Christmas in July

The only one this year took place with Nifty 50's Group at my place. Candles, little gifts, Christmas tree, singing lights and some tinsel added a lovely festive touch.
We had a great time with some fun Christmas Trivia and sharing of the corny jokes in the bon bons. Carol singing led by Heather Pinel and assisted by Chris Bratby was another enjoyable aspect of the meal.
The Menu:
Starter: Caramelised onion & feta tartlets with salad garnish
Mains: Grain mustard and marmalade glazed ham, Herb crusted turkey with cranberry & assorted mustards & gravy, steamed greens and roast potato.
Dessert: Fruit cake with toffee sauce & icecream, South African Transkei Mud.

CATERING BOOKINGS

Catering only has been my focus for a very hectic few months because I will be away in South Africa spending time with my darling grandson primarily and the rest of the family

from 10th July till 10th September

I WILL BE AWAY AND THEREFORE UNAVAILABLE EXCEPT TO APPLY FOR BOOKINGS

This you can do via email:rvbratby@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on this website. I will be checking and therefore reply to your request as soon as I am able.


Thanks for all your support in the past year. Catch up with you soon

Lists and life

As with cooking, life needs lists in order to prepare properly.

The next couple of weeks will see me running on fumes as I try and balance what is on my CATERING list with my OVERSEAS list and getting the HOME prep list completed too...

All very exciting and.. also a bit stressful.

Need to remember to keep in mind the goal: ENJOY the cooking, enjoy the anticipation of seeing family, enjoy the knowledge that the meals and prep done will be appreciated by those left here!

not only about money

this coming saturday we are having an op shop ball to raise funds for cerebral palsy children in Cape Town, so the thing I will be doing is what I know best: cooking. I am making some biltong, south african tipsy tart and koeksusters for sale. You interested in buying some? All proceeds to the Sibongile Day & Night Care Centre. Just contact me.

SPECIAL AT COLES

If you are a seafood lover, Coles Wyoming is having a special on marinara mix and here is something I am doing with it today for dinner, maybe you would like to try it?
You will need some coriander, onion, coconut milk and yellow thai paste (or if you have other thai use that),rice noodles, I have used homemade fishstock but you can use bought or chicken/veg stock.
Fry you onion in a bit of oil, add a GOOD tablespoon of your paste,[I also added extra garlic & ginger] and fry till fragrant, add your stock and some coconut cream/milk and some coriander, cook on low till onion soft. [I also add a good splash of fish sauce and lime juice]. Taste the sauce, adjust seasoning to your taste and then add the seafood. Cook ONLY until tender. Check after 10 minutes. Add some more coconut milk if you like and fresh chopped coriander. Serve over rice noodles (cook according to pkt directions) ENJOY.
PS if you not a curry fan, just buy some shop pasta sauce and dilute a bit, heat up and add your marinara mix and serve over spaghetti. YUMMY

Strange but true

People who know me have heard me croon over brussel sprouts (which are called "flowers" as in, I have bought my mom some flowers for mothers' day. And when I feel like a bowl of comfort food I tend to cook a LOT of cauliflower till it is soft enough to mash, and add sometimes just pepper and go into a trance as I enjoy warm mouthfuls. I would be interested to know what, you, besides Chocolate ladies & gents enjoy for comfort food??

Going on holiday

What does prep for a prolonged solo "holiday" look like for a caterer plus wife & stepmom? Well, today it began with a shop and some thoughts of cooking ahead. In the 2 hours since starting the following can be ticked off: 4 x ten serves each of soups for lunches done; cooking in crockpot 6 serves of beef & veg stew;in oven 4 serves of chicken & veg curry; in oven 2 serves of steak&kidney. 1st stage prep for chicken & mushroom pasta bake x 6 serves done. 1st stage of baked beans and cornbreadx4serves done. To finish this afternoon: stage one of lasagne x8 serves. Then tomorrow completing all the rest.
It is a good feeling to be doing this because I know that a part of me will be here for the almost 8 weeks I will be away.

Not in the food line but still on holiday theme: I have begun little piles of things I need to pack to take with... and not one pile contains clothing! I also have been doing some computer scrapbooking and ordered a memory book for my grandson cataloging his early years. My late mom's scrapbook done so beautifully by my sister is still to be photographed so I can have a keepsake of this (thanks for the tip Robyn and Cheryl).

A busy time ahead from now till mid July. Guess it keeps me out of mischief hey.