Recipes
Recipes with my own touch
Brazilian cheese puffs
These cheese puffs are so light and airy you may be tempted to eat the whole tray by yourself! Watching them puff up in the oven is nothing short of a miracle!
Blueberry & coconut frozen yogurt popsicles
Did you know that there are 150 varieties of blueberries out there? But all are edible; some are actually toxic! These blue beauties are nutrient dense superfood loaded with anti-oxidants and they even reduce levels of bad cholesterol! That is why I love feeding them to my children. They love ice cream, so making these popsicles is a sure winner with them. They feel so empowered when they can open the freezer door and help themselves to these “ice cream” lollies!
Pulled pork bao buns
Bao buns are a delicacy throughout many parts of Asia. I think of them as an Asian-type burger, just healthier than the versions we are used to! When filled with slow-cooked and pulled pork shoulders complimented by barbeque sauce, spring onions, coriander, onions, sesame seeds and the compulsory chilli, the result is a sticky mess to devour with your hands. Definitely not first date food! Or maybe it should be?!
Beetroot and tequila cured salmon
Curing salmon is a Nordic dish using a mix of salt, sugar and dill to cure the fish. This version is done with tequila, beetroot and spices giving it a sweet, licorice-like flavour that lends an earthy, sweet taste to the meaty salmon. The wholegrain mustard in the horsey-goat provides a pleasant pop between your teeth! That, added to the crunch of the cucumber ribbons and the saltiness of the capers and the sweet-earthiness of the salmon makes this a party in your mouth! Warning: this dish takes 12-24 hours to make, so don’t think you’re going to serve it immediately. It’s worth the wait, though!
Strawberry daiquiri
This recipe from Cookidoo made in the Thermomix is so irresistible you may be tempted to the whole jug all by yourself so be careful not to get sozzled! You can probably make it in any good blender, but the way the Thermomix does it, is fool proof. You’ll feel like you’re on an island holiday when you’re drinking these!
Children’s mac and cheese
I hope I’m not the only mom who struggles to get veggies into her little children’s bodies! Before I had kids, I thought that my kids would eat chicken, avo & quinoa salads by the age of 3 but alas, they discovered fruit and chocolate croissants before that! And they all like and dislike different things at different times of the day it seems! Argh. I compromise by sneaking veggies into their meals – mac and cheese is a perfect dish for this covert operation! I end up making a huge pot and freezing it in portions.
Chocolate log with hazelnut praline
Switzerland is famous for its snow-capped Alps, clocks, cheese and of course chocolate! When we lived there, our favourite store-bought chocolate bar was Ragusa – a totally more-ish chocolate casing with a smooth melt-in-the-mouth praline filling packed to the brim with whole hazelnuts! When we moved back to South Africa, this is one of the things we really missed until I attended a cooking demonstration where an Italian lady, Sandra, made this glorious chocolate torrone. It tastes as close to Ragusa as you will ever find! It is so good, not to mention easy to make, that you will probably always have one of these in your freezer, ready to indulge!
Bikini Martini
We all know a martini from Bond, James Bond as shaken and not stirred. But we live in perpetual summer on the Dolphin Coast so bikini martini has a much more local ring to it! Be careful, it tastes like an island holiday!
Molten chocolate lava cake
What I love about this dessert is that you can make it ahead of time & keep in the freezer. Pop them in the oven straight from frozen. It works really well with cheesecake ice cream. Perfect for unexpected visitors!
Grilled peaches with vanilla mascarpone and salted bourbon caramel
Balancing fresh ripe peaches with the creaminess of mascarpone & the bite of bourbon, this simple dessert is sure to wow your guests. This a “lighter” way to finish off a perfect meal
Chocolate & rum salami
It’s felt like death by chocolate in our house recently! Four-layered chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream, double chocolate brownies, homemade “Ragusa” and chocolate salami have all featured in the kitchen this week! This chocolate salami is very quick and can be made in advance and pulled out of the fridge like a virtual rabbit in a hat to serve with coffee after a meal. You can reduce the rum, or even substitute it with Malibu for a slight coconutty flavour. Let me know what you think.
The ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe
These cookies are so yummy! What makes this recipe so good is that you can freeze the batter! Simply roll into balls and freeze in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. I used Lindt Couverture white piccolo for the white chocolate and Valor dark 70% cocoa chocolate. The dark chocolate is sugar-free which makes this a little less of a guilty pleasure to indulge in!