Monday, 22 April 2013

An old-fashioned fruit becomes fashionable again

At http://www.bestforreading.com I cannot believe that another week has gone by. Here in the southern tip of Africa we are preparing for winter and what better idea is it to go to http://www.bestforreading.com, purchase a book and then curl up with your latest book. Those of you living in the northern hemisphere visit
http://www.bestforreading.com to have something to read for those long summer holidays. This is especially if you are heading for the beach.

In one of my previous blogs, The Cape of Storms became the Cape of Good Hope, I have written about  how sudden the storms arrive here at Cape Town at the beginning of the winter season. Well, last Wednesday this is exactly what happened. For one day only the heavens opened and everywhere there were floods. I hardly could get into my house and when I left at lunch time, I had to travel another route as all the other roads were flooded.

When I took my dog for a walk later that afternoon, most of the water had run off but the Liesbeek River was still in flood. Here are a few photo's of the Liesbeek River.
Nearly over the banks


The river flowing towards the camera


A beautiful scenery

I am not going to write about the weather today. This I have done in a previous post, as mentioned before. I am going to give you a recipe about an "old fashioned" fruit which in a way is not grown anymore. When I was a child every yard either had once bush of this fruit in the yard or if you were on a farm you most likely would have had a lane of these bushes. This is the quince fruit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quince. It is also known as an extremely healthy and nutritious fruit. http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/quince-fruit.html.

Stews are a very popular dish in South Africa. A very traditional South African recipe is a quince stew. This recipe comes from Hetta van Deventer-Terblanche.

Ingredients:

4 onions chopped up coarsely
4 carrots, peeled and diced the same way
Cooking Oil to sweat the above
5 ml fine cassia
2.5 ml fine nutmeg
30 ml fine coriander
5 ml turmeric
Salt and pepper   
1.4 kg lamb. Preferably the ribs, cut into pieces
8 washed quinces
2 l lamb or beef stock
3 potatoes coarsely chopped
Hand full of fresh herbs

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 160 deg Celsius
2. Saute onion and carrots in oil until onions are golden brown. Use a heavy duty oven pan with a lid that can go into the oven. Take out onion and carrots
3. Rub spices into meat and throw in used pan and saute meat until brown.
4. add onions and meat 
5. Cut 4 quinces with cork and all in quarts and add between the meat.
6. Add stock to meat, add more water if necessary and bring to boil
7. Place lid on and place pan in oven and leave for 90 minutes
8. In the mean time bake the remaining quinces on a baking tray in the oven -about 40 minutes. as soon as the quinces are soft, take out and keep to the side.
9. take meat out of oven after 90 minutes and add potatoes.
10. Add more water or stock if it looks to dry.
Add salt and pepper to taste and place back in oven until the potatoes are soft and thoroughly cooked.

To present, cut baked quinces into big pieces and throw over stew and sprinkle the fresh herbs over.

Dish up with rice and salad.   

Remember for delicious cooking recipes visit http://www.bestforreading.com  
              
      

Monday, 15 April 2013

Freedom of Religion and the French Huguenots

It was a blue Monday here at http://www.bestforreading.com. It was not just blue but as blue as the African sky. That intense blue that one only can look at it wonder. Please visit my on line bookstore at http://www.bestforreading.com for all your in store shopping needs.

On Saturday, 13 April 1688, 325 years ago  a group of people arrived in the Cape Colony on board a ship, the Voorschooten. After that a few other ships arrived as well. This group of people's descendants  had a huge influence on the development of this country. They where called the French Huguenots who fled France after the king of France revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685. This edict http://www.crommelin.org/history/Ancestors/Scheffer/EdictOfNantes/EdictOfNantes.htm gave the protestants religious freedom in France. The Sun King, Louis X1V revoked this edict on 22 October 1685.
http://www.louis-xiv.de/index.php?id=49. Many of these protestants fled to the Dutch Colony here at the Southern tip of Africa. They brought Afrikaans surnames such as De Klerk, Malan, Le Roux, Viljoen, Retief, de Villiers and Cronje among others, 

This group of people, the Huguenots tended to stick in one group and settled in a valley called the Franschhoek Valley. The town today is still called Franschhoek. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franschhoek. Although very little remains of the French language and culture, the surnames and the names of farms such as La Rochelle, Champagne and Bourgogne still lingers on 325 years later. Franschoek, along the Berg River
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berg_River is a must see if you visit South Africa and is situated about 50 kilometre outside Cape Town.

