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In 2014, shortly after becoming Home’s editor, the team and I met for a conference at the charming Montagu Country Hotel. One of the things we all agreed on was that Johané Neilson, our food editor, deserves celebrity status – her recipes, quite simp

All you need to do is follow a well-written recipe, add a little intuition and taste as you go – even an inexperienced cook can dish up delicious sweet and savoury creations! When I began my career in magazines as a bright-eyed 20-year-old, I was luc

Flat breads decorated with toppings that replicate a flower garden are such fun to bake! Use this recipe as inspiration for your own work of art. Just remember to keep the flavours cohesive so that it tastes as good as it looks. Makes 1 flat bread •

Makes about 20 bites (depending on size) Preparation: 20 minutes (plus soaking time overnight and 1 hour resting time) Cooking time: about 15–20 minutes • 250g dried chickpeas, covered in cold water and soaked overnight• ½ red onion, chopped• 2 garli

This is our interpretation of an easy-to-make snack recipe we discovered on thewoksoflife.com. Makes 8 hot cakes Preparation: 45 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes • 30ml sesame seeds• 15ml sesame oil DOUGH • 280g (500ml) cake flour• a generous pinch o

1 Make a thick white sauce Melt 50g butter in a small saucepan and sauté 60ml finely chopped onion until glossy. Add 1 chopped garlic clove and fry. Gradually stir in 180ml flour to form a roux and cook for 1 minute. Because of the large quantity of

Makes 8 parcels• Preparation: 25 minutes (provided the rice is cooked) • 8 square nori sheets• 2 cups sushi rice, cooked according to the instructions on the packet• 25ml black sesame seeds• ½ cucumber, thinly sliced• 8 radishes, thinly sliced• about

Serves 4–6 Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes • 500g lamb mince• 250ml dry breadcrumbs• 1 red onion, finely chopped or grated• a small handful of fresh mint, finely chopped• a small handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped• 2.5ml each

Makes 1 decadent wreath• Preparation: 30 minutes Baking time: 45 minutes• Oven temperature: 200°C • a knob of butter• 15ml olive oil• about 21 button mushrooms• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped• 2 leeks, white portions finely chopped• 1 fennel bulb, f

Makes 4 pizzas Preparation: 10 minutes• Baking time: 20 minutes Oven temperature: 200°C • 1kg store-bought bread dough• 1 cup Mexican-style tomato salsa• 4 cups saucy pulled pork• ½ cup tinned pineapple chunks• 3 pickled jalapeños (or to taste), slic

Makes 12 buns• Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes FILLING • 1 cooked pork fillet, finely chopped*• 6 spring onions, finely chopped• 60ml chopped coriander• lemon juice• 30ml char siu sauce 1 Prepare the filling by mixing all the ingredi

This filling makes impressive braided pies, but if you only have one roll of puff pastry, rather make one large pie in a pie dish topped with a crust. Makes 4 pies Preparation: 1 hour Cooking time (filling): 2 hours Baking time (pies): 35–40 minutes

Serves 4 (as a main course)• Preparation: 40 minutes• Cooking time: 30–35 minutes • 20 medium calamari tubes• 1 onion, finely chopped• 400ml soft white breadcrumbs• 90ml fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped• 4 garlic cloves, crushed• 2 eggs, beaten•

Serves 8• Preparation: 1 hour• Cooking time: 20 minutes• Oven temperature: 180 ºC • 800g beef fillet• 15ml red wine vinegar• pink peppercorns• 30ml olive oil• 250g button mushrooms• a sprinkle of fresh basil FILLING • 10 large spinach leaves• a large

1 Bring 2L of fresh full-cream milk slowly to the boil (it must just start to bubble and steam), stirring constantly so that the milk does not burn. Remove from the heat and stir in about 30ml apple cider vinegar and, for extra flavour if you like, a

