Lifestyle

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 box. And you get a visual feast too before you tuck in.

I received a request from Andrew in the Swartberg, KwaZulu-Natal, for a fisherman’s lodge that he and his father had conceptualised.

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, stirring and frying. The second sees all hell break loose for three minutes.

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 fellow vegans came for lunch.

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.

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 tasty chicken dish.

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...

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. If you’re up to the shock of it all, give this classic ginger and honey cake your best shot...

 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...

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...

There are numerous agritourism ideas out there – and many ways of generating income from visitors.

Hot dogs are usually street food. From the polystyrene-textured roll to the petrol-accented tomato sauce, even the cheapest street hot dog represents good business, with a profit margin seldom less than 300%. Here’s a better way to treat the concept.

Dear Jonno We want to build a home in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, and would like your creative input. We want something that is ‘mod’ but...

Hannes, who wanted to develop an eight-stand tourist accommodation complex , requested that I meet him on site in southern KwaZulu-Natal. Dear Hannes, Further to our...

Overcome by the unexpected dinner-time arrival of the hungry multitudes demanding something warm to fill their bellies? Here’s what you do to provide a splendid combination of fish flavours and pasta, without the need to bait a hook and visit the dam.

We have been looking at various house plans you have featured in Farmer’s Weekly for a few years now and are keen to start building a cottage on my in-laws’ property

Unusually, I’m going to spend most of my five-hundred words converting you to wok science. If you intend stir-frying regularly, get yourself a wok and a gas ring if you don’t have these. A frying pan, with its flat, shallow design, is an awkward substitute. Here is a simple and delicious oyster beef recipe to practise on.

I received two requests from callers planning to build lettable units on their farms. This requires changing from agricultural to commercial zoning, a long...

Jacques van der Westhuizen and Marius Fuls manage a 22 000ha hunting concession and game reserve in Limpopo. According to Jacques, hunters have a responsibility to maintain the ecological balance. Gerhard Uys spoke to them about their successful hunting outfit.

The thing about South-East Asian food is that you find it everywhere in that region, regardless of the country. This recipe, a good basic winter’s meal, lies between a soup and a stew, and has delicious familiar accents such as nam pla (fish sauce), coriander and lime juice.