Quick and Easy Vanilla Sponge Cake

INGREDIENTS

125g butter
250 ml sugar
2 tbsp vanilla essence
3 eggs
500 ml cake flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk

Chocolate Ganache Icing

2 slabs milky bar
4 tbsp dessert cream

Butter Icing

100 g butter softened
500 ml icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
+ - 2 tbsp milk

METHOD

• Preheat oven to 180° and grease a round cake tin
• Cream butter and sugar together until light and creamy
• Add vanilla essence
• Separate egg yolks from egg whites and add only the egg yolks to batter one at a time mixing well after each addition 
• Sift the flour , baking powder & salt together
• Fold into the creamed mixture, alternating with milk
• Lastly fold in the egg whites to mixture gently
• Pour mixture into cake pan and bake until golden in color or when knife comes out clean when inserted into cake
• Ice the cake with either the chocolate ganache icing OR the butter icing

ICING

   

Chocolate ganache 

• Melt chocolate and mix dessert cream into melted chocolate
• Spread over cake , garnish the top of cake with grated chocolate of your choice 

Butter Icing

• Cream butter and icing sugar together
• Add vanilla essence and enough milk to make a soft spreading consistency
• Spread over cake and garnish with decorations of your choice

* 2 cakes can be made and sandwiched together with icing

Hungarian Tart / Jam Tarts

INGREDIENTS

250g butter
1 cup Sugar
3 Eggs
3 1/2 Cups flour
6 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla essence

METHOD

• Cream butter 
• Add Sugar and mix well
• Add Eggs and vanilla essence and mix well
• Add flour & Baking powder 
• Make a soft dough
• Grease oven dish and press 1/3 of the dough into oven dish
• Smooth jam over dough
• Grate the balance of the dough and sprinkle it over the jam
• Bake for + - 15 minutes at 180°
• Cut into squares when cooled

Soji

INGREDIENTS

500g semolina
500g butter
2 litre boiled water
1 tsp food colouring
5 cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup chopped almonds
4 tsp ground elachi
1/4 cup desiccated coconut ( optional )
 1 can dessert cream
chopped colored almonds for decorating

METHOD

• Fry soji in a wide pot stirring continuously for 15 minutes on medium heat
• Add butter and stir again until butter melts and fry with soji
• Add cloves, cinnamon sticks, sugar, almonds and elachi and stir well
• Mix food coloring with 1 litre of the boiled water and add very slowly to soji stirring continuously (Do not add all the water at once )
• You will notice that soji absorbs the water and begins to thicken.
• Continue adding the boiled water whilst stirring continuously until the soji stops absorbing the water
• There is no need to add more coloring to the second litre of water as the soji should already have a rich yellowish color
• More than 2 litres boiled water may sometimes be required but soji consistency should remain thick and not mushy
• The trick is to add just enough water .Too much could ruin the dish.
• Turn heat off and flatten the soji with a spoon
• Add dessert cream over soji
• sprinkle with the colored almonds and a pinch of elachi powder for extra flavor

Spicy Garlic Grilled Chicken

INGREDIENTS

1 whole chicken
2 tbsp veri peri sauce
2 tbsp garlic paste
2 tbsp ginger & garlic paste
4 tbsp garlic and herbs spice
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 tbsp mayonaise
3 tbsp masala
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp fine salt

METHOD

• Preheat oven to 180° . clean chicken but leave the skin on, and cut in the centre to butterfly the chicken.. make a few incisions on the chicken
• Mix all ingredients together forming a marinade
• Marinate the chicken with marinade
• place on oven tray and cover with foil
• Grill in oven until chicken is cooked and is golden brown

* Best served with potato salad and roasted vegetables

Mutton Mince Curry

INGREDIENTS

1kg mutton mince
5 tablespoons oil
3 heaped tbsp masala
1 tsp jeera
2 cinnamon sticks
4 leaves mint
1 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp ginger & garlic paste
2 tsp breyani spice
 2 tbsp garam masala
1 onion chopped
1/2 cup frozen peas
4 tomatoes grated
4 potatoes cut into cubes
2 sprigs curry leaves
1/2 cup water
dhania for garnishing

