Joie De Vivre - Page 10 of 38 -

Appetisers and Hors D'oeuvres, Fruit Inspired, Savoury

Red Wine Poached Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini

Have you ever poached pear, or for that matter, any other fruit? Until recently, I never had. But after tasting the wondrous results of humble home poached fruit, I am obsessed. I admit that I am showing symptoms of another obsession – crostinis! But they’re just so dam good, its kinda hard not to.

Since we are talking about obsessions, strawberry season is back! Over the weekend I experimented with some jalepeno infused strawberry margaritas from How Sweet It Is’s new book, Seriously Delish. And can I just say, it was just ah-mazaing! It was made up of pureed strawberries, fresh jalepeno, cointreau and of course, some good old rum. You could totally swap the rum for the originally called for tequila, but I found this incredibly delicious (yet not too sweet) cocktail to be am amazing spin on a bloody-mary meets a daiquiri meets a caprioska.

November 10, 2014 | 0 comment

Appetisers and Hors D'oeuvres, Savoury

Mushroom Hors d’oeuvres

A few weeks ago, I wanted to make an hors d’oeuvre which could be served both warm and room termperature, and had the ability to invoke the desire in anyone to lean over for one more! I find that mushrooms and parsley are one of those heavenly matches – like strawberry and balsamic, orange and dark chocolate. Puff pastry is an obvious and amazing choice. How can you go wrong with something that has 1000 layers, and rises butterfully (see what I did there – beautifully with butter).

On a free afternoon, I pre-thawed the puff pastry for a few hours in the fridge and then rolled it out, cut 2″ rounds using a cookie cutter, and pressed down the corners with the back of a fork – providing those pretty little ridges in the pastry. The indentations also allow the corners to rise more and get nice and golden, whereas the centre remains a little dented, paving way for filling of choice. After they were indented, I popped them back into a freezer layered with parchment paper between each circle, to prevent any scope of sticking. This method saved me a huge amount of time and effort on D-day, and is also a great way to utilise any excess pastry.

November 3, 2014 | 0 comment

Beverage

Cucumber Lemonade

The appetisers are ready, decked out in your finest and most attractive china, wooden cheese boards and slate platters. The mains are lovingly resting in the kitchen – all prepped and perfectly planned, with different elements lined up together, just waiting for that final toss of the salad, the sauté of the pasta and the bubbling of the bake dish. Just before the doorbell rings and the first lot of guests arrive, I realise that yet again, I have ignored the cocktails/mocktails section of the menu and theres absolutely nothing to whet my guests’ appetite with, until they decide they are ready to hit the bar.

After this debacle has ensued more than a few times, I have started making a conscious effort to provide a light and refreshing beverage to be served on arrival, and which can also be spiked into a yummy little cocktail – killing two birds with one stone. This cucumber lemonade is just the trick that I have up my sleeve this time around. It can be made unto a day or two earlier as well, and spiked with some gin or vodka, for a kick.

October 27, 2014 | 0 comment

Cake & Cupcake Heaven, Sweet

Vegan Pound Cake

I do realise that when I say vegan pound cake, it sounds like a major oxymoron – a hoax, almost like saying a vegan macaron or a vegan meringue. But this time, its legitimate. The butter most obviously is substituted by margarine or any other vegan dairy spread. But the real richness and that solid heaviness typical to a pound cake batter is courtesy of the tofu. I used a half packet of the 12oz firm variety, so approximately 6oz, and processed it until smooth and lump free before adding to the batter.

Now like many pound cakes world over, there are many additions, flavours, and other confetti that you can throw in, based on your personal preferences. But this cake is a great great one to keep in your repertoire, and it is genuinely one that I wasn’t initially sure would actually result in a pound cake consistency and texture.
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September 17, 2014 | 0 comment

Entree, Savoury

Potato Dauphinoise

Never underestimate the power of the potato. Not only because it gives us pretty little things like vodka and fries, which are ah-mazing. But also because their humility allows you to really work magic with them. Add eggs and they make an awesome frittata. Bake them and season, resulting and glorious potato wedges. Grate them onto a skillet for a quick and crispy potato roesti. You get the gist.

What I chose to do with (or rather, to) my potatoes was a little more luxurious. My mum was having her gaggle of friends over for a lunch soiree, and in addition to a bunch of salads and desserts, the main course was heralded by this version of potatoes – the Dauphinoise.

Lets rewind. The first time that I tried this spectacularly simple dish was at a restaurant in the city for a buffet lunch. I remember some friends of my parents going ga-ga over the preparation, which prompted them to call the chef out to the table to learn more about this new
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September 8, 2014 | 1 Comment

Joie De Vivre

How to Fight Those Monday Blues

Hate the fact that its a Monday, yet again? Instead of cribbing our way through 1/7th of our lives, here are 10 amazing and easy ways to take back your Mondays, and give yourself a bit of love!

1. Since breakfast is the most important meal of your day – start the first meal of the week with a wholesome and healthy breakfast. My favourite involves dousing a few tablespoons of strawberry compote and dried fruit and nuts over low fat yoghurt. Yumm!

2. Enrol yourself in something adventurous, that you’ve always been meaning to get around to, but just haven’t been able to! Let go of all the nitty-gritties and just do it!

3. De-clutter for a cause! Don’t forget, one person’s trash is another man’s treasure. Get rid of that dress thats been on the hanger for well over a year, that piece of jewellery that was a mistake, or that pile of CD thats been collecting dust while occupying prime bedroom real estate. Not only will your home look cleaner – its for a really good cause!

September 1, 2014 | 0 comment