Cook and Culture: Ready, set, holiday with great entertainment and a delicious pork recipe
Watch: Here are some tips and tricks to get you in the festive mood.
Recipe
Festive Pork Wellington (provided by Capsicum)
- 500g pork fillet, seasoned with salt and pepper to taste
- 2 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and cored
- 20g preserved ginger
- 10ml Butter
- 400g ready roll puff pastry
- 1x whole star anise
- 1x whole cinnamon stick
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- A jar of cranberry jelly preserve, to serve
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method
In a preheated pan, sear the seasoned pork on all four sides for one minute per side. Place the apples into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not pureed. Place the chopped apple into a heated sauté pan with the butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise, and sauté until all the liquid has evaporated.
Lightly flour a work surface and roll the puff pastry to 45cm x 20cm. Remove the cinnamon and star anise from the apple mixture. Spread a thick layer of the apple onto one half of the pastry, lengthways.
Place the seasoned pork fillet on top of the apple mixture and top with thinly sliced preserved ginger. Roll up the pastry to cover the pork fillet. Pinch down the edges to seal the meat in. Brush the top of the pastry with egg wash or milk. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C for 20 to 25 minutes.
Slice or cut into four portions and serve with a dollop of cranberry preserve.
Watch video:
Home Remedy
Ants can be a huge nuisance in the house, especially when they get into food. While there are many repellents to get rid of them, some people are careful to spray poison, especially when there are children or animals in the house. Mazina is a natural ant killer, and cinnamon can also be used to get rid of the little guys.
Have You Heard It Yet?
With the latest showstopper film Bohemian Rhapsody and the Queen show It’s A Kinda Magic now on at Emperors Palace, make sure to go listen to the legendary Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody.
Pro Tip
Let colleagues know when you will be on leave and when you will be returning to work on your WhatsApp status and email automatic reply.
Check It Out
Netflix, DSTV and iTunes all have a specific channel solely dedicated to Christmas music.
Local Is Lekker
Get your coffee fix on the go. Beans About Coffee in Boksburg is open at Towers Centre.
Digital
It’s time for Christmas and New Year photos and videos. Go to WhatsApp settings and make sure you select the option of only downloading photos and videos when connected to Wi-Fi, that way you can save some data during the festive season.
Do-Gooder
Amanda Coetzee from Boksburg North is a child protection officer and helps hundreds of abused and abandoned children in our community. Thank you, Amanda. Keep up the good work.
READ MORE ON HER WORK:
Kuselo up and running again to provide care for abused children
Charity
Donate old clothing and non-perishable foods this holiday. Drop off at Boksburg Advertiser office 20 Sydney Road. All donations will be handed over to Chain of Hope in Boksburg on December 15.
Food For Thought
To some people the holidays can be a time of pain and loneliness. If you are spending this Christmas alone, here are some thoughts to keep in mind:
If you have to spend the festive season alone it can bring up some sad memories, try to avoid this by being as close to those important to you as possible, even if it is just trough a text message or phone call. Reach out to others, if you know of someone who also doesn’t have friends or family to celebrate Christmas with, why not invite them to join you.
Change the scenery, if your setting triggers sad or negative emotions, travel for a weekend or a few days, go to a place you have not been to before and make some new memories.
Make the festive season something new, decorate your home in a non traditional way or start a new tradition! Make it special for yourself, just because you are alone doesn’t mean you can’t have a feast, you can still sing Christmas tunes, watch your favourite holiday movie or read that special Christmas story, make it nice for yourself. Just because yo are alone this holiday season, doesn’t mean you should be lonely.
We need you
Cook and Culture is for Boksburg residents and we would love to have your input, questions and ideas. If you have something to say or something relevant in the above categories, let us know. If a stranger did something to help you in Boksburg, or you have a delicious recipe to share, tell us all about it.
Email us at sunelg@caxton.co.za and anel@caxton.co.za
*Cook and Culture is written by Advertiser media specialist Annelette Bezuidenhout and Advertiser journalist Sunel Gilliland. Annelette is the mother of two children and a dachshund. Sunel has two loving Pekingese.
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Cook and Culture: Add a little sparkle to your full programme
Cook and Culture: Always something to be grateful for this silly season
Cook and Culture: Push on towards the holiday season
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