METHOD

• Heat oil in a pot and add onion , fry until golden brown
• Add jeera, biryani spice, masala, turmeric, cinnamon sticks and the ginger & garlic paste
• Mix well and add the mince 
• Allow to cook for 10 minutes
• Next add the garam masala , peas, tomato and potatoes
• Add the salt, mint and curry leaves and mix well for all ingredients to incorporate
• Allow to cook on low heat ,stirring occasionally for + - 45 minutes or until potatoes are cooked
• The water can be added during the cooking process if curry starts getting too dry.
• Garnish with dhania and serve with rice or bread

Hot Fudge Sauce

INGREDIENTS

1/2 tin condensed milk
2 tbsp butter

METHOD

• Use a thick based pan
• Melt the butter and stir in condensed milk
• Allow to cook until color changes
• Remove from heat and stir until smooth

* Serve with Crepes or pancakes.Links to  crepe and pancake recipe found below

Crepes

INGREDIENTS

2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cup sifted flour

METHOD

• Heat a non stick frying pan and grease with light butter or spray with Cook n Spray
• Beat the eggs and sugar
• Add vanilla and beat well
• Whisk in the milk and add sifted flour
• Combine well making sure that there are no lumps
• Spoon the batter over hot frying pan
• Flip over once bubbles start to form

Sour Milk Doughnuts

INGREDIENTS

2 eggs
4 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour milk
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
4 cups flour

METHOD

• Mix all the dry ingredients
• Rub the butter well into the dry ingredients
• Beat the eggs, sour milk and sugar together
• Make a soft dough with the egg mixture
• Roll out onto floured board, cut out with doughnut cutter
• Fry on oil
• Dip in sugar syrup and sprinkle with icing sugar or 100s and 1000s

Naan

INGREDIENTS

4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
10g dry yeast
2 extra large eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 potato cubed and boiled
1/2 cup fresh cream

METHOD

• Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy
• Add oil
• Liquidize potato and add cream
• Add dry ingredients
• Add warm milk to make a soft dough ( use as needed)
• Cover and set aside and allow to rise ( double in volume)
• Grease hands with oil and form small balls with dough
• Place on a well greased tray not very far apart and allow to rise again
• Brush with egg and sprinkle poppy  seeds or sesame seeds
• Bake at 190° for +- 15 minutes
• Serve with butter chicken

Stuffed Gem Squash with Beef Mince

INGREDIENTS

4 large gem squash

20 ml oil

1 onion diced

400g beef mince ( can be substituted with mutton mince)

1 tsp salt

4 cloves

2 tsp ginger & garlic

1 green chilli chopped

1 can baked beans

METHOD

• Heat oil in pan, add onion & braise until golden brown
• Wash & drain mince in colander, then add to saucepan with salt, cloves , garlic and chilli
• Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally
• Add beans and cook a further 10 minutes until well blended
• Halve squash and remove seeds
• Stuff squash with mince and bean mixture , leaving some gravy in saucepan
• Place squash in saucepan and steam, covered for 15 minutes
• Sprinkle cheese over gem squash and bake in oven for 10 minutes
• Serve with white rice

Crispy Chicken with Savory Vegetables

Spicy Mutton Chops Chutney

INGREDIENTS

2 kg chops
7 green chillies
4 tbsp ginger and garlic
2 tsp mixed herbs
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp steak & chops marinade
1 tbsp paprika paste
1 tsp green chilli paste
1 tsp jeera
1/2 tsp tumeric
salt to taste
1/2 cup thyme
3 large onions diced
10 ripe tomatoes grated
1 tsp masala
3 tbsp oil

METHOD

• Marinate chops with ginger & garlic, mixed herbs, black pepper, paprika paste and green chillie paste and set aside
• Fry onions in oil until golden brown
• Add jeera and turmeric and green chillies
• add chops and fry on low heat until cooked or can be pierced with a knife or skewer
• Add tomatoes , masala ,thyme and salt and mix well gently to avoid breaking chops
• Cook on low heat for 20 minutes or until tomatoes are cooked.
• Garnish and serve with savory rice

