Friday Food Fest: Succulence is Steak!

On this Friday Food Fest I have decided to share a steak recipe with you. The motivation behind this recipe… Love… The way to a man’s heart… Succulent steak, mushrooms and marvelous mustard and a not-so-secret secret ingredient…mmm, read on friends.

If you want to spoil your special someone with a dinner for two, here is a recipe by Bernice van der Merwe, author of One Two Three on the Table. This tantalizing cookbook categorized according to the time it takes to prepare a meal. Whether you only have 20 minutes to prepare a quick meal or up to 40 minutes to serve up succulent steak cooked to perfection, there is a recipe for you!  

This winning recipe is dedicated to my love, a dinner for two, illuminated by candle light. Thank you for all your support, patience and love. 

Steak with mushroom topping

Photo from One Two Three on the Table

Equipment

string

Meat

2 x 200 g rib-eye steaks or fillet pieces, or 400 g halved, each piece 3 to 5 cm thick

50 ml Marmite®

Mushroom topping

40 g butter

1 small onion, sliced

1 clove garlic, chopped

250 g brown mushrooms, thickly sliced

salt and freshly ground black pepper

15 ml wholegrain mustard

pinch of mustard powder

60 ml double-thick cream, crème fraîche or mascarpone

1 egg, beaten

 
Meat: Preheat the oven to 220 °C. Grease a baking tray with olive oil or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Tie string around each piece of meat so it stands upright, and holds this form. Brush the meat all over with Marmite®.
Heat a griddle pan and grill the meat over very high heat for approximately 3 minutes on each side until rare to medium.
Then place on the greased baking tray to rest.

Mushroom topping: Heat the butter in a pan and sauté the onion and garlic for a few minutes. Stir in the mushrooms and sauté for approximately 5 minutes, or until dry. Season with the salt and pepper. Spoon the mushroom mixture into a mixing bowl and stir in the wholegrain mustard, mustard powder, double-thick cream and egg. Mix well. Spoon the filling on top of the grilled steak and place in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the mushroom topping is set.

Serve with vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes or chips.

A Mish-take

Serve your perfect steak up with roasted sweet potato wedges as the perfect alternative side.

Makes 2 portions

Tip

• Not everyone likes rare meat that is still a bit bloody so decide ahead how you want the meat done. If you like the meat to be more done, grill it for another few minutes. Remember that the meat will cook further in thevery hot oven, so don’t overcook the meat at the beginning.

• Always leave the meat to stand for a few minutes before eating.

Happy Birthday Tata Madiba!

 In your 94 years, you have been the embodiment of inspiration, the definition of extraodinary, an upright man and an icon. The grand father of our beautiful country, we salute you. Our gift to you is 67 minutes of our time to make a difference.

I have asked radio presenter and friend, Fusi Nkoala and fiction author, Elize Parker to tell me what inspired them about this iconic man and this would not be complete if I don't add a Mish-take.

Fusi Nkoala, Radio Presenter on CCFM, brother

Image Source: Madiba released in 1990.

What I have learnt from him is the selfless leadership. Madiba has always believed in the common good and collective efforts. I admire the leader that he was and as a Christian who is leading a movement of young people for Christ, I always take from his leadership style. In his first speech in Cape Town hours after being released from prison in 1990 he said;  

 "I stand here today not as your leader but as your servant".

He understood all the Christian principles of servanthood, which today even in Church we don't apply.

This is my favorite Madiba quote:

People appreciate a leader that leads from behind when victory is celebrated, and leads from front when there is trouble.

The fact that I share a birthday with him makes me love him more!

Elize Parker, author, publicist, mother

Source Image

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

I will never forget a story about Madiba that Zelda la Grange, his personal assistant, once told: she related how even after he was 80 years old Madiba for a very long time still would get up in the mornings and never leave his room without his bed being made. It was part of the discipline of his day and of the man himself. For a long time in the mornings when I was too lazy to make my own bed I would say to myself : well Madiba is making his bed, how could you not make yours? To me this soon became a habit but also part of sticking to a certain dicipline that bode well for the rest of the day.

