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!

Unemployed Boredom and Choc Chip Cravings

This morning I woke up with the most unbelievable craving for one of the massive chewy centred, Choc Chip "SUPER" cookies I consumed as 'Breakfast' in France, on many more occasions than I'd actually like to admit.

Unfortunately for me, those gorgeous boulangerie's are now slightly(about 12 000kms) too far away... This left me with a little dilemma, although luckily I am currently still FUNemloyed, which isn't actually as FUN as it sounds, except for the part where I get to go shopping, and bake all day.

This was the first time in a very long time that I baked for fun and not for work, and at some point during the process I remembered how much I actually love it. They may just have been choc chip cookies, but they were(Yes, were-they have been consumed) pretty damn delicious, and even more enjoyable to bake.

Choc chip and hazelnut cookies

Check out the delicious recipe I used here:

CHOC CHIP COOKIES

Wish me luck on the Job hunt, and happy baking :)

Tony H the Chocolate Man

A week or two before I left on my incredible journey I met up with Tony, a retired former businessman who has taken up chocolate making and makes the most incredible artisanal chocolates you have ever seen, heard of or even tasted!

Coffee and Chocolate Tasting with Tony at Pastis

All his products are 100% handcrafted and individually made using home grown and natural ingredients, focusing on the seasonality and sustainability of the product.

Tony definitely knows the way to a girl's heart because when we met he brought me a delicious variety of tasters, showcasing the finest chocolate with the most deliciously flavoured and creamy fillings.

Box of Hand Made Chocolates Anyone?

He is also big on experimenting with flavours, and while he does stock the most delicious salted caramel truffles, and the most peanut buttery peanut butter chocolates, some of his more exotic flavours include beer, pink champagne and pomegranate, passion fruit and habanero liquor and even  goats cheese and lemon truffles.

Want to get your hands of some of this deliciousness?? 

Go find him at some of your local Cape Town Food Markets, including the Earth Fair Market in Tokai on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and let me know what you think.

Tony and His son doing what they do at Earth Fair

Equally, have a look on his website to place your order.

www.tonyh.co.za
 

Tony even takes chocolate suggestions, so if you have any awesome new ideas for chocolate flavours, let him know and I'm sure he will give it a bash! I know for a fact that he is busy working on my new favourite flavour as we speak and I absolutely cannot wait to see what he has created!

If you like what you see you can also find him on Facebook for regular updates on where he will be and to hear about all his new stuff.

Happy chocolate eating!

ps. All these photos were stolen by me, directly from Tony (thanks Tony!!) because I am such a greedy guts that I ate every last crumb before I could even think of taking a pic.

Le Private Chef

Officially, almost 3 weeks into my new job, yes- there was I reason I came to Europe, and no- it was NOT to eat lots of food, or to get fat(although it seems like this may come with the territory).

I am now at Chateau Gaby in beautiful Fronsac, near Libourne, about 30 minutes outside of Bordeaux, happily cooking my heart out with some of the most amazing ingredients I have ever seen.

Although the work is tough, and the hours are long, the experience and the results are so worth it.

I have been able to cook some really yummy things, and given lots of creative freedom, and I promise as soon as I can get my act together for long enough to write them, I will share all of the recipes!

For now though, here are some pictures of my journey so far...Unfortunately, despite my annoying photo habit, I have forgotten to take photo's 9 times out of 10, but here are a few just to give an idea of what I've been up to.

Confit Vine Tomatoes

'Fish n Chips' with pea puree, herbed aioli, confit vine toms and polenta chips

 This one I have written a recipe for- 

Check it out here :)

Chilli and Coriander Fish cakes with lime mayo and garden salad

Beetroot and orange salad with feta and crystallized hazelnuts

 There is also a recipe or this one:

Roasted Beetroot and Citrus Salad

Creamy white wine and garlic mussels

 The day after Damien made those amazing smoked mussels, I won over the hearts of some of the staff here by cooking them the last 7kgs of mussels like this... 

Strawberry bavois with vanilla shortbread and strawberry and lime salsa

Honey and cumin roasted aubergine bruschetta with pomegranate and rocket

 ANOTHER RECIPE! I'm not doing to badly here.

Aubs Bruschetta

Of course it hasn't all been work and no fun... I have met some incredible people, and been bunked up with the nicest roomies I could possibly have asked for. We spend a lot of time laughing together, eating yummy stuff, and of course drinking...

On Monday was Bastille day and we took ourselves for drinks in Saint Emillion, about 20 minutes away from here. Don't think we could have chosen a more beautiful spot if we tried...

This is Beautiful Saint Emillion, where the macaroon was invented

A bottle of Les Domeniers Rose

And the other day, much to Tiphaine,our French roomies, disapproval we went for beers in Libourne... Right out side her high school. Oops.

After work beer and crisps in Libourne

Seeing as we live in such a beautiful spot, and the weather is so gorgeous at the moment, it's also rather nice to just kick back and watch the sunset from our stoep... I bring over the left overs from that days lunch or dinner, someone else whips out a cold beer and we just enjoy the scenery and each others company.

An ice cold beer and a beautiful sunset... Doesn't get much better

 I've even been lucky enough to try some really good wine. A couple of nights ago, my bosses treated me to a glass of one of the best wines in the world- Chateau d' Yquem. What a lucky girl I am!

Chateau d' Yquem

This was literally the first time I've tasted a dessert wine and really liked it. Though 'like' may be an understatement. I loved it!! Especially paired with the summer fruit pavlovas I made, with fresh figs, nectarines, strawberries, granadilla, and Chantilly cream. YUM!

 

On that note, I've just heard someone come home, the weather is gorgeous outside, and I'm sure we have some wine downstairs... 

Happy Thursday and Happy cooking :)