Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Monday madness




Monday’s in our household always seem to be a mad dash.  It’s the beginning of a new week and by this stage after the weekend’s festivities, the fridge is generally rather empty and so are the shelves in the supermarket.  


Normally I’ll stop in at Woollies and grab a ready-made meal for supper but for some or other reason this past Monday that just didn't happen.

So I arrived home to an empty fridge and a very hungry and grumpy husband.

After  sticking my head into the fridge numerous times the same ingredients were still lying there nothing new or exciting…. half a punnet of baby marrows, six button mushrooms, a handful of Rosa tomatoes a few slices of salami, cheddar cheese, eggs and milk. Not the most inspiring of ingredients to make dinner with.

Enter the humble Frittata… I can’t believe I hadn't thought of this sooner, the perfect ingredients to make a filling and rather delicious meal.


Spicy Zucchini FrittataIngredients

½ cup full cream milk
5 eggs
Salt and pepper
A handful of fresh thyme (you can use dried)
½ Grated cheese
6 button mushrooms – thinly sliced
8 Rosa tomatoes - halved
4 baby marrows - thinly sliced into rounds
4 slices of salami - chopped up

Method
1.      Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees.
2.      Mix the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and fresh thyme in a bowl.
3.      Add ½ cup grated cheddar cheese to the egg mixture.
4.      Heat a bit of butter in a non-stick frying pan on high to medium heat.
5.      Add in your mushrooms, tomatoes, baby marrow and salami and cook until tender.
6.      Turn your pan down to a medium to low heat.
7.      Add your egg mixture over your cooked ingredients and let the mixture cook for around 5 minutes. (Don’t mix it)
8.      When the underside of your egg mix is cooked but the top part is still runny pop into the oven for 5 minutes.

I like the top part of my frittata to be a bit crispy and have some colour so I put my under the grill for a few minutes.


And the best part about this whole meal was that there was even some left over. This meant that my husband had something for breakfast the next morning!

Monday, October 6, 2014

Summer time picnic spots

Our favourite picnic spots 
Picnic season is almost upon us, and while wind and rain have thwarted many a plan (hopefully the worst is behind us), eating al fresco under the shade of a tree in a beautiful place will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your summer.
For a foodie, a limp sandwich and a bottle of warm water are not going to cut the mustard!  We've put together some of our favourite Cape Town outdoor dining spots especially for you.

Cape Town 
Buitenverwagting
Picnics are served in baskets under the oak trees from November to March yearly. Tables and chairs are provided. Menus and prices change regularly.

Cape Point Vineyards
Experience the backdrop of the glorious Noordhoek amphitheatre, overlooking vines, fynbos and Noordhoek beach. Choose from a range of different picnic baskets served from Tuesday to Sunday. Cape Point Vineyards will provide picnic blankets, cushions and umbrellas wherever possible.

Rumbullion at The Roundhouse
Sit on the white benches on the lawns and enjoy spectacular views of the bay.  They offer a tick-box menu, both for breakfast and lunch, for you to compose your own culinary combination.  Start your day with a delectable picnic breakfast or have a lazy lunch of tapas and pizzas, complemented by a refreshing beer or a crisp glass of wine. 

Steenberg
Steenberg is one of Constantia's largest and oldest vineyards, dating back to 1682.  Enjoy a leisurely summer picnic on the winery's beautiful lawns under the Silvermine Mountains. Served between 10am and 5pm, the picnic baskets are filled with an assortment of mouth-watering goodies such as; Italian paninis with oven roasted butternut and red onion spread, Cape cheeses from Dalewood Fromage and chocolate brownies for dessert.  Each picnic spread will be accompanied by your choice of bottle from a selection of Steenberg wines. 




Winelands
Eight to go - Spier Picnics
Wholesome picnics and sandwiches are available to be enjoyed with a bottle of Spier wine on the lawns of the farm. The picnics have been created by Lorianne Heyns, Spier chef, in consultation with acclaimed foodie, Judy Badenhorst. Choose to have a gourmet picnic, a relaxed picnic, a raw picnic, a vegetarian picnic or a children’s picnic. Book two days in advance.

Boschendal's Le Pique Nique 
Picnics take place at the Pavilion lawns surrounded by mountains and vineyards with tables and chairs set under the shade of the fragrant pine trees. Picnic baskets contain delicious pates, French style bread, cold meats, salads, with cheeses and biscuits.

Fyndraai Restaurant 
Picnic spots include a large grassy lawn alongside the forest, sandy river bank spots and shady spots overlooking the farm dam. Baskets are freshly packed and a complimentary bottle of wine and a bottle of Vogelvrij spring water are included in each picnic basket for two. R145 per adult or R75 per child.

Hartenberg Estate 
Picnic anywhere on the vast lawns of the estate under the oak trees or vines of the terrace, while the kids enjoy the fully equipped playground, or take a walk along the trail with your picnic in a backpack.

Klein River Cheeses
Purchase a delicious picnic lunch and enjoy it on the banks of the tranquil Klein River – under the trees on the extensive lawns or on the veranda of the beautifully renovated Picnic Shed. Special mini picnics are prepared for children and served in individual baskets.

Warwick Gourmet Picnics 
Choose from different picnic areas on the Warwick Estate like the forest courtyard, the lawn, private picnic pods, the penthouse or a Land Rover safari. Children’s menus as well as vegetarian options are available.

Have a favourite picnic spot?  
Let us know by leaving a comment below.


*Please note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, some prices might change without our knowledge.