Roasted Tomato and Thyme Soup

When a meal is as exquisite in its simplicity as this, I see no need for convoluted introductions. It’s glorious roast tomato soup at it’s proudest, and I wish you bon appetit.

Ten Minute Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

Winter she’s a-coming, I can smell it, I can hear it, and I can feel it. The air has that little chilly edge to it, the trees are gracefully dropping their leaves, the light has a different quality about it. And besides the poetry of it all, it means soup weather, cosiness, fluffy socks, boots and more steaming mugs of tea than usual. And a whole lot more than that. I for one am not going to be found complaining

And speaking of soups, I thought this was a good place to kick off when it comes to fighting the chill. There is a plethora of quick and easy Thai chicken and noodle soup recipes out there. This is my version, delivering as much bang for your buck, prettiness and punch as it can muster in just 10 minutes of cooking time.

Sweetcorn and Sweet Potato Fritters to fall in love with

This comes from my kitchen to yours with love and lots of happiness in your tumminess this Valentines day xxx

Don’t you find that sometimes it’s the accidental that results in the most exciting food on our plates? I definitely found that with these sweet potato and sweetcorn fritters were no different. They really did come about sort of ‘by accident’ when I just didn’t feel like serving up sweet potato mash again, and given that I love sweet corn, I just thought the two should be friends. They’re a most beguiling side dish to almost anything, and can even stand proud just as they are with a yummy dip, pesto or sauce.

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.

Bloomin’ Brilliant Beer Bread

If your idea of kitchen gold dust is the coveted combination of simple, quick and easy, with minimum washing up, then this is that. So simple in fact, that my sister-in-law Justy who’s visiting from Zimbabwe at the moment, knows the recipe off by heart. So when we were lazing about on Sunday, and she suggested we give it a bash, my heart was immediately singing when I heard that it only has 4 main ingredients. Who doesn’t want to spend Sunday evening in a happy haze of bread-baking smells?

Watermelon & Feta Salad

Summer on a plate. With a twist. And I know this might already have been twisted last summer by various foodies out there, but I wanted my turn too. I wanted to know exactly what it felt like to feel the punch of freshness from the watermelon interrupted by the smooth saltiness of the feta, with a kick of basil and mint bringing up the rear.  Well, pretty darn delicious I’d say. It’s different, with no room for stick-in-the-muds, no siree, but most certainly delicious.

Easy Peasy Pea & Mint Soup

I KNOW this doesn’t sound very appetising, and it’s very loudly green, but I love this soup. It’s fresh, funky and really can be on the table in 20 minutes. Perfect for meat-free Mondays or Summery any-days.

Peanutbutter Butternut from the Bush

Hello Lovelies!
Shan’t bang on any more about recent trip to the Kenyan bush, I think I have done quite enough of that for the time being. (I hear your collective sigh of relief). I shall however share with you our latest BBQ bonanza in the form of fire-roasted butternut smothered in peanut butter. Sounds random I know, but it’s honest-to-goodnessly delicious – even back home in your yuppie kitchen sans campfire, stars and bush.
PS. It must be fate that this has arrived the day before National Braai Day here in South Africa. Lekker boet.
PPS. You’re welcome.

Thai Fusion & Smiles All Round thanks to Silwood & Le Creuset

Perfection in the form of a pot. Le Creuset, please take a bow.

I know what you’re thinking, there’s nothing more distasteful than smugness, but these beautifully hand-crafted culinary masterpieces have every right to appear pleased with themselves. And it’s not just because they seem to have a life of their own, a certain air of owning all the savoir faire in the world of appliances, nor is it because they do admittedly come with fancy-fancy prices, but rather because each and every one is lovingly hand crafted. And you can taste it. Add to this a life-time guarantee and stovetop-to-oven-to-table versatility and you’ve found your very raison d’etre.

Lip-Smacking Smoked Snoek Pate

Being from a landlocked country, our friends from the sea feature far less often at our dinner table than they should, given that we are now living in Cape Town. In fact, I’d go as far as saying that I have a general ennui towards home-prepared seafood dishes, which is birthed largely out of ignorance. So I was a more than willing accomplice recently when MIL was visiting… (aka Mother in Law, and before you shudder, don’t bother – I lucked out rather significantly in this department. Babs is Fab.) Anyway, Babs arrived home one evening after trawling through a nearby organic market, and proudly proffered a rather princely fillet of smoked snoek. Her idea was to turn it into Snoek Pate…