When spring flew in!

Late last summer, a pair of African swallows, built a nest under the eaves of our front veranda.  At the time, we thought it a bit late in the season for a brood, but a brood they had.  Many a late afternoon, we watched as they went about the very frustrating job of getting their babies … Continue reading When spring flew in!

African Slow Cooking: North and South

It was cold this weekend - perfect weather for a slow cooked stew.  Stews are a fantastic, nutritious way to use inexpensive cuts of meat - and they are usually the most flavoursome. On Saturday, after the market, I decided to make a traditional South African bredie.  A bredie is, essentially, a stew that was made … Continue reading African Slow Cooking: North and South

Waste not, want not – I

Both my parents grew up in the UK in the Second World War: Mum in Oxford, where her mother took in evacuees and then later also billeted soldiers. Dad grew up in Glasgow, and with his sister, Belle, evacuated to a poultry farm . Consequently, we grew up constantly hearing, "waste not, want not".  Little was thrown … Continue reading Waste not, want not – I

Crazy about Courgettes

We have always loved courgettes and eat them in a host of different ways.  Tom will even eat them raw, like an apple.  So, this year, we have successfully grown them, and when Sannie (pronounced "sunny - because she is) Boervrou, a farmer friend of ours dropped off a box of them, I had such fun making … Continue reading Crazy about Courgettes

A twisted Vicheysoisse, among other things…

For the last year or so, I have been making and selling seasonal soups at our local pop-up market.  A soup that I made on a whim, and which we enjoyed, didn't take off, so I didn't make it again.  In my recollection, there had been no sales.  Then, imagine my surprise, two Saturdays' ago, … Continue reading A twisted Vicheysoisse, among other things…