This recipe is enough for at least two pastry cases 23cm in diameter, depending on how thick you roll the dough. • 280g (500 ml) cake flour• 10ml sugar (optional)• a pinch of salt• 190g cold butter• 1 egg yolk• 20–45ml ice water• 5ml lemon juice 1 Si

Serves 4• Preparation: 20 minutes• Cooking time: 10 minutes • 800g pork fillet, silver membrane trimmed off• 125ml flour• 5ml lemon zest• 2 eggs• 100g salted crackers, crumbled• 125ml mixed nuts, chopped• 30ml grated Parmesan• olive oil for shallow-f

Makes 6–8 cabbage parcels, depending on size Preparation: 1 hour• Cooking time: 20 minutes (steaming) and 5–10 minutes (frying) • 350g fresh trout fillets, skinned• 125g bacon, chopped• 150g pecorino, grated• 2 egg whites• 150ml crème fraîche or Gree

Makes about 500ml sauce Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • 3 red peppers• 3 plum tomatoes, halved• 1–2 red chillies• 250ml whole almonds• 15ml smoked paprika• 15ml red wine vinegar• 2 garlic cloves• 250ml fresh bread cubes• about 100m

Serves 6 Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour, 15 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 1 large whole chicken (1.5kg)• 30ml olive oil• 2 spring onions, coarsely chopped• 2 garlic cloves, crushed• 2cm fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped• ½ l

Serves 6–8 as a side dish Preparation: 30 minutes, plus cooling time Cooking time: 30 minutes Oven temperature: 200°C • 1L milk• a large pinch of nutmeg• 1 heaped cup (180g) semolina• 250ml grated Parmesan• 125ml butter, at room temperature• 3 egg yo

Makes one 25cm wreath• Preparation: 40 minutes• Cooking time: 50 minutes • about 700g sliced sweet potato (a mixture of orange and yellow)• 45ml olive oil• 6 sage leaves, plus extra to garnish• 1 roll (400g) shortcrust pastry, thawed• a handful of ro

PAP • 1L water• 5ml sea salt flakes• 500ml maize meal• 60ml soft butter• 1 tin (400g) corn kernels, drained TOPPING • 1 tin (400g) braai relish or tomato and onion relish• 200g button mushrooms, chopped and fried• 350–500ml cream• 250ml grated cheese

Serves 8 as a light meal• Preparation: 25 minutes• Cooking time: 1 hour• Oven temperature: 180 °C • 1kg medium-sized potatoes, scrubbed• 4 shallots, finely chopped and fried• 8 rashers bacon, chopped and fried until crispy• 2 garlic cloves, finely ch

Serves 6• Preparation: 15 minutes, plus drying time Cooking time: 1 hour in the pot, plus braaing time • 20ml brown sugar• 200ml coarse salt• 2ml saltpetre• 50ml toasted coriander seeds• 20ml brown vinegar• 1 lamb rib (about 1.5kg) 1 Mix the sugar, s

Serves 6–8 Preparation: 1 hour Cooking time: 45 minutes Oven temperature: 200°C (for the chicken) • 125ml olive oil• 12 chicken thighs or drumsticks• 2 onions, finely chopped• 1 red pepper, cut into strips• 4 garlic cloves, crushed• 500g Arborio rice

Serves 6–8 Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking time: several hours (the longer the better) • 1.5kg beef bones (make sure there are lots of marrow bones)• 2 cinnamon sticks• 2 star anise• 3 cardamom pods• 5ml rainbow peppercorns• 3 cloves• 2 onions, peele

Serves 4 Preparation: 1 hour (depending on how clean the offal is) Cooking time: 3–4 hours • 1 sheep offal (head, tripe and 4 feet, cleaned)• 2 pig’s trotters, each cut into 3 pieces• zest and juice of 1 lemon• 2 bay leaves• 6 allspice peppercorn ber

Serves 6 Preparation: 45 minutes Cooking time: 2–2½ hours Oven temperature: 160°C • 15ml ground ginger• 10ml ground cumin• 2kg lamb shanks, cut in portions; or leg of lamb cut into 2cm cubes• olive oil for frying• 4 medium-sized onions, roughly chopp

