Cook and Culture: A time to show some love
The first month of the new decade is coming to an end and we are almost into the month of love. Let’s be grateful for all our loved ones and what they mean to us. Here are some tips and tricks to extend the love to our friends and colleagues.
Digital
Struggling to get the shortcut key to that symbol or special character for your presentation or email? No problem for Windows. This is not new, but so handy to remember. Press your Windows button and the letter “R” on your keyboard simultaneously.
The Run Command box will open on the bottom left-hand side of you screen. In the text box type “charmap” and click on OK. The Windows Character Map will open. Select the symbol or character of choice, press select, then copy and then paste it into the document or email, or simply drag and drop.
Check It Out
We know from the recent in-depth survey of Boksburg that the top interest is health and fitness for Boksburgers. We are super thrilled about the new business on the block. The IV Bar Boksburg at the K90 Centre is now open. They offer medically approved intravenous vitamin drips, check it out.
Food For Thought
Love yourself more, you are spending the rest of your life with yourself.
Home Remedy
They say smell can influence behaviour or emotions. It is the month of love, so make sure you have a pleasant aroma inside your home and car.
Local Is Lekker
Cheap Valentine’s dates: Head to your favourite local restaurant for dessert only, you know chocolate is a known aphrodisiac. Order takeout and set up a romantic spot at home. Go for a hike and a picnic.
Your first kiss – we all have a significant spot special to your relationship, go back there for Valentine’s Day.
Morning coffee at your favourite coffee shop.
Extravagant Valentine’s dates:
Book at a fancy restaurant, go on a sunset boat cruise or take a hot-air balloon ride. These can all make for unforgettable romantic experiences. For the single ones: Don’t be dull, host a singles-only dinner or braai or treat your parents to a special dinner.
Pro Tip
We are social creatures, we crave friendship and positive interactions, just as we do food and water. So it makes sense that the better our relationships are at work, the happier and more productive we’re going to be. Trust, mutual respect, welcoming diversity, open communication, and mindfulness are some characteristics to keep loving your working environment.
Dolled Up Tart
A dolled-up version of a South African classic, Cremora tart. Its Valentine’s month, add some red berries to make it beautiful.
- 250 g powdered coffee creamer
- 125 ml boiling water
- 1 x can sweetened condensed milk
- 125 ml lemon juice 200 g (1 packet) coconut biscuits – I used the ones with the hearts on
In a large bowl, mix the coffee creamer with the boiling water and beat until the mixture is smooth. Refrigerate until cold. Using an electric mixer, whip the chilled coffee creamer until it is light, thick and fluffy. Add the condensed milk and the lemon juice and beat until well blended.
Refrigerate again for 30 minutes or until the mixture is just beginning to set. Arrange 24 biscuits on two large pieces of tin foil (12 biscuits each) in three even rows. Spread the chilled mixture over the cookies. Using the tinfoil, lift the long sides and bring them together to form the top of a triangle, folding the long edges of the foil together securely and shaping it into a smooth triangle. Refrigerate for one hour or until set before serving. I made two small tarts with this recipe.
I used home-made chocolate ganache, but you can pour the melted chocolate over the top of the tart and allow the chocolate to set before slicing it and serving.
Doll up your tart with some fresh berries. Strawberries, pomegranates, cherries and raspberries.
You can add a small tin of crushed pineapple if you like as well.
*This tart can be frozen.
Community Star and Charity
Love your community and get involved locally. The smallest effort will make a difference.
Have You Binged It Yet?
Let your hair down, put your feet up. Take a night and binge-watch a few classic movies.
Cook & Culture is written bi-weekly by Annelette Bezuidenhout, a media specialist at Caxton Local Media.
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