Father's Day - Our top 10 worst gifts

Father's Day is looming. 

And alongside with the pressure of having to try and arrange the perfect day 

for dad, there is also the added stress of finding him that perfect gift!

In today's blog post we highlight The Top 10 Worst Father's Day Gifts! 

The Top 10 Father's Day Gifts to Avoid

 Nose hair trimmer

 The dreaded soap-on-a-rope 

A boring old tie. 

This just screams "I was short of time and couldn't really think of anything else"

 World's best dad certificate. 

The height of laziness not to mention cheap...

The AB enhancer. 

I kid you not people have actually bought these!

BBQ pork flavoured cologne - now that is truly inspired!!

This is a particularly thoughtful gift, 

a portable breathalyzer.

For the balding man in your life, 

how about a tattoo toupee?

For dad's who love beer, this very stylish beer belt. 

 Now dad will never have to get up off the couch for a refill.

World's Best Dad T-shirt... 

DON'T DO IT, this is just tacky.

It's finally here...The Good Food & Wine Show

It's that time of year again when the Good Food & Wine Show rolls into Cape Town and the office is buzzing with excitement.

Our team of passionate foodies can't wait to head on over and taste all of the culinary delights on offer! 

Be sure not to miss out 

Cape Town 29th May - 1st June 2014

Winter Warmer

Yes indeed it’s that time of year already, when the food on your table needs to be just that little bit more warming and comforting.

What better way to welcome in the colder months then by re-creating this lovely melt in your mouth beef shin stew.

Ingredients

·      olive oil

·      2 red onions, peeled and roughly chopped

·      3 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped

·      3 sticks celery, trimmed and roughly chopped

·      4 cloves garlic, unpeeled

·      a few sprigs fresh rosemary

·      2 bay leaves

·      1 stick cinnamon

·      1 kg quality shin of beef, bone removed, trimmed and cut into 5cm pieces

·      sea salt

·      freshly ground black pepper

·      1 tablespoon flour

·      2 x 400 g good-quality tinned plum tomatoes

·      ⅔ bottle Cabernet Sauvignon

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180ºC. In a heavy-bottomed ovenproof saucepan, heat a splash of olive oil and gently fry the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, herbs and cinnamon for 5 minutes until softened slightly.

Meanwhile, toss the pieces of beef in a little seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Add the meat to the pan and stir everything together, then add the tomatoes, wine and a pinch of salt and pepper. Gently bring to the boil, cover with a double-thickness piece of tinfoil and a lid and place in your preheated oven for 3 hours or until the beef is meltingly tender and can be broken up with a spoon.

Taste and check the seasoning, remove the cinnamon stick and rosemary sprigs and serve.

This Mother's Day...

Mother’s Day gives me a great opportunity to tell my mom just how much I appreciate, respect and admire her. 

Not only that, but it is a lovely excuse to get our family together and whip up something delicious for that very special lady in our lives.

This mother’s day I will be spoiling my mum with a scrumptious brunch featuring these delightful bacon, egg and toast cups.

Ingredients

·         3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

·         8 slices white or whole-wheat sandwich bread

·         6 slices bacon

·         6 large eggs

·         Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions

1.  Pre-heat oven to 190 degrees Celsius.  Lightly butter 6 standard muffin cups.  With a rolling pin, flatten bread slices slightly and. With a 12cm cookie cutter, cut the bread into 8 rounds.  Cut each round in half, then press the 2 halves into each muffin cup, overlapping slightly and making sure bread comes up to the edge of the cup.  Use extra bread to patch any gaps.  Brush bread with remaining butter.

2.  In a large frying pan, cook the bacon over medium heat, until almost crisp, 4 minutes, flipping once. (It will continue to cook in the oven).  Lay 1 bacon slice in each bread cup and crack an egg over each.  Season with salt and pepper.  Bake until egg whites are just set, 20-25 minutes.  Run a small knife around cups to loosen toasts.  Serve immediately.

Mother

[muhth-er] -noun

1. One person who does the work of twenty.  For free.

(see also: 'masochist', and a 'saint'.)

Happy Easter

With the long Easter weekend fast approaching why not dip into your baking supplies and make these delightful sugar cookie bunnies.  

Ingredients (Makes about 12 cookies)

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough 

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Extras 

12cm tall bunny shaped cookie cutter

Ribbon for decorating 

Directions

1.  Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a bowl.  Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Reduce speed to low.  With machine running, gradually add flour mixture; mix until combined.  Shape into a disk, and wrap in in plastic.  Refrigerate until firm, at least 45 minutes (or up to 3 days).

2.  Preheat oven to 160 degrees celsius. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface.  Roll to 3 mm thick.  Using a 12cm tall bunny-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies.  Space the cut outs about 5cm apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Re-roll scraps of dough, and cut out.  Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. 

3.  Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.  Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.  Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature for up to 1 week. 

Fun at the Taste of Cape Town

The Girls thoroughly enjoying the Beef Cakes Stall

Fun at Work!

A big congratulations goes to Jacolene Quinn on winning the lucky draw that took place at one of our units last week.  Jacolene walked away with a hamper full of yummy goodies!