apple crumble deliciousness and larousse gastronomique

 

mekarl and i just recently celebrated our 5 year anniversary and being the most awesome boyfriend in the world, naturally he bought me the most awesome present in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is larousse gastronimique. the most awesome and amazing cookbook/cooking encyclopaedia in the world. 1206 pages long with 3800 recipes, it is the bible of cookery. and it is MINE. yes, i just used caps. it has been the most amazing addition to my list of cookbooks and cooking literature and i have not stopped reading it since the day i got it.

dying to cook recipe from it, i foraged in the house for inspiration and finally found some beautifully delicious apples. i then decided that apple crumble was the order of the day. i first thought i’d make an apple crumble tart but my short crust pastry didn’t come out right the first time so i threw that idea and just made the simple crumble. on thursday though, i plan to make the short crust pastry for the tart because (hoorah!) my parents and my brother, mahesh, are coming down to durban for the weekend!

so here’s the (paraphrased) recipe i used from this fabulous book: rub 150g cold butter into 150g plain flour and sugar until it looks like breadcrumbs. then top it over 1.5kg quartered and cored apples in an oven-proof dish and put into a 200 degree oven for 35 minutes.

for the creme anglaise ( it’s just fancy french custard really), i used another of my favourite books (has to be like 3rd favourite now though), sauces by hamlyn. i got this book on sale at adams in 2008. and i tend to go to book sales for cooking books so i was ecstatic when i found this one (as well as one on different types of margaritas) on sale.

here’s the recipe: in a pot, put 1 vanilla pod (or a tsp vanilla extract) into a saucepan with 300ml full cream milk and 300ml single cream. bring to the boil gently and then turn off the heat and let it infuse for 15 mintues. in a bowl, whisk together 25g caster sugar and 6 egg yolks. once the milk mixture has cooled sufficiently, add gradually to the egg and sugar mixture and return to the heat and stir continuously for 10-15 minutes until the custard has thickened. serve this hot or cold, your preference, but please try it because it is the best custard ever.

 

although these pictures aren’t stellar, here’s a few of the finished product :)

 

   

 

may

xo

ultimate breakfast (more like brunch)

 

yesterday morning i woke up starving. it tends to happen on tuesday mornings given that i’m vegetarian on mondays. i could have scoffed an entire chicken but i decided to restrain myself with an egg white omelette instead. since i only got out of bed at around 10am (yes, i am enjoying my last days of unemployment) it was more brunchy than breakfasty and here’s the recipe:

saute as much diced onion and green chilli as you like – i used a quarter of a brown onion and one large green chilli. throw in 3 egg whites and wait for it to brown more a less on the bottom. throw in some smoked chicken slices and cheese, fold over and a delicious start to the day is made :)

 

may

xo

baked lemon cheesecake with strawberry glaze

 

i have discovered in the last year that i actually do enjoy a dessert or two and this is definitely one of them and cutting into this creamy piece of deliciousness brings such joy that it is impossible for anyone to resist trying this recipe. once you have this cheesecake in the oven, the intoxicating smell that will permeate through your kitchen and your home will have you salivating and no one will ever want you to bake anything else. i can tell you this with all my heart because i speak from experience!

the first time i made this cheesecake, it was mekarl’s mom’s birthday and it was a cool but beautifully sticky january. sitting at the estuary on the south coast of kwazulu-natal on a warm summer’s evening (after an incredible saddle of lamb that mekarl deboned like a pro) this was just the dessert that finished off the meal. dead scared, i fearlessly decided to make the cheesecake even though it was my very first time but it came out amazingly and was an instant hit! it is one of my absolute favourite recipes and it is completely fool-proof.

you will need:

FOR THE CHEESECAKE:

• 50g unsalted butter
• 100g digestive biscuits
• 50g brown sugar
• 200g plain cream cheese
• 200g mascarpone
• juice and zest of one lemon
• 1 vanilla pod or 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 200g caster sugar
• 4 eggs, separated
• 150ml double cream
• pinch of salt

FOR THE GLAZE:

