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Pickled Ginger Until I developed an allergy to an unknown substance, I never considered how many items are made in a factory that uses nuts. And if you are a label reader like I am, then you will know how many savoury products contain sugar. As a person intolerant to sucrose I have learnt to … Continue reading Pickled Ginger
My December / January leave period is all about indulgence for me. It means eating lots of wonderful foods, enjoying dessert after every meal, and spending a lot of time in my kitchen. I don't watch my weight and I eat whenever I feel like it. I'm not usually like this. Even when we are … Continue reading Onion Marmalade
When I was younger I had an Italian friend Rosanna, and I spent a lot of time at her house. We would often enjoy a spoonful (or three) of Nutella, right out of the jar and I thought that this treat came only from Italy. At that age I didn't even know you could buy … Continue reading Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Traditionally, a rouille is made with chillies as this gives the sauce its red colour. Rouille is the French word for rust and it is a Provencal sauce served with bouillabaisse, boiled fish and octopus. Chillies are pounded with garlic and breadcrumbs or potatoes, and the sauce may include saffron. It is loosened with fish … Continue reading Rouille
Dave and I have a nightly ritual. We eat dinner at the table with the news on the television in the background. I am not interested in the news and as I cannot see the TV properly from my seat at the table I don't mind. After dinner the dishes are stacked in the dishwasher … Continue reading Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
In my endeavor to make everything at home I found myself waiting patiently for my store bought tomato ketchup to run out. This is not an ingredient I use often as I only really have ketchup with my hotdogs. I like a traditional sausage with sauerkraut, mustard, mayonnaise and tomato ketchup between a soft wholewheat roll. … Continue reading Home Made Tomato Ketchup
As I am sucrose intolerant I have a lot of bottles of things in my fridge that I have made from scratch. You will find sweet chilli sauce in there among all the other bottles of lovely goodies, including harissa and pesto and tomato and chilli chutney. What you won't find is marmalade as for some strange reason fructose does not work the same … Continue reading Piccalilli
Can childhood obesity be ascribed to 'bad' parenting, or is it a sign of modern times? It seems that nowadays, children are much chubbier than I can remember when Dave's children were younger. A few years ago I had a client who came to me because her three year old child ate nothing but chips. … Continue reading Hummus | Made With Tinned Chickpeas
Sambal kacang or peanut sauce is a very popular sauce served with all kinds of satay in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. I have an addiction to reality TV. This started off with Survivor and has moved on to Top Chef, MasterChef, Iron Chef, Chopped and The Restaurant. I love watching the challenges and the different … Continue reading Peanut Sauce | Sambal Kacang
I always have mint growing in my garden and so it really is a doddle to make this mint sauce. It really is best made fresh and used the same day. We were given 4 beautiful lamb chops which came from the Karoo. The Karoo is a desert region of South Africa where lamb are … Continue reading Mint Sauce
Green curry paste is known in Thai as kreaung geng geng gwio warn. It is a fragrant, fresh curry paste made with fresh herbs and some spices. If I could categorize my personality by using flavours, then I would be a citrus person. I love all things citrus, whether in fruit, scent or flavour. My … Continue reading Green Curry Paste | Kreaung Geng Geng Gwio Warn
Looking for something new to put on your cheese board? Well, look no further. This pink grape and pink port jelly is the perfect addition. A few years ago, Dave and I woke up on Saturday morning to take a drive to Calitzdorp. This is the home of South African Port and we really felt … Continue reading Pink Grape And Pink Port Jelly
I had a friend who said, you are only cheating when you are caught! Now, that is quite a statement but is it correct. And is cheating the same as pregnancy - you either are or you are not, or can one say there are degrees of cheating? In sport there seems to be all … Continue reading Apple Sauce
My friend Kim has sent me this recipe for Coriander Pesto which is a good heavy metal detox. As it is a heavy metal detox, Kim recommends that you only eat a couple of teaspoons a day. Coriander Pesto One of the ingredients in this recipe is dulse. Living in the little village of Gordons Bay, … Continue reading Coriander Pesto
I adapted this recipe for Tomato and Aubergine Chutney from the Food & Home Entertaining magazine. Chutney is a word we have borrowed from the Hindi language and even though the condiment is from South Asia, it is an extremely common ingredient that can be found in most South African homes. In fact, when I … Continue reading Tomato And Aubergine Chutney
I make this black olive tapenade when we need an alternative topping for bruschetta. I love the saltiness of the tapenade and you can use it for so many dishes. One of the most amazing things about Italy and France is the fact that farmers farm the land right up to the edges! Another thing … Continue reading Olive Tapenade
I have a conundrum - I want to participate in something, but in order for me to do that, I have to 'like' something I don't! I suppose every day we are faced with these types of moral choices. Do you pretend to be friends with someone so that you can stay in the correct … Continue reading Recipe For Onion And Apple Relish
I love curd, any flavour, and will have it in yoghurt for breakfast or with crumpets for afternoon tea. This is so easy to make and here I have given you a recipe for lemon curd. You can see from the old photograph below that I have also made this curd using granadilla. I have been … Continue reading Lemon Curd
This recipe for five fruit marmalade has been adapted from the Avocado Magazine which is no longer in print. It is great to make during citrus season and enjoy the rest of the year. If it weren't for the challenge of actually making the recipes I have cut out, I would never consider making marmalade … Continue reading Five Fruit Marmalade
There are loads of salad dressing recipes out there, and I can well imagine you are thinking "oh no, not another one". And, why bother to make this when you can buy any flavour you want. But, this recipe should be patented it is so good - or at least that is what I am … Continue reading Salad Dressing