In this quaint little town a monument was erected to honour these Huguenots who left their country behind and came to a strange new continent. http://www.flickr.com/photos/south-african-tourism/3881457560/    

Do not forget that this region produces some of the best wines in the world! http://franschhoek.org.za/.

Now that you have read the above, I want to give you a hints

To prevent that onions burn your eyes when peeling them, place the onions in a bowl of water with ice for 20 minutes in the fridge.  

To get rid of mosquitoes and flies, place a small bowl of vinegar where you need it. Vinegar will get rid of smells in your fridge as well.

A pumpkin that sounds hollow when you knock on it, will keep longer than one with no sound.

If you boil cauliflower, place a bay leaf in the water to get rid of the smell.

Visit htpp://www.bestforreading.com for more books on cookery or history!

Did you know that the Anglo-Boer war of 1899 to 1902 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War was the first war to introduce trench warfare, the first large scale use of concentration camps http://www.boer.co.za/boerwar/hellkamp.htmhttp://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/black-concentration-camps-during-anglo-boer-war-2-1900-1902 and the longest period of guerrilla warfare by a conquered nation. The Boers where the first to use camouflage dress and the first film for news and propaganda was used.  














           

Sunday, 7 April 2013

A war is not always a war. There is fun in between as well.

Apologies for those who were waiting for my blog last week, I was out of town once again and did not have any access to the Internet. I really hope though that this did not prevent you from my on line store at 
http://www.bestforreading.com. In my shop you will find everything you need at bargain prices. Remember to visit http://www.bestforreading.com.

While I was a way we once again started talking about the South African National Defence Force who pulled out of the Central African Republic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African Republic. This brought the conversation to the period when South Africa under the apartheid regime http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid_in_South_Africa  was involved in the Border War on the boarder between present day Namibia and Angola http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Border_War. Once again I am not interested in the politics or the pros and cons of these wars. 

War is not always war and in between there is laughter as well. When I did my stint on the border during my two years national conscription, my unit was stationed at http://www.africastay.com/namibia_map.html. Soon after that my platoon were moved to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshakati. A military convoy had to take food and ammunition to a base camp a few kilometres from the Angolan border. Now for those who do not know a platoon is divided into four sections. My section was chosen to be the rear -guard of this convoy. Besides the trucks to convey the stock, the troops guarding the convey travelled in armoured vehicles called Buffels (Buffalo).  
Buffel from the front

A armoured troop carrier

Our Buffel not only formed the rear guard, but had to hook on a trailer with ammunition. We were not far gone when the truck in front of us broke down. As my section formed the rear guard we had to wait at this truck. After a while we realised that the ammunition had to be delivered at the base, Ntalie. My Section
 Leader told the driver to follow the road.  By this time we had lost radio contact and my section leader to travel on and to see if we can find the base. We kept on travelling on this dirt road until we saw South African soldiers waving at us. we stopped but also noticed buildings in ruins and with bullet holes.  The soldier asked if we travelled on this dirt road and when we said yes he asked us if we knew we are in Angola and that this dirt road has not been swept for landmines at least for two weeks. 

This did not frighten as (or so we would have liked to show our fellow soldiers). My section leader, after consultation with all us, decided to take the ammunition back through the bushes. Needless to say after two punctures later we decided to go back onto the road. If we hit a landmine tough luck, The Buffel had no more spare tires and we had to take a change. A few kilometres back in Namibia, we saw the bunkers with the old South African flag http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_African_flags. Needles to say after the ammunition was dropped off and had a cold beer we had to rush off to get back to Oshakati to reach the curfew. We reached Oshakati grey from dust and dirty. So much so that we hardly recognised each other.

Remember for ANY book on any war visit my on line book store http://www.bestforreading.com 

       
          

Monday, 25 March 2013

When the Paternoster is not a prayer.

I hope you have paid many visits to my website http://www.bestforreading.com for all your on line shopping needs.

Along the west coast of Cape Town is an off the beaten track route. This route follows the R27 and is known as the West Coast Route.http://www.route27sa.com/. In high summer this could be a dull wind-swept drive, but when winter arrives the whole veld turns into a joy to behold on the eye with the culmination of colours in Spring. http://www.langebaanlagoon.co.za/namaqualand-flowers.html.

