Many years ago I reluctantly gave up pasta forever (well, there are cheat days once a year or so) and I have missed it every single day since that foolish decision was made. Alas I sometimes brave the pasta cooking process anyways, swallowing my urge to gobble it all up myself, torturing myself for Vincent's … Continue reading Pasta alla Jana
By now it's clear that I love a one-pan dish. The flavours all get to mingle and it's just too damn effortless not to love. Last night I decided to go the easy route again and use a coat & cook sauce -- Ina Paarman's this time around. I also tried a new veggie addition … Continue reading One-Pan Tikka Curry Chicken & Veg
What to do when all you've got are the end slices of a loaf of bread, some salad stuff in the fridge, a can of tuna and a rumbling tummy? Improvise! I love tuna salad, but it can turn out quite bland and dry if you're not careful. So even though this dinner is anything … Continue reading Tuna Salad & A Toastie
Last night I once again found myself scavenging through the fridge for scraps with which to concoct a meal. With lettuce and other salad-like ingredients aplenty, and a pack of wors staring up at me, a simple yet yummy meal was to be had. Who's hungry? Vincent and I so this recipe serves 2. Ingredients … Continue reading Wors & Salad
I often find myself daydreaming about Woolworths' spinach and cauliflower noodles. As a hardcore no-carber I can honestly say nobody does carb-free noodles like Woolworths does. I'll even go a step further and say sometimes I prefer the taste and texture of these noodles to actual pasta! So off to Woolies I went to get … Continue reading Salmon on a bed of Veggie Noodles
On a gloomy, rainy day there's nothing quite like home-made stew to warm you up from the inside. Lucky for us our freezer had a sneaky pack of stewing meat at the back, so stew is what we had! I wasn't in the mood for effort and frills so of course the pressure cooker came … Continue reading Mutton Stew
Picture this: Soft, flaky fish cooked to perfection, drenched in lemony garlic and herb butter, scooped into your mouth along with your favourite sides, topped off with a big glass of your best wine. Now check out what I made last night and see the picture in your mind become my reality. Seriously, if anyone … Continue reading Grilled Hake with Garlic and Herb Butter
I can feel autumn approaching and it's making me crave a plateful of hearty filled-with-love meat and veggies. The kind only oumas can make. It's the perfect opportunity to dust off the pressure cooker and make my own feel-good meal with minimal hassle. Who's hungry? Vincent and I. But of course we want plentiful leftovers, … Continue reading Beef Short Ribs & Oven Roasted Veg
AKA Stuffed Butties I love stuffing things. Case in point: these deliciously stuffed-with-love butternuts. It's been a really gloomy, rainy day and I didn't even try to think about what we would eat for dinner tonight. Luckily we had a butternut in the pantry and a couple of leftover mushrooms, plus a bag of spinach … Continue reading Stuffed Butternut
The one-pan wonder makes a reappearance tonight. This time I'm armed with Indian Tikka Masala paste; ready for a taste explosion tinged with that good old 'comfort food' feeling. Best thing about tonight's dinner is that it will taste even better tomorrow, so obviously I'm making enough to feed a family. Who's hungry? Vincent and … Continue reading Tikka Masala Chicken
Indian cuisine, how I love you. Tonight, I'm taking the easy road by using a pack of Butter Chicken Cook-in Sauce from Woolies to help satisfy my craving for something laden with coriander. I don't often use these cook-in sauces so I'm probably not the best judge, but I'd say this particular one is my … Continue reading Butter Chicken
Everybody loves a good stir-fry. It's so quick to make and incredibly easy to add whatever flavours you like because there's really no wrong way to make stir-fry -- as long as you're frying and stirring. This time around I made an Asian inspired beef stir-fry with mushroom sauce and sesame oil as my base … Continue reading Beef Stir-Fry
Noodles, specifically actual pasta ones, have to be one of my all-time favourite things to eat. And now that I have this new toy, I'm noodling just about everything I can get my hands on. Luckily, courgettes make fantastic replacements for real pasta! Here's to the first of many homemade vegetable noodle meals. Who's hungry? … Continue reading Courgette noodles in tomato sauce with bacon
