The Art of Simple Living: Purpose & Breakfast Bars (with a cup of coffee)

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It’s Monday morning… and there’s nothing quite like starting the day on our Kalahari porch, coffee in hand, watching the first light stretch across the savannah. That first sip of freshly brewed coffee, paired with a crunchy rusk (like these!) or one of these go-to express breakfast bars (recipe on next page), is pure magic.

Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. – Psalm 46:10

There’s something sacred about these quiet moments—the world slowing awakening, the soft glow of dawn, the gentle rhythm of nature unfolding without hurry. Be still and know that I am God. It’s a whisper in the wind, a reminder in the stillness to let go, to stop striving, to simply be. Let God be.

Too often, we rush from one thing to the next, filling every moment with busyness. But here, in the hush of a Kalahari morning, I am reminded that life isn’t about chasing—it’s about knowing, recognizing…understanding…

And so I sit, I breathe, and I embrace the stillness—fully present, fully at peace—knowing that in this moment, I am right where I’m meant to be. – Aldalene

How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.

– Annie Dillard
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It is a beautiful time of the year for a new beginning ( and homemade granola)

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I grew up in Cape Town, South Africa.The change of seasons is something I love and that is very visible in this part of the world. Warm summer beach days and barbecues under the starry night…. fall bringing a transformation of colors and oak trees throwing off their summer leaves… cold rainy winter evenings snuggling around a log fire cooking curries and comfort food …and then spring arrives…the new oak leaves showcased against the crisp blue sky, welcoming beautiful lazy alfresco days. Seasons change and so do we.

Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.

Henry David Thoreau

Now living in the Kalahari, the change of seasons is not so vivid to the eye. Summers are hot, winters cold and short ( not this year though!) and fall and spring are reminders that change is a constant. September is the arrival of spring ( or rather summer) in Namibia. Days are warm and suddenly you are looking for healthy recipes and summer dishes. A bowl of granola with fresh berries and a spoonful of full cream Bulgarian yoghurt, just spells the correct start to summer.

But if you’re anything like me, you’ve spent hours in the granola aisle at the grocery store, trying to find just the right kind. Mom of three teenagers with very different tastes- this one does not like raisins, this one loves nuts with shredded coconut, this one loves it baked with big clusters that you can nibble on as a snack- this can be an impossible task. Yes, you know that it’s nearly impossible to find the perfect granola at the store.

So here is my homemade granola recipe. Super easy to make and also very customizable, a yummy template for whatever dried fruits, spices ( cinnamon) and nuts you might ( or might not) be craving. Enjoy as an after school snack or simply add it to a bowl of milk or yogurt in the morning with a handful of fresh berries. It is the perfect combination of flavors and texture for all ages! Jump to the next page for your easy homemade granola.

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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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Coffee and New Beginnings (and more coffee)

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It is another beautiful crisp morning in the Kalahari… day is breaking. As I am drinking my first cup of freshly brewed coffee, gazing over the savannah landscape, I am reminded of one of my favourite scriptures:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:22-23
These last few weeks and months have been challenging ( to say the least) and all of us have been stretched to our limits. But again and again I have been reminded of His love, His mercy and His faithfulness! Yes, I can smile with the morning sun on my face and look expectantly to the week ahead!

I never woke a morning in Africa when I was not happy

Ernest Hemmingway

But what is a cup of morning coffee without my Ouma’s delicious rusks? Yes, these are biscotti with attitude!

According to the book “Die Geskiedenis van Boerekos 1652 – 1806” by HW Claassens, the Afrikaans word ‘beskuit’ was borrowed from the French, meaning “twice baked”. All our Kalahari Safari guests know that no morning coffee is complete without home baked rusks. Every family has a recipe that comes through the generations and has been perfected over the ages.

This is my version of our family recipe; a recipe that can be changed with the addition of nuts, dried fruit or any dry cereal you may have in the kitchen cupboard. Pour that cup of coffee and get baking!

Today’s goals: Coffee and kindness. Maybe two coffees (and rusks), and then kindness. And together we will keep faith.

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