A feast of flavours: Middle Eastern style Aubergines with my Cape Malay inspired meatballs

May 21, 2014Leave a comment

I love the fragrant and bold flavours used in Middle Eastern cooking, and also the simple ingredients used. I also love the style of eating – very casual and laid-back, incorporating all the senses.
You need to touch the food, eat with your hands; experience the smell, get carried away by it; see all the beautiful dishes and of course taste the delightful flavours, all the while some fabulous music plays in the background – voila, the scene is set!
A friend of mine prepared the most delicious aubergine {my absolute favourite vegetable!} dish for our monthly book club get-together and I just had to re-create it at home.
Buttery soft aubergines, delicately spiced with cumin and paprika, drenched in a tangy lemon and garlic dressing – yum.
I teamed these up with Cape Malay inspired meatballs and a huge bowl of butter lettuce. Fantastic – you could eat with your hands! {A mini mezze platter…}

The meatballs hinted of a bobotie, with golden sultanas and a hint of apricot, alongside fragrant curry spices.

All the elements of this dish is totally Paleo- and Banting-friendly, except perhaps for the teaspoon of apricot jam used… But you could leave that out. Or not, I don’t think a teaspoon will hurt anyone.

For the aubergines, you will need:

Baby aubergines, as many as you want, halved
Olive oil
Salt
Cumin
Paprika
Juice of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 lemon
1-2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

Heat a large glug of olive oil in a large pot or pan. Start by placing the aubergines in the pan, with the sliced side down. Get them nice and brown, then turn them over and salt the cooked side. Let the skin side also brown – you might need a bit more olive oil, as they tend to suck it up like a sponge. Once both sides have been browned, place the lid on and let them steam for a few minutes, just to soften them up nicely.
While they’re still hot, sprinkle with a tiny bit of paprika and cumin, then scatter the zest and garlic on top and drizzle with the lemon juice.

For the meatballs, you will need:

Roughly 800g of minced meat {I used Eland, a type of game meat}
Salt to taste
1 egg
1/2 a cup of sultanas
1 tsp smooth apricot jam
2 tbs curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin powder
1 onion, chopped
Olive oil
Zest of 1 orange

Sauté the onion until soft, then add the curry powder, turmeric and cumin and fry until fragrant. Set aside.
Next, mix all the rest of the ingredients, as well as the onion and spices. Make sure you mix it thoroughly.
Heat up some olive oil and fry one meatball to make sure you’ve added enough salt.
If you’re happy, roll the rest of the mixture into bite-sized balls and fry on all sides until golden and cooked through.

Serve with the aubergines and some butter lettuce – simple, delicious, totally satisfying!

Enjoy! X

Orange, Ginger & Soy Broccoli Salad

May 19, 20141 Comment

Winter is here! Eek, it kind of snuck up on us…

We seem to forget about our greens during winter and often just go for the starchy veggies. Salads just seem more summery, like water.
Anyways, there are lots of great salad options for winter, like my Orange, Ginger & Soy Broccoli Salad…

You will need:
Baby butter lettuce
Watercress, baby spinach and rocket mixed
Broccoli, steamed
Pine nuts, roasted
Finely chopped pecans {just a sprinkle}
Halloumi cheese, grilled

For the dressing:
1/2 cup of orange juice
Thumb sized piece of fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic
2 tbs soy sauce
Sesame oil {just really a few drops}
1 red chili
3 tbs red wine vinegar
Bash everything except for the vinegar, orange juice & soy sauce together in a mortar and pestle until it’s all in a paste. Then add about half a cup of orange juice, 3 tbs red wine vinegar and 2 tbs soy sauce.
If you need to, you can add a teaspoon of sugar to balance out the flavours.

Assemble the salad by drizzling the dressing over the lettuce, herbs & broccoli. Add the halloumi and sprinkle with the nuts. Finish it off by drizzling some more dressing over the top.

