Hi and welcome to my blog! My name is Karen and I love cooking simple, uncomplicated, flavourful food. My cooking is inspired by seasonal ingredients, punchy flavours, an awareness of sustainability and of course by the likes and dislikes of my family and friends that sit around my table as well as you, the virtual guests around my table!
I am a chef, recipe developer and food stylist and generate my own content. I am also completely addicted to recipe books, of which I have an extremely large collection but the essence of my food is about celebrating life and all the fabulousness that we can add by creating good food.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please keep on giving me feedback and may your kitchen, as mine, be filled with joy and the best tasting food!
This is a simple recipe and requires no thermometer. Brittle is best made on days with sunshine as the moisture from mist and rain will cause the brittle to become/stay sticky. Best kept in an airtight container lined with wax paper, at room temperature.
250ml sugar 62ml water 2,5ml salt 375ml peanuts, cashew, blanched/raw almonds or pistachio nuts
Line a rimmed baking sheet with baking paper and spray it with cooking spray. Spread the nuts onto the prepared baking sheet and set aside. Add the sugar, water and salt to a small saucepan. Place onto a high heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Cook the mixture for 4 minutes WITHOUT stirring and start checking the colour – you are aiming for an amber colour. You may cook the sugar for longer until it reaches the colour you like. Remove from the heat and pour over the nuts. Set aside to cool and set. Keep the brittle in a sealed container lined with wax paper, at room temperature.
This recipe provides a quick method for a rye bread with loads of flavour. The addition of buttermilk gives the typical tangy taste that one associates with a traditional rye and adds to a really good texture. This recipe makes two medium-sized, oblong breads.
Add the flours and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Add the yeast, water, sugar, buttermilk and melted butter to a separate bowl and whisk together to dissolve the sugar and yeast. Turn the mixer on to a low speed and add the liquids. Mix/knead for 7 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until double the volume. Preheat your oven to 190℃ and line a large baking sheet with baking paper. Knead the dough down by hand for 2 minutes. Divide the dough in half and shape two oblong loaves. Place the shaped dough on the prepared baking sheet, cover with oiled plastic wrap and allow to proof until almost doubled in size. Brush the bread with egg white or water for a shiny crust. Make 4 diagonal, shallow cuts in the top of the bread. Bake the breads for 30 minutes. Cool on wire racks until completely cold.
This is a savoury dish that will get conversations (and your tastebuds) going….. Serves 6 people.
500ml bread flour 190ml cocoa powder 5 eggs 2,5ml salt
For the filling: 250ml ricotta cheese 80g dark/bitter chocolate, finely chopped a pinch of salt
100g butter 20 sage leaves
Sift the flour, cocoa powder and salt together onto a clean work surface. Make a well in the centre and put in the eggs. Mix the eggs with your fingers and gradually draw in the flour and cocoa mixture to form a soft, but not sticky, dough. Add more flour or egg, if needed, to get the right consistency. Knead for 10 minutes until you have a smooth and elastic dough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and leave in the fridge to chill for one hour.
Mix the ricotta, chopped chocolate and a pinch of salt with a wooden spoon until smooth. Roll the pasta through a pasta machine. Lay one sheet of pasta flat and form walnut-sized balls with the ricotta mixture. Place the ricotta balls onto the sheet of pasta. Wet the area around the ricotta-balls with water and lay a second sheet of pasta on top. Press down and around the ricotta balls so that the top sheet of pasta sticks. Cut individual ravioli shapes with a round cutter and cook them for three minutes in simmering water. Keep warm while making the sage-butter.
Add the butter to a small saucepan and place it on a high heat. Allow the butter to melt and then to caramelise – regulate the heat: you want the butter to turn brown and become nutty without burning. Add the sage leaves once the butter has browned and immediately turn off the heat. Be careful the butter will spatter as you add the sage.
Arrange the cooked ravioli on plates and spoon the butter and sage over. Serve with a crusty bread.
This recipe is traditional French fare and based on the famous boeuf bourguignon served in family-run bistros in small villages all over France except that it is cooked stove-top. I prefer this method as it enables one to literally keep an eye on it without sacrificing on taste. Although it is often served with baguette it is delicious served with creamy mashed potato. I also prefer to cook my beef bourguignon in a Merlot but tradition dictates a Pinot Noir.
