Butternut, Sage & Goat's Cheese Tagliatelle

Cooking with wine can pose a challenge. Mostly of the "I-hope-TheHusband-doesn't-drink-everything-before-I-can-use-it" variety. Kidding. He's not that bad. He usually leaves me a few drops at least. I'll be the first to admit that I'm no wine expert, but I do know what tastes good and wine certainly has a way with food, don't you agree?

Read more »

Channa Masala

Can you see that on the horizon? Squint a little, sometimes the sun gets in the way. You see it now? Towers of bricks, dried cement, paint fumes and sweating construction workers will be taking up residence in the Creative household. Well not literally taking up residence, but building plans and decisions regarding floor and surface finishes will be featuring strongly in our lives over the next few months.

Read more »

Lemon Olive Oil Cupcakes with Rosemary

One of my faaaaaavourite parts of blogging is the awesome people I've met. I know, it's such a cliché - the foodblogging community is a such warm bunch, open and welcoming, yadda yadda yadda. But you know what? It's true. During the past few months I've met a fascinating array of people through twitter, their blogs and at the SAFBC. Remember that? The event that I had an absolute blast at? Yes, that one.

Read more »

Garithes Yiouvetsi (Prawns with Tomatoes & Feta)

Remember that movie Wedding Crashers? You know, the one where Owen Wilson and Vince Vaugh teams up (again - really, how many movies have they made together?) and, well, crashes a wedding? The duo are smooth-talking bachelors, out to have a good time on someone else's tab and  hopefully get lucky. Because, let's face it, if getting lucky is your aim, a wedding is the perfect backdrop. All that romance in the air? It's like taking candy from a kid.

Want to know a dirty secret from the archives of the Creative Pot family tree? Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn has nothing on my dad. He was the original wedding crasher. For real.

Read more »

Spam

                                                            Image credit: CrunchGear

Woke up this morning, checked all my social media as usual (yes, I'm a junkie) and saw that there was a new post on my blog! But not one written by me. SPAM! It left a sour taste in my mouth, that's for sure.

Please rest assured that this did not originate from me (I'm soccer obsessed, but not a spammer) and I will be taking steps to prevent a repeat of this dastardly deed in future.

Here's to a happy spam-free day for all of you!

PS: Spam, the food stuff, is from the devil. Do not, I repeat, do NOT open up a can of spam.

Mujadarra

I have often sung the praises of the rich and flavourful cuisine of the Middle-East and so it should come as no surprise that I bring you yet another recipe from the region, this time from Lebanon. (Maybe I should change the blog's name to The Middle-Eastern Pot?)

Mujadarra is a firm favourite not only in Lebanon, but also among many Jewish communities, where it is referred to as Esau's favourite referencing the famous story of how Esau sold his birthright for a pot of lentils. Mujadarra has also made an appearance in contempary literature, playing a starring role in Ameen Rihani's novel The Book of Khalid.*

Read more »

Finnish Pancakes

Public holidays in the middle of the week - aren't they just the best? Almost better than weekends if you ask me. One of the few times that I get to sleep late and mooch around the house until 11 am in my pj's. Oh you do that too? Lovely, isn't it? I think if companies started allowing their employees to come to work in their pj's they might get some surprisingly good results. Or alternatively great fodder for the annual company newsletter/bloopers roundup.

Read more »

Springbokkies

With national pride bursting from South Africa's seams, it seemed only fitting to indulge in one of our best-kept secrets - marula cream liqueur*. And really, you'd have to be made of stone not to feel patriotic once you've downed a Springbokkie. But wait, what exactly is a marula? And what the heck is  a Springbokkie?

Read more »

Pascualina

The games have begun and soccer fever has taken South Africa by storm! I never thought I'd say this (after all I am probably the most un-sporty person on the planet), but I've been caught up in the excitement too and found myself shedding a tear during the opening ceremony and screaming like a banshee during the opening game (SA vs Mexico). For the past few nights I've gone to sleep with the drone of a distant vuvuzela and the same sound has greeted me when I wake up in the mornings. To say that the atmosphere in South Africa is electric would be a severe understatement. We last had this kind of vibey atmosphere during the Rugby World Cup in '95 - how privileged am I to experience both in my lifetime!

Read more »

Thai Iced Coffee Cupcakes

Let's cut to the chase here. These cupcakes are all about the icing. Well, maybe all is a bit of a harsh statement, but the icing is really the star of the show here. Don't get me wrong, the cake itself is good, but the icing? Out of this world. And this comes from a self-confessed icing shunner.

Read more »

Tamatiebredie (Tomato Stew)

Sometimes you need to be daring. That's when you throw on your best wild woman impression, perhaps enveloping yourself in a little leopart print something and throw caution to the wind.

Other times you're firmly entrenched in couch potato zone. Ratty hair, ratty slippers, ratty breath. (Don't judge.) The keyword is quick. Followed closely by "easy". I really don't need to explain, we've all been there.

Read more »

Roast Potato, Emmenthal & Rosemary Pizza

Let's talk potatoes. Thin slivers of soft carby goodness on the inside and golden-brown almost-crispiness on the outside. With the occasional crunch of some fleur de sel. You in? Now let's add some gently caramelised onions, a smattering of rosemary and pile it on top of a pillowy, crusty pizza base. You still in?

Read more »

Jamaican Coffee Brownies

Calling all chocolate addic lovers. You got a moment to spare? Prepared to completely revolutionise your favourite chocolate indulgence? Yes I'm talking brownies. More specifically: Best. Brownie. Ever.

Read more »

Sausage and Red Lentil Soup

I suppose that when you get bogged down by the first sniffles of the season, you know well and truly that winter has arrived. Not that it was a big consolation for me when I had to take not just one, but two days off work last week. And while days off work are great, it's not so great when you are forced to take it easy at home. And made to wrap up snugly in bed. 

Read more »