the window panes as I type is a surprise. Shouldn’t be, you’d think, but, we’ve had such good weather for eight straight weeks, that I was ready to rip out the old bather to wallow in the shallows with...
Beefy Brown Onion Soup For The Ego
“Don’t worry, we all look terrible with these masks on Maricha.” Said an acquaintance I greeted in the grocery store today. All I’d said was “Ha-wow!” as my mask ballooned into my mouth. It was clear she didn’t recognise me at all. My medical gloves made a painful snap as I pulled them on....
Wandering Closer To Home - Slanghoek - Kraalkloof Camp
Butch and his colleagues meet up in their library every morning for coffee. He says “sometimes we talk law, but, mostly, we just catch up and chat.” Everyone knows our story by now, and often good trip ideas are shared. Last week he was tipped-off about a camping spot on a farm in the...
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...
Rooting For Beets
My farm to table produce box from Groenstoor included, amongst many delicious offerings, a bushel of beetroot, and a bunch of carrots, and rooted sweet and bitter salad leaves. This morning, while I was grating an apple and pear for my breakfast Bircher, I remembered how, as children, we used...
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...
Honey Badgers Don't Hibernate
I stopped laughing. My one redeeming attribute is that I enjoy a good laugh, some start deep in my belly, others I try to suppress as they tickle my spirit, but, on the whole Butch and I enjoy a good old fashioned chortle. When did merriment leave us? Sometime, I can’t pinpoint, probably...
Covid19 Confessions
Covid19 stumped even the writers of Horoscopes who did not predict this devastating pandemic. No, as far as all the psychics go, we’re still plain sailing. They’ve let us down miserably. My prediction for today. Cancerian. “Since Mercury is just about to turn retrograde, it’s best to keep...
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...
Breakfast Inspiration - BIRCHER
Sometimes we all need a little inspiration. I find we slip into a routine very quickly especially when it’s just Butch and I. Every meal is just a repetition of the day before as we’re both busy and meals at home just serve their nutritional purpose. Keeping us sustained and hopefully healthy....
Quiche Me Quick
When it's sunny and days can be spent on the beach with a book there is no time to linger in the kitchen. Quick, easy meals are called for. Having a few vegetarian recipes in your arsenal is always a good idea especially while on holiday. I find we need something “fresh” and that’s when...
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...
Spicy Mexican Chicken and Corn Soup
Before I do another thing I simply must share this delicious Spicy Mexican Chicken and Corn Soup. I made it in a jiffy last week and we all agreed this is the one everyone can do. It’s suitable at any time of the year. For those living in cold climes it will bring back happy memories of...
12 Fun Things To Do During A Wet Spell
Here are my 12 fun things to do during a wet spell. Bragging rights in the car industry are earned when your new VW outguns the competition and goes from 0-60 in 2 seconds. Our summer went from balmy sunshine days to cloudy and wet overnight and kept Autumn up for 7 days. All of a sudden we had...
Authentic Seafood Paella Recipe
A Spanish Paella packed with punch, traditional spices and ingredients. A conversation piece that looks more complicated than it is and tastes sensational In a previous life I was a caterer and this Paella recipe was a firm favourite with clients. It is fool-proof, easy and takes center stage...
Not Pie In The Sky - Old Fashioned Apple Pie With Nuts and Cranberries
Did you know?: The apples we buy as fresh have been hermetically sealed in a cold storage facility for at least a year! Cold Storage works something like this: Organic-Hermetic storage or “hermetic storage”, consists of a sealed storage system containing a modified atmosphere. This means that...
Cape Salmon Is Summer - Fish Cakes
There’s absolutely no sense in living at the sea and one never enjoys fresh fish. Ironically when we wanted to buy a Cape Salmon, caught at this time, we couldn’t find one in Hermanus. Cape Salmon is the queen of the seas in my opinion and I'll always go for that option. So... we had to turn...
Comfort Food Prince Albert Style
Whenever I think of the Karoo and food there is only one thing that comes to mind. It has to be lamb. Karoo lamb with lots of Rosemary. Of course at this time of the year you might imagine a roast leg of Springbok, that’ll do too. Treat it as if its lamb and the results are spectacular....
Romancing the Mill Stone - Sandra's Easy Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread
Here is a divine vegan whole wheat loaf. Please ensure you use Stone Ground Wheat which contains no additives, unhealthy preservatives, sugar or is so refined it resembles something one can make lines with and sniff. If you’re wheat/gluten intolerant give this recipe a try, I am and I...
Scones, Simply Whey Too Easy
My Mother-in-law was the Julia Childs of Karoo Kwezeen (Cuisine). We were a good combination on the food front, she cooked it and I ate it, until I became quite poorly from over indulgence. Although very kind and patient I doubt she thought I had any mentionable talents and definitely not in...
Churning A-Whey Homemade Butter
I am so excited. I made my own butter! It was simple to make and I can’t imagine why everyone doesn’t do it too. Since most people are Banting or following Tim Noakes and his full dairy revolution cream and butter have become quite expensive. A liter of cream still costs much less than 500g...
Keep Korma And Curry On
My new favourite quote, especially when my tiara slips fractionally. Yes! Sometimes it takes a change of heart, a change of attitude and courage to be in control of our minds and emotions. It’s unlikely that we all wake up each morning and feel on top of the world. Years ago someone said...
Dumpling Delicious
We don’t have central heating, so our homes are colder inside than outside sometimes. This has advantages, we warm up our homes with huge log fires, burn candles, have heaps of blankets and throws, we wear pajamas and bed socks, we fill our hot water bottles and switch on heated blankets. ...
Don't Mind The Gap
Age gaps and generation gaps are getting narrower and narrower at my age. 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 on I’m going to enjoy...
I Can Conclude I'm No (Food) Prude
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, accompanied by a good dose of salts, for lunch) decided he had a weekend menu; comfort food. On the one hand I was delighted,...
Mooching In My Flannel Pajamas On Sundays
On Sundays, as the good book commands, I take a day off. Late out of bed, I enjoy my coffee and a rusk made by Butch, it’s too cold for my tootsies to shuffle downstairs to make coffee. I read, catch up with friends on Social Media, read messages from my children and watch the short videos...
Giving Chicken A Spicy Pineapple Kick
Sweet and spicy are always a winner and go so well with chicken. We decided to spice up our Sunday roast with a curried pineapple stuffing. Chickens tend to be rather thick skinned and flavours don’t penetrate the skin so we loosened the membrane beneath the skin and popped our stuffing...
Easy Brinjal, Bacon Bake For Autumn Luncheons
Aubergine, brinjal or egg plant must be the king of versatility. Nothing could be easier than this Brinjal bake, so perfect for long lunches on the veranda when leaves turn and days become shorter and cooler. No one wants to spend hours indoors now. I see beautiful Mouse birds are very busy...
Tantalizing Tomato Teazer
Last week we treated ourselves to a Fine Dining experience at the Conservatory, a pop-up restaurant Lekkerlek by Likoke (Lick Okay) inspired by the renowned Belgium Michelin Starred chef Piet Huysentruyt, who is rounding off his world tour in Franschoek. The taster menu, inspired by...
BUCEANDO TORTE DE CHOCOLATE MEXICANO
Best chocolate cake in Mexico. Carla and I can attest to that. On a recent visit to Mexico we enjoyed this magnificent chocolate cake. Moist, packed with chocolate, yet light and not overly rich. It certainly ticked all the boxes after a night out when one needed a Caffè and Torte....