Happy 2016! May you be able to tick off a few items on your “foodie” bucket list this year. Whether it is to learn a new skill, try a new ingredient or restaurant, travel to exotic foodie destinations, etc. A dear friend of mine recently visited Israel and brought me some Sumac and Za’atar. After tasting it, I decided that my first newsletter for 2016 will have to have a Middle-Eastern theme. So you can expect everything from starters, mains, sides dishes and snacks that has one of the two spices as an ingredient. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I of course had to include a few quick and easy recipes that can be used to impress your Valentine – because nothing says “I love you!” like something home-made!
By now most of us have settled into a “new year” routine. If your wheels are already coming off when it comes to packing lunch boxes or planning meals for your family, the recipes included in this newsletter will give you lots of ideas for not only packing lunch boxes, but also for informal entertaining and even for Valentine’s Day. Read more further down.
As usual, I have included recipes contributed by Carolié de Koster. They are mostly from her popular Art of Cooking recipe book. For the sake of first-time readers of my newsletter, Carolié de Koster, author of the Art Of Cooking recipe book, has been a mentor and friend to me for the past 11 years. Carolié contributes recipes to my website and newsletter on a regular basis. Carolié runs cooking demonstrations and hands-on cooking sessions in New Zealand under the name Carolié’s Culinaire. Since Carolié and her husband moved to New Zealand 3 and a half years ago, I have been processing orders for the Art Of Cooking recipe book on her behalf. The Art Of Cooking Recipe book is by far my favourite recipe book of all time and I use it every day! It makes a great gift too! Contact me to order. Read more further down.
In February I will host my first ever Valentine’s Day classes, so forget the flowers and expensive restaurants and rather give an edible gift made with love. It will take place at my bigger all-weather venue in Robindale, Randburg. Read more further down.
The Mrs Claus’ Kitchen event I did at Bedford Centre in December 2015 was a great success. Just like the previous two years, it was a win-win for everyone seeing that mom’s could go shopping while we entertained their kids with a fun culinary activity. No less van 750 kids visited our kitchen! Read more further down.
My “I made it myself!/Ek het dit self gemaak!” cooking parties for kids are very popular. 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!”Be sure to visit Cooking Up A Storm’s Facebook page to stand a stand to win a cooking party for kids worth R3000. A cooking party or class is also a fun activity to arrange for classmates or a group of friends during the school holiday’s. I also offer Masterchef cooking parties for kids and adults and hands-on cooking sessions for adults for e.g. team building or a special occasion. Read more further down.
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to either learn to cook or to expand your culinary knowledge, you need not look any further. I specialize in custom on-site cooking lessons – for yourself, your domestic worker, housekeeper or nanny. Regardless of what lifestyle you are following, your current level of skill, learning to cook will change your life. Once you know the basics, you will be able to make just about anything. The possibilities are endless! Please see the Testimonials page on my website for more info. Read more further down.
In my post “Spice up your life” I have a closer look at the popular spices sumac and zaatar that everyone is talking about. I have included a variety of recipes has one of these spices as an ingredient as well as tips on how it can be added to take meals to a whole new level. Read more further down.
If you need inspiration for packing lunch for your family members, my post Lunch That Packs A Punch will give you a lot of ideas on what to do to ensure that those lunch boxes come home empty! Read more further down.
At Anja’s Banting Pantry you will find a wide variety of ingredients that are low carb, gluten free, sugar free, i.e. it is suitable if you are following a banting lifestyle as well as for diabetics and people with allergies. They have stores country-wide and an online store where you can shop to your heart’s content from the comfort of your home or office. Read more further down.
Almost all special milestones and occasions are marked with a celebration that involves some form of cake, and Magnolia Bake & Cake can create a masterpiece to suit your taste. From enchanting multi-tiered works of art to miniature confections that double as wedding favours. Every order is handmade with attention to detail and lots of love. Be sure to give them a try – you’ll be glad you did! Read more further down.
I send out a newsletter every 2nd month, i.e. the next one will go out in March. I post recipes and foodie news on my Facebook page weekly, so be sure to visit Cooking Up A Storm’s facebook page if you will be the first to get info on foodie events, new ingredients, new restaurants to try, etc. during the course of the year.
Happy cooking!
Jeanri
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Note: Please click on each heading to read the full post.
January/February 2016 Recipes
The recipes in this newsletter are quick and easy to make and can be used for everything from filling lunch boxes (both kids and adults) to fancy entertaining. They are also very tasty and will definitely appeal to young and old.
New: Valentine’s Day Classes
Nothing says “I love you” like a home-made edible gift, so be sure to book for my first ever Valentine’s Day classes where participants will learn to make a variety of Valentine’s Day-themed items – from heart-shaped cupcakes, to cookies, meringues and cake pops.
Feedback: Mrs Claus’ Kitchen 2015
During the 2015 December holidays I once again had the opportunity to run the Mrs Claus’ Kitchen event for Bedford Centre in Bedfordview, and as usual, all of us had a blast!
Spice Up Your Life!
Here I am not referring to the pop song “Spice up your life” by popular British group Spice Girls that was a chart-topper in 1997, but rather to the popular spices sumac and zaatar that everyone is talking about.
Lunch That Packs A Punch
The tips below will help you to stock your pantry and fridge with lunch box essentials so that you can pack healthy lunches in no time. Variety is key!
Review: Anja’s Banting Pantry
Whether you have jumped on the “bant” wagon or not, Anja’s Banting Pantry is definitely worth a visit. They cater for “banters” as well as diabetics and people with allergies. 
Review: Magnolia Bake & Cake
The first time I came across a cake by Magnolia Bake & Cake was when I did a Master Chef birthday party for siblings in 2013 (see photo below). The cake looked like a creation straight out of Food Network Challenge!
Cooking Parties For Kids
My cooking parties for kids are very popular due to the fact that you can choose the language in which the party will be conducted and the party can take place at your house if you prefer, or at one of my venues in Gauteng. The recipes are age-specific and tasty!
Customised On-site Cooking Lessons
My cooking lessons are suitable for beginners, intermediate or advanced cooks – no experience required. I also teach domestic workers, house keepers, nanny’s and kitchen staff. The lessons take place in your own kitchen!
Art Of Cooking Recipe Book & CD
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. It is available exclusively from Cooking Up A Storm.
- Customised on-site cooking lessons – 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 to Guest Houses, coffee shops, etc.
- Nutrition talks e.g. as part of Corporate Wellness Programs.
- Individual consultations on nutrition and healthy eating
- Custom-made healthy meal plans
- Supplier of a variety of quality cooking utensils & equipment, e.g. Wizbake sheets
- Kitchen accessory, bakeware and gadget demonstrations.