More lovely winter salads, as well as some other exciting news will follow soon!
X

The Sunshine Award

May 13, 2014Leave a comment

Wow, what an honour to be nominated for an award, yay! I must just say though that I’m rubbish at time – being on time, doing things within a certain time frame, etc etc…
Lindsay from Officially Gluten Free nominated me for this award about a month ago {blush} and in my head I accepted it and posted it onto my blog… But alas, it was only in my head…
So here I am, officially accepting this award:
Thank you, thank you!

THE RULES

1. Include the Sunshine Award icon in your post and/or on your blog
2. Link to the blogger who nominated you
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself
4. Nominate 10 other bloggers to receive the award
5. Link to your nominees and let them know you nominated them
6. Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer

Here are the questions I need to answer:

1. Do you live in the same town/city or country that you lived in when you were a child?
Nooo…
I grew up in Stellenbosh and Gordon’s Bay in the Cape {in South Africa} and now live in Johannesburg

2. If could only spend $10 for the rest of the week what would you spend it on?
I would buy some ingredients and either bake something or cook something delicious… Although, you don’t get much for $10 do you? That’s about R100 in our currency. Ok, no seriously, I would buy:
3liters of full cream milk – we use quite a lot with 2 kiddies around {that’s about $3}
A packet of baby lettuce {you can get 2 for about $4}, because you need to have some greens everyday and can easily zhoosh it up with some other things
Butter – around $3 – I also use this just about everyday for cooking & baking

3. What is your favorite dessert?
Ooh, tough one…
I do love crème brûlée, but am so often disappointed by it when I order it at a restaurant.
Ok fine, let’s say it’s a 3-way tie between crème brûlée, pannacotta and a berry pavlova.

4. What is the most played song on your Ipod/MP3 Player/Phone?
Hahaha it will have to be Santigold, Disparate Youth, not because I love the song, but because Seb, my 3-year-old somehow always selects this song when he plays with my phone!
My current favourite song at the moment is Pitbull & Kesha, Timber.

5. When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up? Are you doing anything close to what you wanted to do then?
I wanted to be a businesswoman who wears skirt suits… No I’m not a businesswoman who wears any type of suit. But, I have started a small baking business and it’s starting to grow.

6. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
That’s a tough question! The same meal day after day? Or just one meal again, ever..?
It might have to be pizza…
Or a roasted pork belly, with crispy skin.

7. City or Country? Why?
Definitely country.
I grew up in the city, sort of, and spent most of my adult life in the city and now I live in a country estate with a country feel, in the middle of the city.
It’s just so peaceful and not so rushed and aggressive.
I find living in the city, especially in South Africa, just so aggressive. People don’t have time for each other, they don’t have any patience and everything feels very rushed.
Although I might get bored out in the country somewhere, I still would prefer it, to have space for the kids to play and run around and be free, to be able to grow your own veggies and harvest your own chicken eggs, to enjoy quiet sundowners without the noise of the city and to just relax and stop trying to keep up with anyone.

8. Name one thing that you’re grateful for?
I have the most amazing family!

9. What/Who inspired you to start a Blog?
My dad inspired me, or actually he suggested I do it… That was back when we lived in India. I originally started a different blog about our time there, but that never really took off and then I started this blog some time after that one. It just kind of evolved into a more foodie blog, because that’s what I’m most passionate about.

10. If you won a free vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Another tricky one…
I would hop on a plane tomorrow to the States {St. Petersburg, FL.} to visit my parents! But that would be just to see them!
If I won a free vacation anywhere, I would go to Europe and do a tour of France, Italy, Germany & Switzerland.

