Spanish-style Chickpea and Chorizo Stew

You might remember my post from Beijing in 2010 – if not, I’ll jog your memory shall I? Crunchy roasted scorpions on sticks, roasted bullfrog a-plenty, a little bit of a rant about communism and the best damn burger I’ve ever tasted? We were there for a work conference which happens every year, each time in a different location. Pretty amazing. Last year, it was held in Barcelona and I missed out because I had just had little Sophie. Well, I’ve had this gnawing penchant for Spanish food ever since, and adding Chorizo to every second thing I can think of has been my way of appeasing the nag. Here’s my latest take on bringing a little bite of (loosely adapted) BarTHelona back home…

Gem Squash, Leek & Barley Soup

In the spirit of Meat-Free Mondays (do the universe a favour and read more here), and the no-mess-no-fuss food that I firmly believe should always go with the first day of the week, I give you a new twist on my old favourite Gem Squash & Leek Soup. I’ve been cooking this for years, a recipe from Mom when I was at university, and only the other day did I add barley for the first time. And while this all sounds rather elementary I’m sure, somehow it adds just a little more punch and leaves us with a simple soup that is both honest and charming.

Seared Tuna Steaks with Asian Dressing

Gosh, two posts in two days? Fear not, fair friends. Given my track record, this is not a sign of things to come. You shall certainly not be spammed by posts from me. I just thought there was no time to waste in getting a healthy-yummy recipe to you after yesterday’s New Year’s post. Ergo, I bring you Seared Tuna Heaven Re-Visited.

Happy New Year!

Rob aptly describes this picture as ‘the fruit of 2011′… Just before we went back home to Zimbabwe for Christmas, in fact as we were driving out the gate, the courier company arrived with THE FIRST COPY OF MY BOOK. Finally having it in my hands was exciting and absolutely terrifying in equal measure.

Beef Fillet and Warm Beetroot Salad

If you’re swimming in that proverbial post-Christmas and pre-New Year ennui, you might want to give this a bash. Because if you’re going to throw a meal together effortlessly, it’s always a bonus if it has both prettiness and punch and belies the fact that the output exponentially exceeded the input. This far from fussy beef fillet and warm beetroot salad is the antithesis of high maintenance food and it’s definitely worth a go asap. I like to think that the key that unlocks the door to the real ooh la la is the horseradish.

Thai Fish Curry in a Hurry

For a whole slew of reasons, we’ve been trying to eat more fish, so I’ve made it my mission to delve into fish dishes that don’t leave us feeling underwhelmed. And if you’re feeling a little low on the old HO HO HO this Christmas, then maybe this will help – we were enchanted with this sublime and very speedy Thai fish curry.

bitten.

I feel like Christmas has come early this year – I just got an email from my lovely book editor Linda, to say that the printing is done, the book is ready to hit the shelves and it looks pretty smashing. Prepare to take a bite out of Bitten. (*drumroll please*). If that’s not enough to induce toe-curling excitement in me I don’t know what is. And to add to that, I was having a browse around Kalahari.net the other day (for no particular reason whatsoever of course) and just happened to stumble upon this…  Yip, the page is pending and I’ll be sure to let you know when pre-ordering is open for those of you living outside of South Africa who can be coerced into buying a copy

Speedy Chicken and Cous Cous Salad

Blimey time flies when you’re having fun. And moving house. And I hasten to add that the two are absolutely, definitely mutually exclusive. It’ s been so long i don’t know where to start. So where the heck have I been? Why on earth did I neglect you all for so long?? And why, more importantly, have I left you all staring into your pantry cupboards without a friend at your shoulder to suggest a sprinkle of this and a dollop of that?

Amazing give away for Taste of Joburg food festival

The more I’ve listened to the rising crescendo of fun-ness surrounding the Taste of Joburg foodie event this coming weekend, the lower I’ve slumped into my pool of self pity that I can’t be there. BUT, lucky for you, said self-pity does not translate into selfishness, and I have a happy little giveaway for my Joburg friends…

There are 5 double tickets up for grabs, and for one of you lucky pairs I also have a R250 voucher for dinner at one of Joburg’s top restaurants, the Bellagio. Pretty smashing right?

Love, Toast and a rather smashing Pork roast…

Love and toast. Some would say that’s all you need to survive. And someone in particular chez nous seems to have resigned themselves to our current status quo of flurry-flurry-hurry-hurry and the apparent non-cooking that goes with it. Rob quietly mentioned the other day that it’s been rather a while since I made him his favourite ‘why he married me bacon pasta’ or much of anything for that matter. Le pauvre. So I bashfully donned my apron and got on with it. As you do. And here’s where we ended up…