Braai Time

Add some fun to your Heritage Day with these fun additions to the braai!

Chilli Mielies

4 mielies

• 4 Tbsp butter, soft
• 2 fresh red chillies, finely chopped
• 2 limes, halved
• salt and black pepper

1. Mix the butter with chillies.  Brush the mielies with the butter then put them onto a braai grid over medium-hot coals.

2. Allow to cook, turning every 5 minutes until the mielies are cooked through and have started to char.

3. To serve, squeeze the lime juice over the mielies and add the chopped chillies.

4. Sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper and servve with the remaining butter. Serve immediately.

Spring Sangria:

6 cups assorted fruits (pineapple, melon, naartjie, plums, pears, peaches etc.) sliced 

1 thumb of ginger, peeled and crushed

1 1/2 cups basil and mint leaves 

1/2 cup Cointreau (Orange Liqueur)

1 bottle Sauvignon Blanc

Juice 1 small lemon 

Lots of Ice

1.  In a large jug or bowl, place all the fruits, ginger and herbs in the jar.  

2.  Pour over the orange liqueur, wine and lemon juice.  Place in the fridge until ready to use. 

3.  Add ice just before serving.  

Fun at Work....Celebrating Casual Day!

How much Coffee is in your Coffee?

Mandela Day

Just a few pics of C3 trying to do their little bit in support of Madiba.  

The people we chose to feed with soup & bread rolls were so appreciative of the meal.  

Thanks so to all involved and for taking the time out of your day in honour of Madiba.  

How to make the perfect chocolate truffle

680g bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
226g milk chocolate finely chopped
1 1/3 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, scraped
11 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups cocoa powder
(mixtures makes 117 truffles)

Directions
Line a 24cm rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap; set aside.
In a heatproof bowl, set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt 230g bittersweet chocolate and milk chocolate together.
Place the cream, vanilla bean and seeds in a small saucepan over medium heat; heat until cream just comes to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Let cream mixture cool; remove vanilla bean and discard.
Remove chocolate mixture from heat and add to cream mixture.  Using a spatula, mix together, starting from centre of the saucepan and working your way to the outer edges until mixture is emulsified.  Add butter and mix until well combined.  Pour mixture into prepared baking sheet, evenly spreading mixture with a spatula.  Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down gently on chocolate mixture to prevent a skin from forming.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
Line the back of another 24cm baking sheet with parchment paper.  Uncover chocolate and invert onto parchment paper; remove plastic wrap.  Using a pizza cutter or sharp knive, cut chocolate into 3cm squares.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.  Roll each square of chocolate between your hands to form a smooth ball.  Transfer chocolate balls to baking sheet; refrigerate for 1 hour.
Melt remaining 450g bittersweet chocolate in heatproof bowl,set over (but not touching) simmering water.  Place cocoa powder in a shallow dish.  Place some of the melted chocolate in the palm of your hand and roll chocolate ball in the melted chocolate to coat, then roll in cocoa powder.  Repeat process with remaining chocolate balls.  Transfer truffles to an airtight container.  Bring truffles to room temperature just before serving.

There's an air of excitment in our office today.  It's a day away from the Cape Town Good Food and Wine Show and we can't wait!  This show is a true haven for foodie veterans so be sure not to miss out!

Moms are priceless...

We are preparing these silky buttermilk creams to spoil our moms this Mother's Day.

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup unflavoured gelatin
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
450g strawberries, hulled and quartered
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Directions
1.  In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 3 tablespoons cold water.  Let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.  Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin has dissolved, about 30 seconds.
2.  In a large bowl, whisk 1/4 cup sugar with buttermilk until dissolved.  Whisking constantly, add gelatin mixture in a very thin stream.  In another large bowl, beat cream and 1/4 cup sugar until soft peaks form.
3.  With a rubber spatula, gently stir half of whipped cream into buttermilk mixture; fold in remaining whipped cream.  Divide among eight ramekins.  Refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours (or up to 1 day, covered with plastic wrap).
4.  When ready to serve, toss strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar, lemon juice and 1 tablespoon water.  Let stand until juicy, about 5 minutes.  Run a paring knife around edge of each ramekin and dip each briefly in steaming hot water; invert buttermilk creams onto serving plates and top with strawberries.

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie - Tenneva Jordan"