• 1  cup strawberries
• 2 tbsp corn starch
• half a cup of sugar
• water
• firstly, melt the butter in a saucepan or in the microwave if you’re a little lazy like me (lol), and while that melts crush your digestive biscuits ‘til they’re fine and set that aside in bowl. when the butter is completely melted, add into the biscuit mixture together with the brown sugar and mix thoroughly before pressing well into the oven-proof dish you’re going to bake the cheesecake in. after you’ve pressed the base in well, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until you’re ready to pour in the cheesecake filling.
• whilst that is hanging out in the fridge, mix together the mascarpone, cream cheese, vanilla, egg yolks, lemon juice and zest and whipped double cream. in a separate bowl, whisk your egg whites with the salt until soft peaks and fold into the cream cheese mixture then pour into the cake dish.
• bake for 30 minutes at 160 degrees celcius, then at 170 degrees celcius for another 30 minutes. turn off the heat thereafter and leave the oven door open to cool. once cooled, leave in the fridge til you’re ready to glaze and serve.
• for the glaze: in a saucepan put in your strawberries, corn starch, sugar and a little water and stir over a medium heat until the strawberries are completely broken down. glaze your cheesecake once the glaze has cooled and you’re ready to serve.

i actually don’t have a decent photo of this cheesecake, but i promise the next time i make it i will update this post with a photo! for now, i hope you try this recipe and enjoy every second eating this deliciousness!

may

xo

a new beginning

 

it has been 4 months since i last updated this blog and it has been on my “to-do list” in the back of my mind for too long. i have realised that as time goes by and we grow up, time for yourself becomes something more and more rare. that being said, i’m going to try and update as much as i possibly can. this blog is so much a part of me and is dedicated to one of the biggest loves of my life.

these last few months have been such a change for myself. i completed my degree and am starting my articles of clerkship with a really good firm in 2 weeks. as my career has started to take shape, i am constantly reminded in cooking that this is where my heart is. at some stage, i know that this is where my life needs to be. as committed a lawyer i will be, i know that a certain void can only be filled when creating and producing food to the ones i love. to share this love would be a beautiful thing that i know will lead to a fulfilment i could not get otherwise.

i hope to share new recipes, techniques and food journeys with whoever takes the time to read this blog.

to a new beginning…

:)

xo 

soy burger with mushrooms and cheese with a mixed squash salad (v)

 

this week i am fasting with my grandmother for kavady. kavady is a hindu festival that my family observes every year which focuses on carrying your burdens and meditating on them whilst sacrificing every day luxuries. traditionally, it is usually a very strict sacrifice that includes eating only vegetables and fruit, and praying every day – morning and night. since i am not physically carrying kavady this year, i am not fasting too strictly and have just given up meat for the week.

it is a great detox and as someone who has no problems eating vegetarian options, it comes as a welcomed change to the diet. i feel lighter and happier and it’s adding some (much needed!) variation to my weigh-less diet.

today, in the hope of eating something yummy, i made myself the most delicious vegetarian burger that would make any person content when substituting a beef burger. actually – i take that back, because it STAND ALONE is pretty awesome and i’ll probably make it again, even on a day i’m not observing a fast.

i pan fried the fry’s soya burgers in a pan after doing a quick sauted squash salad. for the salad – prepre patty pans, baby zuchini and baby gem squash and saute in a pan with olive oil and garlic. add salt and pepper and a splash of lemon juice for taste. i actually have a gooseberry and lemon reduction that i like to deglaze the pan with and it adds a delicious dimension of flavour to the vegetables. finish with parsely and leave aside to cool.

on top of the burger i added some sauted mushroom and any white cheese and it was an AMAZING lunch option that i hope you all will try :)

 

peace and love friends and have an amazing week! xo

journey

 

these past couple of months have been really quite life changing. with my parents and brother in another city and me on the last leg of my degree and first leg of my career, everything has changed around me. but unlike my old self, i have embraced it and am enjoying my new found freedom and lifestyle.

one such lifestyle change is my joining weigh-less at the end of january. i have gained an inordinate amount of weight over the last 4 years. i was not obese but i definitely was over weight and i just wasn’t happy anymore. my relationship with food was becoming something i was starting to resent. i would feel guilty every time i ate. it took a long time for me to accept where i was in my life and that i seriously needed to stop stressing about it and do something about it.

the day came and i decided that i would join the one in the glenwood area, with a group leader i knew a little. it was the best decision of my life. yes, i have my lows where i just want to give up but i have lost 4kg so far and have another 6 to go and the goal is the reason i am not giving up.

