Lifestyle

For the beginner cook, pasta is a great base upon which to construct a massive variety of meals. But puttanesca is powerful, almost overwhelming and it creates a nuclear explosion of flavour and aroma.

Daleen & Hennie from Lydenburg wrote in response to a house design in Farmer’s Weekly on 21 September 2012.

Jerked chicken, for the inexperienced, means coal-black, Caribbean-style, spicy chicken that’s usually cooked on an open fire. Here’s a way to produce a braai-style finish without the smoke, dust and flames.

I live in Tanzania in quite a remote location. The house site is in a rural setting on a piece of undeveloped land so I don’t have any municipal roads or amenities.

Cantonese egg drop soup has long been a favourite. And then along came Italian egg drop soup with delicious Mediterranean accents heightened by lemon zest and nutmeg.

Jean and Mike want a design for a contemporary family home. But they also require some space for them when they retire.

This dish is a symphony of crisp, lightly-oiled vegetables of different colours and tastes, heightened by fresh oregano and rosemary. Toss in some rare steak plus a dash of Thai-inspired sauce to take it to a new level.

A call came in from a previous client in the Eastern Cape involved in the complete redevelopment of church facilities. They require a new church that would accommodate up to 1 500 members.

Squid enthusiasts have only one fear: a meal that looks and tastes like white rubber bands. Here’s good news for beginner cooks: a simple, magical way to turn squid into calamari.

Jonno suggests that when building a house don't use steel to support the structure. Steel or a metal frames should be used for farm shedding, barns, etc.

Pig neck has come to me as a major surprise, never before having had anything to do with this part of the beast. Well, let me tell you that this is a magnificent cut of meat. And the sauce! This taste and aroma combination is difficult to equal, never mind beat...

There comes a time in the affairs of cooks when the lemon hits the pan. Hoping for a good-looking, sweet tasting lemon tart, this rugged survivor of many a kitchen battle managed to extract something deliciously edible from the jaws of defeat.

When discussing home constructions with the many folk who phone me, there are always the same issues that come up.

There’s something special about one-pot cooking. This hearty combination of beans, onions and smoked pork belly needs only a wedge of bread to soak up the flavour-rich juices.

Hi Jonno, I saw your outstanding design in the Farmer’s Weekly dated 7 September 2012. It made me think of my plan to build a cultural village on my farm in Gauteng.

I want to build a house for a new employee, an admin manager, in Mozambique. Would you be able to assist with the floor plan design please?

This over-the-top piece of Euro-cuisine has a lot going for it. Firstly, lots of flavours. Secondly, lots of colour. Thirdly, its surprisingly easy to cook. Finally, its a dinner party on one platter. No additions necessary, apart from a crisp, white wine.

Call it what you will, this meatball veld fire with its powerful Indian flavours will bring tears of homesickness to the eyes of KZN citizens exiled elsewhere in this great Republic of ours. Here is great flavour, character-building chilli heat, and an easy cooking all-in-one splendid recipe.

I’ve had a few calls lately from Farmer’s Weekly readers asking whether I can produce any contemporary modern-type homes.

Ben Freeth tells the story of how he and his two sons set out on a fund-raising expedition across the Makgadikgadi salt pans on a home-built go-kart.