With all the attention “banting” also known as following a low carb high fat (LCHF) lifestyle has been getting in the media recently, I thought it fitting to make it the theme of this month’s newsletter. In my post To “Bant” Or Not To “Bant” I share my personal experience after I tried out this popular lifestyle for four weeks. The good news is that it doesn’t look like Banting is just another diet fad.
This month’s selection of recipes are mostly low carb and high fat, but I have also included a few not so healthy and decadent recipes so that no one feels left out. “Oopsies” is all the rage these days, so I decided to include my version of the basic recipe as well as two variations, so I’ve included Low-carb Oopsies, a Low Carb Tuna Roulade and a Raspberry & Cream Roulade. If you have always been petrified of attempting a roulade or Swiss Roll, be sure to try these recipes as you won’t believe how easy it is! I am sharing two more delicious cauliflower recipes with you, because cauliflower is so popular at the moment that some grocery stores are just about permanently sold out! My recipe for Cauliflower Fried “Rice” is a great alternative for rice and my own version of cauliflower mash, Baked Cauliflower Mash, for mashed potato. I have also included a Gluten-free Baked Cheesecake which you can serve plain or jazz it up with a drizzle of melted chocolate or fresh fruit. Now that gooseberries are in season, use them as a garnish or add them to salads and smoothies and be sure to give my Gooseberry Fool recipe a try too. Read more further down.
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As usual, I have also included recipes contributed by Carolié de Koster from her popular Art of Cooking Recipe Book. The cuisine she chose for this month is Greek. With the Easter weekend later this month, we just had to include at least one recipe for lamb! The recipes are:Greek Tomato Soup With Noodles, Greek Roast Garlic Lamb, Greek-style Spinach Rice (Spanakorizo), Greek Yoghurt & Cucumber Dip (Tzatziki), Greek Custard Slices (Galaktaboureko) and Baklava. Read more further down.
In my post Good, better butter!, I focus on butter as a heart-healthy fat. Butter is the one ingredients that no-one is complaining about having to add to everything! I also have a look at a few of the other heart-healthy fats, such as cream, coconut oil and eggs, to name a few. I also tell you more about which fats you should avoid at all cost. Read more further down.
One of my favourite cheeses of all time is goat’s milk cheese. In my post Say Cheese! I tell you more about an artisan cheesemaker in Craighall, Johannesburg, from whom you can learn to make goat’s milk cheese or if you prefer not to get your hands dirty, to buy a variety of cheeses made from unpasteurized goat’s milk. After you have bought your goat’s cheese, try Carolié’s recipe for Goat’s Milk Cheese Panna Cotta, which can be served as a savoury starter or as part of a cheese platter or as a dessert garnished with fresh fruit or fruit coulis. There is also a recipe for Grilled Goat’s Milk Cheese Salad in the Art Of Cooking Recipe Book on page 50. Read more further down.
I was very excited to hear about the “Fico Eataly World” project that is underway in Bologna, Italy. The main aim of building this theme park for foodies, is to boost the region’s ailing economy by luring tourists to Emilia-Romagna, one of the lesser-known regions in the North of Italy. Read more further down.
You might think it is a little early, by my next newsletter will only go out at the beginning of June, so I am including details of my Mother’s Day Cupcake Couture Class for mothers and daughters in this newsletter. Read more further down.
Is your child possibly the next Junior Masterchef? Make his/her next birthday party extra special with a “I made it myself!/Ek het dit self gemaak!” cooking party. Each recipe is demonstrated to the children step-by-step and each child makes his/her own recipe from start to finish. Kids get to take the fruit of their labour home and tell Mom and Dad: “I made it myself!” Most of them eat it right away though! The recipes are age-specific and really tasty! It is also a fun activity to arrange for a group of friends during the school holiday’s. Read more further down.
