Weekend Breakfast: Cinnamon French Toast

School holidays are here... Yay! I am lucky in that I can spend Monday and Tuesday with my daughter - I finished up with EDS on Friday and start my new job with Coronation on Wednesday, 1 October.

To celebrate, I made her French Toast for breakfast.

Ingredients:

1x Large Egg

125ml Milk

2t Brown Sugar

1/2t Cinnamon

2 or 3 thick slices of bread

1 or 2 knobs of butter

Method:

1. Add the egg, milk, sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl and beat with a fork, until properly mixed.

2. Soak the bread in this mixture for a minute or two.

3. Melt a knob of butter in a saucepan.

3. Fry in bread on medium heat, turning when golden brown.

Plate and drizzle with traditional maple syrup.
Yummy!

Cooking with Gas!

Today, I took the plunge and finally bought my gas hob. For the past few months, I have been cooking on a portable gas burner (usually used for camping). Before that, I cooked on my non-gas Ariston hob.

I did a little shopping around this morning and finally ended up at Tafelberg Furnishers in Durban Road, Bellville. I was assisted by a very knowledgeable salesman named Christopher. I had trouble deciding between the Defy and the Eurogas and eventually went with the Defy DHG113 (R3119).

Then, off to Blue Flame Gas and Hardware Distributors on Voortrekker Road. After a quick phone call to my handyman friend Keith, I walked out with a 9kg gas cylinder, 2m of hose, 2 clamps and a regulator (R528).

It took me about an hour and a half to install my new kit and it is wonderful! I can't wait to cook something!

So... after reading this, you are ALL going to pop out and upgrade to gas, right? Well, I realise that not all of you are as handy as I am (LMAO) so here's where I plug my buddy's handyman business. Keith is brilliant at everything he does and his rates don't break the bank! I have used him for roofing, waterproofing and installing my electric gate motor. I am very impressed - you too will be!

Keith Arntsen
0834616533

Mid-Week Dinner: Baked Bluenose & Chips

I drive past Fish 4 Africa in Monte Vista every day, on my way to fetch my daughter at aftercare. Yesterday, I decided we were having baked fish for dinner - I had an incling! Fish 4 Africa is surprisingly reasonable and they have a variety of fresh fish available all the time... And they give good advice. I told one of the guys that I was looking for a good fish to bake, in foil, in the oven. He immediately recommended the Bluenose. I bought a 2kg fish for R95 and they cleaned and filleted it for me, no extra charge!

Ingredients:
1kg Filleted Bluenose (I made 2kgs - leftovers go on sarmies with mayo!)
2t Olive Oil
2t Crushed Garlic
2 Lemons, finely sliced
Foil, enough to 'parcel' the fish
1/2 Onion, finely sliced
1t cider vinegar, per fillet
Sprinkling of Chilli & Garlic Spice (Ina Paarman)
Sprinkling of Thyme (Robertsons)
Sprinkling of Salt & Black Pepper
Preheat the Oven to 200 deg C.
Method:
1. Lay the foil in a baking tray.
2. Coat with Olive Oil
3. Put half the sliced onion and lemon on the foil.
4. Place the fish on top
5. Season with spices (Salt, Pepper, Garlic & Chilli & Thyme)
6. Sprinkle a teaspoon of cider vinegar on each fillet.
7. Layer the remaining Onion and Lemons on top of the fish.
8. Bring the foil over and seal into a parcel.
9. Place in the oven and cook for 30 to 35 min. (my 2kg fish took around 45min). Best to check after the 25 min mark. If the fish flakes, it is done. Do not overcook.

Serve with oven baked chips. Simple, Wholesome, Lekker!

I would pair this with a light to medium bodied Rieslingor, something with a dry finish...

Mid-Week Dinner: Chop 'n Dop met Sous Boontjies

Boet, this ones for you: I'll bet you miss the true "Souf Efriken" braai now that you are in the land of Kiwis! I am told you are coming back to SA for a while in January... I trust we will get together and rekindle some old memories!

Well, last night I got home and sparked up the old Weber (yeah, yeah - that's not the true SA way! I know). Damn, you spotted that. I did a quick pork chop, some lamb & a few toasties. Whip out the old favourites: Beetroot Salad and 'Sous Boontjies) and you have a great midweek dinner... No mess, no fuss!

