Good old fashioned vetkoek

On a  recent road-trip to the West Coast, I  decided to treat my Korean friends to some hearty South African cooking!  After a good old Korean BBQ 'party' it was time for a TRUE taste of home away from home.

I cooked up a selection of our good old never fail treats ; vetkoek  with kerrie mince and cheese, Pampoen poffers and the oh so faithful melktert!

Needless to say they LOVED every morsel of it! ( as did I, in a moment of reminiscent wonder I was taken back to the good old days of N.G. Kerk Bazaars and my Oumas plaas cooking. hmmmmm)

     

I made the vetkoek the good old fashioned way = with yeast. It's definitely more time consuming, but when you bite into that chewy fluffy goodness, it's worth the time and effort! 

You need

4 cups of white flour

10ml salt

10grams of instant yeast

15ml sugar

250 ml warm water

600ml oil

Mix the flour, salt and yeast together. Dissolve the sugar in the warm water and add it to the flour. 

Mix well, and place the dough on a floured surface. Knead for 10-12 minutes until it is doughy and elasticy (:

Place the dough in a bowl and cover with cling-wrap. Put the bowl in a warm place or in the sun.  Allow to rise for about 2 hours, or until it has risen double the size. 

THEN, I know this seems unnecessary BUT believe me its necessary! KNEAD the dough down AGAIN!

Yes, you have to use those fists to knead out all that light puffiness...Make 8 even sized dough balls and place these on an oiled surface. Allow them to rise for 30 minutes.

Whilst the dough is rising again, heat the oil in a pot. When the 30 minutes is past place the dough in the heated oil and allow the 'vetkoek' to 'koek' (:  for about 10 minutes. 

You'll know its done, when the vetkoek is slightly golden brown and crispy on the inside! Allow to cool and enjoy it with some kerrie mince, and cheese!!

                                                 

Seriously delicious homemade muesli

This muesli is perfect for breakfast, a light snack or even in rusks! I recently came up with this recipe when a group of us SAFFAS ( South Africans in Korea) came together to bake our hearty home style rusks! Of course necessity is master of invention and when I discovered how expensive muesli was in Korea, I decided to make my own!

 
           

You need

3 cups of oats
1 1/2 cups of mixed nuts and seeds of your choice
1/2 a cup of desiccated coconut
1/2 a cup of honey
2 HEAPED tablespoons of peanut butter
1/2 a cup of butter
1/4 cup of water
1/2 cup of dried cranberries or raisins

Method to the muesli madness

Set your oven temperature to 180'c

In a pot / pan on the stove mix the honey, peanut butter, butter and water together. Stir for about 5 minutes or until the mixture looks all syrupy and gooey. Set it aside to cool a little. 

In a separate bowl, mix the oats, coconut and seeds together. Add the warm syrup and ensure all the oats is coated in lovely sweet goodness! The whole mixture must be slightly moistened.

Pour the oat mixture into a baking tray and bake in the oven for 10-14 minutes. At the halfway mark use a wooden spoon to mix the oats around. When the muesli is done, it should be golden brown and crispy. 

Add the cranberries or raisins and allow to cool. If you add the raisins before, they tend to puff up and burn in the oven. Allow to cool and store in a sealed container. 

Enjoy with some yogurt and fresh fruit!

abideəˈbʌɪd

accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation)

1. synonyms:

   comply with, obey, observe, follow, keep to, hold to, conform to,adhere to, stick to, stand by, act in accordance with, uphold, heed,pay attention to, agree to/with, consent to, accede to, accept,acquiesce in, go along with, acknowledge, respect, defer to

John 15 v 5 - 8 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

WHAT does it really mean to abide? To remain in Christ? In a recent Bible Study group we discussed this in depth and it was so refreshing and encouraging to truly delve into the depths of this word. 

  A B I D E ......

I came to the realization that the very act of abiding in Christ is captured so poignantly in Psalm 91 v 1

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”

It is a secure, steadfast, safe space where we allow God to work in us.. It is not a place of self effort and doing ; but a place of being and allowing..

As we immerse ourselves in His presence we are brought to a beautiful place of understanding, of Christlike obedience and hearts transformation .  In a fast paced world of fleeting comfort and transitory relief, this passage serves as a daily reminder to remain in Him.. because only God and His love will always remain.

Lord, may we revel in YOU. Soak in the captivating beauty of your love, immerse ourselves wholly and find our delight in you. To live daily entranced and enchanted..mesmerized! 

Thank you for  peace, hope and an undeterred knowing that we may remain in you. It is an unshakable, unmovable trust not misplaced upon worldly traditions or empty philosophies but based upon the truth of your word. 

 May you live today - may you remain today - may you abide today in the love and freedom already purchased on your behalf..

 Galatians 5 v 1 " For it is for freedom you have set me free."