Marinade: 800g chuck beef, cut into 4-5cm cubes 2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks 16 pearl onions, peeled 1 bay leaf 3 sprigs of thyme 750ml red wine, I prefer a Merlot
Marinate the beef by adding all the ingredients to a large ceramic dish. Cover with plastic wrap and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
Strain the marinade into a bowl, reserving the liquid. Separate the beef, carrots and onion into three bowls. Pour the liquid into a saucepan and bring to the boil over a medium heat. Skim any impurities off the liquid and keep it warm on a low flame. Line a tray with paper towels and spread the cubed beef onto it. Pat the meat dry and season with 2,5ml salt and a few grindings of black pepper. Put a large saucepan onto a high heat and pour in enough oil to coat the bottom. Brown the meat in three batches, adding more oil if needed. Keep the browned meat aside in a bowl. Add the bacon to the same saucepan and cook on a high heat for about 3 minutes. Add to the bowl with the beef. Cook the mushrooms for about 5 minutes, until golden. Keep in a separate bowl. Turn the heat down slightly, add more oil if necessary and add the onions. Cook for about 5 minutes and then add the garlic to cook with the onion for one minute. Add the tomato paste to the onion and garlic and cook for another two minutes. Now add the butter and allow it to melt before adding the flour. Cook for two minutes while stirring continuously. Drizzle in the beef stock while stirring and then add the wine in a steady stream. Add the beef cubes, bacon, and 2,5ml salt and stir together. Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for one hour, checking/stirring once or twice. Remove the lid and add the mushrooms and onions. Replace the lid and cook for another hour and a half, checking every now and then. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning. Serve the beef bourguignon with mashed potato, rice or French baguette.
1 cauliflower head 100ml Harissa paste (make your own Harissa with Fresh Chillies – recipe on this blog)
Preheat your oven to 180℃. Line a baking sheet/baking tin with aluminium foil. Trim the outer leaves from the cauliflower and cut down the stalk so that the head can stand on its own. Flip the head upside down and brush the bottom (and between the florets) liberally with the harissa paste. Brush the rest of the paste onto the sides and top of the head so that the entire veg is covered in paste. Cover the cauliflower with aluminium foil and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil covering and roast uncovered for another 30 minutes. Cut the cauliflower into steaks or wedges to serve.
Harissa paste is made from a blend of North-African spices and particularly from dried chillies. This recipe is adapted to make use of fresh chillies and for you to be able to adjust the heat according to your taste. Brush the paste onto any food that you want to add flavour to before cooking. Makes about 200ml. Keep refrigerated.
2 red bell peppers (sweet peppers) 2 red chillies 1 clove garlic 15ml tomato paste 15ml red wine vinegar 15ml smoked paprika 5ml salt 15ml coriander seeds 15ml caraway seeds 15ml cumin seeds
Roast/char the red peppers, remove the skin and seeds and add the flesh to the bowl of a food processor. Chop the chillies and add it to the peppers. Add the garlic, tomato paste, red wine vinegar, smoked paprika and salt. Put a dry frying pan onto medium-high heat and toast the coriander, caraway and cumin seeds for 2 minutes. Shake the pan often to prevent the seeds from burning. Grind the seeds and add to the rest of the mixture. Process to a smooth paste. Now taste the mixture and adjust according to taste. You may add more chopped chillies if you prefer more heat. Spoon the harissa paste into a glass container and pour a small amount of vegetable oil on top. Keep in the refrigerator.
This is an easy and quick cake loaf that is perfect for afternoon tea.
100g pistachio nuts, chopped 200g caster sugar 150g butter 125ml yoghurt 3 eggs 200g flour 5ml baking powder 5ml bicarbonate of soda 10ml vanilla 4 limes, zest and juice 200g icing sugar 30ml pistachio nuts, sliced
Preheat your oven to 180℃ and line a 20cm X 10cm X 7cm loaf tin with baking paper. Add the pistachios and caster sugar to the bowl of a food processor and whizz until fine. Add the butter, yoghurt, eggs, flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, vanilla and lime zest and whizz again until smooth. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 55 minutes. Cool the loaf in the tin for 20 minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
Sift the icing sugar into a mixing bowl and add the lime juice. Spoon the glaze over the pistachio loaf and scatter with the sliced pistachios.
These tiny ricotta cakes with their zesty glaze are on my top 5 list of favourite eats!! The ricotta gives the cakes a fluffy, light, melt-in-the-mouth feel and the glaze adds a citrus punch that draws all the flavours together! Makes about 18 cakes/biscuits.
