African Vanielje on May 23 2008 | Filed under: baking, sweet kitchen
This week was my daughter’s first ever school camp. She, despite her excitement overdrive was extremely organised about the whole thing. Sunday morning dawned bright and indecently early as it always does in summer. But in direct opposition to the enthusiastic dawn chorus I was determined to have a lazy Sunday [...]
African Vanielje on May 15 2008 | Filed under: seasonal menus
It seems the very air I breath is permeated with wild garlic this week. Wild garlic or ramsons is similar to ramps, or wild leeks, both belonging to the allium family. Like ramps they grow anywhere moist and shady, like damp woods, stream banks etc. They do have a bulb which is edible, [...]
African Vanielje on May 15 2008 | Filed under: light meals, seasonal menus
Wash your freshly dug (or freshly purchased) new potatoes, making sure all the soil is scrubbed off, but trying to keep some of the delicate and tasty skin intact.
Place in a pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil.
Cook for about 15-20 minutes until just soft
In the last five minutes of cooking time [...]
African Vanielje on May 14 2008 | Filed under: pasta, seasonal menus
Wild garlic can be foraged for in the countryside in Spring and early summer. Pick the youngest tender green leaves, avoiding any that are going yellow or are damaged or browned.
Wild garlic benefits from softening slightly in butter or olive oil then being added to all sorts of dishes. The smell is quite pungently delicious [...]
