Paptert
I have just made a paptert for our New Years pary and I thought I would share the recipe with you
It is a traditional South African dish that we serve at a braai (BBQ)
| Pap tert |
| Main Ingredient Mielie meal (Located in the South African section at New World)
Ingredients Method The completed product! It's yummy
|
A huge range of interactive water features, sculptures and unique gadgets, all stationed in the extensive park grounds.
Some of the gadgets on display: Pumping water by bike power, water powered music box and the giant water-powered clock.
We stayed in a lodge that overlooks the Coromandel Town harbour area. Anchor Lodge - stunning accommodation and close to town- lovely! Going to miss the view from our room!
Natural forest! I just LOVE the silver ferns in this country!
What a view..
We spent the day with our special friends...
Good food and snacks!
Malcolm my very good hubby in the kitchen as usual!
Roast lamb!
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of cupcakes and sausage rolls baking in the oven!
Malcolm did the sausage rolls and Calyn the cupcakes- what a great team effort! Well done guys!
You are the best...
Excitement grows, the children smile,
As the special day draws near,
The nights draw in, and lights go on,
'Cos Christmas time is here...
The sleigh is laden with toys and gifts,
To bring some Christmas fun,
As Santa plans his route this year,
For his Christmas present run...
So wishes are sent to one and all,
To the ones we hold most dear,
And love and peace surround the world,
At this perfect time of year...
Merry Christmas
We spent the last 3 days at Waiheke Island, just 35 minutes from Auckland by ferry takes you to Waiheke Island. Situated in the Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke boasts a subtropical climate and a beautiful 100 km coastline.
Attractions vary from vineyards to beaches to galleries.
We visited one of the many vineyards Stonyridge- it was an amazing tour and the wine was scrumptious!
A clip from the tousismwaiheke.co.nz site
" A classic venue, set in a sunny valley of vines and shimmering olive trees, a place to soak up the aromas of Tuscany. This is the home of New Zealand's most sought after red wine. A lively atmosphere with fantastic cuisine. "
We visited an olive oil farm- Rangihoua Estate
"Waiheke Island now enjoys an international reputation for its premium extra virgin olive oils and olive products. Harvesting takes place from April through to May and sometimes June. There are more than 20,000 olive trees grown on the island, adding a distinctly Mediterranean feel to Waiheke's landscape."
I bought the most amazing olives in lime and garlic marinade! Yummy
To relax with one of these and the stunning sea view, that is what I call a holiday....
On the ferry- a lovely shop with interesting goodies to eat
Our office party was at the Ibis Hotel overlooking the stunning Claudelands Bridge in Hamilton
Some info compliments of Hamilton.co.nz
Located: Claudelands Road
Length: 148 metres
Height above river: 25 metres
Type & structure: Five span, 3 pin-jointed steel warren girder. Structure is two short land spans and 3 40m trussed spans, each comprising 3 3.9m deep riveted wrought iron trusses.
Date built: Started late 1879, completed July 1883
History: The bridge was originally built as railway bridge, but Claudelands residents were keen to be able to walk across it to get to Hamilton town for shops and secondary schools. The Railways Department did not intend the bridge to be used as a footbridge, and in 1888 took up the planking between the rails to deter those who did. However the need for the bridge to be strengthened due to increased rail traffic and heavier loads saw more work done in 1908, plus the opening of a footbridge. Further strengthening work was completed in 1936 to allow 135 ton K class locomotives across the bridge. In 1964 a new low level concrete bridge was built to tie in with the newly realigned and lowered railway line. In 1965 the last train used the old bridge, which was then converted for road traffic through removing the railway track and attaching a steel deck.
For the Kiwi readers, I thought I would tell you a bit more about the South African Braai
I took some pieces with compliments from justfoodnow.com
South African weather and history influence the braai culture of the country. Historically 14,000 Voortrekker pioneers left the Cape around 1835 because of British government policies.
They built wagons, packed up wives and families and tackled the mountains to the North in much the same way as the American pioneers did, also in search of land. Be that as it may, it was the beginning of hard times and adaptation for them.
Our forebears literally walked over the mountains - many of the women barefooted because there was no other way to do it. Right at the top of the really steep mountains, the wagons were disassembled and carried over! The tracks of the wagons in the rocks can still be seen today. 1835 heralded a new beginning for them, but they did not know how hard the road ahead would be. An ox-wagon could only hold so much. There was space for the Voortrekker and his wife up front, a wakis (a wagon chest) immediately behind him and provision was made for the family to sit and sleep in the back. In the wakis they packed ammunition for the sannas (the rifles), basic provisions, biltong, dried rusks, a massive family Bible and so on. On the outside of the wagon was hook for a cast iron pot called a potjie. The tradition of the braai originated right here. The Voortrekkers had to shoot game, slaughter and braai it over hot coals along the way or make a potjie with what there was. As they came into contact with the local tribesmen they were taught by them to use maize, an African staple, which been part of the braai culture ever since. We call this "pap" and we have it with a tomato and onion gravy- it is stunning!
Recipe
Ingredients
1 litre water
110 ml salt
1900 g mealie meal
Method:
Bring water to the boil. Add the salt. Add the mealie meal all at once. Mix with a fork to get rid of lumps. Once blended mix with a strong wooden spoon. Turn heat to medium low and cook with lid on for about 15 minutes, stirring well from time to time.
Tomato gravy
The favorite side dish with pap!
There are many ways to make a braai fire and fancy modern equipment is mainly used today, but it is said that a real braai fire is made from wood mounted on rocks on the ground and there are those traditionalists that stick to this come hell or high water. As far as I’m concerned, as long as the fire produces hot coals it’s fine. Naturally, hot coals from wood are the best because of the flavour it imparts to the food.
The braai is a vital part of South African life, it cuts across all cultures and is loved by everyone. So important is the braai that South Africa has an annual braai day, which is a public holiday and celebrated on Heritage Day on the 24th of September every single year. Women love National Braai Day in South Africa because the men cook the meat, which makes a change and women do not braai - there is nothing sexist in it, it’s just like that. I have never met a woman who has ever complained about this . Men love huddling together in the smoke around the fire until everything has cooked! The foods utilized are mainly meat and on the coast, all kinds of fish and crayfish are common. There are many traditional side dishes"
Here we are in Kiwi country having a South African braai.
We have such a stunning and very impressive Christmas tree in the centre of town this year- it is just beautiful!
We had another stunning weekend in the Coromandel- this time we went to the west coast of the Coromandel to a little town called Te Kouma, it was breathtakingly beautiful! The water was turquoise blue and the sand white and soft. Full of sunburn but very relaxed we returned from our lovely weekend with friends yesterday