625ml flour 5ml baking powder 5ml salt 100g butter, room temperature 500ml sugar 2 eggs 420g ricotta cheese (you can make your own by following my recipe for Homemade Ricotta) 45ml lemon juice the zest of one lemon
Lemon glaze: 375ml icing sugar 45ml lemon juice the zest of one lemon
Preheat your oven to 190℃ and line two baking sheets with baking paper. Add the flour, baking powder and salt to a bowl and stir to combine. Set aside. Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on a high speed for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer speed down to medium and add the eggs one at a time. Add the ricotta, lemon juice and lemon zest. Turn the mixer onto its lowest speed and add the flour mixture, a few tablespoons at a time. Keep going until you have added all the flour. Spoon about 30ml (one large tablespoon) of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. The dough is very sticky but use your finger to shape/mould the dough into what resembles a circle/round mound – do not flatten it! Space the dough mounds about 5 cm apart as it will flatten slightly and spread during baking. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheets for 30 minutes.
For the lemon glaze: Sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Add the lemon juice and zest and mix until smooth. Spoon about half a teaspoon of the glaze onto each cooled cake. Allow to become hard – about 2 hours.
Keep the cakes in a sealed container at room temperature.
As far as I’m concerned chicken pie is a crowd pleaser and a very convenient fall-back when you have to feed many people. This pie is made with store bought pastry but has a fabulous flavour! You will feed 6 hungry people with this recipe but you may double quantities for a larger pie.
9 chicken breasts, skin removed 1litre chicken stock 200g mushrooms 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 15ml turmeric 15ml salt 10ml thyme leaves 250ml greek yoghurt 1 packet shortcrust pastry Egg wash: one egg beaten with 15ml of milk
Cut the chicken breasts into chunks and add them to a large saucepan. Pour the stock in and add some hot water to cover the chicken. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down to a simmer and cook the chicken for one hour. Turn off the heat and allow the chicken to cool in the liquid. (This will prevent the chicken from drying out and losing its taste). When the chicken is cool enough to handle comfortably: drain and discard the liquid and pull the chicken apart with your hands or two forks, as you would with pork belly. Keep the pulled chicken to the side. Preheat your oven to 220℃. Put a heavy based saucepan onto the heat and cover the bottom with oil. Add the mushrooms and fry them at high heat until they start to caramelise. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft. Now add the garlic, salt and thyme leaves and cook for one minute while stirring. Add the cooked chicken and the yoghurt to the saucepan and reduce the heat to a light simmer for 30 minutes. Spoon the chicken mixture into a heat-proof dish and allow to cool. Roll the pastry to the size of your oven dish and cover the chicken mixture with it. Brush the pastry with egg wash and bake for 25 minutes or until golden. Serve warm with a salad.
This is a glorious, genuine dark chocolate cake with an intense chocolate and red wine glaze. I use a Pinot Noir red wine as the berry notes mix perfectly with the dark chocolate aromas.
220g DeVilliersChocolate Intense or other dark chocolate, chopped 250ml sugar 200g butter, cubed 4 eggs 3,7ml salt 83ml flour
Glaze: 220g DeVilliersChocolate Intense or other dark chocolate, chopped 62ml butter, cubed 2,5ml salt 125ml icing sugar 125ml pinot noir or any other red wine
Preheat your oven to 180℃ and grease and flour a loose-bottom cake tin of 22cm in diameter. Add the chocolate, sugar and butter to a heatproof bowl and set it oven a saucepan of simmering water. Stir the mixture for 3 minutes or until melted and remove from the heat. Keep on stirring until the chocolate is completely smooth. Scrape the chocolate mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
Set the mixer onto medium speed and add the eggs, one at a time. Turn the mixer onto its highest speed. Keep beating on high speed until the mixture has a very thick, mousse-like consistency. Turn the mixer down to a low speed and add the salt and flour. Mix until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin and bake for 60 minutes. It is important to test the cake for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the cake’s centre and checking that it comes out clean. If the toothpick/cake tester is sticky, bake the cake for a few minutes longer and test again. Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. Cool the cake in the tin.
For the glaze: Add the chopped chocolate, butter and salt to a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan with simmering water. Stir for 3 – 5 minutes until melted. Remove the bowl from the saucepan. Sift the icing sugar directly into the melted chocolate mixture and whisk to combine. Add the red wine to a small saucepan and place on the heat to warm the wine. Remove the wine from the heat as soon as small bubbles start appearing at the edges of the pan. Drizzle the wine into the chocolate mixture while whisking continuously until all the wine is incorporated. Set the glaze apart for about 10 minutes so that it can thicken. Place the cold cake onto a cooling rack set inside a baking sheet and pour the glaze evenly over the cake. Allow the glaze to set – about 2 hours.
My Whisk and I 