i know that i love food. i know that a good meal – both eating and preparing – will always be so satisfying to me, but not to the detriment of my health and my happiness. as a woman, no matter what we say, we KNOW what we need to do to make ourselves happy on the outside. even if we pretend that the outside doesn’t matter sometimes, it really does and deep down looking good really does make us feel good and i’m DEFINITELY not talking about being THIN, i’m talking about the outward expression of ourselves through our clothes and our bodies. if we are not confident in our bodies, no matter what size or shape, that will always come through in our confidence and it’s one of the reasons i want to do this so badly. when i looked in the mirror, be it at home or out at a restaurant, i would feel unhappy and that was the sign.

but now i am on this road and it’s a great feeling. it’s an exciting feeling. it’s a step in the right direction and it doesn’t matter whether it takes me 2 months more or 6 months more – perseverance is what is going to pay off :)

i’ve decided that although for the next few months i will not be blogging rich, decadent foods, i will be blogging my healthy options and my journey to my goal weight.

hope you’re all in for a ride :))

may

xo

birthday :)

 

it was the 27th of february and it’s the day i look forward to most. my birthday :) those of you who know me will know that i love birthdays. and not just mine for that matter! i am the person that goes large for anyone’s birthday and it’s because i honestly believe people need to know how special they are ESPECIALLY on their day of birth. after all, your birthday is the day you came out into the world.

i was in johannesburg with my family and having an amazing time for the week. one of my best birthday memories yet! mekarl came up on friday night and we made our way to one of my best friends shevonne’s house. after mekarl’s flight got delayed we only arrived at 10pm, but boy did we make for it with lots of laughs, braai meat and tons of wine (i paid for that the next day!) saturday was gold reef city day. i am obsessed with thrill rides and gold reef is one awesome theme park. i did, however, chicken out on the 2 biggest rollercoasters: the golden loop and the anaconda. redemption is necessary and soon because my brother is not letting me hear the end of it! that evening we went to such an awesome place, recommended by my uncle, sunthoshan. it’s called cantare and it’s at monte casino. really such a novel idea because it’s a supper theatre with a twist – a dinner place with live entertainment and a dance floor. the live entertainment included live music, show tunes, dancing puppets, belly dancing and a very special happy birthday song to me :) yes, i was called up onto the stage and was sung happy birthday! the food was phenomenal to say the least. i had the veal saltimbocca – tender veal fillets coated in sauce with pancetta on a bed of linguine served with seasonal vegetables.

 

 mekarl and i at gold reef city

 

mahesh on the anaconda

the beautiful custom made box my earrings came in

 

we got back home just before midnight when everyone waited up for my birthday and saw it in. it really was a birthday filled with love and started my day off on such a positive note. my amazing boyfriend got me the most gorgeous diamond earrings and my parents THIS NEW LAPTOP! things i really appreciated and really didn’t expect at all. we awoke relatively early, had ourselves a yummy breakfast of eggs, mince curry, baked beans and bacon sausages, and the proceeded to the lion park!

after much indecisiveness on my part because of wanting to please everyone, a 20km drive to the cradle of humankind and back, the lion park was decided on and it was my best decision. i love lions and i love nature drives. we got to see so many lions as well as play with lion cubs. one took the playing too far with mahesh and jumped on him and bit the side of this lower back! rather entertaining to say the least!!!

 

we had a little birthday party when we got back home joined by my uncle and aunt, sunthosh and melissa and boy do they know me! some of the most useful gifts i ever got were given namely – turkish figs and sundried tomato balsamic reduction; cape lemon and olive oil splash, truffle infused olive oil, saffron and a jamie oliver cheeky mug :) i could not have been more excited and am now looking for recipes in which to use these very special ingredients! (keep a look out for these delicious ingredients in recipes to come!)

 

all in all, a fabulous week with my family and a really special birthday! lessons learnt? i have realised after this past year that you need to focus on the people who love you, the people who despite your own contention, keep coming back into your life with love and to stay positive always. i am so grateful for my amazing parents, my brother who is also my closest friend, my perfect match in mekarl and all of my beautiful no nonsense friends.

to my twenty third year – cheers :)

xo