Do-It-Yourself Braai Toasties

What weekend of warm weather and balmy, still evenings would be complete without a braai? Last weekend, we stopped off at the Kloof Street butcher for some delicious marinated kudu steaks. I made my signature lentil, red onion, basil and tomato salad plus a simple green salad (with superb leaves), some baked potatoes and these: braai pita toasties. Fill a couple of mini pitas with butter, crushed garlic and fresh herbs (optional – I chose thyme, a favourite). Place on a cool part of the grill until golden.

Wandering Long Street

During my lunch-time stroll around town, and general appreciation of the Mother City, I came across a new building I hadn't spotted before. It's located towards lower Long Street, near The Grand Daddy Hotel.

It's wedged between two tatty-looking, off-white blocks...

It's called Merchants. Look at that huge window and gold lettering. An inner-city gem.

Fashion Friday's Red-hot Look

While not the bravest colourist, I think a red day dress against tanned skin with classic accessories, looks amazing. (Inspiration courtesy of The Sartorialist's shot.) So I found one for my Friday Lust Look, all from of the fabulous Joy store I mentioned yesterday.







Check out local blogger, Being Brazen's, take on the red dress here.

Shopping for Joy

I got this cute little hat (plus loads of other quirky, cool gifts and nic nacs) from a gorgeous store called Joy in Soho, London. A lust list to follow soon.

Chicken Soup

My boyfriend has Man Flu. When I was sympathising with his symptoms, saying, "I know, that's exactly how I felt last week." He said, shocked, "Oh really?! I didn't know it was this bad!" Well, no, he wouldn't have known, because I was a woman about it! So last night, I made him hearty, healthy chicken soup. There are so many recipe variations out there, but here's a pretty simple one – recommended by the patient!

Ingredients:

• Pack of chicken breasts
• 2 Medium white onions
• 2 Sticks of celery
• Punnet of mushrooms
• Packet of mushroom soup
• Garlic
• Flat leaf parsley
• Thyme, fresh or dried
• 2 Bay leaves
• Egg noodles
• Salt and black pepper

How to make:
Heat the oven to 180ºC. In an oven-proof dish, place the chicken breasts, drizzled with olive oil, salt, thyme and crushed garlic. Roast for about 30 minutes, until tender. Set aside to rest. In the meantime, finely chop the onions and let them simmer and soften gently with a bit of oil in your soup pot. Add the chopped celery and do the same. When softened, add two cloves of crushed garlic and mushrooms. Allow the mushrooms to soften and release their juices, and add about 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Mix the packet soup with boiling water and add about 6 cups of water (depending on your taste and consistency preference). Stir in the shredded chicken, bay leaves and the noodles. Allow to simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes, until the noodles are ready. Add salt and pepper to taste, stir in some more chopped parsley and serve.

Homecoming Queen

So I have unpacked (well, almost everything), done four loads of washing, spent time in the garden, napped and acclimatised, but until I'd stocked the fridge and started cooking, I knew it wouldn't really felt like I was "home". I thought my boyfriend would appreciate some fresh produce on his return, so I set to work on a menu.

I baked a vanilla sponge cake with tart lemon icing for tea when his mom dropped him off from the airport. For lunch, we had spicy chourizo and chickpea soup with crispy baguette. A dinner approached, the apartment was filled with the smell of roast chicken and garlic, and buttery roast potatoes. I made the asparagus pictured, drizzled with olive oil, topped with a soft poached egg and sprinkled with Parmesan for starters. A subtle, light taste combination that I highly recommend. The garlic roast chicken was served on a bed of leeks with the roast potatoes and accompanied by a chilled glass of chardonnay. The perfect way to conclude a hot summer day and a happy holiday. Back to work tomorrow.

Coming home

I have returned home from an amazing trip to England and America, complete with snow, new friends, food, shopping and adventure – all the things that make winter travel in the northern hemisphere at Christmastime so magical. I spent time with my family, caught a snowflake in my mouth, ate cake for breakfast, walked the streets flat, drank too much, stayed up late, tried new foods, welcomed the New Year in at a restaurant in New York City, threw snowballs, marvelled at architecture and window dressings, and spent all my money. I would do it all over again.