2016 - January 27

2016 January 27 - email sent to friends, family and XCentric members

We had a pretty busy December!  A fabulous dinner with associates at Mythos, Montecasino.  Hein and I always share the Meat Meze Platter. (https://mythos.co.za/)

As you can see, it’s a pretty decent platter.  Beef kebab, chicken kebab, beef strips, chicken livers, Tzatziki dip and Taramasalata dip, pita bread, calamari, prawns and meatballs.  It’s really yummy!

On the 16^th December 2015, we had a street braai in our complex.  We flipped about 80 patties ... that was really fun!  

In September 2015 we also had a street boerewors braai, but we realized that burgers are sooo much easier!  Because the patties are nice and thin, they braai quicker.  I then had presliced cheese, lettuce leaves, tomato slices and Hein made a garlic-butter-onion pot on the side.  With lots of buns.  Ketchup, Wimpy mustard (is there any other mustard?) and of course some of my homemade chilli sauces.  I made a sauce with dates and one with mint.  Most comments were that the date one was a little bit milder than the mint one.

The day was gorgeous, not too hot!  Our resident alarm company, Trojan, sponsored 2 gazebo’s, table and chairs and in return we supplied them with burgers and cold drinks.  Everyone was just relaxed and the kids played in the street.

A xmas feast was held at a friend’s home in Bryanston.  We were going to be 10 adults and Hein and I had to bring 2 roasted chickens.  Hein roasted the chickens on the Weber and we removed them from the grid just before we left for their house.  The table was decorated whimsically with glass baubles filled with little scenes, to be used as napkin holders.  We had lamb roast, roasted onions, a cheese platter for dessert and another friend brought her homemade fruitcake, doctored with VO 5 brandy for months!  The cake was topped with loads of red cherries, circled with a red ribbon and was accompanied by a ‘father xmas’.  After dinner we sat outside on the patio, nibbling on the cheeses.    Everyone had a chance to play a song from a song list ... it was really good fun!

Movie night under the stars ... but not quite.  An invitation arrived for a slider burger and movie night.  I made small burger patties to braai.  When we arrived there, a choice of frozen Pina Colada or Rosewater Milkshake was offered ... I chose the milkshake and it was deeeelish!!!!  A huge outside screen was in their garden, next to the soft green grass.  Our camping chairs and pillows were scattered around and we started the patties.  Huge platters of lettuce, different kinds of cheeses, fried bacon, dipping sauces and pickled red onions (homemade by our friend).  Fresh slider buns were eagerly waiting for the patties.

And then it started to rain.  The party moved indoors.  After dinner, the movies started.  Fresh microwave popcorn in authentic holders was dished out together with mini-sized chocolates.  Dessert was homemade fruitcake.  What a fun evening.

On Thursday 24^th December, Hein and I drove to Skeerpoort (outside Hartbeespoort) to a single cottage on a plot (close to the main house).  Ziggy's River Cottage (https://www.wheretostay.co.za/ziggysrivercottage-self-catering-hekport) 

We parked my car and only started it again on Sunday, 27^th December.  The cottage only sleeps 2 in a massive bedroom, a small lounge and kitchen, full bathroom and a fabulous outside underroof patio.  The patio overlooked the river, but it was overgrown with bamboo, shrubs and trees.  What a fantastic few days.  Read a lot, braaied a lot, chilled a lot!  It also rained quite a bit and it was a lovely change from the heat.

Since quite a few people were at home on New Years’ Eve, one Indian couple across from us in the complex, suggested we have a bring-and-braai street evening.  About 12 people pitched.  Since our street lights are faulty, we had some floodlights going.  The security company parked their car at the entrance and with lovely music, yummy food and good conversations, we celebrated the last day of 2015.  I showed some of the girls how to line dance on Achy Breaky Heart in the street.  When the New Year was properly celebrated with pink sparkling wine, everyone packed up and walked back home.  This was a smart way of partying. 

Looking for a jeans!  Ughh.  A few years ago I bought this lovely striped jeans from Queenspark ... for R600! 

It fitted perfectly.  However, after one day, the pants stretched and were too big.  I was positively livid!!!  I couldn’t give it back ... had to buy ANOTHER pair of jeans. 

So this year I really need a nice, not hipster, dark blue jeans.  I’ve been searching malls ... 99% of jeans have these ‘spandex’ or ‘elastane’ in the fabric ... so I have NO idea how much they’re going to stretch!!!  And if you go 100% cotton, well ... the price is quite steep. 

Lastly on an INDULGENT, OVER THE TOP, CAN-YOU-BELIEVE-THIS, matter of dessert:

(And no, at R95 per ‘freaky shake’, I have yet to sip on one.)

These ‘freaky shakes’ are from Craft Restaurant, 4^th Avenue, Parkhurst.  (http://www.craftrestaurant.co.za/) The Candy Carnival is layered with strawberry bubblegum candy, love heart sweets, sherbet, candy floss, popping candy and pink caramel. There’s also the Chocolate Overload, with milk chocolate and white chocolate shake in dense layers covered in hazelnut-choc sauce, chocolate ganache, whipped chocolate, roasted marshmallows, Belgian choc sauce and even chocolate sprinkles. Bring it on. The Salted Caramel Delight contains real crème brûlée, baked cheesecake, a disc of salted caramel, chocolates oozing caramel filling and then spoonfuls of caramel sauce.

Maybe we should make a date ... and share one of these monstrosities!

Will chat again.