Here are my nominees for The Sunshine Award, in no particular order:
1. Journal of a city girl
2. Scarletscorchdroppers
3. The Patrons of the Pit
4. Urban Homestead South Africa
5. Drizzle & Dip
6. Simply Delicious
7. White on Rice Couple
8. Gourmand in the Kitchen
9. Lipgloss is my Life
10. The Food Class

My 10 questions for the nominees to answer:
1. Why did you start a blog?
2. How much time do you spend on your blog in a week? And daily?
3. What would your 3 best blogging tips be?
4. Chocolate or vanilla? Why?
5. How do you prioritise your time?
6. What irritates you the most?
7. How would you celebrate your ideal birthday?
8. Ideal gift?
9. What’s your 3 favourite ingredients or food items?
10. Favourite wine?

Mother’s Day highlights and a Smokin’ Feesh Quiche

May 12, 2014May 12, 2014Leave a comment

Hello!

Remember a few days ago I described my perfect Mother’s Day ?
Well, as it turns out, I actually had my perfect day. I had my boys, hubby and super scrummy food – and champagne!

I was left to sleep in and when I woke up, I was marched right back to bed… So there I lay, just chilling for a while… Yep, me, a mom, was just lying in bed – and it was not in the middle of the night, nor was it nap time for the kids. Felt a bit strange… But also good… I could just imagine {by the sound of things} what was going on beyond my bedroom door…

About an hour later, Seb came in and brought me a huge plate of the best ever French toast with bacon & maple syrup! {He carried it all by himself – he’s turning 3 in a month.}
French toast with bacon & maple syrup has got to be my all-time favourite breakfast, hands-down! {Although I never eat it these days, because I don’t eat bread… BUT, a treat on Mother’s Day IS allowed!}
Now, hubby didn’t just make any old French toast, no, he actually found a recipe for Martha Stewart’s {my all-time hero!} version of it with cinnamon & nutmeg. But wait, that’s not where it ends…
We had no electricity and we don’t yet have a gas stove {yes I said ‘yet’ because that is the next thing I want! Cooking with gas is just SO much better!}, so Eben actually went out into the cold and lit up his little camping stove just to boil water for espresso and to prepare the most delicious of breakfasts! How great is that?! Guys, the bar has been set – and Eben, you remember that too..! Hehe
Oh yes, there was champagne too – delicious stuff!
I also got a bunch of pretty pink roses – lucky girl!

{Sadly there are no pictures of this most delicious breakfast, because I literally just gobbled it all up and by the time I thought to take a picture, it was all gone..! Really. But let me describe it for you:
3 decadent slices of thick French toast, soaked just enough and with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, all piled up and drenched in maple syrup, topped with bacon… Oh gosh I’m drooling just thinking of it..!}

The rest of the day was spent very leisurely, just lying around outside, spending time with the boys, playing in the sun, reading a book and just really chilling. We’re always so busy during the week and on weekends, always having to do something, go somewhere or just thinking of that looming to-do list, it was really nice to just relax and do nothing, just enjoying each other’s company – the perfect day any mother could ask for.

Anyways, so here’s a great recipe for using leftover fish, creating the perfect lunch or weekend snack. {A crust less quiche}

You will need:
Leftover fish {I used leftover snook that was ever so slightly smoked and then cooked on the braai, about 300g}
1 onion, diced
A sprinkle of cumin
Salt to taste
6 eggs
1/2 a cup of cream
2 tbs cream cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated

Mix everything together, except for the cream cheese. Stir in the cream cheese so that there are some nice chunks in the mixture.
Bake at 180C for half an hour until the cooked and golden on top.
Serve hot or cold, but it’s rather delicious at room temp, served with cucumber ribbons and a drizzle of olive oil.

