Sunday, February 28, 2010

Oh no, I've been saying broo-SHEH-tah!



I love food - eating it, making it, thinking about it, reading about it. So I like to think I at least know how to pronounce it. But to my dismay, I came across this list of the top 10 mispronounced words in the foodie world. I have to admit, I have been saying broo-SHEH-tah and not broo-SKEH-tah.


PLUS I only knew what 5 of the 10 actually meant - here are the 5 I didn't know, but now do:
  • Gyro: A Greek dish, consisting of meat, tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce, and is served with pita bread
  • Huitlacoche: Also known as Mexcian Truffle, it is a fungus eaten usually as a filling in quesadillas and other tortilla-based foods
  • Poilly-Fuisse: A dry white wine made from Chardonnay
  • Paczki: Polish pastry, a deep-fried piece of dough shaped into a flattened sphere and filled with confiture or other sweet filling
  • Pho: A Vietnamese beef and noodle soup, including noodles made from rice and is often served with basil, lime, bean sprouts and peppers that are added to the soup by the consumer
So now we know.

Source: Definitions from Wikipedia

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Potholes are pretty


Gosh, 16 days since I last posted - not exactly blogging as planned! I have been running around with my plate fuller than ever! Lots on the go ... so I have been driving around a lot and of course, being in Joburg, falling victim to potholes, often. Am I the only one who can never remember where they are?

So I just had to share these Pothole Gardens - a public installation by Bristish artist Pete Dungey. He is going around planting pretty gardens in bristish (yes, you ready correctly)potholes! There are a few reasons why I love this:
  • In Joburg we are so critical of our city for not keeping up our roads, we're not alone!
  • He's adding a little joy and brightness to something everyone hates and moans about!
  • It's so funny and strange!
  • People out there do the craziest things!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Be a Sport

If, and it's a big if, I was part of a national sporting team I would want the outfits to be designed by Ralph Lauren - just the right amount of sporty, chic, preppy, national pride and style. Most recently, Ralph Lauren is the official outfitter of the US Winter Olympics team - I think it's awesome!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Sunday Toast #1: Mushroom & Feta

Toast is the perfect meal, I use the term loosely, for Sunday evenings. By then I've probably enjoyed a big family lunch on Sunday not to mention the usual eating out or takeaways over the weekends. So toast is often the order of the day, or evening. The Woolworths Cafe at Hyde Park makes a delicious mushroom toast, which I often imitate for these Sunday meals of toast. Yum!

1 piece of Low-GI Seed Bread toasted + Button Mushrooms fried in olive oil and some herbs + Crumbled Feta

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Lovely Labels

One thing I love about the internet and blogs in particular is how generous people are with their talents and creativity. There are so many gorgeous free downloads available - I download ones I see and love and save them for when inspiration hits. As you know we are mid-renovation (well, hopefully passed midway) and I have visions of myself being extremely domestic goddess-like as we move back in - everything in its place and a place for everything, every space pleasing to the eye. I know I will absolutely not achieve this but I will try to limit the number of scary do-not-open-ever drawers and I will report back on my mini makeover projects such as this one for the herb and tea shelves.


 


I adore these free tea and herb labels from one of my favourite bloggers, Amy Moss of the lovely Eat, Drink, Chic. While I won't go the whole way and make my paper look vintage, I think they will look great printed on a plain textured white paper applied to standard glass jars (I will look at the Consol Shop as a starting point).


Click here to download the tea labels and the herb labels.


Hmmm, this would make a lovely DIY gift, don't you think?

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Biscuit Mission: Part 2

So I finally tested the cheese biscuit recipe I posted here. Sunday afternoons are perfect for baking, especially now that husband is studying - it's relaxing, rewarding and gives you something delish for the week ahead.

Step 1: Measure and mix


Step 2: Sift and add


Step 3: Cool and taste

Now, I have to admit these did not live up to my expectations so I am still searching for a recipe that meets the first cheese biscuits I tasted. Watch out for Biscuit Mission: Part 3.

P.S. If you are going to try these - I would recommend using 1 cup of Cheddar and 1 cup of Cornflakes then crush them (as opposed to 1 cup of already crushed Cornflakes).