Tag Archives: baking

As a kid this delicious culinary creation would have been my worst nightmare – olives, onions and anchovies, are you joking?? As a ‘grown up’ I am so thrilled to be able to delight in the salty, resinous and piquey flavours that make this classic so classic The Food Fox has treated us with this super French recipe this week on the ever lovely Pretty Blog. Find that recipe here and go and make yourself a pastis to get in the French mood…

OK I have an admission to make – I was really skeptical about the Food Fox’s idea to make a crustless pear and almond tart. A tart with no pastry – isn’t that the best bit??? Well, how she proved me wrong and shame on me for doubting the ultimate domestic goddess in the kitchen!! This tart is the tea-time biz and so much quicker to make than the classic original! There is a beautiful spiciness that makes this little baby irresistible! Find the super recipe here on her weekly column for the ever wonderful Pretty Blog.

Food Fox Ilse van der Merwe calls this her ‘go-to’ recipe for asparagus and I can see why! Quiches and tarts are such a staple for having friends over – easy and impressive, and you can prep a lot earlier in the day or even make the pastry the day before. Ilse added a bit of bran to the pastry which gives it such a wonderful earthiness – yum!! Find her super recipe here on the weekly food column for the ever-lovely Pretty Blog.

Oh Autumn has made an appearance now and there’s no denying that summer is well and truly over. Not that I mind too much actually as I’m more of a snuggly woollens kinda gal This saucy little number from the Food Fox is the perfect way to welcome in fireside evenings and some good old fashioned home cooking… Find the recipe here on the Pretty Blog’s super weekly food column.

Here is another string to South African cuisine’s bow!! Mosbolletjies are soft little rolls (although some people make loaves as well) that are traditionally made using must from wine that is busy fermenting. My husband brought back some must last year during harvest (it helps to live in the winelands!) and we made some of these beauties, flavoured with aromatic little aniseeds. They were delish, but the Food Fox’s recipe is the best I’ve tasted so far, so we’ll definitely be adding it to our repertoire! She uses grape juice, as most people do now, and it’s just as good! See the full recipe here on the gorgeous Pretty Blog. Nom nom!

So retro and yet never out of fashion – how can one cake manage it all? It’s a red velvet cake – that’s how!! See the Food Fox’s fabulous recipe here on her weekly food column for the ever wonderful Pretty Blog

I seriously think it would pretty darn impressive to serve homemade bagels to your lovely guests for breakfast/lunch/brunch/whenever! It’s not something I have ever considered making myself but when I tasted how fresh and fabulous Ilse’s were I couldn’t think why I had never thought to try. Cold smoked trout or salmon with lashings of cream cheese and wafer thin crunchy strips of cucumber… It’s has to happen!! Find the Food Fox’s super recipe here on her weekly food column for the lovely Pretty Blog. A winner!

This is my first experience with angel cake and, well, it’s truly… angelic!!! Such an unusual texture but so incredibly more-ish! I guess I can say that about most cakes But most cakes don’t have a sumptuous banana cream filling and white chocolate ganache icing that will make you want to weep a little with happiness The Food Fox’s recipe is definitely going into my all-time favourites book! Find the super recipe here on the Pretty Blog’s weekly food column. This post marks the 1 year anniversary of the Pretty Blog food columns with Nicola behind the beautiful styling, Ilse behind the amazing food and me behind the camera So looking forward to another tasty year!

This is something I need to try and make myself – the Food Fox has really debunked the myth that this is something out of my skillset – she just makes it all look so easy My ideal choice of nuts would be pistachios and cashews. Nommmm…. I’ll keep you posted! Until then pop over to the Pretty Blog and  see Ilse’s super Baklava recipe here on her weekly food column.