Makes 8–10 rotis Preparation: 45 minutes (plus resting time in refrigerator) Cooking time: 20 minutes • 500ml cake flour• 5ml salt• 2.5ml baking powder• 250ml hot water• 125g soft butter or ghee• oil for frying 1 Sift the flour, salt and baking powde

Serves 4 Preparation: 45 minutes Cooking time: 3 hours Oven temperature: 150°C • 2.2kg oxtail (about 2 tails), fat trimmed off• salt and freshly ground black pepper• 30–45ml olive or canola oil• 1 onion, finely chopped• 2 carrots, finely chopped• 1 c

Makes about 35 samoosas (depending on size) Preparation: 1½–2 hours (including making the filling) Cooking time: 10–15 minutes • 45–60ml oil• 1 onion, finely chopped• 3 large garlic cloves, crushed• 2cm fresh ginger, finely grated• 10ml ground corian

Serves 8–10 (depending on how you serve it) • Preparation: 30 minutes Roasting time: 6–8 hours • Oven temperature: 140°C • 250ml orange juice• 125ml chicken stock• 125ml tomato sauce• 125ml chutney• 60ml brown sugar• 15ml wholegrain mustard• 15ml cum

Serves 8–10 Preparation: 3–4 hours (excluding marinating time) Cooking time: 45 minutes Oven temperature: 200°C • 30ml butter• 125g rindless bacon, chopped• 1 large onion, chopped• 3–4 garlic cloves, crushed• 250g button mushrooms, sliced• 500g lamb

Serves 6 (generous portions)• Preparation: 30 minutes, plus marinating time• Cooking time: 6 hours• Oven temperature: 160°C • 6 springbok shanks• 30ml olive oil• 4 leeks, rinsed and cut into 4cm-long pieces• 3 garlic cloves, peeled• 250g smoked pork,

Feel free to substitute the butternut with pumpkin, but the former adds wonderful texture to this dish. Serves 6–8 Preparation: 45 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Oven temperature: 200°C • 750g (3 packets) cannelloni tubes• butter FILLING •

Pickles are vegetables that have been preserved in a herbal vinegar mixture, sometimes with a little sugar for extra flavour. Make sure they aren’t too soft; they should have a crunchy texture, just like these delicious onions. Makes four or five 500

Makes at least 12 doughnuts Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • 560g (4 x 250ml) flour• 25g (60ml) cocoa• 15ml baking powder• a pinch of salt• 80ml buttermilk• 125ml butter, melted• 4 eggs• 150g (180ml) sugar• vegetable oil for deep-fr

Makes 1 loaf Preparation: 15 minutes (plus about 14 hours resting time – but it’s worth the wait!) Baking time: about 40 minutes Oven temperature: 230°C • 750ml stone-ground white bread flour• 5–10ml salt• 5ml instant yeast• 375ml water 1 In a large

Serves 8• Preparation: 30 minutes• Cooking time: 20 minutes SAUCE • 2–3 large onions, halved and thinly sliced• 100g (125ml) soft brown sugar• 50ml smooth apricot jam• 750ml vinegar• 2cm fresh ginger, grated or chopped• 3 garlic cloves, crushed• 1 re

Serves 6 • Preparation: a few hours • 400g strawberries or nectarines• 250ml castor sugar• 200ml water• 60ml lemon juice• 60ml gin (or try a distilled non-alcoholic gin such as Abstinence)• 15ml naartjie peel or rosewater 1 Cut the fruit into smaller

We made this easy fudge in the microwave – and whether it contains marshmallows or not, it always hits the sweet spot! If you don’t like using a microwave, you can also make the fudge on the stove; remember to stir continuously so it doesn’t burn. En

Enough for 6 x 180ml ramekins • Preparation: 45 minutes Cooling time: 30 minutes • Cooking time: 10–12 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 50g butter, melted• cocoa• 200g quality dark chocolate, broken into shards or coarsely chopped• 200g butter, cube

