Cowboy pork and beans
Cold weather demands easy-eating, easy-cooking hot food in large quantities. Try this variation on a Western cowboy theme. Take along a wide-mouthed thermos of this meal next time you’re home...
A stylish wedding venue in KZN
Dear Jonno I am looking to build a wedding facility in my hometown in KwaZulu-Natal. I would like the establishment to have a restaurant or...
Rigatoni pasta with beef sauce
It was a Thursday, and this means spaghetti bolognaise in my house. So you can imagine the shock when my schoolteacher daughter visited and cooked a dinner that shattered the...
Traditional yet modern farmhouse
Dear Jonno We recently bought a 120ha farm in the southern Western Cape, and are looking to construct a farm-style house with a modern interior....
Chicken vegetable soup
Hot, nutritious soup is ideal as a snack, a starter or a full meal. Here’s a delicious soup recipe for the beginner cook that will satisfy the most sophisticated diners...
5-star cave accommodation
I was recently contacted by Charles who had a design request for something unique. He had previously stayed in 5-star man-made cave accommodation in...
Toad in the Hole
When it comes to strange names for traditional English dishes, this one takes the, er, Yorkshire pudding. Never mind, it’s a great old favourite: delicious, satisfying and easy to prepare.
How to set up an agritourism venture
A farmer looking to set up an agritourism operation should think carefully about how to attract visitors to the farm – and keep them coming back.
A Tuscan style home
I recently had a meeting with a client, Majola, whose thatched roof house had burnt down. It had a bedroom, a living room, kitchen...
Thai- influenced beef salad in a jar
No, we’re not talking pickles or jams, but an entire meal – temptingly displayed and conveniently stored. The classic Consol glass jar is the natural development of the plastic lunch...
A functional fisherman’s lodge
I received a request from Andrew in the Swartberg, KwaZulu-Natal, for a fisherman’s lodge that he and his father had conceptualised.
Grilled prawns & prawn risotto
Here is a satisfying dish that brings together the creamy richness of arborio rice and the glorious flavour of prawns. The first involves a slow, gentle cooking process of simmering,...
Tabbouleh, your vegan standby
A good friend and former colleague has been converted to veganism. Vegans eat no animal- based foods, including milk and eggs. This is what I prepared when he and his...
Brandy and mushroom risotto
There are two really big deals here, the arboria rice and the brandy. Arboria rice is essential for this dish because of its flavour, aroma, and most importantly, its stickiness.
Chicken breasts stuffed with ham and brie
In cooking, it’s tradition to add excellence to an already desirable ingredient. Sticking to this tradition, this recipe offers excellence with a side serving of pasta alfredo to accentuate the...
Working from home in the bush
Dear Jonno We have a stand on a small private game farm in North West, and hope that you’ll be able to convert our ideas...
Ginger and honey cake
Baking is complex or simple, depending on how you’re feeling on the day. The food I cook is mostly very simple. Baking, on the other hand, is full of mysteries....
Unusual student rondavels
Dear Jonno All the proposed additions to the communal lodges that you designed for us have been approved by the local authority and we’ll start...
House on stilts in Zambia
Dear John Your article in Farmer’s Weekly of 19 June 2015 refers. We intend building a house in Zambia shortly, and need your assistance with the...
Agritourism: what to offer and how to maximise income
There are numerous agritourism ideas out there – and many ways of generating income from visitors.
