Lasagna like Nonna makes it!

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I am a pasta lover. Any shape or size of pasta…everyday is a good pasta day. This is a classic recipe of one of the most loved foods in the world. Yes, the ultimate comfort food in my Kalahari kitchen is definitely homemade lasagna. If I do not know what to prepare for dinner or how to feed an army of hungry teenagers, I will most probably be turning to this delicious dish. And with organic venison ground meat always in my freezer, it is the perfect to-go-to recipe.

A big warm comforting hug within layers of homemade pasta, tomato sauce, white sauce and melted cheese ( no ricotta needed). Crispy edges, a gooey, cheesy centre, perfectly cooked fresh lasagna pasta sheets in between a creamy parmesan white sauce and an abundance of cheese. That definitely spells deliciousness!

I’d much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size O.

Sophia Loren

I also want to note that this recipe isn’t difficult at all to make technique-wise. It just requires a solid hour or so of prep time as I believe the secret is in the simmering of the meat sauce until it has a rich thick consistency. So find an evening when you’re not in a rush, turn on some music, maybe pour yourself a glass of wine or some good fizzy water, and let’s make a pan of the most delicious lasagna together.

We love making it a whole family affair…. like the Italians do! Adding the flour and eggs, kneading the pasta dough until smooth and silky and then rolling it out as thin as possible. A pasta machine works great for this! Let the pasta sheets rest and then you are ready to assemble a great lasagna! And if you are in a rush ( or the teenagers are running around ravenously), you can make use of store-bought lasagna sheets. Either way, I’m certain you’re going to love it.

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Say Cheese… Cheesecake!

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I love a baked cheesecake! It is my number one cake and dessert and something I love baking. The decadent mixture of cream cheese and sour cream…the excitement and thrill of removing a smoothly baked, no cracks- cheesecake from the oven…. pure bliss. Simple. Elegant. Decadence.

The intense enjoyment and appreciation of cheesecake dates back far, very far… as far back 230 A.D. according to John J. Sergreto in his book Cheesecake Madness. Rumour has it that the Romans were first introduced to cheesecake on their quest to concur Greece, which seems to be the first enjoyer of cheesecake.

Sources say that cheesecake, in ancient Greece, was believed to be a good source of energy and even served to athletes during the Olympic games. We have no Olympic Games this year due to the pandemic, but that does not mean we can not indulge in a slice of creamy, silky, smooth baked cheesecake!

Because you don’t live near a bakery doesn’t mean you have to go without cheesecake.

Hedy Lamarr

My mom has been baking this recipe for years and we still call it a family favorite here in my Kalahari kitchen. You need look no further for a creamy and ultra smooth classic cheesecake recipe! A buttery cookie crust, with a thick layer of creamy cheesecake and a whipped sour cream topping, if you like.

Once you have a stellar base recipe, you can alter it with different ingredients and flavors. Get creative or keep it simple. Either way, it’s going to impress. Say hello to your new favorite cheesecake recipe!

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Red Sunsets and Dancing Tumbleweeds

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It is a windy August afternoon. The thirsty Kalahari experiences temperatures as low as 3° Celsius in the morning, warming up to about 30° C during the day. As we approach spring, some plants and trees have started flowering, including the sweet thorn. It is another kind of beautiful. Golden grass dancing in the wind, tumbleweeds blowing across the Kalahari savannah. Flaming red sunsets as the dust covers the horizon.

In Africa you feel grounded in an indescribable way… It forces you to be in the moment…There is a constant sense of awe and surprise.

Karen Banks

Nothing can be more true. The Kalahari has grounded this city girl. The little things count, there is an appreciation of life in its simplest form. God is good! I continually live in awe and surprise of what this thirst land deliver. Moments, memories, memoirs, impressions, imprints in the red Kalahari sand.

As I reminiscence about my footprints in the Kalahari, I am reminded of my first venison recipe. Venison Schnitzels! I knew nothing about preparing or cooking venison but with this recipe, you cannot fail. It is perfect for a busy weeknight. The meat ( I use a venison backstrap) is usually thinned by pounding with a rolling pin ( how difficult can that be?) and then breaded before frying. I assure you this will be a crowd pleaser and a great way to use some of that venison in the freezer. Enjoy! Recipe on next page for your own delicious schnitzels.

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Muffin Monday says NO to Monday blues!

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We are in another week of lockdown on the ranch…. It has been a time of soul searching… digging deep to stay positive and keeping the faith… venturing into unknown territory of what is called the ‘new normal’.

A home still silent of excited hunters returning after a day in the field, the glow of the African sun on their cheeks and the thrill of the hunt in their eyes. We miss our hunting friends, sharing meals and memories around the dinner table in the heart of the Kalahari.

But it has also been a time of creating special home memories as a family. Laughing at our own silly jokes till our stomachs hurt, playing board games till late in the night, cooking and baking together in my Kalahari kitchen. A taste of home, for all of us.

Nothing smells home like the smell of baking.

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As I walked into the kitchen this morning, I was greeted by the smell of bacon and cheese. Lorene and Janneman were baking savory muffins. Minutes later we were sitting on the porch, drinking coffee and devouring these quick and easy to make, so more-ish, savory muffins. They are buttery with golden crusty tops and fluffy moist insides. What can be better on a windy Monday morning than a fresh-out-of-the-oven cheese and bacon muffin with my family. A true taste of home.

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Life is like a box of chocolates

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During the last few months, we have all been forced to reset, rethink and refocus. It has been a time of regathering our thoughts, re-evaluating our lives and realigning our goals. As a family, we were blessed to spend our lockdown weeks on the ranch. With our three kids all home ( as universities and schools had to readjust to e-learning) we once again had special family times around our kitchen table… laughing, learning and loving life together as in years long passed.

This has been a time of creating new recipes and remaking family favorites. And yes, baking chocolate brownies EVERY weekend! My son, Janneman LOVES ( and that is an understatement) brownies. Cakey on the outside and fudgy in the middle, this easy brownie recipe really is the best!

So wrap around your apron and get ready for some chocolate therapy! The batter itself is to DIE for! Good luck NOT licking the spoon and bowl clean. Because chocolate is happiness that you can eat.

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