Enjoy! X

5-ingredient Hearty Chicken Livers

May 6, 20141 Comment

I must say, I never used to like chicken livers – well, before I tasted them – in fact, I’m not very keen on most offal or organ meat… The thought really just puts me off.
Chicken livers {and only chicken livers} are now one of my favourites! I love them crispy and spicy, I love chicken liver pâté and I also enjoy them in a creamy sauce.
But, I must say, they’re not really very versatile, I’ve just listed about all the different ways to have them…
I decided to make chicken livers tonight, but I didn’t have any other ingredients to go with it – no cauliflower for cauli mash! Alert – we have NO mash!
A quick squiz around the fridge and I decided to make a hot salad with green beans and tomatoes.
This dish only has 5 ingredients and is super easy to make. The grilling of the livers takes a bit of time, but only just…

You will need:

500g chicken livers, cleaned
Green beans {about 2 cups}
Rosa tomatoes {2 cups}
1/2 an onion
Parmesan cheese {grated, to be sprinkled on top}
{Butter & olive oil for frying and salt to season}

Start by quickly boiling the green beans in some water for about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat up a dollop of butter and some olive oil and sauté the onions until soft.
Add the livers and fry on both sides, using another pot to weigh them down. Season with salt.
Do the livers in 2 batches and set aside once they’re done.
In the same pot, add the tomatoes and some more olive oil and sauté them until they start to soften and release some of their juices. Add the green beans and heat them through.
Dish the green beans and tomatoes into a large serving dish. Reheat the livers in the pot and add to the dish.
Sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese.

Perfect for a light, yet hearty weeknight dinner or even lunch.

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Preparing for Mother’s Day

May 5, 20141 Comment

So, this Sunday is Mother’s Day… {It should really be celebrated everyday, but hey, I guess ONE day off a year is enough for us mommies..!}
My ideal day would be something like this:
I would sleep in until about 9am {that will still leave the rest of the day to be pampered AND I get an extra 3 hours of sleep, ideally in a swanky boutique hotel…}
The boys will pop in for some cuddles and perhaps a gift or 2… {And obviously there will be cake and coffee involved.}
I will then take a leisurely bath and get dressed to go and have a champagne brunch on a vineyard {or a spa, or even better, a spa at a vineyard!} with my own dear mom. The men in our lives may join us for brunch.
Yes, I think that sounds fantastic! We could end the day with a movie or dinner at a really nice restaurant…
Aah yes…
Oh well, a girl can dream, can’t she?
Anyways, as I’m contemplating Mother’s Day, here are a few sweet treats that will be great with that morning coffee or whatever you might have planned:

I’m also planning some delicious new cupcakes and a few more cakes…
More to follow later this week.
So, what is your ideal Mother’s Day, if you’re a mom, or how will you be treating yours?
X

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Winter Warmer Soup

May 4, 2014May 4, 2014Leave a comment

What better soul food for cold winter nights than soup?
I could never make soup for the life of me! My mother makes the most delicious, hearty soups and I would always try my hand at it, but could never get it right…
It would usually taste like tepid dishwater with a few veggies floating around in it! Am I making you salivate yet..? Hehe! Well, thankfully I’ve learnt a thing or two and can now make a decent {and rather tasty, if I may say so myself!} soup.
Here’s my delicious recipe for a hearty cauliflower, chicken & bacon soup:

You will need:
2 chicken carcasses {cooked, leftover from roast chicken, with some meat still on the bone}
1 celery stalk, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
Coconut oil
2 bay leaves
3 peppercorns
Salt
Water
1 head of cauliflower, broken into florets
250g streaky bacon
3 sprigs of thyme
1 cup of cream

Start by sautéing the onions in coconut oil until soft, then add the celery and onions. Sauté a bit more and then add the chicken, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns and enough water to cover the chicken halfway.
Let it all simmer away happily for a few hours. Taste it and season with salt accordingly.
{I didn’t use any stock, because the chicken creates the stock, but you could use it if you wanted to.}

Once the broth has properly mingled and the chicken has started to fall off the bone, add the cauliflower florets and cook until tender.
In the meantime, place the bacon in an oven tray and grill until cooked. Let it cool and then chop into bits. Don’t discard the fat!

When the cauliflower is cooked, carefully remove it from the broth and blitz it with a stick blender until smooth. Add the cream and blitz it again.
Add the cauliflower to the broth and stir it through. Add the bacon and drizzle with the fat.