Chocolate Lamingtons

INGREDIENTS

500 ml sugar
4 extra large eggs
250 ml (1 cup) sunflower oil
5 ml (1 t) vanilla essence
420 g (750 ml) cake flour
15 ml (1 tbs) baking powder
3ml (½t) salt
125ml (½ cup) Milk


Chocolate Syrup

600 g (750 ml) sugar
80 g (200 ml) cocoa powder
375 ml (1½ cups) hot water
10 g butter 

Desiccated coconut, for coating

METHOD

Vanilla Sponge

•  Preheat the oven to 180⁰C.  Grease and line a 25 x 30 cm oven tray. 
•  Beat the sugar and eggs together until light and fluffy. 
•  Add the oil and vanilla essence, and mix well. 
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together and add to the egg mixture alternatively with the milk.  Spoon the mixture into the prepared tray and bake for 30- 35 minutes 
• Allow to cool and cut into squares.
• Dip cooled squares into chocolate syrup and the coat with dessicated coconut

Chocolate Syrup

•  Place the sugar, cocoa, and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil while stirring. 
•  Remove from heat and add the butter.

What is Juicing?

Juicing involves the process that extracts the juice from fresh fruits and vegetables. It removes all the solid matter from the fruit and vegetables leaving you with only the natural liquid. It is a fun way to add nutrients and vitamins to your diet without having the trouble of actually eating the whole fruit and vegetables.

According to health nutritionists, juicing can boost your immune system, assist in weight loss and digestion as well as remove some of those harmful toxins from your body. Juicing is a quick way of fueling your body with long lasting energy that is better than any quick fix a cup of coffee will give you.

In this blog you will also find list of exciting, fun recipes for juices which you can try out with the whole family. As with all recipes, the ones below can be tweaked to suit your personal preferences.

Remember that freshly squeezed juice is best consumed immediately after making. It can be stored for up to a maximum of 48 hours.

These juices can be incorporated to your daily breakfast or as an afternoon snack. Enjoy!

Carrot and Beetroot Juice

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2

INGREDIENTS

2 apples
3 carrots
2 beetroots

METHOD

• Add ½ cup ice and ½ cup water to a  jug 
• Add peeled beetroot to juicer and extract juice
• Add carrots and apples next
• Mix juice from beetroot , carrots and apples to the jug with ice and water
• Serve immediately 

Spicy Chicken Alfredo

INGREDIENTS 

For white sauce
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp black pepper

1kg Chicken fillets cut into strips
1 tray mushrooms
2 green peppers
1 kg penne pasta
2l fresh milk
500g cheese
1 packet chicken ala king sauce

Marinade for chicken fillets
2 tablespoons veri peri sauce
1 tablespoon ginger n garlic
2 tsp black pepper
4 tablespoons mixed herbs
3 tablespoons nandos sauce

METHOD

• Marinate chicken with all the marinades
• Fry it on low heat and set aside
• In a separate pan, saute mushrooms and pepper with 1 tablespoon butter and set aside when cooked
• For the white sauce ,heat the butter
• Add flour and stir continously to avoid lumps from forming 
• Add milk slowly and stir
• Add back pepper, salt to taste and half cup cheese and set aside
• Boil pasta and set aside
• Add sauce to large pot,add the chicken, mushrooms and pepper, pasta, mix chicken ala king mixture and add to pot and and remaining milk and cheese and salt.
• Allow to cook for 10 minutes

Easy Breakfast Omelet

INGREDIENTS

2 eggs beaten

1 mushroom slice

2 tablespoons green pepper diced

1 small onion diced

1 tomato sliced in round circles

pinch of mixed herbs

salt to taste

1 tsp oil

METHOD

• fry mushrooms , pepper and onion until cooked
• Add eggs , mix once and allow to cook on low heat
• add sliced tomato to omelet
• season with salt and mixed herbs
• Allow to cook for 2 minutes , turn once ( try to avoid breaking omelet)
• sprinkle grated cheese onto cooked omelet