I specialize in customised culinary lessons – whether for yourself or your domestic worker, housekeeper or nanny. You choose what you would like to learn to cook. The possibilities are endless! It can be our secret! This is what one of my clients had to say after I trained her domestic worker: “Jeanri is extremely professional, comes fully prepared for every lesson and puts every effort into making sure that your domestic worker learns to cook. She even spent time with mine, teaching her maths so that she could halve recipes, double up on portions etc. Jeanri goes shopping on your behalf and makes sure that you have everything you need for a lesson, even down to the equipment needed in the kitchen so that there is no delay in lesson time. Everything she taught Fredah to cook has been delicious and we have used her recipes over and over. My domestic worker has gained a lot of confidence in the kitchen. Jeanri ensures that your domestic is able to write up a shopping list, keep to excellent hygiene standards in the kitchen, cook, bake, and tidy up properly afterwards. Definitely money well spent, I can only highly recommend her.” Kelly, Parkview. Read more further down.
In this newsletter:
- April 2014 Recipes
- Good, better butter!
- Say Cheese!
- In Season: Gooseberries
- New: Theme Park For Foodies
- Mother’s Day Cupcake Couture Class
- Cooking Parties For Kids
- Tailor-made Cooking Lessons
- Cooking Up A Storm’s Services
Happy cooking!
Jeanri
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Note: Please click on each heading to read the full post.
April 2014 Recipes
Seeing that most of you will probably be eating copious amounts of easter eggs and hot cross buns in the coming weeks, I’ve decided to include a few low-carb recipes in this newsletter to balance out the increased intake of carbs.
Good, better butter!
Butter is back – with a bang! Until not so long ago margarine was hailed as the healthier alternative to butter. The latest on the fight between butter and marge is that margerine, which is artificial, synthetic and chemically made is indeed far worse and could even be detrimental to your health if consumed on a daily basis.
Say Cheese!
If making cheese is on your bucket list, then look no further, as I have found an artisan cheesemaker who will teach you to make your own goat cheese. Goat cheese is also know as chèvre (from the French word for goat).
In Season: Gooseberries
The Cape gooseberry, whose name is inspired by the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, is a small, tart orange fruit similar in size, shape and structure to a small tomato and from the same family.
New: Theme Park For Foodies
Earlier this year, Oscar Farinetti, founder of the successful Eataly chain of food emporiums, announced a new plan to help rescue Italy’s ailing economy: “Fico Eataly World”. It will be a theme park dedicated entirely to food and wine which will not only create jobs but also boost economic activity.
Mother’s Day Cupcake Couture Class
It is time for Mom’s and daughters to spend quality time together again while designing your own pair of high heel cupcake shoes at my Mother’s Day Cupcake Couture Class.
Culinary Parties For Kids
My culinary parties for kids have proofed to be very popular due to the fact that you can choose the language in which the party will be conducted, as well as if you want the party to take place at your house or at my venue in Robindale, Randburg.
Customised Culinary Lessons
If planning meals and cooking meals for your family is driving you up the wall, and you would like to hand the responsibility over to your nanny or domestic worker, all you need to do is tell me when and where. You will not only empower your employee, you will have time on your hands to do other things! The lessons take place in your own kitchen and are customised to your preferences, i.e. your domestic worker will learn to make recipes that you love to eat!
Art Of Cooking Recipe Book
Carolié de Koster’s Art Of Cooking recipe book consists of more than a 1000 recipes and is the most comprehensive cookery book in South Africa. Written by a renowned food consultant it offers everything for everyone’s needs – from the beginner and home cook to the career chef, caterer and trainer.
- customised culinary lessons – in your own kitchen! For yourself, your kids, your domestic worker or nanny.
- Culinary demonstrations on a variety of topics (in your own house if you prefer!)
- Culinary classes and parties for kids
- Hands-on culinary sessions for social or corporate events or staff training
- Recipe development
- Motivational talks and individual consultations on healthy eating
- Weekly or monthly healthy meal plans with grocery lists for the busy cook
- Supplier of a variety of quality cooking utensils & equipment, e.g. Wizbake reusable baking sheets, silicone bakeware, etc.
- Kitchen accessory, bakeware and gadget demonstrations.