Makes 1 x 22cm tart Preparation: 1 hour Baking time: 1 hour Oven temperature: 180°C CRUST LAYERS • 560g (4 x 250ml) cake flour• 10ml baking powder• 5ml salt• 200g (250ml) sugar• 250g butter• 3 eggs, beaten FILLING • 500ml cream• 2 tins (385g each) co

Also known as a puffed pancake, this Dutch delight is one large, slightly thick pancake served in slices with your favourite toppings. It isn’t made on top of the stove, but in the oven – so make sure you use an ovenproof pan. Preferably, serve it as

“This recipe comes from a handwritten cookbook by Hybie Kolver of Boshoff in the Free State,” writes Peter Veldsman in his recipe book, Food of the Century. Serves 6–8 Preparation: 45 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes • 240g (about 500ml) cake flour•

Makes 5–6 dozen Preparation: 1 hour, plus cooling time Cooking time: 1 hour SYRUP • 1kg sugar• 500ml water• 4 cardamom seeds• 2 star anise• 2 cinnamon sticks• 2.5ml cream of tartar• 30ml rosewater DOUGH • 480g (850ml) cake flour• 30ml baking powder•

Makes 1 x 20cm cake • 4 eggs• 500ml flour• 125ml oil• 30ml brandy• 600ml full-cream milk• 15ml sugar (optional)• a pinch of salt • 750ml full-cream milk• 1 cinnamon stick• 4 egg yolks• 125ml brown sugar• 25ml cornflour• a few drops of vanilla essence

• 12 oranges (fresh, not too ripe) • sugar • water 1 Wash the fruit and cut it into quarters (with the peel on). Remove the pips and place them in a tied-up muslin bag – this will be added to the pot when you cook the marmalade. Slice the fruit into

Makes 1L pudding Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours, 30 minutes • 125g softened butter• 60ml brown sugar• 60ml marmalade*, plus extra to serve• 2 extra-large eggs• 310ml flour• 7.5ml baking powder• a pinch of salt• 150ml hot milk * Make yo

Makes about 25 Preparation: 30 minutes Baking time: 2 hours Oven temperature: 100°C • 5 egg whites• a pinch of salt• 2ml cream of tartar• 315g (375ml) castor sugar• 2.5ml vanilla essence 1 Line two baking trays with baking paper and set aside. Prehea

Serves 8–10 Preparation: 1 hour, plus setting time PANNA COTTA • 3 gelatine sheets• 30ml hot water• 500ml cream• 80ml castor sugar• 100g white chocolate, chopped• 1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped out DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE • 300g dark chocolate, chopped•

Makes 12 Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes • 250ml boiling water• 80g butter• 50g (60ml) cinnamon sugar• a pinch of salt• 140g (250ml) flour• 3 eggs• oil for deep-frying• castor sugar, to garnish 1 Mix the water, butter, sugar and salt

Makes 12 tartlets Preparation: 25 minutes Baking time: 15–20 minutes Oven temperature: 220°C • 30ml flour• 30ml icing sugar• 15ml cinnamon• 450g puff pastry CUSTARD • 125ml castor sugar• 125ml water• 1 strip lemon peel• 350ml milk• 50g (90ml) flour•

Serves 6 Preparation: 40 minutes Baking time: 20 minutes, then another 15–20 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C, then 220°C Serves 6 Preparation: 40 minutes Baking time: 20 minutes, then another 15–20 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C, then 220°C 1 Cut th

Makes 1 square 28cm cake • Preparation: 30 minutes Baking time: 4½–5 hours • Oven temperature: 120°C • 250g seedless raisins• 250g currants• 250g sultanas• 200ml brandy• 480g cake flour• 5ml salt• 15ml baking powder• 7.5ml each mixed spice, ground ci