A Mish-take

Source Image

In January of 2009 I went to Robben Island to visit and learnt about the island, the exiled freedom fighters and offcourse the highlight, Madiba's story. This was the start to a year the would impact my life and change its course forever. Shortly after the memorable visit to the island, I broke my foot and was on crutches and casts for two to three months. At one point I thought that I would never be able to walk as I did before my silly accident. I bought a post card that gave me hope that I would walk again with both feet as I did before. I took this quote quite literally, but applied it figuratively and to this day believe it still. It is still stuck on my bedroom door and read as follows;

In my lifetime I shall step out into the sunshine and walk with firm feet.

Ps. Happy Birthday Fusi! May you be inspired all the more every day by our Creator and living legends with that Madiba Magic that we have come to know over the years.

4 Fabulous Fashion Capitals of the world

Source image: New York

When you talk about the Lion, Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo and the leopard, you are probably engaging in a conversation about Africa’s Big Five. And if when you hear the mention of Milan, New York City, London and Paris, you might be tickled to know that these fashion capitals of the world are also known as the Big Four. I kid you not. Hunters awarded the title of the Big Five to these African Animals based on the fact that they are the most difficult animals to hunt on foot, much like walking in super high Christian Louboutin heels down Fifth Avenue in New York City. 

Besides the fact that these cities are known for their economic power and power to attract tourists from around the world, these cities not only have fashion in common but are also linked because of fashion. The link is Fashion Week, held twice a year, Autumn / Winter and Spring / Summer. During this time fashion legends flock to these cities to set trends, showcase new collections, latest innovations in fashion design and entice the rich and luxurious into buying couture and ready-to-wear items.

Source image: London

New York City is one of the most lucrative cities in the world and it is therefore no surprise that fashion week kicks off in the city possessing the most expensive street in the world, Fifth Avenue. Fashion week then jets off to London, Milan and ends off in Paris. Milan is highly acclaimed for concentrating on ready-to-wear and haute couture clothing, whereas Paris is focuses on refined chic haute couture. London is known for unpredictable, peculiar style.

Source image: Paris

Fashion week however is not entirely exclusive to these cities, as Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Fashion Week is on its way and I am so excited about this. Unlike fashion week’s week 69^th year of existence, South Africa in its fashion infancy will be hosting the 9^th year of existence. African Fashion International (AFI) aims to host premier events with the help of Mercedes-Benz in order to take African fashion to the world’s runway. Cheers to AFI and Mercedez-Benz! Join me at the Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Fashion Week. See it for yourself! 

Friday Food Fest: Pancake Perfection

This weekend is predicted to be a cold and rainy one. Ever since I was a little girl, a rainy day meant pancakes. My mother always softened the blow of the cold harsh winters days or evenings with the sweet aroma of cinnamon and the sound of pancake flipping. My mouth waters at the thought of this winter comfort food. There is just nothing better than having pipping hot coffee with two rolled up pancakes and some lemon or a drizzle of golden syrup. Hmmmmm

So I thought a little childhood tradition should be carried on and while I am not yet a mother to continue this tradition, why not make it a savoury treat for my friends. I merged two recipes this week, something savoury and something sweet with a twist! The cookbooks that I pulled these mouth-watering options from are One, Two, Three on the Table by Bernice van der Merwe (savoury) and Cape Winelands Cuisine by Hetta van Deventer-Terblanche (sweet).
Enjoy!

Pancakes with three cheeses

Pancake batter will keep for a few days in the fridge, and you can even freeze it.

Cheese filling: Combine the spinach, ricotta cheese, Emmental cheese and cream.

Season with the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside.

Pancakes: Makes ± 10

Filling: Enough for ± 5 portions

Cheese filling

200 g spinach, shredded

280 g ricotta cheese, crumbled

100 g Emmental cheese, grated

125 ml fresh cream

salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 ml ground nutmeg

Pancakes

250 ml cake fl our

5 ml baking powder

1 ml salt

250 ml water, plus another 60 ml (if batter is too thick)

1 egg, beaten

30 ml cooking oil

extra cooking oil for shallow-frying

100 g mozzarella cheese, grated

Pancakes:
Preheat the oven to 180 °C.

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, water, egg and 30 ml cooking oil. Beat well and leave the batter to stand for a few minutes.

Heat the cooking oil for shallow-frying in a pan and pour in a large spoonful of batter.

Don’t be too much in a rush with turning the pancake; wait until the batter has totally set and the pancake starts to come away from the pan before turning it. Flip it carefully with a large egg lifter and cook until done and golden brown on both sides.
Repeat until you have enough pancakes.