This week has once more been a burr of business and I have not had the opportunity to blog. Just to fill you in: On Monday, I made my famous Rosemary infused Tomato Bredie (stew) served on a bed of Basmati rice. On Tuesday, I oven baked Pork Schnitzels and served them on mash, with a side order of petit pois peas.

Definition of 'petit pois' - Very small green peas (as simple as that...)

I will post these recipes at a later stage.

Tonight is Boy's Night again... I missed last week as I was pooped after our dinner party on the Wednesday. I managed to get out of working tonight - one of my guys have agreed to work for me. Andrew, affectionately know as "girlpants" is a lifesaver! I need this midweek break... Thanks buddy!

News: Spur Making Headlines over the Weekend

It seems Spur is once more making headlines... On the front page of the Saturday Newspaper: Kids Eat Free! This comes just a short time after the launch of the Big Chief Burger Range... (really, that guy needs a medal).

The long and short of it: For a limited time (I think until 29 September), on presentation of the voucher from the newspaper, for each adult meal ordered, you can get a kiddies meal for free!

We clearly made use of this offer on Sunday. Mel was babysitting so we piled all the kids in the car & off to Utah Spur. Spur must be employing Mind Readers in their marketing department... Just when everyone is feeling the financial pinch, they come up with this offer. No wonder is made front page headlines! LOL. Well done, Spur!

Review: Yo Eastern Fusion

On Saturday night, our friend Belinda celebrated a birthday at Yo Eastern Fusion restaurant in Welgelegen. I used this as a excuse to do a review for you, my blog readers. Thankfully my wife had her K800i mobile phone with her... No, not to call an ambulance! ... twas for the camera, ok...
We started the evening with a drink in the bar. This is definitely the cheapest bar I have ever been to. Cocktails - Sex on the Beach, Strawberry Daiquiri, Call me a Cab, etc. for R25 each. Where in Cape Town can you find that?

The main restaurant: Great ambiance and friendly staff. There is a stunning fish tank off to one side, adding to the Asian feel of the restaurant. Thought was given to the lighting - the Sushi Bar is well lit and the dining area is darker and more cozy. The prices are fair. The menu is extensive. The hotter dishes are indicated with a little picture of a chilli, just after the name of the dish. There is a 10% service charge for larger tables - ours was R160.

If you are a sushi lover, this is the place to try. The sushi menu is extensive - Maki, Shashimi, California Rolls, Nigiri and all the favourites. They also do 'special sushi', designed by the owners. The picture is of a sushi platter (R105). The ingredients are all fresh and your sushi is made while you wait. Seafoods used in the Sushi range from Salmon (normal, spicy and smoked), prawns, tuna, eels, Norwegian Salmon and crab sticks. Pretty impressive! I was asked to please give special mention to Adrienne for ordering the platter... LOL

The menu, as I said, is quite extensive. They have steak for the ol' die-hards and escargo for the more adventurous. They even do soup: Hot and Sour (chicken or prawn) and Sweetcorn Soup. I decided on the Crispy Duck with pancakes (R72). This was very tasty but I must say: There could have been more pancakes. The only negative thing I found: My bowl of oyster sauce looks like it was prepared in a hurry (see the pic).

This was a minor slip up as I checked some of the other dishes ordered by our table.
A wide range of curries are also available, originating on Thailand, China and Indonesia. Richard had the Thai Green Chicken Curry (to the right) and it was really good!

We decided to skip dessert. I was so tempted to try the Crème brûlée but passed for more cocktails are the bar.

I would definitely rate this restaurant (as opposed to slate).

Yo Eastern Fusion Restaurant
Welgelegen Shopping Centre, Malmesbury Road, Welgelegen (above the Spar)
+27 21 558 9888
Open 7 days a week (12pm to 12am)

Mid-Week Dinner Party: Vanilla Waffles with Ice Cream

For my mid-week dinner party, I had to come up with a quick and easy dessert. Vanilla Waffles with Ice Cream did the treat!

Ingredients:
Pack of Frozen Waffles (R22.50)
Vanilla Ice Cream
Traditional Maple Syrup

Method:
See picture.

Nothing could be easier...