Makes 120 rusks • Preparation: 2–3½ hours (including rising time) Baking time: 40–50 minutes • Oven temperature: 160°C • 1 tin (385g) condensed milk• 250g butter• 250ml sugar• 500ml boiling water• 500ml cold water• 3 extra-large eggs, beaten• 50g fre

Makes 2 wreaths • Preparation: 3½ hours (including rising time) Baking time: 30 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • 625ml lukewarm water• 20g instant yeast• 125ml honey• 125ml olive oil• 15ml salt• 2 eggs• 5ml ground cinnamon• 150g dark chocolate, ch

Experiment with fresh filling ingredients such as julienned vegetables, cooked pulled pork or chicken, herbs and seeds. And don’t forget the dipping sauce! Makes 6 rolls Preparation: 30 minutes • about 100g dried vermicelli noodles• 9 prawns, shelled

Makes 24 cupcakes • Preparation: 45 minutes • Cooking time: 20–25 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • 250ml boiling water• 180ml cocoa, sifted• 125ml milk• 5ml vanilla essence• 280g cake flour• 7ml bicarbonate of soda• 2.5ml salt• 250ml butter, at ro

This baked flan is made with ordinary ingredients but the end result is something special. Feel free to substitute the cream with milk for a lighter version. Makes 10–12 slices Preparation: 25 minutes Cooking time: about 1 hour Oven temperature: 160°

Makes 1 x 22cm three-layer cake Preparation: 30 minutes Baking time: 30 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 450g (800ml) cake flour• 45ml cocoa• 15ml baking powder• 5ml salt• 510ml oil• 45ml red food colouring• 5ml vanilla essence• 750ml castor sugar•

Makes 16 squares Preparation: 40 minutes, plus cooling time Baking time: 25–30 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 200g (250ml) castor sugar• 4 extra-large eggs• 5ml vanilla essence• 200g (375ml) cake flour• 5ml baking powder• 100g butter, melted CHOCO

This feather-light cake should be eaten freshly baked. Makes 1 Swiss roll Preparation: about 45 minutes Baking time: 14 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 4 eggs, separated• 30ml white sugar• 50g (60ml) castor sugar• 5ml vanilla essence• a pinch of sa

Makes 1 three-layer cake • Preparation: 40 minutes Baking time: 25 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • 420g (750ml) flour• 22.5ml baking powder• 6 eggs• 330g (410ml) sugar• 375ml milk• 1 rooibos teabag• 150g butter, melted• 5ml orange blossom water•

Makes 1 cake with five layers • Preparation: 45 minutes Baking time: 15 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C CAKE LAYERS • 6 extra-large eggs• 410g (450ml) castor sugar• 10ml vanilla essence• 450g (750ml) cake flour• 20ml baking powder• 7.5ml salt• 375m

Bake a cake yourself or buy an ordinary one with plain icing and get out that piping bag that’s been lying unused in the drawer for so long! It may take a bit of practise – luckily, you can put any flops back into the piping bag and try again… 100g s

Makes about 8–12, depending on the size Preparation: 20 minutes (plus freezing time) Cooking time: 5 minutes • about 250g cubed mango, frozen berries or granadilla pulp• lemon juice (if needed)• 1 egg• 2 egg yolks• 125ml castor sugar• 250ml cream Ble

If your first attempt at folding the cones is unsuccessful, eat the bits and try again. These cones will keep for up to three days in an airtight container. Makes about 10 cones Preparation: 20 minutes, plus 1 hour resting time Baking time: about 5 m

Panettone is a rich, sweet Italian bread made with eggs, dried fruit and butter; it’s usually on store shelves around Christmas time. The distinctive upright shape of the loaf is perfect for this festive ice-cream cake and the unique taste complement

A heartfelt thank you to Bibette Prins, owner of Plan B Vintage in Durbanville, and Serina Chambers, owner of Nerf-Af Vintage en Antiek (now in Onrusrivier), who graciously share their beautiful vintage props with us. Other valued suppliers include L

Back in the day, before an infinite library of music was available on the internet, my husband Allister was the master of the mixed tape. He would painstakingly search for and record songs, and then woo me with his selections, fine-tuning each playli

