Vegetable Curry

VEGETABLE CURRY
I was looking for inspiration for a fantastic thick chunky vegetarian curry recipe,   but none particularly appealed to me,  So, once again, I fell back on my own inspiration and wanting of good healthy food.   I ended up with this wonderful recipe, which I use regularly and adapt according to what's in season.  Perfect for a cold rainy evening.  It is Vegan, and Gluten Free,  and only uses one pot (bonus!).  I hope you love it as much as my family does.

Vegetarian Curry

Delicious Shrimp Mousse

This recipe is super easy and absolutely fabulous.  You are guaranteed "Wow" comments.  I have been making it for years, and it never fails to impress!

Shrimp mousse ready for spreading onto biscuits - Yum!

Creamy Salmon and White Wine Pasta

Cooking up some creamy Salmon pasta

Elderflower and Lemon Cordial

My elderberry tree (Sambucus nigra) in my veggie garden is a mass of flowers this year.  What better way to use them up, than by making an Elder-Flower cordial - oh so refreshing for our hot climate.

Chocolate Oat Cookies

This is one of those fab, easy delicious and healthy (well almost)  recipes, that kids and adults alike just love.  Enjoy!

Deliciously Moist Banana Bread

The smell of freshly baked banana bread wafting through the house is enough to get everyone running to the kitchen.  This is such a super way to use up those very ripe bananas.

Macaroni and fresh Tomato Cheese

Everyone (well almost everyone) enjoys a good macaroni cheese.  It is just one of those wonderful homely dishes.  And so easy to prepare.  This is my recipe, I love adding fresh veg in the middle of mine for some extra flavour.

Macaroni and tomato Cheese

Boerewors and Bean Soup

I often do this recipe with left over boerewors from a braai.   Boerewors is a typical South African spicy sausage directly translated "boere" (Farmers) "wors" (Sausage).  A braai is just not quite a braai without boerewors sizzling over the fire.

Peanut Butter Biscuits

I much prefer making home-made biscuits to buying them.  At least I know exactly what is in them this way.  I find all those E numbers a  bit scary!  This recipe is one of those melt-in-your-mouth delicious recipes.  And absolute winner with kids.  Hope you enjoy them as much as our family does.

Peanut Butter Biscuits

Dukkah Spice

Guests of ours recently spoilt us, with making this most wonderful spice.  They very kindly shared the recipe, which is based on the traditional Egyptian Dukkah Recipe (but better!).  This is the most Fabulous spice is so deliciously yummy, I found myself sprinkling it in on almost everything, even just gobbling straight off my hand.

Dukkah spice

Olive Nut Bread

This is one of those fabulously quick bread that stays fresh and moist for days afterwards - definitely my favourite bread recipe for the moment.

Buttermilk Bread

Cauliflower and Broccoli Cheese

I usually do this dish as an accompaniment to a braai (barbecue).  There are more and more vegetarians out there these days, and the old fashioned South African idea of a braai consisting of only pap and vleis (meat) just isn't really an option any more.  It is always extremely popular and very YUM!

Granadilla condensed milk mousse

Perhaps you are more familiar with the name 'Passion Fruit'.  But I'm not... so Granadilla it is.... And my granadilla vine is overflowing with fruit at the moment.  All of which just has to get eaten.  This recipe is so easy and quick it can easily be done whilst cooking a main meal.  You know how good we all are at multi-tasking! Ha-ha!

Anchovy, caper and Olive Bread

The smell of fresh bread baking in an oven is one of those simple irresistible smells.  This is a simple bread recipe which can then have almost anything added to it.  I find that by adding the bicarb of soda the bread seems to be softer and lasts longer.

Creamy Salmon fish pie

I love making pies, such an easy way to make a really fab meal, that the whole family enjoys.  The recipe below is wonderful and an adaption of a few recipes all put into one.  Fish is full of those fabulous brain boosting omegas, and most kids live a pie.

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Rich Tomato Lamb Stew

DELICIOUS RICH TOMATO LAMB STEW
Winter is on it's way sneaking into our normally warm Northern KZN climate.  Stews are a real winter warmer meal.   Thick, rich with loads of veg and healthy goodness.  I love a stew served the real South African way - which of course is with mielie 'pap' or 'putu' (maize meal - the stale diet of most South Africans), to soak up all that fab gravy.   A good stew takes some time, and it is best to relax, preferably with a glass of good red whilst whilst ambling about the kitchen.

Ingredients for the Stew
1 kg Stewing lamb pieces, trimmed of excess fat
Black Pepper, milled
1 onion, sliced
1 tsp (5ml) Garlic, crushed
1/2 caspium Red Pepper, chopped
1 stick Celery, chopped
1 tsp (5ml) Brown Sugar
200ml Red wine
200ml Beef Stock
2 Tbls (30ml) Tomato Paste
6 Tomatoes, chopped
1 bay leaf
2 tsps (10ml) fresh Rosemary, chopped (or 1/2 tsp dried)
2 tsps (10ml) fresh Oregano, chopped (or 1/2 tsp dried)
1/2 tsp (2,5ml) Smoked paprika
1 Tbls (15ml) Balsamic vinegar
1 Tbls (15ml) Fresh lemon juice
1 Carrot, chopped
2 Baby marrows (zucchini), chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Method for the Stew:
- Put meat into a heavy based pot, grind black peeper over it and brown the meat slowly over a lowish heat.  I find I don't need any extra oil, as the meat supplies it's own fat.  But you may need a dash, depending on the meat.
- Add the onions once the meat starts browning, cook until onions are translucent
- Add the garlic, red pepper and half the celery, cook for a few minutes.
- add the sugar, red wine, beef stock and tomato paste.
- Add the chopped tomatoes herbs, spices, and vinegar.  Simmer on low heat for about 1 and 1/2 hours.
- Add the lemon juice carrots, marrow, salt and pepper.  Simmer for about another 45 minutes until meat is tender, and liquid has reduced to a nice rich gravy.

