Author Archives: Pandu

Events

Namibia Food and Wine Festival 2014

Last weekend was the Namibia Food and Wine Festival and of course anything to do with food I’m there, and with wine even better.

FoodWineFestival chef Siba

There were a couple of Chefs doing food shows and demonstrations and among them was the beautiful and talented South African celebrity Chef Siba from Siba’s table and I got a chance to meet her and take a photo with her. Her session was so nice and just like on her show she makes everything look so simple and easy to make. Among the local Namibian Chefs were: Chef Tuti Garoeb from restaurant Am Weinberg, Chef David Thomas from restaurant Lyon de Sable in Walvisbay, Chef Elias Able runner up at Namibia chef of the year 2013 and last but not least Chef Sheree Mettler from Nampower Convention Center.

Chef Tuti

FoodWineFestival chef Tuti

Among other food demonstrations, I also got to see a fresh past making demonstration and then the favourite for most people was the KAPANA session.

FoodWineFestival kapana

FoodWineFestival pasta making

FoodWineFestival pasta

Then, I got a chance to assist a Chef with his food demonstration, this was very exciting for me because it was a dessert recipe. The Chef made chocolate blue cheese cupcakes served with macaroons and pears cooked in red wine and it was simply divine. I will try to replicate the chocolate blue cheese cupcake recipe and share it. I need more practice though with macaroons as I never had any luck with it.

FoodWineFestival pandu

Chef David Thomas showing me how it’s done.

FoodWineFestival chef David Thomas

 

FoodWineFestival chocolate blue cheese cupcake

FoodWineFestival macaroons

There were a couple of displayed food items ranging form cheese, pasta, tea and olive oil.

FoodWineFestival cheese

FoodWineFestival pasta oils

More Food

FoodWineFestival Siba dish

FoodWineFestival noodles

FoodWineFestival Smoothies

Food demonstration and testing.

FoodWineFestival people

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Chocolate, Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

chocolate chip cookie

Chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients

  1. ½ cup chocolate chips
  2. ½ cup butter, room temperature
  3. 1 cup sugar
  4. 1 egg
  5. 1¾ cups flour
  6. ½ teaspoon vanilla
  7. ½ teaspoon baking soda
  8. ½ teaspoon nutmeg

chocolate chip cookies choc chips

chocolate chip cookie butter sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven at 180°C.
  2. In a mixing bowl, mix flour, baking soda and nutmeg.
  3. In a separate bowl, add butter and sugar and mix.
  4. Add egg and vanilla and mix.
  5. Pour the flour mixture and chocolate chips into the wet ingredients mixture in two increments.
  6. Dust a baking sheet or cover with parchment paper.
  7. With an ice-cream scoop or two spoons, scoop the dough and spread evenly onto the baking sheet.
  8. Bake for about 12-15 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven and cool.
  10. Enjoy.

chocolate chip cookies flour butter mix

chocolate chip cookies mix

chocolate chip cookies scoop

chocolate chop cookies rack

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Quick and Easy Eats

Warm Quinoa Salad

warm quinoa salad bowl half

warm quinoa salad bowl top

Ingredients

  1. Quinoa
  2. Water for boiling
  3. Carrots
  4. Peppers
  5. Green peas
  6. Tomatoes
  7. Hard boiled eggs
  8. Olive oil
  9. Seasonings to taste

warm quinoa salad quinoa measure

warm quinoa salad ingredients

warm quinoa salad green peas

Directions

  1. Rinse the quinoa.
  2. In a pot, add about 2 parts of water to 1 part quinoa.
  3. On medium heat, cook the quinoa for about 20 minutes until soft and puffed.
  4. Turn off the heat and simmer for about 2 minutes.
  5. Chop and steam some of your veggies and leave some raw.
  6. Remove the quinoa from the heat and mix in the veggies.
  7. Serve warm and garnish with hard boiled eggs.
  8. Enjoy.

warm quinoa salad veggies

warm quinoa salad pot

warm quinoa salad bowl

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Breakfast, Quick and Easy Eats

Raspberry Smoothie

raspberry smoothie jar raspberries top

raspberry smoothie jar top

Ingredients

  1. 1 cup raspberries(you can use fresh or frozen)
  2. 1 large banana
  3. ½ cup Greek yogurt
  4. ice cubes
  5. ⅓ cup milk/water

raspberry smoothie raspberries

raspberry smoothie ingredients

Directions

  1. Add all the ingredients into the blender.
  2. Blend for about 2 minutes.
  3. Pour into a jar and top with raspberries.
  4. Enjoy

raspberry smoothie ingredients blender

raspberry smoothie blender

raspberry smoothie blender done

raspberry smoothie jar

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Cakes, Chocolate

Chocolate Heart Cake

chocolate heart cake

Ingredients

  1. 1 Cup sugar
  2. 2 cups self-raising flour
  3. ½ butter, room temperature
  4. 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  5. ½ cup milk
  6. ¼ cup cocoa powder
  7. ¼ cup warm water
  8. 1 teaspoon vanilla

chocolate hear cake cocoa

chocolate heart cake flour sugar cocoa

chocolate heart cake butter eggs

Frosting

  1. Chocolate
  2. ⅓ cup butter
  3. icing sugar
  4. berries

Directions

  1. Pre-heat the oven at 175°C.
  2. In a mixing bowl, add cocoa powder and warm water, mix and set aside to cool.
  3. In a separate bowl, add butter and sugar and mix.
  4. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk.
  5. Pour in the cocoa mixture and mix.
  6. Add flour and milk in two increments and mix.
  7. Divide the batter into two equal parts and pour into a heart shaped greased pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and cool for about 10 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven and cool completely on wire rack.
  10. Melt the chocolate and butter and mix well, add in the icing sugar, mix and frost the cake.
  11. Garnish with berries.
  12. Enjoy.

chocolate hear cake cocoa mix

chocolate heart cake batter mix

chocolate heart cake batter

chocolate heart cake batter pan

chocolate heart cake icing

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