About 150 km from Cape Town, you turn off the R27 towards Vredenburg. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vredenburg. Another 15 minutes drive towards the coast you will find the small fisherman's village, Paternoster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paternoster,_Western_Cape. This is mainly a fisherman's village as I have mentioned earlier, but it is it a holiday resort for many as well. A certain West Coast "style" must be kept and all the houses must conform to that. http://www.paternoster-villas.co.za/die-opstal-apartments  

Another good site to visit is http://paternosterrentals.co.za.

A photo taken years ago. 
The original fisherman's cottages.
Sunset in Paternoster
The West Coast Style
Same
Another house built in the West Coast Style

Just about 5 km further on, you will find the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and Lighthouse. This in itself is worth a visit. http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/westerncape/visit-the-cape-columbine-lighthouse/

 This area is known for its shipwrecks as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Columbine 

My recipe of the week has to do with fish stock

2 kg fish bones, fish heads or any off cuts
4 onions
4 carrots diced coarsely
4 bay leaves
4 twigs of celery
4 twigs of parsley
10 ml wonder pepper (all spice) corns 
10 ml (2 tea spoons) black pepper corns
500 ml (2 cups) dry white wine
3 l boiling water

Place all the ingredients in a pan and bring slowly to boil. This is to prevent foam forming. Cook slowly for about 40 minutes. Sieve through fine strainer. Use the stock to make a seafood dish or use it in fish soup. 

Easy breezy!!!!!!!!!!!!









Sunday, 17 March 2013

A free trip up one of the Natural Wonders of the World

Well, here at http://www.bestforreading.com I cannot believe that another week has gone by and it is time to give you an up date of what is happening in and around Cape Town. 

Seems to me winter is approaching very gently this year and not with full force as usually. My birthday is in the middle of winter somewhere in May and it always rain on my birthday. The City of Cape Town gives every citizen of South Africa a free trip up Table Mountain with the cable car http://tablemountain.net/. What I did not know that if it rains on the day of your birthday, then your ticket is valid for another two weeks after your birthday.
On top of the mountain with the top station and Robben Island  on the  left



So, last year, after living in Cape Town my whole adult life, I decided to make use of this free over. It did not rain on that day. Here are a few photos of my trip up table Mountain.



The old cable cars. Not the same as today. 
Leaving the station below
Going up or down.



The Indian Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is on the right of this 
A route on top of the mountain


Vegetation
Cape Flats in the distance and the Hottentots Holland Mountains in the far distance


A "dassie"

A few facts

Robben Island - Nelson Mandela was jailed here

The Table Mountain Range

Clifton from the top of the mountain

This mountain  has been chosen as on of the official natural wonders in the world http://www.new7wonders.com/. Not only is this a natural wonder but it it a protected UNESCO heritage site as well. The Table Mountain range forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom and is the smallest floral kingdom in the world with nearly the most species of plants http://tablemountain.net/blog/entry/the_cape_floral_region_one_of_the_worlds_richest_plant_zones/.  

It feels like God visits everywhere else but lives in Africa - Will Smith on his first visit to South Africa!

Enjoy the rest of the week and remember to visit http://www.bestforreading.com for ALL your on line shopping needs!

Recipe of the week: Corn Bread (Mieliebrood)

500 g self-raising flour
5 ml ( 1 t) salt)
500 ml buttermilk
5 ml fresh chili, chopped finely. Remove seeds
250 ml strong cheese like a cheddar
410 g tin drained corn

Sieve self-raising flour and salt together. Add buttermilk and chili and then the cheese and corn. Mix well and  place in smeared bread pan. Bake at 180 C  for about 50 minutes. If it sounds "hollow", it is done.

http://www.bestforeading.com
















































Sunday, 10 March 2013

The tired cyclists!

Hey, if you haven't visited my on line store at http://www.bestforreading.com, do so. There are great books and great items on sale. Go to the search bar at the top right hand corner and do your shopping at http://www.bestforreading.com

Well  , I think this morning we have a few sore legs, but very satisfied people in Cape Town. Hopefully all 135000 of them. yes, you have read correctly. Yesterday was the  Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle race. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Argus_Cycle_Race

It is the largest of its type in the world and stretches over a distance of 109 km.  Follow the route on the link

This cycle tour is one along one of the most scenic routes in the world, if not the most scenic.

Congratulations to all who have succeeded in completing the race and to those who have won the race. here are the names of the winners: http://www.news24.com/Tags/Events/cape_argus_cycle_tour.

