My Kalahari Autumn Table: Nostalgic Baked Chicken with Chutney and Mayo

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It is my favourite season: autumn!
My heart quietly celebrates as I watch the tall Kalahari grass dancing in the light wind, whispering the promises of cooler days. After months of relentless sun and dry days, the land has begun to exhale. What a few months it has been… months of waiting, praying for rain, watching the skies with hope. Long, hot days that seemed to stretch endlessly. And then — the rain came.

Oh, how the rain transforms everything — even my anxious heart.
The scent of the earth deepens, rich and grounding. Sunsets blaze in hues of red and gold, casting a soft glow over the landscape. Grasslands of green surprise the sand. In the kitchen, this change of season stirs something in me too. The rhythm slows. It is the season of golden grasses, grateful hearts, and the gentle beauty of autumn.

Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons – Jim Bishop.

It is also a season to cook from the heart and to tell stories that warm the soul. Here at My Kalahari Kitchen, we lean into this moment — celebrating seasonal ingredients, nostalgic flavours, and the beauty of simply being together.

I find myself reaching for old favourites—recipes passed down, tucked away in handwritten notes and smudged with memory. The kind of food that fills a home with fragrance. Food that invites you to linger a little longer around the table.

One of those recipes, close to my heart and tied to so many family meals in our Kalahari kitchen, is baked chicken smothered in a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet chutney-mayo sauce. While every family might have its own slight variation—some add curry powder, others a splash of lemon juice—the soul of the dish remains unchanged. It’s effortless, flavourful, and for sure a family favourite!

Here’s the nostalgic version from My Kalahari Kitchen — simple, satisfying and perfect for an autumn evening in the Kalahari. – Aldalene

(Recipe on next page)

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Nothing brings people together like good food.

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I really love to cook and bake, plan and prepare for special celebrations, holidays and high days but, there is something about weekday dinners. We all have those nights when we don’t feel like cooking anything complicated. There’s also times when we don’t feel inspired, or just simply did not put in any time or energy into planning a meal.

As a mother, we are continuously running around trying to balance work, laundry, car pools, homework and healthy eating. And all the while trying to stay fit, fabulous and fun! Hard work for sure!

Family dinners are non negotiable in our house, even if it is something simple like scrambled eggs on toast. On the ranch in the Kalahari or in Windhoek during school runs, we make it a priority to sit down as a family for dinner around the kitchen table and share our day and life together. Time to look one another in the eye, be vulnerable and be together, all around a plate of food.

A family that eats together, stays together.

But it is not that easy! Evening work commitments, late meetings, sport and school activities all compete for evening-time attention, not to speak about television, social media and smart phones!

So when life is busy and hunger knocks at the door…Open, sesame! Everyone loves a warm and classic casserole like Chicken Divan, or as it’s more commonly known, Chicken Broccoli Casserole.This is an easy family-friendly weekday favorite.When you need dinner ready under the hour, this Chicken Broccoli Casserole with the creamiest sauce will save the day. Say hello to your family’s new favorite!

I absolutely love this easy version of Easy Chicken Broccoli Casserole. Perfectly-cooked broccoli, tender and juicy chicken on the bone, with an incredibly creamy, garlicky sauce – what more could you ask for? Many recipes call for condensed soups to get that smooth and creamy sauce, but this one uses just cream, wholegrain mustard and honey– so it’s gluten-free, and healthier all around! Yes, no processed ingredients in sight! Awesome, right?

So set the table, light the candles even on this Thursday evening. Your Chicken Broccoli Casserole will be ready in the hour and you can prepare for a hearty, easy and relaxed meal with your family. For the best memories are made around the table. Recipe on page 2.

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