KNIGHT Fine Furniture & Decor has a new home.

Warren has moved his business and showroom to the Tygervalley Chambers in Durbanville. KNIGHT Fine Furniture & Decor can now be found on the ground floor of the Tyger Valley Chambers on Willie van Schoor Avenue.

Warren is still an agent for PIERRE CRONJE....... So you can order your furniture through him.  Pierre has been creating authentic, elegant, original and timeless pieces of furniture for over 20 years. All created out of solid wood, each piece is handcrafted to become a work of art.

Warren has created a true designer's showroom at KNIGHT Fine Furniture & Decor. Each setting helps you create a picture of the furniture in your own home or office.

Lady Olivia had to investigate.....Who has been sitting on this seat?

8 Weeks to Christmas..... Can you believe it?

How time flies by........ and now it is time to think green and creative for Christmas 2011. It is time to think of making gifts, baking Christmas cakes and spicy biscuits....... mmm ......  I can already smell the cinnamon, nutmeg and baking aroma's  wafting through the house.

It is time to complete all those projects from last Christmas.....somehow I always seem to have unfinished business in my sewing basket. It is time for a Christmas 2011 creative job list! Here is an example of a bag I created to copy an old Woolworths shopping bag. The old bag was falling apart and I just love the design...... so this is my version. I must just attach the handles. Job # 1 on my list.

Plan your Christmas baking well ahead of the hot summer days, otherwise you might be caught out, as I  was last year, baking on one of the hottest days in Summer!

Remember to take advantage of our wonderful Summer weather and plan for outdoor entertaining and picnics. Create memories by packing a picnic basket and sharing it with a special friend.

Unpack your picnic blankets, baskets and ice buckets....... search for the most sheltered spots and set up your picnic. You will arrive home feeling like a new person, full of  energy for the next day. Enjoy our beautiful country!

October is National Breast Cancer awareness month.

Have you noticed the delightful, pink, plastic mushroom punnets that have been available in Pick n Pay stores this month?

This wonderful initiative has evolved due to the joint effort by  Pick n Pay  and the SA Mushroom Farmers'Association together with Yucca Packaging. A contribution of R 1.00 from each punnet of 250 g whole and sliced button mushrooms sold is donated to the breast cancer support group, Reach for Recovery.

I trust that you have all been supporting this initiative and that you will continue to cook with mushrooms, other fresh vegetables and whole grains?  Research has proven that with an increase in consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains, that our chance of developing breast cancer is reduced.  To read more about this initiative, have a look at www.mushroominfo.co.za

With Summer on our doorstep and the desire to be health conscious and to eat lighter, fresher and healthier meals it is the perfect time to continue with your support of the mushroom and other fresh ingredients. Research has indicated that mushrooms have breast cancer - fighting properties...... so go on ,  become a mushroom fundi.

Next time you admire a beautiful pink sunset or sunrise, remember those who have suffered due to cancer,  those who are undergoing treatment for cancer, and those who have survived cancer. 

I do not just wear a pink ribbon for the month of October, but live with pink around me....in the garden with special plants producing pink flowers that allow me to remember those needing our support due to breast cancer.

Be bold, make a statement and create a pink garden, especially for those who need your support and positive energy.

I dedicate this blog to my cousin, Carol who suffered, but was so brave right to the end. Carol, I will never forget your beautiful, bright smile.

I would also like to remember a fellow paddler, Solvej, who showed us all incredible strength and the desire to live life until the end. We miss you on the water Solvej.

OOOOPS....I missed it. Yesterday was APPLE day.

How could I not salute this humble, versatile fruit ? We all grew up being told that an apple a day keeps the Doctor away..... and so we obliged and ate our apple for school lunch. What a treat to enjoy a freshly picked, crisp and crunchy apple directly from the farm..... something every child should experience.

Apple and Cheese...... a match made in Foodie heaven. I cannot think of anything more refreshing than this contrast in textures....crisp, firm, crunchy, tart, sweet apple with soft, smooth, creamy cheese....

Some things that I love..... my garden view from the kitchen, my herbs, watching the birds drink water from their bowls.....and of course the perfect match of cheese and apple on rye bread.

The ultimate ingredient. Use apples for breakfast, for a snack, in baking, with vegetables, as a salad, in casseroles, stir- fry's, in desserts.....and many more. I vote the apple as the most versatile ingredient in the kitchen.

Ready for the oven, my all time favourite....baked apple cake. Such a simple batter, topped with fresh apples, raisins and cinnamon sugar. Once baked, serve warm with lashings of cream or greek yoghurt. The ultimate in comfort food!

The perfect gift, a tray of freshly baked apple, raisin and cinnamon muffins. A secret from Austrian friend's of mine is to always have a jar of raisins soaking in Rum...... the moist and succulent rum raisins add a wonderful dimension to the flavour experience. Try it!

Remember that apples are great with savoury dishes as well. Should you be missing an ingredient for a stir - fry, just add a chopped apple as a substitute and it will bulk up the quantity.

Oven roasted vegetables are easy and convenient to prepare for a large dinner party or braai. Here I also add apples to my vegetable mixture..... even if I am roasting butternut for a butternut soup, I will add a couple of apples. Just cannot cook without them!

Apples are the perfect picnic  partner or packed meal ..... just pick, pack and go!

Wine Tasting at Villiera in Stellenbosch.

As members of the Wine Insight Wine Club, we attend and arrange monthly wine tastings at local Wine Estates and Wine Emporiums. This month we were treated to a tasting at Villiera Wines in Stellenbosch with Winemaker Jeff Grier.

