September nibbles

• Favourite September dish? I must confess I really really enjoyed my homemade Tempura. More than what would strictly be appropriate. I might need to see someone about that... The sweet treat award goes to Sour Cherry & Apple Clafoutis for it's pretty look, silky texture and dreamy fragrance.

• Now that we're heading into summer here in the southern hemisphere, how about some Tropical No-Dairy Icecream. And the secret ingredient? Avocado! After my avocado smoothie experience recently (delicious by the way) I've got to try this.

• Potato peeling a pain in the butt (not to mention a finger scorcher)? Here's an easy how-to for peeling a boiled potato.

• You know I can never resist an icing tutorial - this one is for decorating cakes. Since by now we are (theoretically) all proficient with cupcake decoration.

• Talking of cupcakes, here's a quick diy for a cupcake tower. Pretty right?

• Always been intimidated by baking bread? I'm talking the real, honest-to-goodness, I made the dough from scratch, let it rise and baked it type of thing. Fear no more! Here we have a step-by-step instruction manual (pics included) on how to make your own sourdough starter. And as we all know, a great starter makes for a great loaf.

• And the FFF* for September is....drumroll please... I'm No Jamie Oliver! New on the blogging scene, South African and male, Matt's blog records his kitchen adventures working through Jamie Oliver's 20 Minute Meals. I love how down to earth Matt is and as added bonus feature, he spotlights green/eco living from time to time as well. Because green = good, mmmkay?

• Actually I have TWO FFF*'s for September. I'm indecisive okay? So FFF* numero duo is.... drumroll again... La Kocinera. The culinary adventures of a quirky college student, this is witty, snarky writing at it's best. With tongue firmly in cheek, great recipes and an awesome Ugly Betty t-shirt-wearing blog author, this one was a no-brainer.

*Favourite Foodblog Find

Beetroot & Blue Cheese Pizza

I've always been enamoured by the idea of a CSA type veggie box. Enamoured because of the whole feel-good green vibe (I'm a closet greenie, okay) and also a little petrified, because, when it comes to food, I'm a bit of a control freak. In most other parts of my life I'm so laidback that I'm pretty much horizontal, but when it comes to what we're eating and specifically what I'm making, I like to plan out my meals and this of course requires full control of the grocery buying (and choosing) process.

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Cauliflower Couscous with Cumin Honey Dressing

You know when you think to yourself "I want to capture this moment and stuff it into a little box, wrap a pretty ribbon around it and keep it forever and ever"? That's the thought that kept popping into my head this past weekend.

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Indian Style Potato Salad

Well I'm headed off for a long weekend breakaway with my mom and aunt in the picturesque town of Hermanus, but you didn't think I'd leave you hanging, didya? After all it's National Braai Day* and there is meat to be marinaded, salads to be prepped and perhaps a loaf or two of stinky garlic bread to be made. I promise no-one will frown at your garlic-y breath today. You can tell them it's on my orders if they dare question you.

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Coconut & Coriander Grilled Chicken

So... it's that time of year again. We celebrate our past, embrace our fellow countrymen and have a good time around the braai*! Yes, my fellow South Africans, Heritage Day, aka National Braai day is almost upon us and the excitement in the air is palpable especially after the 30 hour braai record-breaking effort by our own Jan Braai last week.

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Tempura

Aaah Japan. Home of anime, fashionable teens, martial art and geishas. And of course the food: sushi, fragrant miso soup, chewy udon noodles, pretty-in-pink pickled ginger, sticky rice and tofu. And even though I love all of the above (miiiiiiiissssoooo), I can see how it can be slightly intimadating for the average, slightly unadventurous Westerner. After all, raw fish and fermented bean curd isn't quite in our frame of reference. We tend to focus more on hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza. You know, the more substantial things in life. 

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Beef Chow Mein

If you really want to put a smile on TheHusband's dial, there are a few things you can do.

Agree to watch a "boy" movie with him, ply him with a catalog* or two, (preferably showcasing the newest electronics) or treat him to one of his favourite meals: 

• Hotdogs - with real German sausages or good old cheesegrillers (the cheesier, the better)
• Pizza - homemade or takeaway, either will do
• Chinese takeaway

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Apple Butter

Um. Would you mind helping out a confused blogger? Okay, I need you to assess the situation and confirm a few things for me:

a) What year is it? and
b) Where am I?

Because up until Sunday I was fairly certain about both my whereabouts and the approximate date, but since then things have become slightly blurry. Don't tell anyone, but I think that I might have somehow landed up in colonial America. Oh you need evidence? 

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Sour Cherry & Apple Clafoutis

"Picture yourself in a boat on a river,
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies.
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly,
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes..." ~ The Beatles

Yes, I know the song isn't as innocent as I always assumed it to be as a kid, but there's still something about it. A magical, dreamy quality that enfolds me with nostalgia.

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Spanakopita Meatballs

For today's special feature, I bring you FrankenThumb! It's even sporting some light pink nail polish over here. You should feel very honoured by its presence. Okay it's not so franken at the moment, but that poor thumb gets cut or otherwise mangled a *lot*. 

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Sausage, Basil & Mustard Pasta

I'd been meaning to make this for some time now. I think I first saw it almost a year ago while trawling the vast savannas of the internet and have stumbled upon it numerous times since then. But somehow I just never got round to making it. There always seemed to be better things to do. Like lying on the couch. Or trying to bust out of my couch potato slump by wogging*. Heck I even acquired two cats before I tried my hand at this recipe.

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Caramelised Orange and Spinach Salad

I had an orange, a bag of baby spinach, two red apples and a bag of sour cherries at my disposal. And I had to create not one, but TWO courses. I think it's fair to say that I was pretty screwed. But a challenge had been extended and accepted and a girl had to do with a girl had to do, right?

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Guinness Chocolate Cake

Is it an ordinary Friday morning? No sirree! It is TheHusband's birthday today! And not just any birthday, the man is hitting the big 3-0 today and we've got big things planned. Starting with a sneaky afternoon off, organised by myself with his employer. And ending with  a mafia/1920's themed murder mystery party tonight, in which the birthday boy will play Don "Big Jim" Ravioli, the biggest baddest mafia boss that these here streets have ever seen.

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