Carefully remove the cheesecake from the pan with the help of the loose base; place the cake on a pretty platter and garnish with extra smoked salmon ribbons, cucumber and radish slices, capers, fresh basil and sliced tomato. Also add edible flowers

The star here is fuss-free sushi – even if you've never folded and rolled sushi before, you'll be able to master this dish. I was inspired by a Nadia Aidi creation on Instagram (check out foodmymuse.com). So clever! Serves 6 • Preparation: 1 hour and

Makes 28 individual pies • Preparation: 25 minutes • Baking time: 45 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • 3 rolls (400g each) frozen shortcrust pastry, defrosted • micro herbs and mustard, to serve • 1 tub (230g) cream cheese in the flavour of your ch

Dish the mussels into individual bowls (or use a large serving dish) and pour the sauce over. Make sure you have plenty of bread to mop up the delicious sauce; crispy skinny fries and aioli make the perfect accompaniments. Serves 4 • Preparation: 20

Makes about 250ml • Preparation: 5 minutes • 1 whole egg • 2 egg yolks (use the egg whites for the fishcakes, see right) • 7.5ml Dijon mustard • 2.5ml chopped fresh garlic • a large pinch of cayenne pepper • 2ml Maldon salt plus extra, to taste • 2ml

Makes 10–12 rolls Preparation: 45 minutes, plus rising time Baking time: 20 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 4 × 250ml flour, plus a little extra for kneading • 10g instant yeast • 30ml sugar • 5ml salt • 250ml lukewarm water • 60ml plain yoghurt •

Makes 8 flatbreads • Preparation: 1 hour Cooking time: 20 minutes for the filling; 4 minutes per batch for the flatbreads (36 minutes altogether) • oil for shallow-frying • lemon wedges and Greek yoghurt, to serve • 30ml olive oil • 500g lamb mince •

TIP You can of course use beef goulash for the filling, but a combination of cubed meat cut from the beef forequarter (this includes chuck, short rib, shin, neck and brisket) is richer and won't dry out during cooking. Why two different types of past

Sweet tomato chutney takes these burgers to the next level! Serves 4 • Preparation: 20 minutes • Cooking time: 8 minutes • 600g beef mince • 100g salami slices, finely chopped • 125ml dried breadcrumbs (we used panko) • 60ml finely grated Parmesan •

Enough for 1kg pasta ribbons (about 12 servings) • Preparation: 30 minutes • Cooking time: 3 hours and 20 minutes • 30ml each olive oil and butter • 1 large onion, chopped • 2 plump carrots, chopped • 2 celery stalks, chopped • 2 bay leaves, a sprig

Recipe on page 89 Recipe on page 86 This quick meal is a sumptuous spoil. It's my version of Fatima Sydow's prawn ahkni from her book Cape, Curry and Koesisters, co-authored with Gadija Sydow Noordien. On weeknights, I substitute the seafood with min

Serves 6–8 with hot cross buns • Preparation: 30 minutes • Cooking time: 20 minutes • about 200ml flour • 5ml turmeric • 2kg hake or snoek fillets • oil for shallow-frying • 6 large onions, peeled • 375ml brown vinegar • 250ml water • 125ml sugar • 6

Serves 4–6, depending on the number of side dishes • Preparation: 30 minutes • Cooking time: 45 minutes • 30ml olive oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 2cm fresh ginger, peeled and grated • 5ml mustard seeds • 1 red chil

This chunky relish can be used as a condiment or cook-in sauce. It's packed with flavour, rather than being super hot – try it! Serves 6 • Preparation: 40 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour and 20 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 6 chicken quarters • 1 ti

Makes 32 bite-sized snacks Preparation: 35 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • 16 chicken wings • salt and pepper • cornflour • vegetable oil for deep-frying • sesame seeds and spring onions or fresh basil, to serve (optional) GLAZE • 30ml Korean Goch