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Last year I was invited to attend a function at Sense of Taste Cooking School. Somehow my email got lost on the way back to Debs which meant my space was taken up by someone else. She kindly arranged for me to attend the SA Pork event the next day and I am so glad … Continue reading 100 Choice Recipes With Pork
Every visit to England needs to include a traditional pub meal. Dave and I had several on our recent holiday. While in the Vale of Evesham we went to Norton Grange. Norton Grange All pubs in the UK offer a variety of beers and ciders on tap. This is always our first choice. Dave chose … Continue reading Norton Grange, Evesham
Buck’s Pantry, opening line: Lianna's hands gripped the steering wheel at ten and two as she drove five miles under the speed limit down the country highway. My blurb: Lianna has been sent to rural Texas to buy out a private bank. She is focussed on one thing, and one thing only, and that is … Continue reading Buck’s Pantry, Khristin Wierman
To Herman, Home Cooking is like Rachel from Friends. To me, it's about memories, old and new. Home Cooking is Herman Lensing’s sixth cookbook and follows the highly successful Dit Proe Soos Huis (Human & Rousseau), published in 2019 and 2020 winner of the SA Boekprys best nonfiction title. Home Cooking tells the story – in his own … Continue reading Home Cooking, Herman Lensing
Shattered opening lines: Early morning was one of her favorite times of the day. The sun had just cracked the horizon and traffic was still light. My blurb: Michael is in Ireland, on honeymoon, and decides that a call from his FBI agent friend can wait for his return to New York. But he will … Continue reading Shattered, James Patterson & James O. Born
Dave and I had the best ever curry meal when we were in England earlier this year. We went to The Ivy Inn in North Littleton Evesham for their curry night. The Ivy Inn The Ivy Inn is a village pub located in the heart of the picturesque village of North Littleton. In winter expect … Continue reading The Ivy Inn
Escape opening lines: He's here somewhere. I know it. And the girl might still be alive. The girl: fifteen-year-old Bridget Leone, abducted off the streets of Hyde Park forty-four hours ago. My blurb: Detective Billy Harney cannot understand why he has been taken off a case and moved into a special unit. But he follows … Continue reading Escape, James Patterson And David Ellis
As author Chantal Lascaris says, it’s time for the salad to take centre stage! Traditionally salads have been viewed as side dishes, but those featured in The Ultimate Salad Book, are anything but as they move boldly into the realm of main dishes. And nobody knows better how to achieve this than Chantal as she presents … Continue reading The Ultimate Salad Book, Chantal Lascaris
The World Of African Wildlife is a safari guide for young explorers. Here are examples of the information you can find in the book: Birds that are most often seen walking or packing on the ground include francolins, sangrouse, guineafowl, ostriches, cranes, bustards and korhaans., the secretary bird and the large and boldly coloured ground … Continue reading The World Of African Wildlife
I cannot emphasize how important it is to read to children. And using children's picture books is a great way to get them to engage and participate in being read to. Luckily for Hannah her parents are both avid readers. And she will ask for a book when she wants to be entertained. Here are … Continue reading Picture Books
Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love, written by Yotam Ottolenghi and Noor Murad, was egged on by the Pandemic. The recipes were inspired by what was in their kitchen and is a guide to making the ordinary, extraordinary. This handbook has many recipes that are similar to others in the Ottolenghi collection, using ingredients I associate … Continue reading Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love
Here is a selection of books for children that I have been sent to review. All of these get gifted to Hannah for her birthday. She is turning 4 this month so they are age appropriate. I See a Buffalo I See a Buffalo tells the tale of a young buffalo who is distressed by her size. … Continue reading Books For Children
Expect neither a palace nor ostriches when you visit Rietfontein Ostrich Palace along Route 62. Famed as the longest wine route in the world, Route 62 can be located in the Western Cape of South Africa. We spent one night at the guest house which is just outside Calitzdorp. Best known for Port, this is … Continue reading Rietfontein Ostrich Palace
22 Seconds opening line: Cindy Thomas was working at the dining table she'd bought at a tag sale down the block. My blurb: Detective Lindsay Boxer and her husband Joe are working the same case. He has been called in by the FBI as a consultant and together they are tracking a large gun shipment. … Continue reading 22 Seconds, James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
The Auschwitz Photographer opening line: Wilhelm Brasse switched on the enlarger and a bright beam of white light fell on to the sheet of photographic paper. My blurb: Wilhelm Brasse was inmate 3444 in Auschwitz. His skills as a photographer were noted and used to document all incoming prisoners. Until it was decided that there … Continue reading The Auschwitz Photographer
Situated on the Helshoogte Pass, you will find Le Pommier Wine Estate. Originally an apple farm, the 6 hectares of vineyards produce 5 amazing wines. Gift Voucher In November last year I received a few bottles from Le Pommier with a hand written note saying there were no strings attached! It makes a huge change … Continue reading Le Pommier, Stellenbosch South Africa
The Match opening line: At the age of somewhere between forty and forty-two - he didn't know exactly how old he was - Wilde finally found his father. My blurb: No sooner than Wilde finds his father, he loses him again. With so many questions left unanswered he turns to the next DNA match. But … Continue reading The Match, Harlan Coben
GlassesShop offered me a free pair of prescription glasses in exchange for a review. This offer was too good to pass up, as spectacles in South Africa are quite pricey. And the request came quite timeously as I needed new reading glasses. GlassesShop The company was founded in Michigan in 2004 with the aim to … Continue reading GlassesShop Review
Our Italian Legacy Of Love is a beautiful family story, and the authors have a restaurant I would love to visit. I love the saying "only ice cream belongs in the freezer". This is so true for restaurants who should not be reheating meals that have been cooked in advance and frozen. What do you … Continue reading Our Italian Legacy Of Love, Chiara Viljoen
Dark Horse opening lines: Some men speak of angels and devils. Some talk about their emotions or unbidden urges. My blurb: Evan Smoak will always help the innocent, but he will not aid criminals. That is on his list of rules. But the rules are being broken and in order to save Anjelina, he must … Continue reading Dark Horse, Gregg Hurwitz