I got a new kitchen toy this week and have been having fun with all sorts of vegetables. Of course, when I get a toy it's not just me who benefits from it. Vincent was the lucky recipient of my first ever go at making my own shallow fried potato chips. I think they turned … Continue reading Homemade Potato Chips
Tonight's dinner was inspired by my friend, Luzanne who shares my love for gem squashes, but usually fills hers with curry mince and not peas; like I usually do. So, once again I ventured into the unknown and tried a new, totally made up recipe. What a winner this one turned out to be! Who's … Continue reading Masala Mince Squash
Vincent and I have been talking about eating less meat for a while now. Not that we eat scary amounts of meat every day, but it seems that something meaty always slips into one of our meals. We both love vegetables, so it's not hard for us to consciously eliminate meat from a meal every … Continue reading Sweet Potato & Spinach Frittata
I like to take my time in many aspects of my life; like cooking or getting to the point in a conversation, with driving being the only really big exception. Stews are superb for slow cooks like me who like to let the meat cook off the bone, and play priest to marry flavours, while … Continue reading Lekker Lamb Stew
I'm trying a new dish, so I did something out of the ordinary and actually went shopping for ingredients. I found a version of this recipe in a Fairlady magazine a while ago. Yes, I buy the Fairlady magazine; but only for the two crossword puzzles in the back. I'm altering their recipe by including … Continue reading No Carb Roulade with Bacon, Broccoli & Cream Cheese Filling
It's Monday night. Again. We're both lazy and hungry. Of course, the first thing we grab from the freezer is a pack of pork bangers. The fridge looks good for a Monday with its pack of stir-fry vegetables and an assortment of condiments. So we're braaing bangers and chucking veg in a pan. Who's hungry? … Continue reading Pork Bangers & Stir-Fried Veg
I love a good skorsie! There are so many ways to turn an average gem squash into a real gem of a dish. Simply fill the hole with something delicious! When I was a little girl, my mom always made gem squash with peas inside and I loved it. I clearly still do. So, along … Continue reading Side Squash
It's 26 December and my Christmas spirit has turned to holiday laziness. There's but one thing to do - make a delicious, homey, feel-good meal with minimal effort. This chicken one-pan wonder is my ultimate go-to lazy day dish, but I often mix it up with my vegetable selection and choice of spices. Who's hungry? … Continue reading Italian Chicken One-Pan Wonder
There is no burger quite like a home-made burger. We much prefer making our own patties to buying pre-made ones. It means you get to choose your own meat, the exact ingredients and flavours, and that you will end up getting precisely what you bargained for - your ideal burger. Vincent and I like to … Continue reading Bloody Mustard Mayo Burger
Many Afrikaners will proudly declare that no braai is complete without a braaibroodjie. It's one of those things South Africans all put their own personal spin on. But for the sake of this age-old tradition, I'm showcasing good old fashioned, no frills attached braaibroodjies. Who's hungry? Vincent and my parents. So 4 braaibroodjies are in … Continue reading Braaibroodjies
Sundays are for roasts. To me, there's little more irresistibly roastable than a chunky leg of lamb. Why? Because the longer it roasts, the more tender the meat, and the more glasses of wine can be enjoyed while "cooking". I say that in inverted commas, because really it's Flippie who will be doing the bulk … Continue reading Lazy Leg of Lamb & Roasted Veg — A Sunday Feast
Pork sausages with tomato smoor, wrapped in lettuce I have a deep love for all things braai. The smell of the fire, the social atmosphere and most of all, the food. We like to braai multiple times a week. It's easy, relaxed and simply South African. Who's hungry? Vincent and I. This recipe serves 2 people. Ingredients: Woops! The … Continue reading Pigs in a Pasture
Jana Cooks 