My book choice of the week from http://www.bestforreading.com is:

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print [Paperback]Renni Browne , Dave King

Book Description

April 13, 2004 0060545690 978-0060545697 2 Sub
Hundreds of books have been written on the art of writing. Here at last is a book by two professional editors to teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.
In this completely revised and updated second edition, Renni Browne and Dave King teach you, the writer, how to apply the editing techniques they have developed to your own work. Chapters on dialogue, exposition, point of view, interior monologue, and other techniques take you through the same processes an expert editor would go through to perfect your manuscript. Each point is illustrated with examples, many drawn from the hundreds of books Browne and King have edited.


Frequently Bought Together

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print + The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression + Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success
Price for all three: $30.74
Buy the selected items together

Sunday, 3 March 2013

The Cape of Storms became the Cape of Good Hope

Today is going to be a sweltering day here in Cape Town. The weatherman predicted at least 35 deg C. We are having a late summer as this is the temperature Cape Town usually experiences in February. This usually happens just before winter comes. Winter often arrives in Cape Town with gale force winds and heavy rains.  

This is why Cape Town is not only known as the Cape of Good Hope http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_of_Good_Hope, but as the Cape of Storms as well. Bartholomew Diaz, the Portuguese seafarer, named this part of southern Africa, the Cape of Storms http://www.capetown.at/heritage/history/explorers_merchants.htm. The then Portuguese king wanted more traders to come to Africa and to go to India and therefor renamed the Cape of Storms to the Cape of Good Hope.   

Have a look at this site giving you more information about shipwrecks around the Cape of Good Hope. http://www.capetown.travel/attractions/entry/cape_town_shipwrecks. Obviously there are many tales of heroism and the most famous being that of Wolraad Woltemade who risked his own life and that of his horse to save the lives of others http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolraad_Woltemade. Wagner's opera: "The Flying Dutchman" is such a folklore about a ship that went under around the Cape of Good Hope. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Dutchman    

I have added a photo of a bronze plaque taken on top of Table Mountain indicating the layout of the Cape of Good Hope. The sea is stretching around the Table Mountain National Park on the right hand side of this plaque. On the left is land and built-up area   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain_National_Park  


Well that is a lot of reading. Remember to visit my on-line store at http://www.bestforreading.com for a wide selection of books. I have updated my website with the latest books available. Have a look at this book which can be bought from http://www.bestforreading.com

Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History [Paperback]
Antonio Mendez , Matt Baglio  
Book Description
February 6, 2013
The true account of a daring rescue that inspired the film ARGO, winner of the 2012 Academy Award for Best Picture

On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the American embassy in Tehran and captured dozens of American hostages, sparking a 444-day ordeal and a quake in global politics still reverberating today. But there is a little-known drama connected to the crisis: six Americans escaped. And a top-level CIA officer named Antonio Mendez devised an ingenious yet incredibly risky plan to rescue them before they were detected.

Disguising himself as a Hollywood producer, and supported by a cast of expert forgers, deep cover CIA operatives, foreign agents, and Hollywood special effects artists, Mendez traveled to Tehran under the guise of scouting locations for a fake science fiction film called Argo. While pretending to find the perfect film backdrops, Mendez and a colleague succeeded in contacting the escapees, and smuggling them out of Iran.
Antonio Mendez finally details the extraordinarily complex and dangerous operation he led more than three decades ago. A riveting story of secret identities and international intrigue, Argo is the gripping account of the history-making collusion between Hollywood and high-stakes espionage. 

My recipe for this week is: Ginger Dumplings

Dough: 
15 ml (1 desert spoon) butter
250 ml (1 cup) flour
5 ml ( 1 t spoon) Bicarbonate of Soda 
125 ml (1/2 cup) cold water
30 ml (2 desert spoons) apricot jam
5 ml (1 t) ginger powder

Rub the butter into the flour. Mix the bicarbonate of soda with the water and add to apricot jam and ginger and then add to flour mixture.

Syrup 

625 ml (21/2 cup ) boiled water
250 ml (1 cup) sugar)
15 ml (1 desert spoon butter)

Place all the ingredients in a pan and boil. Pout the syrup in a oven dish (with lid). Dish up spoons of dough in warm syrup and bake with lid on at 180 deg C until ginger dumplings are golden brown and the syrup  milky. Have a look after 30 minutes. NOT EARLIER. The dumplings will not raise.