Oh what a beautiful sunset on a calm evening in Stellenbosch. How lucky are we to live in this beautiful country?

An evening view of the vineyards with the delightful, dusky pink sky creating the perfect backdrop. How I love this place!

My companion outside the glitzy new tasting room....... but I am here for a wine tasting Kitty Cat!

The interior of the uber schick, new Wine Tasting Sanctuary at Villiera Wines.

This new Tasting Room allows visitors to the estate to taste the local Villiera Wines as well as the selection created in France. The Domaine Grier  wines add a creative note to a local tasting..... with wines and Methode Traditionnelle from the South of France!

The new wine tasting Sanctuary has been designed to give the feel of an upmarket Champagne Bar..... fancy sitting on this couch sipping a glass of Tradition Brut Rose..... just take a quick trip to the estate. You will be amazed!

The Domaine Grier Rose 2010, created to be served with rich and spicy foods has a fascinating watermelon hint on the nose....... haven't found that before!

Sincere thanks to Jeff Grier who has been the winemaker on the estate for over 25 years.... the Grier family continue to unlock the marvels of nature. Take a trip out to them and experience it for yourself.

Breakfast @ The Bascule Whisky, Wine & Cocktail Bar.

The setting is worth millions of dollars...... this picture is worth more than a thousand words..... it is the view over looking the Marina from The Bascule bar at the Cape Grace Hotel, situated in the V&A Waterfront Marina.

I know it is a Saturday morning @ The Bascule IF this is what is placed in front of me......... The crunchies are 'to die for Doll'............My Sweet Olivia and other regular Canine patrons all enjoy them.

Even if it was a bit chilly, I was warm with my Latte....served in style, my blue Bascule blanket wrapped around my shoulders and my Sweet Olivia sharing my crunchies...... I just have to get THAT recipe!!

Mom, I know there is another crunchie on that plate....... I am waiting patiently for you to share it with me......I am trying not to look though........................

Oh yes, this is breakfast Cape Grace style......... the ultimate Poached eggs on Rosti with truffle - scented creamed mushrooms................ an absolute delight to the eye and taste buds.

The all time favourite, as good as always with layers of smoked salmon, the Eggs Benedict is a classic breakfast menu choice.

A great Vegetarian option is the Grilled Vegetable Frittata with cheese........... mmmmmmmmmm

Today is World Food Day...... another special day for us all to remember. The emphasis this year is on being good to the earth......... protecting and looking after mother earth, the soil, the environment the atmosphere and everything that makes for producing nutritious produce.
 

Back into the garden is going to be the only way to ensure that there will always be enough local, fresh, organic produce available for everyone. I believe that the wheel will soon turn and we will all be harvesting our own fresh fruit, vegetables, salad and herbs from our own gardens....maybe even the odd chicken will also be found running around our back yards again?

To achieve this end result we have to start step by step.....just as an example , I recently planted some parsley seedlings, and look at the result. Beautiful, fresh, crisp, crunchy parsley. I am adding parsley to everything at the moment...simply nutritious and delicious!

Fresh from the garden....delicious Cape Gooseberries....just waiting for an excuse to be included in a healthy breakfast.

 

Make a commitment to yourself, the earth and your family today............. promise to plan that vegetable patch, extend an existing one or simply find a few window boxes if you do not have a garden and plant some seedlings. I have decided that if I plant anything it should be edible ....... surely if we have to water, feed, cultivate and pay for these plants we should be able to eat them!

World Egg Day on Friday 14 th October 2011.

Where do all these special days come from all of a sudden? Well, at least they give us something to blog about......in this case, it inspired me to boil some eggs and use some egg-citing egg goodies hiding in my kitchen!

This special egg cup is an antique.... it was used by my Dad and his Mother....so, a bit of Jensen history in my kitchen!

Do families have time for breakfast served like this in our busy world today? We used to have boiled eggs three times a week, served with egg cosies and all..... those were the day's! 

So, how do you prefer your eggs cooked? Boiled, fried, scrambled, poached, in an omelette...... we have so many options available. But the inevitable question is....how do you boil the perfect egg? Each cook has their own tip. Be it 3 minutes for a very soft egg, 4 to 5 minutes for a soft egg, or 6 to 8 minutes for a firm egg..... the choice is yours.

If you are looking for the ultimate breakfast treat in Cape Town, head off down to the Cape Grace Hotel and feast off their delightful breakfast selection. The choices are varied.... above is their Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon and the most delicious Hollandaise sauce.

Another Cape Grace treat is their Potato Rosti, truffle scented creamed mushrooms and two poached eggs...mmmmm breakfast will never be the same again!

Should your taste be for something simple, the Cape Grace has that to offer as well...... here is a fine Omelette filled with ham, cheese and fresh herbs. You also have the option of whole eggs or egg whites only... great if you need to watch your cholesterol level.

I know there are some folk who hate the eggy taste....so, fear not, you can still get your dose of eggs in other menu choices. Here my light and fluffy lemon pudding is egg based without the eggy taste! Eggs are so versatile, I do not think us Cooks will ever be bored with them! Sweet or savoury, the creative options are endless.

I know there is a classical painting by some Master Painter in the world based on this styling. It is a setting I have seen on canvas somewhere.... but I am not sure where. So with that as my inspiration.... here is my classic boiled egg and homemade marmalade on toast setting .... sadly taken in the kitchen at home and not in a studio setting!

 

Finally, on a green and organic note, please remember to toss your egg shells into the compost.... the calcium content is great for your plants and I believe if you have snails you should scatter crushed egg shells where they roam. 
I wish you an egg - stra- special day tomorrow!