Chicken of the wood

'Darkest Africa' takes on a whole new meaning when it takes a week of pleading and begging for a technician to eventually fix a fault in their over priced, over loaded and stone age slow adsl line.

So I'm very behind on a fabulous week and am going to start right back at the beginning, Marie and that sensational mushroom.......

Armed with my basket, knife and Marie from 66 square feet's careful directions- they read something like this 'across the dam wall to the far south, on the sandy path under pines. On your Left there is very tall oak stump. It is on the far side of a deep hollow, near the stream'.

I must have pirate blood, who wouldn't be excited with directions like that?

 It was a treasure hunt and the prize was Marie's much anticipated chicken of the wood mushroom, a scary orange cluster  mushroom growing on an old oak stump... (I trust you Marie, plus she describes it much better here)- apparently it is utterly delicious and poor Marie, so far away was agonized at the thought of all that deliciousness unappreciated and uneaten.....well not on my watch!

I made it for breakfast, sauteed some onions and garlic, added the sliced mushroom, a sprinkling of lemon thyme and a few glucks of white wine, simmered gently for 8 mins....oh heaven, what a treat!

The next day for lunch, I added a few slices to the peppers, cherry tomatoes and ham, tossed the lot with tagliatelle - a subtle mushroom flavour, meaty and no slimy texture that some wild mushrooms get.

I was saving the last piece for pizzas, but was feeling generous and gave it to a friend, who served it for dinner to her friends.

Now there are many of us interested in that old stump- thank you for sharing  from so far away Marie.

Community Carnival Maynardville park

The annual community carnival is an event not to be missed- think beer tents, carnival rides and most importantly food from around the world.

Highlight, the Dutch tent of course- crunchy, melting, oozing, hot bitterballen, rollmops, herrings and lots of genefer.

After that perfect start to your evening, stroll through the avenues, I'd recommend a visit to Mexico for a shot of tequila and chilli poppers, then take your pick of Indian, Chinese, African, etc for a main meal, visit the Irish tent for sheer roudyness. Spend an hour in the 2nd hand book tent.

But definitely finish off your evening in the Italian tent with a grappa and an espresso...oh, don't go forgetting that creamy cannoli.

I'll be running in for take-away's tonight before the ballet, spending the evening on Thursday and taking the kids for some fun on Friday- see you there!

Flowers after the party

Our friend Jane over at smallbutcharming, is hosting her popular 'flowers in the house' party- very convenient for me this time.....as the house is brimming and fragrant with the beautiful gift of flowers....

from Kristine

from Lily

I'm not cheating including the flowers outside, as our outside is pretty much our inside.

party table

Mango magic

Look who pushed their coy tentative little head out from between a egg box and a watermelon skin, buried inside the casings of the worm farm.

Besides avocados, mangoes are by far the worms favourite food, between the kids and the catering, they have a steady supply of a few a day and as fast as we're throwing in the juicy pips, we're taking out the rooted sprouting ones-  magic.

This little chap is 3 weeks old and growing fast - all cuteness with his leaves too big for his body.

Encouraged by the vision of a mango grove, the art teacher has prepared this pineapple stalk for planting- will keep you posted on this development.

Hmm, I'm starting to feel the vibe and can almost hear the calypso rhythms......anyone got a tropical island to go with our groves?

Auctions and Art

Stephan Welz and Co's exhibition evenings are always a treat, often an Irma Stern to admire, this time an enticing  Tretchikoff, the champagne flows and around every corner, a canape platter.

Situated in the Great Cellar on the Alphen Estate, Constantia- they have to be the most serenely situated auction house.

 John Meyer's narrative paintings caught my eye- large, very impressive, especially seeing the three together, estimated value R150 000 - R200 000 each.

I tore myself away from the antique jewellery...emeralds and diamonds...at conservative estimates- time to go.

John Meyer's  Don't know why1,2 and 3.

Hanneke Benade's requiem

Off to town for a different crowd at  Salon 91's new exhibition ' Something like now' by Elsabe Milandri, loved the small ink on paper portraits below, quite a few stickers on some well priced pieces.

drive by drive home

A valentine

for the art teacher

my valentine

x

Alfresco lunch

This is your recipe if you're dreaming of having a large alfresco lunch, but don't have the time to spend in the kitchen.

It looks sensational and is very simple to prepare, the secret is in the tomato sauce which you can happily make your own with a bit of 'tweeking'.

Find the best cooked free range chicken, grab as many as you need, work on 5 people per chicken for this dish, tear the chicken apart into nice chunky pieces discarding the bone, or if you feel that inner 'martha' stirring, keep the carcass for that perfect chicken soup, arrange the torn chicken on a large serving platter and set aside.

Now for the tomato sauce, here is the basic- 2 tins chopped Italian tomatoes, 1 onion chopped, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tsp smoked paprika, pinch of dried chilli flakes, a gluck of balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, salt and pepper and and gravy from the chickens. Saute the onions and garlic, add tomatoes, paprika, sugar etc and simmer away for 30 mins.
When your tomato sauce is cool, pour artistically over your torn chicken, dollop with creme fraiche and scatter with fresh basil leaves and maybe add a drizzle of balsamic blaze.

Tweek with any of the following additions, add more chilli, fresh chilli for a bigger bite, add bay leaves for a more Italian flavour, sliced chorizo sausage will make your man very happy, or even some sherry for a sweeter boozier edge....have fun!