* Serve with fried sausages and eggs

Vegetarian Lasagne

INGREDIENTS

1 kg grated cheese
1 packet lasagne sheets

FOR THE VEGETABLES
1 kg Mccain Frozen roasted vegetables
500g Mccain Frozen sweet potato and butternut
4 tablespoons mixed herbs
1 onion diced
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

FOR THE CHUTNEY

6 tomatoes grated
1 can tomato puree
6 chilles
1 onion diced
salt to taste
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp jeera seeds
2 sprigs fresh thyme

FOR THE CHEESE SAUCE

4 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon butter
1 ltre fresh milk
1/2 cheese
salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp mixed herbs

METHOD

• Fry onions until golden brown , add frozen veg , allow to cook for 10 minutes
• Add cayenne pepper, and mixed herbs and toss
• put stove off and set aside
• For the chutney , fry onions until golden brown
• add chillies , jeera and mustard and thyme
• Add the tomatoes and canned puree and allow to cook on low heat until tomatoes are fully cooked
• For the cheese sauce , melt butter in a saucepan
• Add flour and stir continuously to avoid lumps from forming
• Add milk slowly , whilst stirring
• Season with salt & pepper & mixed herbs
• Add the cheese and bring to boil
• Remove from heat
• Now in A large casserole , add  1 tablespoon sauce ,make 1 layer of lasagne sheets
• Add more sauce over sheets , enough to cover sheets completely
• Add a layer of vegetables over sheets
• Add a layer of chutney
• Add a layer of cheese
• Add another layer of lasagne sheet
• Add more sauce over sheets , enough to cover sheets completely
• Add a layer of vegetables over sheets
• Add a layer of chutney
• Add a layer of cheese
• Repeat process until all ingredients are finished
• over the last layer add a final layer of lasagne sheets 
• Add sauce over sheets and add a layer of cheese
• Allow to sit for 10 minutes
• Cover with casserole with foil and bake in oven on 180° for 30 minutes 
• Serve hot

Grilled Prawns

INGREDIENTS

1kg prawns, cleaned and deveined, with the shell on.
2 tablespoons ginger garlic paste
1 tablespoon of mixed herbs
4 tbsp butter
2 tbsp chilli powder
Salt to taste
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp mixed coriander and cumin powder

METHOD

• Cut prawns down the centre and rinse and drain excess water
• Add  salt on the surface of each prawn. 
• In a  bowl combine the garlic paste, butter 
• Place the butter mixture in the microwave on a high heat setting for 30-40 seconds or until the butter has melted.
• Stir the mix herbs into the butter mixture.
• Brush the surface of each prawn with the butter, garlic and herb mixture.
• Sprinkle chilli powder, coriander and cumin powder on the surface of  each prawn.
• Place the prawns into a large bowl.
• Stir in the turmeric powder and toss .
• Place the prawns (shell side facing down) on an oven proof tray.
• Grill the prawns on 180 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until the prawns have turned a golden brown color.
• Do not over cook the prawns as they will become dry.

Tandoori Chicken Curry

INGREDIENTS

Marinade for the chicken
Salt to taste
2 teaspoons paprika
4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
3 teaspoons garum marsala
1/4 cup plain yoghurt
2 teaspoons ginger and garlic paste
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the curry

1 onion, sliced
3ml cumin seeds
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tomato, grated
1 cup tomato puree
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garam marsala
Salt to taste
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup fresh cream

METHOD

• Place the chicken pieces into a large mixing bowl.
• Combine the marinade ingredients together with the chicken.
• Marinate for 1 hour 
• Place chicken in oven on 180° until golden brownw
• For the curry , add enough oil to cover the base of the pot.
• Add in the sliced onion, cumin seeds, butter and coriander powder.
• Fry the onions on a reduced heat setting till crisp and brown.
• Stir in the tomato paste and simmer for a few seconds.
• Add in the grated tomato and puree.
• Allow the mixture to cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in cayenne pepper, paprika, garam marsala, salt and sugar.
• Mix in the cream and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the cooked chicken into the curry base.
• Serve the tandoori dish hot with basmati rice or Indian flat breads (naan).