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In The Big Tasty Bite, Lila says that this Tuscan chicken bake is packed with flavour. And she is right! It is easy to prepare ahead of time, and I am going to make this for when we are on the barge in France in September. You can serve this with pasta, rice, mash or … Continue reading Tuscan Chicken Bake
In The Big Tasty Bite, Lila calls the recipe for one-tray Mediterranean roast vegetables one that just works. This will make enough to feed four as a side bite. But for me, it was perfect to have extra cooked vegetables ready for the next time I did not feel like cooking. Skip ahead to the … Continue reading Mediterranean Roast Vegetables
I did not manage to line my muffin pan as well as Lila did when I made these mini Basque cheesecakes. I would recommend using non-ribbed muffin cases, or a deep muffin tin. Or, have some wonky looking cheesecakes which will still taste amazing. Skip ahead to the recipe for Mini Basque Cheesecakes Let's talk … Continue reading Mini Basque Cheesecakes
Using an active sourdough starter, I made these sourdough naan. These made enough for 4 people so feel free to reduce or double the recipe, depending on your needs. Skip ahead to the recipe for Sourdough Naan Let's talk about naan Whenever we go out for Indian food, we always order naan bread to go … Continue reading Sourdough Naan
It is a well known fact that Easter marks the start of winter in the Western Cape. It usually rains at least one day over the long weekend, scuppering plans for outside entertainment. However, Easter was early in April 2026, and winter did not show her face until the middle of the month. It will soon … Continue reading April 2026 Showcasing In My Kitchen
According to Lila, good food should not be limited by your budget, time, creativity or skill. She showcases this in her recipe book, The Big Tasty Bite. The Big Tasty Bite For Lila Lerie, food is an endless avenue for creativity and freedom. Good food shouldn’t be limited by your budget, time, creativity or skill, … Continue reading The Big Tasty Bite, Lila Lerie
The trick to shaping these sourdough pretzels is to start by rolling a long rope of dough, with ends that are thinner than the middle. You then lay the dough in a U shape and twist the ends twice to create the loop. These ends are then turned over towards the base of the U, pressed … Continue reading Sourdough Pretzels
Judge Stone opening lines: Bria Gaines stood at the back door of the small brick office building she rented in Union Springs, Alabama, population 3,314. My blurb: Mary Stone is more than just a Judge. She is a farmer, a sister, and a Black Woman living in the Black Belt of America. In her courtroom … Continue reading Judge Stone, James Patterson
Karl is very correct when he says that this lamb and onion pie is so tasty! Despite the pastry not completely cooking on the bottom in the middle, I am sharing it with you. The filling is delicious and the pastry is easier to make than you think. Skip ahead to the recipe for Lamb … Continue reading Lamb And Onion Pie
Using a mayonnaise base made with Dijon mustard and sherry vinegar, I made a simple remoulade sauce. This is a great recipe to add to, depending on your taste buds, and what you are serving it with. Skip ahead to the recipe for Remoulade Sauce Variations of a remoulade sauce A remoulade sauce is used … Continue reading Remoulade Sauce
Antihero opening lines: Shiny penny-sized blood drops on the white tile floor of the East Los Angeles bodega reflect back the sterile fluorescent lights above. My blurb: Evan is ready to change a few things in his life. He will allow Josephine to go on a mission. But, he will not allow her to distract … Continue reading Antihero, Gregg Hurwitz
The text for the post on What Are the Most Overlooked Essentials Travelers Forget to Pack? was provided to me. What Are the Most Overlooked Essentials Travelers Forget to Pack? Most travellers remember the obvious things first. Clothes, shoes, toiletries, passports, chargers. Those usually make it into the bag without much trouble. The problem is … Continue reading What Are the Most Overlooked Essentials Travelers Forget to Pack?
Having seen okonomiyaki being made on MasterChef Australia I was really excited to find a recipe for this in Upwards. I made these Japanese pancakes for lunch and both Dave and I really enjoyed them. Skip ahead to the recipe for Okonomiyaki What is okonomiyaki? Okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake which originated in Japan. A … Continue reading Okonomiyaki
I had this caper mocha butter at the launch of Upwards, and came straight home to make it. Because I did that, I had to use what was in my kitchen, rather than what was in the recipe. I switched out Tabasco for my homemade sriracha, and used a freshly made espresso instead of instant coffee. … Continue reading Caper Mocha Butter
Kiss Her Goodbye opening lines: When I was a girl, I dreamed. Running through my father's orchard in pursuit of my brother, ten years older and newly returned from school. My blurb: Sabera is a mother who will do anything for her child. She will marry a much older man, just to have them both … Continue reading Kiss Her Goodbye, Lisa Gardner
I had a little bit of my togarashi left over so I adjusted the recipe for furikake in Upwards to only use what I had. Since then I have used this blend numerous times when making flatbreads. It really is an amazing addition to that, as well as a great topping for bread. Skip ahead … Continue reading Furikake
Karen recommends using sardine butter on steaks and fish. Or under the skin of a chicken that you are going to roast. She loves this with new-season radishes, which was an entirely new concept to me. I had plenty slathered onto toast when I was on a bread baking spree. Skip ahead to the recipe … Continue reading Sardine Butter
The Impossible Fortune opening lines: They show you how to make bombs on the internet. If you know where to look. My blurb: Elizabeth has not been her normal self for quite some time. But, with everyone occupied with their own lives, she is finally ready to be a part of the gang again. Only … Continue reading The Impossible Fortune, Richard Osman
I had thought that the heatwave had ended, but March 2026 proved me wrong. And, it was one of the hottest weeks we have had for ages. The temperature did not drop at night, making it even worse. And, despite Gordons Bay being known for the wind, it did not blow. That being said, we … Continue reading March 2026 Showcasing In My Kitchen
Karen is now looking and living upwards! This was so evident when I met her last November at the launch of her recipe book. It was amazing to see her living well, and with grace. In her latest recipe book, the recipe layout goes against the grain. With the method on the left and the … Continue reading Upwards, Karen Dudley