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.

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

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

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.

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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Fabulous Pizza

FABULOUS PIZZA
I love Pizza, and living out here in the bush, we seriously lack restaurants or any take-out places, which means making your own.  This recipe is my favourite.  It is super easy and makes 4 wonderfully thin pizza bases which can be topped with whatever topping tickles your fancy.  After making this very easy recipe, you may wonder why you ever go out for pizza, when you can make it even better at home.

Ingredients:
6oog White bread flour
10g Sachet dry instant yeast granules
2ml salt
350ml luke warm water
30ml olive oil
Crushed garlic
Tomato paste
salt
Cheese (Mozzarella, Cheddar, Gouda)
Parmesan cheese

Method:
- Put flour, yeast and salt in a mixing bowl, mix up evenly.
- I put mine in a mixer which is equipped with a dough hook, and leave it running on low.
- Add olive oil and warm water slowly.
- The dough will form into a big ball, It must not be sticky.  Keep kneading with the mixer, or by hand for about 10 minutes until the dough is quiet pliable.
- Put a tea towel over the bowl and leave in a warmish spot to double in size (about an hour)
- Preheat oven to 220 degrees C
- beat down the dough and roll into a short fat sausage.  Cut evenly into 4 pieces and roll into 4 balls.
- sprinkle some flour on the kitchen top surface
- sprinkle flour on baking tray
- Roll each ball out into a thin circle shape - place on the baking tray
- Spread some garlic, and tomato paste over the base, sprinkle with salt.
- Add your toppings of choice (see below for some cool ideas)
- Sprinkle a healthy dose of cheese (whatever you choose or a mix).
- bake in a hot oven (220 degrees C) for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese just starts getting golden splodges.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, top with fresh rocket or Avo

Topping ideas
- Sliced pear and blue cheese, (with fresh rocket added after baking)
- Fig, brie cheese & walnuts
- Brinjal  (Egg plant), sun-dried tomatoes and  pepperdews (mild chilli)
- Artichokes, Capers, olives and anchovies, (with fresh avocado after baking)
- pizza is a great way of using up bits and pieces in the fridge!  Anything goes really.

Tips:
- I do 2 pizzas at a time, and freeze the dough of the other two pieces.  Next time  I just take the dough out the freezer in the morning, put in a bowl covered with a tea towel to allow to defrost and rise.

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Perfect Pancakes

PERFECT PANCAKES
Pancakes remind me of lovely Lazy Sunday mornings at home.  Hot pancakes with cinnamon & lemon is just such a wonderful weekend breakfast treat.

Ingredients:
1 Tbls (15ml) Sugar
2 Eggs
300ml Milk
125g Cake Flour
Pinch of salt
Butter for frying

Method:
- Cream together the eggs and sugar, gradually stir in milk
- In a separate bowl, Sift Flour and salt.
- add, egg, milk mixture gradually to flour mixture, beating continuously.
- Continue beating for about 2 minutes, then allow to rest for about 10 minutes.
- Heat butter in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Ladle some batter into the pan, swirling the pan to get a thin even layer covering the surface.
- Cook for about 1 minute until mixture has set, turn over and cook another minute.
- transfer to a plate, and pile them up in an oven to keep warm.  set at about 80 degrees C.

To top: 
- sprinkle with cinnamon, lemon juice and sugar and roll up.
- or how about yoghurt and honey for a real breakfast treat.
- or get decadent with berries and cream.


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Potato Chips

CRUNCHY POTATO CHIPS

Every now and then I just love fried potato chips (or french fries).  I'm not really fond of 'shlap' chips that they serve in fast food places - seriously - those are just so not cooked enough.  In my opinion they need to be a lovely golden brown and a bit crispy.  This is my recipe that works perfectly every time.  Easy, simple and yummy.  if the peels on the potatoes are nice - leave them on.  

Ingredients:

Potatoes, (work on about 2 potatoes per person)

A generous sprinkling of salt

sunflower oil (enough to just cover the potatoes)

paprika

Method:

- Put the oil in a deep pan to heat up

- Slice the potatoes thinly in sticks.

- Sprinkle the raw potato chips with salt (this is the trick to their crunchiness)

- Check that the oil is hot enough by putting one potato stick in the oil.  It must frizzle and rise to the surface.

- Add all the raw potato chips, carefully one handful at a time.

- Turn the whole lot over a couple of times to brown all over.  Don't turn too often or too soon, else they turn to mush.

- Drain on newspaper

- Sprinkle with more salt, and paprika

Tip:

You can re-use the sunflower oil a few times. I put mine in a large glass jar and store it in the fridge, until the next chip craving comes along

Sweetcorn Bake

SWEETCORN BAKE

I love this recipe, and I end up making it a lot to go with a braai (barbeque).  Really fabulous and different to the normal braai side dishes

Ingredients:

100 grams Margarine

2 eggs 

100 grams self raising flour

1 cup milk

1 tin Creamed Sweetcorn

5ml  salt

Method:

- Cream Marg and eggs. mix well

- Fold in Self Raising Flour and salt

- Mix milk & creamed corn and add to flour / egg mixture.

- Bake for +- 45 mins at 180'C

Serves up to 8 people as a side dish

Tips and Suggestions:

* 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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Choc coconut yoghurt cake

CHOCOLATE COCONUT YOGHURT CAKE

Ingredients

185g Butter

300ml (240g) sugar

4 eggs

5ml vanilla essence

560ml (270g) self-raising flour

180ml Plain yoghurt

100g dark chocolate

60ml milk

For theTopping:

90g Butter

180ml (100g) sugar

60ml milk

200ml (70g) desiccated coconut

Method:

Cream butter & sugar well, add the eggs one at a time, beating well.

