Window on George

Good:   my favourite dinner guests Bad:  most disappointing Oscar show ever Dessert fruit from my local market Lindor truffles from SA The new oven was christened with a mini shoulder -of- lamb roll and sweet pumpkin with cinnamon sticks. The Boschendal Lanoy, bought at the airport, was just purrrrrrrrrrrrrfect. My favourite moment of the Oscars: Charlize Theron & Tatum Channing's dance. Come to think of it, Charlize was the only shining star at the Oscars, in my humble opinion. Best Dressed too! See you next year!

Die geZoem van die bye. Eendag wanneer ek afgetree is en op my stoep sit, gaan ek n byeboer word.   Ek gaan laventel heuning maak en by die George boeremark vir my n stalletjie kry.   Saam met die Kona koffie, brood en die olyfjam wat daai mooi jong mannetjies van die Karoo verkoop.    Terwyl die band "As al die riviere vol brandewyn was" sing, en daai lang maer ou die tamboeryn so hier onder die potternjots uit skud. I mean, who can resist?????? Ons het amok gemaak in daai kooperasie.   Moes amper by die nappy afdeling n draai gaan maak! Die bokke se klokke, die koeie se loeie en die lammetjie klokketjies.   Ja, mens kan n hele boerdery hier koop. Maar varktande trek? Hier trek ek die streep! Hierdie wyn klink vir my baie lekkerder! Die bye is my getye!

When I arrived in Hong Kong 5 years ago, I had been cooking in Taiwan without an oven, for 7 long years. One of the first new friends I made in Hong Kong, was Jennifer Routley, from Australia. She and her husband were moving to the UK. So, she gave me her oven! I did not have room for it in my brand new kitchen, so it stood on a very old dresser - the only piece of furniture I had brought with from Taiwan. My only requirement was that a leg of lamb should fit. It has served me well, through many dinner parties, and many little lambs! It's time has come.  It had lost most of its lustre and some buttons.   There is also some degree of sagging involved, as would be expected of an oven of a certain age... The newby had arrived, but the suspense was killing me:      WOULD IT FIT?????? YESSSSSSSS!   with a poepolhaardikte Bon appetit! Here's to many more little lambs!

Ouma Mavis will soon be 80 years old and to mark this auspicious occasion, I grabbed some Chinese New Year decorations, flew to George, and threw her her pool party! In fact, it was a triple celebration for Malcolm (age undisclosed) and Oupa Kenny, also 80! February 10th was also our late Ouma Ada's birthday. A family celebration indeed. I got this romantic cake stand and cup cake sleeves in Cape Town when I visited my son Willem in August last year.   The cup cakes are Mandy's Orange Cake recipe. She substituted the milk for orange juice which resulted in deliciously moist cup cakes. Mandy also made her speciality:  Milk Tart! It was smooth as silk.  The chocolate ganache on top of the chocolate cake has the same texture as a Lindor Truffle but these "truffles" are actua-hally, Manuel,  giant chocolate-coated jelly tots! All these goodies were washed down with tea, Masterton's coffee, A...