Where Sense and Soul meet in true Southern Africa style
Looking at these lovely purple-blue flowers in the crack between these paving slabs, I could not help but wonder what special ingredients enabled this plant to grow. Admittedly, it took me walking past this exact spot three times before I stopped and took a picture. …
A year ago, M’s Kitchen had its first live Facebook show in celebration of Southern African food for Valentine’s Day. Five minutes before we went live, I remember my heart pounding in my chest. Will the technology work? Will my friend know the best angles …
But how possible is it to make something with only a few ingredients?
How do you turn these things into the best dish or pudding you have ever had?
On the face of it, it seems pretty straightforward.
Buy the very best ingredients and that should do it.
The reality is who has time to go to the market every day and buy their produce just picked or caught or butchered?
Especially if you work or have children or both.
So we cheat.
We buy stuff that is already made – perfectly polished, wrapped, complete with cutlery and often with the added appeal of being labelled as good for you.
As we buy, our experiences improve – after all millions are spent each year on food science and teams searching for the next “big thing”. Produce with the longest shelf-life, highest yield, great profit margins, etc., etc.
Meals most people do not have time or the inclination to cook or bake.
Whilst at M’s Kitchen we love new products and taste sensations, we also love what is real.
For example, real cream and chocolate and biscuits and caramel used to make Peppermint Crisp Tart.
Four ingredients, 10-15 minutes of your precious time; some whisking, lining and grating and a taste that is so evocative of home, you literally struggle to put your spoon down.
Best thing of all, no nonsense beauty.
But as our lives become filled with filters and fillers, can we still tell the difference between what is real and what is not?
Are we so in awe with food that looks good that we have forgotten to choose food that makes us feel good?
Moreover, are we brave enough to be really real?
Admit that cooking or baking does not always yield perfect results and keep trying anyway?
Can a childhood memory with your father stay with you forever and ignite a love of using tea in cooking? We look at why we love Rooibos tea.
Are you aware of the people around you that make little miracles happen every day? Those Earth angels amongst us?
Planning this week’s live demonstration ahead of the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle provided an interesting challenge indeed.
One of the most eligible royals -known predominantly for his rebellious streak, has finally met and is tying the knot with the love of his life.
Like most royal weddings, this one has not been without controversy and thus far has caused both speculation and seemingly never-ending conversation both for and against the pomp and ceremony.
Even asking whether I should be baking something savoury or sweet for M’s Kitchen caused a speedy response and fairly divided discussion about the veritable merits of these types of events.
I must just say right away…
The idea of finding someone to care for and share a life with definitely does it for me.
So too does the blending of two very different life paths.
As they have also chosen to honeymoon in my country of birth, Namibia, I am definitely going to enjoy the opportunity to celebrate.
So for this Royal Affair I am making my ginger and glace cherries delights, chocolate fudge brownies, fruity sosaties/ kebabs, bratwurst toad in the hole and my nutty spice cocktail.
As I mix together the ingredients for the brownie fudge, my thoughts drift to the act of sharing pieces of myself with those I care about.
The brown eyes of my dad? The fine hair of my mom?
The stainless-steel strength of both my parents or the love of baking and cooking from my grandmother?
Depending which of my family members you speak to, this can vary greatly.
All I know is that somewhere along the line I realised I had my very own rebellious streak.
A general lover of order and discipline, I realised early on in my life that I had my own view of the world.
It was often clear and not the same as those around me.
That is OK.
Those who understood, knew early on that I would hold tight to my beliefs and defend those I cared about with every fibre of my being.
Letting me make my own choices and mistakes also made it possible for me to travel and meet people from different cultures and experience different points of view.
A bit like taking the foundation that I developed and building on it with knowledge and new tastes to create a new experience.
Either way, it is turning out to be an eventful ride and I am looking forward to sharing this journey with you as I continue.
To the Happy Couple – be blessed, happy and yourselves. That really is all that matters in the end.