From all of us at C3 Food Services, we wish you a Happy New Year & all of the very Best for 2015!

Wishing you a blessed Festive Season from all at C3 Food Services

10 Facts about the Month known as November...

1.     that the name "November" comes from the Latin for nine (novem), as it was the ninth month of the Roman calendar. 

2.     that in Old English November was "Windmonathy" (wind month) or "Blotmonath" (blood or sacrifice month).

3.     that November is the only month used to represent a letter in the phonetic alphabet. 

4.     that there is no mention of the month of November in any of Shakespeare's plays or sonnets. 

5.     that Topaz is the birthstone for those born in November. 

6.     that the flower is the Chrysanthemum which, according to Feng Shui, brings laughter and happiness to the home. 

7.     that World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14.

8.     that November has been designated National Novel Writing Month and National Blog Posting Month. 

9.     that November is also known as Peanut Butter Lovers Month.

And last but most certainly not least... 

 10.    that November month is when the Movember Foundation challenges men 

          to grow mustaches in order to spark conversation and to raise awareness of 

          men's health issues, such as prostate cancer etc. 

Do you have any interesting or fun facts about the Month of November?

Why not leave us a comment below, we 

   would love to hear from you!

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.

Ingredients

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!

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. 

Spring has sprung!!

Happy Spring Day! 

Avocado Cheesecake

It is avocado season and I must have at least five beautifully ripe avo’s just sitting in my fruit bowl waiting to be eaten.

 I love avocados and am always trying out new recipes which include this tasty and nutritious fruit.

  A friend of mine who knows all about my obsession with avocados sent me this wonderfully creamy and delicious cheesecake recipe that I just had to share with you.

Avocado Cheesecake - Serves 8-10

Ingredients: 

• 250 g tennis biscuits, crushed 
• 100 g butter, melted 
• 2 packets lime jelly 
• 100 ml boiling water 
• 750 g Philadelphia cream cheese 
• 2 large ripe avocados, pureed 
• 15 ml lemon juice 
• Mixed berries to garnish

Method: 

• Preheat the oven to 180°C
• Prepare the biscuit base by mixing the melted butter into the crushed biscuits.
• Press biscuit mixture into the bottom of a 23cm spring form pan.
• Place in the oven for 5-8 minutes to crisp the biscuits, remove and cool.
• Dissolve the jelly in boiling water, whilst the jelly is dissolving, beat the cream cheese with the pureed avocado and the lemon juice until combined, pour in the dissolved jelly.
• Pour the mixture into the spring form pan and allow to set overnight.
• To serve, release the cheesecake from spring form pan, garnish with the mixed berries.