Lifestyle

There’s an understandable tradition to limit casseroles to cheaper cuts of meat. After all, that’s what slow cooking does best. But sometimes a casserole demands something more exciting than shin. My butcher provides something called ‘bucket meat’ which in his case refers to offcuts of beef fillet. And that’s what is used in this tender recipe.

Jonno designs a natural farm-style house with stone and wood for Tina.

What better way to fight wintery weather? Here’s a hot fisherman’s pie, easy to make and even easier to eat. And, all three types of seafood were caught in the freezer of my local supermarket.

Jonno designs communal grounds for a Middle East project development agency.

Here’s another venture in skottel or wok cooking. A stir-fry is always a welcome addition to the family menu. All you need is high heat and an ability to estimate time by the second.

Jonno assists a reader with a starter home design.

This began with an idea. “How nice it would be,” I told the family, “to enjoy some delicious lamb sweetbreads.” Once I had told the youngsters what sweetbreads were, the enthusiasm waned a little. But mine remained at a high simmer. My butcher shook his head. No sweatbreads in his shop. Perhaps a kilogram or two of beef lips on special? A plateful of smiles. Perhaps not. My wife who is not a Boer, made a plan anyway. And this is what we cooked.

Our fear of snakes harks back to our primeval ancestors – and is shared by many creatures. Yet these beautful creatures deserve our respect and protection. Abré J Steyn takes a closer look at what makes snakes so fascinating.

Jonno assists Peter with his plans to build a single storey house in Wakkerstroom.

Slow cooking produces a very different set of tastes and textures. This outstanding pork recipe brings a valuable new skill into the repertoire of the beginner cook with a meal awash with fragrance and tenderness.

Jurie Nel hunter, amateur ballistician and keen hand loader provides insight on energy transfer, penetration, deformation and the wound channel.

Jonno designs a single plan house with tuscan-style roofing.

Soft-centred with a crisp edge, these lemon zest accented biscuits don’t hang around long enough to get stale. Not only quick to bake, they also add their own special magic to the morning coffee break.

Landing the biggest ever specimen of this exciting angling fish all those years ago was a memorable event, recalls Eugene Kruger.

Jonno Smith designs a four room house for a reader.

Here’s a Vietnamese-influenced chicken noodle soup with pork belly, prawns and truly marvellous Asian herbs that’s easy to make.

Record-breaking rains. A dearth of insects where there are usually swarms. Fewer birds than normal. Are these signs of climate change? asks Abré J Steyn.

Jonno designs a beautiful four-bedroom house for Patience and her family.

Chorizo sausage and chicken livers on pasta Chorizo sausage is a powerful experience, adding heat, potency and red line flavours to this pasta number. For a seasoned diner it’s a blast. And for the beginner cook it’s the chance to easily take your skills to a new level.

Jonno designs a single storey house for FW reader Alan.