Tips:
* I love my stew sprinkled with just a dash of cayenne pepper. Try it, it brings out all the flavour.
* For the mielie pap recipe go here
* also great served with mashed potato or rice.

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Mielie Pap

MEILIE 'PAP' or 'PUTU'
This is the staple diet of the majority of South African's, made from maize meal, which is ground up dried corn.  It is also the most popular side dish at a braai (barbeque) in Africa.  SA Kids and adults love it!  It is usually served with a tomato and onion relish or gravy.  Or served with a stew, to soak up all that delicious gravy.  It is even eaten for breakfast with milk and sugar as a porridge.

  

Mielie pap topped with Tomato relish and melted cheese

Ingredients for the Pap (Maize meal)
2 cups (500 ml) water
1/2 tsp (2,5ml) salt
1 cup (250 ml) maize meal 
1 Tbls (15ml) butter
Optional extras: 
1 x tin sweetcorn
1 x tsp Crushed Garlic
1 x 400g Tin Tomato and onion mix 
200g grated cheddar cheese

Method:

* Put the water and salt in a saucepan. Bring to the boil.
* Optional:  You can add a tin of sweetcorn at this stage, or a teaspoon of garlic.

* Turn to a low heat once boiling and immediately add in the butter and the maize meal. Don't wait for the water to cool. Mix to combine.

* Adjust with extra water or maize meal to the consistency of your liking.  I like it the same consistency as mashed potato.  
* Optional:  Smooth off the top of the pap in the pot.  and smooth over a tin of tomato and onion mix. cover with grated cheese. 

* Leave to cook covered on a low heat for about 30 minutes.  Turn the heat right down so it stays warm,  it can stay like this for ages until the braai / bbq is done

* Serve hot

Preparation:  5 minutes
Cooking:  30 minutes
Serves:  8 as a side dish
(All Approximates)

Maize meal

Tips and Suggestions:

* For a braai / bbq side dish I add a tin of tomato and onion sauce to the top of the pap (don't mix it in), and grated cheese on top of that.  this melts over the top, so as you spoon out the pap you get a bit of pap with tomato and onion and melted cheese - mmmm... delicious
* Mix in a tin on sweetcorn to the water just before mixing in the pap for some extra decadence
* Also wonderful for breakfast (like a porridge),  Add some extra milk when cooking, so it is a bit more of a sloshy mix.  Scoop out some made pap into a bowl, and add milk and honey
* For more fabulous ideas and conversions have a look at my Yummy Food index page
* Please comment and share your ideas.

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Apple crumble

APPLE and PINEAPPLE CRUMBLE

This is such a lovely easy desserts, or for tea.  Kids love to help with crumbling the butter into the flour - such fun!  The oats, apples and pineapple make it pretty healthy too - Yummy!

Ingredients:

1 can (400g) unsweetened pie apples

2 fresh apples, peeled, cored and cubed

1 fresh pineapple, peeled and cubed

2 Tbls (30ml) Apple Juice

1/2 cup (125ml) flour

1/2 cup (250ml) brown sugar

1 tsp (5ml) cinnamon

A sprinkle of nutmeg

75g Butter

1/2 Cup (125g) Rolled oats

Ready for the topping to go on

Method:

- Mix the Apples and pineapple together and put in a medium sized oven proof dish.

- Add the apple Juice.

- Mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a separate bowl.

- Add the butter, and rub into the flour mixture, until it resembles breadcrumbs.

- Mix in the oats to the flour / butter mix.

- Sprinkle the crumbly topping evenly over the apples.

- Bake at 190 degrees C for about 35 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.

- Serve warm with cream, custard or ice-cream

Preparation:  20 minutes
Cooking:  35 minutes
Serves:  8 
(All Approximates)


Tips and Suggestions:

* You can substitute the pineapple for pears or peaches
* for extra decadence sprinkle in a handful of raisins before adding the crumble.
* Add a handful of crushed almonds into the crumble mix for a more nutty flavour
* For more fabulous ideas and conversions have a look at my Yummy Food index page
* Please comment and share your ideas.

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Creamy bacon mushroom spaghetti

CREAMY BACON and MUSHROOM SPAGHETTI with FRESH AVO
Pasta is so lovely to make and the number of sauces that can be made to go with pasta are endless.  This is a recipe for a lovely creamy one, nice on a cold winter night.

Ingredients:
1 Tbls (15ml Olive oil
6 rashes bacon, chopped small
1/2 onion, chopped finely
1 tsp garlic, crushed
1/2 caspium pepper, chopped
1/2 red chilli, chopped (optional)
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
black pepper, ground
1 tsp chicken stock powder
1 tsp cornflour (maizena)
250ml cream
A few squeezes of fresh lemon juice
1 packet Spaghetti (made as per packet instructions)
1 Fresh Avocado (to garnish)
Grated cheese of your choice

Method
- Fry the bacon and onion in the olive oil until the bacon is a golden brown.
- Add the garlic, pepper, chili, and spices.
- Mix the cornflour in a cup with a small amount of cream to form a paste, gradually adding more cream, add to the pan.
- Stir until sauce thickens (about 10 minutes)
- In the interim cook the spaghetti as per packet instructions.
- Add the lemon juice to the sauce once it has thickened.
- Mix the sauce into the spaghetti
- Plate, and garnish with freshly sliced avo and grated cheese
Serves: 4


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