With the weather heating up and it being Heritage (read: BRAAI) month, us South Africans are all getting that wonderful, delirious, warm-summer-air, late-nights-outside-by-the-fire, weekends-away-at-the-sea kinda feeling. At the centre of this most delicious summer feeling is BRAAING – chops, steak, wors, chicken flatties, whole fish, crayfish, potjies, braaibroodjies - anything cooked on the fire and all the yummy sides we eat with it all!
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Sweet Berry, Hazelnut & Dark Chocolate Brioche Swirl
Sweet Berry, Hazelnut & Dark Chocolate Brioche Swirl. This is the kind of recipe that your friends will go OOOH and AAAH and WOW! YOU’RE AMAZING at and think they could never make because it looks so impressive (and complicated). Good news, it’s not complicated at all, but will still leave you looking like a super-baker!
Read MoreCrunchy Kale Chips
So the whole world seems to have gone low carb/banting/paleo/bread-is-evil mad. Although it's not really my scene, I must give credit where credit's due and these kale chips that everyone around me has been raving about are definitely worth the fuss. Ridiculously easy to make, these chips are light, super crunchy & salty and even more delicious topped with a dollop of hummus!
Read MoreChewy Oat, Almond & Banana Cookies
So, I am getting married in December (TOO much excitement!) and with that comes the usual bride-to-be stress of fitting into a wedding dress. That’s all good and well for some one happy to eat steamed greens for the next 3 months, but if you know me (and my all consuming passion for EVERYTHING food) then you know that I am not (and will never be, thank goodness!) that person! So what appeals to me about these cookies, considering my current challenges, is that they are completely delicious and on the healthier side of the cookie scale (well, in moderation, which is always challenging!). In a few words these cookies are quick, sweet, crunchy, chewy and just completely addictive!
Read MoreRoast Red Pepper, Courgette & Goats' Cheese Tart
This the PERFECT summer picnic or lunch-outside-on-the-stoep (veranda) tart. Sweet red onion marmalade and roasted peppers, salty goat's cheese, soft filling, crunchy pastry - all complemented perfectly by a sunny day under the trees with a cold glass of wine and a fresh side salad.
Read MoreSpicy Apple, Cinnamon & Nut Cake
The combination of apples, nuts and cinnamon - how could you ever go wrong? This is a really delicious spicy cake, perfect to end off a wintery lunch served with a beautiful little glass of dessert wine or eaten indulgently by yourself with a hot cup of tea! Best served still slightly warm from the oven.
Read MoreCrunchy Nutty Wheat Rusks (With Roast Hazelnut, Almond, Sunflower & Linseed)
I have tested this recipe many times and each time I tweak it a little as it doesn’t feel quite right. I think it is finally all tweaked out and has reached perfection (well in my rusk world)!
I think the secret is to pre-roast all your nuts and seeds, it just gives it that extra toasted depth of flavour. You could also add in raisins or dried cranberries.
These rusks are super crunchy, light, nutty and leave crumbs all over you, just like a good rusk should!
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