Add the vanilla, sifted flour and yoghurt, and a little milk if necessary.

Spoon cake mixture into a greased, lined 20cm spring-form pan.

Melt chocolate and 45ml milk together and pour over cake batter.

Bake cake at 180ºC for about 50 minutes or until done.

To make the topping:

Combine the butter, sugar and milk, bring to the boil for 2 minutes, then remove from

the heat and add all the coconut and vanilla essence.

When cake is done, spoon over the topping and place the cake under the grill for a few minutes until golden.

Fabulous Scones

FABULOUS scones

Notes:

This scone recipe just works, I've tried many (as i do just love scones!), but never had any great success until i came across this beauty.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 cups Cake Flour
125g Marg / butter
1½ cups maas or buttermilk
6 tsp Baking Powder
pinch of salt
2 small eggs

Method:
Mix all dry ingredients using your fingertips until it resembles bread crumbs.
Gently beat the egg into the buttermilk.
Mix gently into the flour mixture, ensuring not to over kneed
Flatten out onto a floured surface using a cookie cut out the scones,
Place onto a sprayed baking tray and cook for about 25 min at 180ºC

Served with whipped cream, cheese and jam…… you will have to try them to believe it!

Super Fast Cake

SUPER FAST CAKE

Notes:

I just love this recipe, I make it a lot, great when you have visitors that just pop in out the blue.  I usually just sprinkle it with some coconut or spread jam over the top, when there is not even time to make icing.  

Mix together:

1 cup Cake Flour

1 cup Castor Sugar (or normal)

20ml Baking powder

5ml Salt

In a separate bowl mix:

1 cup warm water (not hot)
40ml Cocoa (can leave out for  vanilla cake or add lemon juice or coconut to dry ingredients)

2 eggs

¼ cup oil (62.5ml)

5ml Vanilla essence

Method:

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients with a wooden spoon. 

Put mixture into a greased 4cm by 20cm round glass or microwave proof dish

Microwave on high for approx 8 to 10 minutes

Sticky Chocolate Sponge Pudding

STICKY CHOCOLATE SPONGE PUDDING

Ingredients for the Sponge:

200g sugar
200g butter
200g self-raising flour, sifted
1 rounded teaspoon baking powder
3 large eggs, preferably free-range
3 rounded tablespoons cocoa powder
8 tablespoons warm water
Handful flaked almonds
100g chocolate, broken up  (I love dark!)
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
Beat the sugar and butter until pale and fluffy.
Sieve the flour and baking powder into the butter mixture. 
Add the eggs and mix it all together. 
Then mix the cocoa powder with 8 tablespoons of warm water, until smooth.
Fold the chocolate paste, almonds, and chocolate pieces into the cake mixture. 
Pour the mixture into a greased baking tin, spreading it out evenly. 
Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Ingredients for the sauce:
100g chocolate, broken up
½ Cup sugar
100g butter
4 tablespoons milk
Method:
Meanwhile, melt the chocolate sauce ingredients in a bowl over some lightly simmering water. 
Stir until blended well.
When the pudding is cooked, remove from the oven and pour over the chocolate sauce while still hot.
Serves: 8

Peppermint crisp pudding

This is a very typical South African dessert.  Quick, simple, very yummy and looks fabulous!  

Ingredients:
3 Peppermint Crisps
1 Pkt. (200g) Tennis biscuits
1 Box (2 pkts.) Orley Whip (or 250ml fresh cream)
1 Tin Caramelized condensed milk
Method:
* Whip Orley Whip.
* Add condensed milk, and crushed peppermint crisps.
* Add layer of biscuits and mixture.
* Leave in fridge to set.
Serves: 8
Tips:
* For those living out of SA.  Tennis biscuits are square thin biscuits made with lots of coconut
*  For more fabulous recipe ideas have a look at my recipe index page

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Cheese Muffins

CHEESE MUFFINS sprinkled with PAPRIKA

This is by far my favourite cheese Muffin recipe.  Really delicious and very easy to make.  Served warm with the butter melting into the muffin - mmm yum!

Ingredients:
1 Egg
1 cup Milk
1 ½ cups Self-raising Flour
½ tsp Salt
1 Tbls Sugar
Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
1 cup (about 100g) grated Cheddar Cheese 
Paprika Spice

Method:
- Preheat the oven to 210°C
- Sift the Flour, Salt and cayenne pepper.  Add the sugar and grated cheese.
- Stir gently to mix
- In a separate bowl: Beat the egg. Add the milk
- Make a well in the flour and add the egg mixture to the flour mixture.  
- Stir gently with a spoon until just combined  (no more than 30 times).
- Spoon into a greased muffin pan. Sprinkle with paprika.
Bake for 15 minutes
Makes 9 large muffins

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Apple Tart

APPLE TART

This makes a yummy fabulous, moist dessert, especially if served with a dollop of cream or custard.  Serve hot.  I usually make this ahead of time, and then just warm it up for about 15 minutes in a moderate oven.  

Ingredients for dough:
250ml (140g) Self Raising Flour
2ml Salt
125ml Castor Sugar
125g Butter
385g Can Sliced Pie Apples
1 Extra Large Egg
125ml Milk
15ml Sugar
3ml Ground Cinnamon

Method:
Cream butter & sugar. Add egg and beat until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt. Fold into butter mixture Alternately with Milk.
Turn into a greased 23cm pie dish. Arrange apple slices on top of mixture. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over apples.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180ºC for ± 40 minutes.



Ingredients for Syrup:
60ml Sugar
45ml Milk
5ml Vanilla Essence

Method:
Heat Sugar & milk; bring to the boil until sugar has melted. Remove from heat and add essence.
Pour over apple tart when removed from oven.
Serves: 6 to 8