♥ a food, travel and lifestyle blog ♥
Jamie Oliver described this carrot gazpacho as being refreshing, surprising and vivacious in his recipe book, Eat Yourself Healthy. I decided to try it as Dave made such an amazing ajoblanco, which I loved. And, as promised, this was a beautiful cool soup. For someone who does not enjoy fruit in savoury dishes, the grapes … Continue reading Carrot Gazpacho
May 2026 was brutal! The month started off quiet and calm. I flew back from Johannesburg on the 1st and Dave and I spent the long weekend doing as little as possible. The following Saturday we celebrated my aunt's 70th birthday. This was special for many reasons, but mostly for seeing all of my cousins. … Continue reading May 2026 Showcasing In My Kitchen
Rocket’s Red Glare opening lines: Sergeant Jeff Carnes sat paralyzed in the passenger seat of the smoldering Humvee, slowly regaining consciousness after the concussion of the RPG. My blurb: Nat Phillips is the right person, in the right place, not once, but twice. First in Baghdad, then in Nantucket. The company he works for has … Continue reading Rocket’s Red Glare, James Patterson
Like Jamie, many of us are asking the same questions. How do we help our bodies be the best they can be? What do we need to do to maintain a healthy weight? How do we sleep better? How do we support our immune systems so they can protect us from common illnesses? And ultimately, … Continue reading Eat Yourself Healthy, Jamie Oliver
Tuck this recipe for Easter bread away for next year, and bake it on the first morning of your long weekend. It will not keep well, so make sure you have people to share it with. Skip ahead to the recipe for Easter Bread Baking up a storm Every now and then, the baking bug … Continue reading Easter Bread
26 Beauties opening lines: Tina Barnes turned the key to the BMW X3. All she got was a series of clicks. "Awffffuck the Bavarian Motor Works!" My blurb: Something is leading Detective Lindsay Boxer to believe that two seemingly unrelated cases are indeed connected. And, in the midst of her investigation her friend Cindy is … Continue reading 26 Beauties, James Patterson
I print recipes on a whim, to make during December, when time is on my side. But, last year I did not make many recipes, so I do not have that much ready to go. With that in mind, I am working my way through quick and easy recipes. This one for spiced almond biscuits … Continue reading Spiced Almond Biscuits
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