February Nibbles

• Tired of the same  old, same old root veggies? How about some watermelon radishes with their super funky colours. I have not seen 'em before on these shores, but I'm going to try my darndest to track some down come winter. 
• Perfectly crunchy onion rings, baked in the oven. I would be happy with these, and just these, for supper. (thanks for the pointer, Voer)
• My FFF* award goes to Sardines on Toast. Although not a few find, he constantly inspires with his innovative food and flavour combinations (isn't the melon salad at the very bottom the prettiest thing you have ever seen?) and laidback accounts of his life on the Western Coast of South Africa. Luckily for us in the Western Cape, his small town restaurant is just a two hour drive away from Cape Town in the picturesque town of Paternoster - perfect for a weekend breakaway.
• I cannot stop marveling in awe at the performance of my  new Wusthof Paring Knife. It gives new meaning to the phrase "like a hot knife through butter" - even when slicing tomatoes. Yes, it was a freebie but that doesn't detract one iota from it's awesomeness. You should get one. And while you're at it, buy me the rest of the set too. 
• My favourite recipe for 2011 so far was my Coconut Iced Coffee. What a lifesaver. Best you try it while it's still smoking hot outside. 
• You know I love some good humour (even if it's non-food related) - I think everyone can relate to hideous shower faucet temperatures. Right? Right. It's a never ending battle. 
• In fact, just thinking about it makes me want this eggless chocolate cake. Because chocolate makes everything better. Didn't you know? (thanks Whipping it Up)
• And talking about all things chocolate-y I am here to tell you that Nigella is pure evil. I'm sure you've seen her -  the hourglass figure, seductive lips and shiny hair merely a cover up for her evil kitchen creations. Tempting poor souls all around the globe to walk to their corner grocery store at 6 pm on a Saturday night to buy the ingredients for her Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake. And then proceed to bake said cheesecake on the same night. Clearly the woman is hellbent on world chocolate domination. She must be stopped encouraged.

*FFF = Favourite Foodie Find

Harissa Spiced Squash Soup

We often don't even realise we live in paradise, do we? Not to blow my own horn (we've had enough of that during the World Cup, right?), but us South Africans are a damn lucky bunch when it comes to food. Sure, it's a tad difficult to track down tofu (nevermind different types of tofu), and I've given up looking for plantains, but we're actually blessed with a wide variety of fabulous fruits and veggies all year round. Sure I might not stumble upon fresh berries as often as I'd like, but when it comes to the more exotic fruits, we can pick and choose to our hearts content - passionfruit (we call 'em grenadillas), pineapple, plums, mangoes, papayas and litchis are all par for the course.

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Fig, Feta & Spinach Spaghetti

It was love at first sight when I spotted the tray at the grocery store. Luscious ripe black figs arranged in even intervals from another. Trays upon trays of them, winking at you, whispering at you to take them home and do naughty things to them. Things involving your tongue, your lips, their sweet juices dribbling down your throat...

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Mango, Peanut & Tatsoi Stir Fry

One of my favourite things about summer (bar the sorbets, the cocktails and the long daylight hours) is the wide range of fresh fruits available in stores. I mean have you had a look at the fresh produce aisle recently? From sweet white grapes to tart plums, papaya, the first of the figs (oh the heavenly smell!), litchis, passionfruit, apricots, exotically perfumed mangoes and the last of the watermelons. 

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Spiced Plum Parfait

For me, Valentine's day is not just Valentine's day. It marks the day that TheHusband (then to-be) and I shared our first kiss back in 2004, three days after we met. Technically it was me who kissed him first - a thank you kiss for the rose he brought me - but he argues that that doesn't count. 

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Halloumi & Aubergine Skewers

It's almost weekend and weekends in South Africa in the summertime invariably involves at least one braai. Or bbq for the non-South Africans amongst you. There will be the usual suspects, of course - chip 'n dip (packet of chips/crisps and some form of dip), braaibroodjies, potato salad, skaaptjops*, boerewors**, many a six pack (of beer, what else?) and good old vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce for dessert. 

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Limoncello

TheHusband is up to something. He's gone off on a wild tangent and is now brewing his own beer. Yes, you heard that right. Which is all good and well, but what most people tend to forget is that I'm the one who has to deal with a yeasting monster in my kitchen. The beer that is, not TheHusband. Although his enthusiasm does sometimes seem rather yeast-like in its infectiousness. 

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Pollo en Fricasé

Popular in the Caribbean islands, especially Puerto Rico and Cuba, Pollo en Fricase is really just a fancy name for chicken casserole. But not just any casserole, mind you - succulent chicken pairs with an exotic blend of herbs, garlic (gaaaaaaaaaaaaarlic!) and a few choice veggies in this Caribbean classic.

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