With autumn in the air the days are getting cooler in the count-down to winter. I hope that you will be able to spend quality time with loved ones during the coming public and school holiday’s – possibly having brunch that you’ve prepared yourself! Seeing that Easter and “eggs” go hand-in-hand, I’ve decided to include a few “egg”-citing recipes for you to try. If you’ve always shied away from making Eggs Benedict at home due to the hollandaise sauce and the poached eggs, you will be happy to know that in my recipe for Eggs Benedict this month, I introduce you to new techniques to make both of these successfully! Carolié de Koster contributed the recipes for the Individual Bacon & Egg Phyllo Pastry Pies and Baked Apple French Toast. So once again you are spoilt for choice! Read more further down.
The next series of my “Ek het dit self gemaak/I made it myself!” holiday cooking classes for kids will take place during the March/April school holidays. I believe when kids cook, they think to themselves: “I can do this!” which builds their self-esteem while they learn new cooking skills. Bookings for the holiday classes will close on Monday 11 March, so please book a.s.a.p to secure your child’s seat. By booking an “Ek het dit self gemaak/I made it myself!” cooking party for your child’s next birthday party, you will make it extra special. Read more further down.
I am very excited about launching a brand new section on my website with the name: Art Of Cooking this month. This section is dedicated to Carolié de Koster’s sought-after Art Of Cooking recipe book, also known as: “the ultimate South-African cookbook”. The book has more than 1000 recipes for just about everything under the sun. The new Art Of Cooking section on my website has been developed specifically for those of you who have a copy of the book or who plan to get one in the future. This new menu item has the following sub-pages:
Art Of Cooking – this page gives background information about the book as well as the author
Art Of Cooking Menu’s – this page consists of menu’s by Carolié herself which will help you with menu planning for both everyday meals or special occassions.
Art Of Cooking Gallery – this page has photo’s of recipes from the book. Also check out Cooking Up A Storm’s Facebook page as well for an album with photo’s of past culinary events as well as details of upcoming culinary events.
Art Of Cooking Reviews – this page consists of reviews by people who enjoy cooking from the book
Art Of Cooking Index – the indexes for both Art Of Cooking and Koskuns, can be ordered through Cooking Up A Storm.
If you would like to contribute a review or a photo on Art Of Cooking, please send it to me. If you would like to buy an Art Of Cooking recipe book, whether for yourself or as a gift, you can order it from Cooking Up A Storm’s online shop. Orders must please be made before the end of March to qualify for the current special offer. Read more further down.
Seeing that National Macaron Day will be celebrated world-wide on 20 March, I just had to include something on French Macaroons in this newsletter. If you regard yourself as a “macaronivore” (a lover of macarons), I recommend you read Mad About Macarons by Jill Colonna. Jill, who is a self-confessed macaronivore, describes her first encounter with macarons as ‘love at first sight’ – or should it be first “bite”? Reading Jill’s blogs or paging through her book is sure to entice you to try making it at least once! Her aptly-named recipe book – ‘Mad About Macarons’ – was first published in September 2010 and the 2nd edition is now available at leading bookstores. Read more further down.
If you have not managed to make perfect macarons yet (or even if you haven’t tried to make them), I recommend you book a macaron-making class (13 and 20 March) with Lila Bultel, owner of Lila’s French Cooking. Lila will teach you to make macarons like a Frenchman! Lila who has studied under some of France’s foremost experts in French pâtisserie, will accompany us on my culinary tour to France in September 2013. We will be spending three glorious days of the 10-day tour in Paris, where you will have the opportunity to taste as many macarons, as you like! Read more further down.
I specialize in tailor-made cooking lessons – whether for yourself or your domestic worker. 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
In this newsletter:
- March 2013 Recipes
- New: Art Of Cooking Page On The Cooking Up A Storm Website
- Holiday Cooking Classes & Cooking Parties For Kids
- Review: Mad about Macarons by Jill Colonna
- National Macaron Day – 20 March 2013
- Culinary Tour To Normandy & Paris – September 2013
- Private Cooking Lessons In Your Own Kitchen
- Cooking Up A Storm’s Services
Happy Easter!
Jeanri
Note: Please click on each of heading to read the full post.
With Easter around the corner, the recipes I chose this month focus on eggs and brunch (although all of these recipes work equally as well for lunch or a light dinner!) They are: Herb & Goat’s Cheese Fritatta, Tortilla, Eggs Benedict and Broccoli Souffle. In these recipes I introduce you to new techniques for making perfect hollandaise sauce and poached eggs for my all-time favourite breakfast: Eggs Benedict. More recipes to follow soon! Carolié de Koster contributed the recipes for the Individual Bacon & Egg Phyllo Pastry Pies and Baked Apple French Toast. Be sure to read my post “Art Of Cooking” for more breakfast ideas from Carolié’s popular recipe book.
Ode to the French Macaroon – part 1
Ode to the French Macaroon – part 2
Ode to the French Macaron – part 3
Ode to the French Macaron – part 4
Ode To The French Macaron – part 5
After reading the posts above, you will know that macaron-making is not for the faint-hearted.
Cooking Up A Storm specializes in customized culinary lessons for individuals. The lessons are tailor-made to your requirements, i.e. it is adapted to the level and pace determined by you or your staff. You can specify what types of dishes you would like to learn to cook, i.e. a complete meal (starter, main course and dessert) or you could focus on specific dishes, cuisines, topics or even cooking techniques. The lessons are suitable for beginners, intermediate or advanced cooks – no experience required. Also available for domestic workers, house keepers, nanny’s and kitchen staff. The lessons take place in your own kitchen which is obviously a familiar environment.
- Tailor-made private cooking lessons – in your own kitchen! For yourself, your kids, your domestic worker or nanny.
- Cookery demonstrations on a variety of topics (in your own house if you prefer!)
- Cooking classes and parties for kids in Afrikaans or English
- Hands-on cookery sessions for social or corporate events or staff training
- Recipe development
- Consulting
- 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.
