By Popular Demand - HUMMUS!

That good food and wine time of year has just come and gone, and this year I was lucky enough to introduce, promote and demonstrate a brand I really love!

BELLA.

For those of you who have not yet met Bella, it is a North American brand of kitchen appliances that has just been launched in SA by House IT Africa.

Amoung others, some of the really cool products I have been working with and demonstrating include a hot air popcorn maker, an ice cream machine, a cold press juicer and rocket blenders.

However there is one machine that stands out for me. It's just such a clever little thing...  The sports blender.

Anyone who knows me will know that I am somewhat obsessed with smoothies, which is why I absolutely had to have one. It's a single serve rocket blender that comes with a very cool to-go lid. Perfect for all of us morning haters, who can't pull ourselves out of bed early to make and eat breakfast.

Demonstrating sports blenders with future life

During one of my demonstration slots at the 'Well I Am' theatre I decided to make hummus in the SB to show how versatile this little machine is. Which by the way couldn't have been easier.

Hummus with Pita's

To say it was a hit is an understatement! Everyone at the show absolutely loved it. Some asked where they can buy it, and I even had an Israeli gentleman tell me it's the first good hummus he's had SA and that it's yummy enough to serve at a hummus bar. Yes hummus bar, did I'm mention I'm moving to Israel?

I'm thinking next year I'll be back with a hummus stand, but for now, as promised- here is the recipe!

Hummus!

Demming at the Well I am Theatre

I bought super garlic(like normal garlic on steroids), which is why I only use 1 clove. Feel free to add more or less as you like.

I love eating hummus for lunch with crudités, but it's also really yummy with pita bread and as a spread!

Happy Thursday all. Have a fantastic weekend.

Poitjie Night

Last weekend I made and ate my very first Poitjie... I've only been living in Cape Town my whole life, I thought it was about time.

Poitjiekos (POY-KEY-KAWS)- Literally translated to 'Little Pot Food', is a South African stew prepared in a three legged cast iron pot over coals.

After doing a little research I came to a conclusion... There is no right or wrong way to make poitjie. Everyone has a different opinion on how it should be done, and the only thing they all seem to be able to agree upon is that you ARE NOT ALLOWED TO STIR IT!

With this in mind I set out to create what I thought would be the best poitjie! Lamb and veggies with potatoes and red wine... There is no going wrong with a combination like that. 

Then came the tricky part- Controlling the fire. It took a lot longer than I thought to get the coals just right,but finally we got it there(with a secondary fire going for extra coals). However, I can't take credit for controlling the flaming beast, that goes to the boys! Thanks guys.

3 hours later than anticipated, 100% on time if you're running on South African Time or Braai Time, I got the poitjie going!

Girls on Braai Duty

At which point there were only 4 things left to do... Pop on the lid, grab a glass of wine, put the boys on fire control, and wait it out!

Lids on, Drinks out!

We cooked ours for about 3.5 hours(the time varies depending on which kind and cut of meat you use), and by about 21.30 we were finally ready to tuck in... Mind you, I have been informed that this is early in poitjie terms!

Holy crap!!! It was so worth the wait. The meat was so tender and the sauce was so tasty. Paired with some smokey braai rolls, we had the perfect combination!

3.5 Hours Later...

The only downside? There were NO left overs...

Have a look at this delicious recipe here: 

LAMB POITJIEKOS!

Happy Poitjieing!

Cheers!!!

Yes, I like ice in my wine... Get over it :P

Winter Warming Butternut Soup

Most people think this is weird, but I LOVE WINTER!

I love wearing boots, hoodies and scarves, I love sleeping in, running through the rain and cuddling on the couch, but most of all... I LOVE WINTER FOOD!!

Curries, stews and casseroles, roasts and potatoes with gravy, pastas, bakes and of course- SOUPS!

Sometimes the simplest things bring the most pleasure, and for me one of those things is soup. Especially simple soups, the kind of soups that take one or two ingredients and showcase them as they are... Unpretentious soup.

Spicy Roasted Butternut Soup

Yesterday I took a trip to Rodgers Fruiters on Kommetjie Road, where I found some beautiful(massive) butternuts that were still covered in soil, and immediately changed the dinner menu...

If there is one thing I miss all summer long, it's butternut soup. It's a winter staple in my house and couldn't be easier to make!

 

Try my recipe here:

SPICY ROASTED BUTTERNUT SOUP

The end result is a thick hearty soup, with a velvety texture and delicious spicy after taste.

Try it the next time the sky is grey, you won't regret it.

AFRICAN EGGS aka SHAKSHURA

For as long as I can remember knowing about this dish, I remember calling it African eggs. Even though, technically non of the ingredients are African nor is it African in origin. Somehow the name has just stuck.

It is a dish that I often forget about, and yet every time I cook it I fall in love with it all over again. I think it's just the simplicity of it... Sweet tomatoes, spicy chorizo and rich, yolky eggs.

African Eggs

Whether you are making this as a weekend breakfast(it's great for that Sunday morning, after the rugby hangover-in which case I love to make it with sauteed potatoes), or a lovely simple dinner, this dish is great for all occasions, and as long as your audience likes eggs... I can guarantee it will be a hit!

See the recipe for my version of AFRICAN EGGS here :)

... and if you don't like chorizo or spice, you can simply leave out the chilli, and/or replace the chorizo with pork sausages or bacon! 