Place a piece of wax paper between each pancake if you first want to make all the pancakes.

Spoon some of the fi lling lengthwise in the middle of each pancake, and roll up the pancake.

Place the fi lled pancakes next to each other in an oven pan or dish and sprinkle over the mozzarella cheese.

Bake for approximately 10 minutes. Serve with a rocket salad, if preferred.

Tips

• Remember that the first  pancake is usually a flop, so don’t feel too bad about it.

• The pancakes can also be served as dessert with cinnamon sugar or try the sauce below!

For dessert

Van der Hum sauce

1 cup (250 ml) water

1 cup (250 ml) sugar

zest of 1 naartjie or orange

2 whole cloves

2 Tbsp (30 ml) butter

1/2 cup (125 ml) Van der Hum liqueur

1 tsp (5 ml) sherry

2 tsp (10 ml) cream

Pour the water into a saucepan over high heat. Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves. Add the zest and cloves and reduce to two-thirds. Beat in the butter. Add the Van der Hum liqueur, sherry and cream and pour the hot sauce over the pancakes just before serving.

Let's review: Jane Raphaely

TarrynJo, lover of literature and fellow blogger happily agreed to write a review on Jane Raphaely's autobiography, Jane Raphaely Unedited. Jane's story is devastatingly captivating to the least. I am so excited about this review! Thank you TarrynJo!

Jane Raphaely Unedited

She’s called the doyenne of magazine publishing in South Africa; a true icon to those in the business. A feminist, friend, mentor, mother, grandmother and wife... She is Jane Raphaely.

In her autobiography entitled, Jane Raphaely Unedited, Jane chronicles her life and her rise to the top of the magazine publishing world; all while raising a family and being a devoted wife. The book is written by Jane, who, at 75, is still chairman of Associated Magazines and Editor-in-Chief of O, the Oprah Magazine in South Africa. It details her climb up the corporate (and social) ladder and also contains many personal stories of trials and tribulations.

Each chapter seems to be a succinct little story that eventually builds to a whole to create an (almost) chronological telling of Jane’s life up till now. If anything, we are given the picture of a little girl born into nothing who fights against all the odds and constraints in her life to be a powerful force to be reckoned with in her industry. Jane lets nothing stop her from voicing her opinions, not even her magazine editions being banned countless times by the Apartheid government’s publications board or a man storming into her office with a gun in his briefcase. 

I don’t only encourage people who idolise Jane to read her book, but anyone who wants to be inspired to achieve, who wants to see women succeed beyond the kitchen sink (not just feminists), and anyone who wants to learn more about the vast world of women’s magazines.

Not only is the book an easy read, it is one that often made me laugh out loud (to many an inquisitive stare). Jane’s ability to tell a story is indicative of her many years as editor of major magazines despite having no journalistic training. I often found myself having to read aloud to my family who were always eager for the next piece of “what did Jane do”. 

A book that is completely “unputdownable” with genuine heart, that will make you laugh, cry and wish you were there on her Persian rug to listen to her tell you her-story herself.

xoxo

Tarryn Jo

Jane and I at the Cape Town Book Fair

3 Fashion Forward Phrases

My fascination with fashion has not yet settled. Bespoke, Prêt-à-Porter, Made-to-measure, it all sounds

like a foreign language if you are not quite the fashion connoisseur! I love it when they talk 'foreign' but I must admit, I want to know what they mean when they use these terms. Here is the first installment of the Fashion Forward Phrases!

Image source

 Bespoke

The phrase "bespoke" has its origins from England. In early years, it was referred to as tailor-made clothing. Traditionally bespoke is synonymous with a Savile Row suit for men. These are suits specifically made and individually tailored for a customer’s body. It is the highest form of custom product and similar to Haute Couture. Bespoke has since spilled over to products such as perfumes, cars and specticals etc.

Image source

  Haute Couture

Haute Couture relates to high fashion. It is made from top quality fabric. Great detail goes into creating these items of clothing. Haute mean high or elegant and couture means dress making or needlework or sewing. A Haute Couture dress is an elegant dress that was design and made to order by a private client.

Image source

Prêt-à-Porter

This term refers to factory made clothing, more commonly known as ‘off-the-rack’ clothing or ‘off-the-peg’. Valentino Garavani was one of the pioneers in this field. These items are finished, standardized size clothing sold on a large scale. (To boutiques, chain stores etc.)