My Story… It’s that time of the year again when we womenfolk generally wish it was all over before it even began, but never-the-less it is a wise woman (or man) who has a few ‘stand-by’s’ in the cupboard for the holiday season. This fruit cake is just one of them, besides some other recipes you have already had earlier in the year from me. Just a few hours of prep will save you a lot of
My Story… A ‘quiche’ is simply a posh name for a quick and easy pie that can be whipped up in minutes for lunch or supper, or as a teatime treat for unexpected guests. It lends itself to virtually any filling, e.g. egg & bacon, spinach & feta, cheese & veg, chicken & mushroom, etc. I usually prepare more than one pie at a time, either freezing just the pastry in the pie dishes ready for the
My Story… Our family has always loved fish. As long as I can remember we had fish at least once a week, either fresh or as fish cakes or in a pie. Living in such close proximity to the sea, there is no excuse for us not to enjoy it often. My dad loved going to the Cape Town Harbour, walking along the pier right to the end, where there was a lighthouse. We passed the
My Story… Growing up on the slopes of Signal Hill with a lovely view of Table Mountain, we were a typical old fashioned South African family. We enjoyed our different kinds of food, usually plain dishes such as I have already introduced in previous recipes, then also staples such as Macaroni cheese, egg & bacon pie, and Shepherd’s Pie. Strangely enough, Lasagne and other Italian or Greek dishes were not fashionable yet. We sometimes had tripe
My Story… This is another old recipe from my mother which is one from the old Rustenburg Junior School Recipe Book. I often find that the easiest and simplest recipes are enjoyed the most, and this surely ‘takes the cake’!!! Banana loaf has been enjoyed by my whole family ever since I made it as a teenager. It is suitable for any occasion, especially by filling the ‘hollow legs’ of my two big brothers (so my
My Story… My mother was born in 1918, the year of the close of World War I. Life was pretty tough for everyone then. Coming home from the war were many fathers, brothers, and uncles. This should have been a happy time, and maybe it was for a few, but most men were maimed physically or mentally or died. The womenfolk did their best to keep things going home to welcome their return as best
My Story… As promised, here is my apple tart recipe. So simple to make, even a child can do it with adults' help. I started helping my mom in the kitchen from about the age of 8. Coming from a large family, there was always plenty to do in the kitchen as we entertained often in those days. Life was a slower pace of course, but we still had work to do and were expected to
My Story… I had a very interesting childhood but didn’t have the privilege of our family ever keeping chickens. I grew up on the slopes of Signal Hill in Tamboerskloof at the top of the last road where it meets the forest. There lived our neighbor in a large spooky dark house surrounded by trees, the owner of Mullers Music shop in those days. The house still stands, as does my old house, but most
My Story… My mom and mother-in-law generally ordered their meat from a country butcher (1965 – 1975). When I was first married I gave my weekly order to my mom-in-law, usually a small leg of lamb, a pound of beef mince, and an aitchbone or corned silverside. The meat was relatively cheaper then than now and we made a little go a long way. The lamb we ordered then was from the Malmesbury area quite unlike