Remember to adjust the chilli, depending on the spice of your chorizo! If you can get your hands on a nice spicey one, you may not need to add any extra chilli at all. Or if like me, you love a little kick to your food- go nuts!

Happy breakfasting/ dinnering!

Excuse my French!

Seeing as there is a big rugby game tonight, which obviously cancels out valentines day, Josh decided to take me out for breakfast.

We decided on Kalk Bay, seeing as it's one of my favourite places, and I knew exactly what I wanted. Nutella Crepes.

There is a little place on the main road, next door to the railway shop. A very small and rustic looking place, right along the coast that I have driven passed for years and always wanted to try, although for some reason, I have never actually gone inside. Excuse my French.

Signage on main road

It's a very charming little spot with it's rustic decor and miss matched tables and chairs. The menu consists of good coffee and as the name suggests, an array of sweet and savoury crepes.

Superb coffee

Menu written in chalk on the French Flag

Walking into the creperie

Although I knew exactly what I wanted, the rest of the menu sounded and smelled delicious. All cooked in a tiny little corner kitchen, served by as far as I could see, just one very friendly waiter.

Tiny corner kitchen

I may not be able to vouch for the rest of the menu, but I can say that my Nutella crepe was delicious. However judging by the amount of locals coming and going there must be something more to it.

Crepe au Chocolat

And although I think R35 for one Nutella pancake and R25 for a cinnamon and sugar pancake is a little on the pricey side, the view and atmosphere are somewhat priceless.

Even thought the weather wasn't great the view is still gorgeous

So, if you wake up craving a good cup of coffee and a yummy breakfast crepe, in a vibey spot with an unbeatable view. You should definitely give Excuse my French a Try.

Lemon, Lemon and more Lemon

I recently asked my followers on Facebook what their favourite recipe to cook, bake and/or eat is, and about 80 % of the answers had to do with lemon. Lemon tart, lemon cake, lemon squares, lemon meringue, lemon cheese cake, and basically anything lemony and sweet. 

Lemons are often completely under rated and under admired, and the more I think about it, the more I realise how much I rely on lemons in ALL of my day to day cooking. Lemons are one thing I always have in my kitchen, and use almost daily, weather to flavour roasts, make dressings and sauces, or marinade meat and fish. 

However, when it comes to the sweeter side of this sour fruit, my absolute favourite, without a single doubt are 'Hidden Centre Lemon Meringue Cupcakes'. I'm sure those of you who have tasted these will have to agree. From the buttery, fluffy cake, to the tart, creamy lemon curd in the centre and the soft sticky italian meringue icing on top, each bite of these yummy little cakes is pure happiness.

This picture was taken by Sean Calitz, thanks again Sean:)

 

Lemon meringue cupcakes with candied lemon rind and lemon slices

Find this recipe and a whole lot more here:

HIDDEN CENTRE LEMON MERINGUE CUPCAKES

Happy Baking.

Best BRAAI

A braai to me has always been a social call, where everyone you care about gathers around a fire, drinks till they are merry and cooks enough food to feed a few armies. They are always fun occasions that usually result in a slight head ache and a large amount of leftovers.

However, I have a group of friends (I'm sure I'm not the only one) who use the word as an alibi for a massive piss up. There is always a fire involved, but the whole thing revolves more around beer than food. If we're lucky at some point someone will 'cook', but if and when they do, they are usually so sloshed that the meat either ends up burned or isn’t really cooked at all because they are trying to braai on the same coals they lit 5 hours ago. 

At some point during these nights I usually sneak into the kitchen and eat the potato salad, which I know is safe as I always bring it along.

The thought of attending another one of these big fire, marathon drinking events made me cringe a little. What happened to braai’s where food came first and beer came thereafter? I mean don't get me wrong, a braai without any beer wouldn't really be a braai, but what about those braai's where we would plan to eat good food and look forward to eating? I loved those braai’s.

The smell of burning wood, the slightly smoky taste of the meat, the potatoes, veggies and salad waiting patiently in the kitchen and obviously a glass or two(probably 3 or 4) of crisp, cool white wine in hand.

 The thought of that reminded me of one of my favourite braai’s I’ve ever had...

One weekend in Fronsac, the bosses had gone to Marrakesh and left us with the kids. Having no one to cook for I had one of the most incredible days ever. I started off at the market, enjoyed a bucket of coffee and a pain au chocolat, and then went shopping for fun. I spent most of the day lounging around the pool and reading my book, and when the au pairs had put the kids to bed we cracked open a bottle of Rose and braaied.

 

Chicken Carving

The menu consisted of Spatchcocked Harissa Chicken, Green Gremolata Potato Salad and Spiced Roasted Cauliflower with a Lime Yogurt.

Dinner with a Beautiful View

Harissa Chciken, Green Potatoes and Spiced Cauli

 It was an absolutely incredible and unforgettable day, full of good food, fun in the sun and many laughs with some great friends. Just because I have to suffer tonight, doesn't mean everyone else does...

So I figured seeing as the weather is beautiful, and if I could I would have this kind of braai, I'd share these recipe's in the hopes that someone out there will enjoy them and make a few great memories of their own. 

Click the links below the photos to see the recipes :)

SPATCHCOCKED HARISSA CHICKEN

 
GREEN GREMOLATA POTATO SALAD

SPICED, ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH LIME YOGURT

 HAPPY FRIDAY AND HAPPY BRAAIING!