Perfect for a cold winter’s night – it’s so filling and oh-so-comforting! The kids loved it too.
Enjoy! X

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An amazing getaway, great food and fabulous people – total bliss! {All in our beautiful Mother City}

May 3, 2014May 3, 20141 Comment

Where to begin…?
Well, I survived the Two Oceans {just barely!} and it felt GREAT! With legs that wanted to collapse and aching worse than they’ve ever ached, we did it in 2h09m – yay! My dear husband ran the entire race by my side and cheered me on – my hero! {2015 – watch this space…}

I just have to say this, so awesome, we met Prof Tim Noakes en route and Eben had a chat to him – what an inspiring man and so friendly…and fast!
Right, so 21.1km done and dusted, we had an entire week ahead of us to enjoy with our friends and family down in the Cape.
We had plenty of cheese, delectable pâtés and mmmmmarvelous wines…

Gorgeous winelands sunsets and gourmet picnics with fabulous friends and family – what could be better?

A stroll along the promenade to enjoy an ice cream and the magnificent view…

Back home and feeling totally inspired by our trip, I’m ready to roll! And by roll, I’m not referring to the couple of kilos I put on from all the cheese and wine! 😉
No, I’m feeling inspired by all the beauty in the Cape, innovation and self-motivation. {Happy dance!}
Cheers for now – I’ll be dishing out a few winter comfort recipes soon! X

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Courgette Gratin

April 16, 2014April 16, 2014Leave a comment

From The Real Meal Revolution, this courgette gratin is a goodie!
Rich, creamy, garlicky goodness – it’s the perfect accompaniment to any meat dish and packed full of goodness & flavour.

You will need:
800g courgettes, quartered
1 head of garlic, peeled and squashed
250ml cream
100g butter
A handful of thyme sprigs
1 onion, roughly chopped
Hard cheese, like pecorino or Parmesan
Salt & pepper

Place the courgettes, onions, garlic and thyme in an oven dish, toss it all together and press it down into the dish.
Season with salt and pepper.
Dollop the butter on top and pour over the cream.
Bake at 150C for about an hour and a half, then sprinkle with cheese and grill until the cheese has melted.

Great with chicken, great with a steak, it’s one of those dishes that is so yummy and memorable – a must-make!

Enjoy! X

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Meatless Monday Melanzane

April 14, 2014April 14, 2014Leave a comment

Meatless Monday? What’s that..?! Just kidding.
If you’re looking for a comforting, filling dish that is also meatless and tasty, well this is the dish – Melanzane Parmiggiano.
It ticks all the boxes:
Tasty – check.
Rich and warm – check.
Cheesy – check.
Filling and comforting – check.
{Of course, you can also have it as a side dish with a scrummy roast chicken}

You will need:
2 large aubergines, sliced
Olive oil
Thyme
Tinned tomatoes
Tomato paste
1 onion, chopped
Sweet basil leaves, chopped
Parmesan cheese, grated
Mozzarella cheese, grated
Salt & pepper
Peppadew spice
Garlic, finely chopped {2 cloves}

Brush the aubergine slices with olive oil and grill in a pan until both sides are golden. Once all the aubergine slices are cooked, set these aside.
Using the same pan {I hate doing dishes and loading the dishwasher, so I use as little pots & pans as possible!}, heat some more olive oil and sauté the onions until soft. Add the garlic and tomato paste {2 tbs} and let it all caramelise.
Add the tin of tomatoes, a few thyme sprigs and chopped basil. Season with salt & pepper and let it reduce slightly to a nice and rich tomato sauce.
Pre-heat your oven to 180C.
In a large casserole, place a layer of aubergine slices and season with peppadew spice. Add a layer of tomato sauce and sprinkle with both cheeses.
Add another layer of aubergines, season, add sauce and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake this in the oven for about 30 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and has formed a golden brown crust.

Enjoy with a salad and a nice glass of vino! {No reason to go meatless AND wineless..!}
X

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