Tsala Treetops and Hunter's Hotels

We have celebrated a very special anniversary a little while back...
We booked into the magnificent Tsala Treetops to celebrate....


We were welcomed by our most gracious host who spent at least an hour talking to us about the history of their "little piece of heaven".....by the way...tsala means elevated resting place in Xhosa...
I made no mention that it was a celebratory weekend however the attention to detail was unbelievable....the first night on returning to our suite, champagne on ice and a romantic turn down awaited us with candlelight from the entrance to the magnificent bathtub .....

the entrance....elegantly furnished in afro baroque ......

the treetop villas are suspended in the canopies of the trees and reached by a canopy boardwalk...

they are as romantic as you could imagine, each a large suite comprising of an exquisite bathroom, outdoor shower, bedroom and lounge area...

a large stonewalled fireplace serves as the divide....

each suite has its own  infinity splash pool 

The breakfasts were eye candy and the restaurant Zinzi, where we had dinner, is tastefully decorated and serves outstanding food....

But the best of this little Eden, is this delightful little chapel in the forest on the grounds and the old country house gardens....equally as stunning as any of the most spectacular gardens of Europe...

What an awesome venue for a small wedding!

Thank you Hunter's Hotel group for an unforgettable few days!

Chicken pasta 2 ways ~

The dinner table seems to be the place where we share so many thoughts, happy, sad, stressed or mundane...after a hectic day !
it's strange how a great big bowl of simple pasta to share,  a crusty loaf to mop up the juices from my favourite baker down the road and a glass of wine can ease away the many stresses of the day....
here is such a quick and easy pasta I throw together and it looks so pretty too...after a hectic day when everyone still expects a table laden with food!

Cheats chicken pasta ~

Cook your favourite pasta to your liking
Grab a rotisserie chicken from Woolies and chop into bite size pieces
fry together a pepper, chopped onion and some streaky bacon
Boil some broccoli
and make a quick cheese sauce
salt , pepper and Italian herb spice to taste

Mix all together with your pasta and shred some extra mature cheddar and rocket on top and serve!

Voilà....  completed in a jiffy !

Jarry's deli pasta

Fry a few skinless chicken breasts in olive oil with a little chopped onion, some garlic and peppers.
Add 250ml double cream
Boil some pasta until al dente
Toss altogether and add 1 tablespoon of basil pesto
Mix together and add lashings of parmessan cheese on top!

Lovely for a lunch!

Another quick fix meal is my roast chicken stuffed with my gran's bread stuffing recipe, add root vegetables, potatoes, slices of pumpkin sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
Rub sea salt flakes, pepper and fresh herbs on the chicken and a lavish splash of olive oil over the chicken and veg and let it look after itself roasting away in the oven at 200 deg for around 1 and a half!

Here are a few of my favourite shots of the week!

the smell of freshly baked muffins from my oven....

sharing at this table.....

my family and pets....

and  the best things I love in life are those that fill my soul! 

 Bon appetit!

Shel

Celebrating a 21st!

This has been quite a year and we are only half way through!
Our youngest, Jarryd, celebrated his 21st in true "boy" style ...THE BEER OLYMPICS...and a fiesta was had by all!
After a lot of consideration, we decided that no venue would lend itself to his party, so once again....
I was suckered into arranging it in our garden....

A Bedouin tent was erected and colourful bean bags were struan around together with oak barrels and high chairs.

Eddie was the chief "braaier"  as all Jarryd wanted was, true to South African style, the humble wors rolls!
We jazzed it up serving chicken sosaties, accompaniments to the borewors rolls, lots of chilli bites, (a form of biltong) and nachos.

For the inhouse guest, I made welcome packages filled with  champagne and hangover mootie for the morning after!

True to Shelly style I had to have my flowers scattered around my home...these peonies were show stoppers!

The morning before, the party crew set up the tent for me and we began setting out.

By now, the rain started lashing down.....but we weren't going to allow our party spirits to be dampened....
I had allowed for many fire pots and patio heaters scattered around .

Beer pong olympics set up!

 The beer olympic cake with a man's legs sticking out from the froth were most appropriate...

I just love this cake from the Pastryworks!

Fire pots are truly authentically African........

A good time was had by all and we went on to celebrate with our family the entire weekend!

We all dressed up in different countries...
the host as Scotland, kilt and all and his little sweetheart as USA

and this one says it all!! fiesta fiesta!  By now Eddie and I were exhausted....
ps this one is with my young brother!

What fiesta fun !

Beautiful memories of one of the most humble young men I know!

Love you to the moon and back our Jarry!

New home comforts ~

Well about time I allowed myself to sit here and post again!
My special warm and fuzzy place filled with comfort that I like to indulge in and hide from reality!

I have a full life at present, I'm helping my future daughter-in-love and her wedding planner to plan her beautiful wedding in a couple of months! We were enlightened to hear that beside all the venues, gorgeous islands and her home town , they have chosen to have their wedding in our little city right at the sea's edge...
the rest is still top secret and I'm truly blessed to be a part of it besides playing the role of Mother of the Groom!

Before their big day, our youngest is celebrating his 21st at our home as well so we have really moved here in a delight some year!

It's really a freezing coastal winter that we are experiencing, waking up to frost on our lawns, the Egyptian geese squabbling on the roof tops and the trees full of wintry colours.....

I have been busy cooking only  warm comforting stews, soups, curries and of course, M's warm ginger spice coffee cake seems to be baked at least once a week....
My Jozi boys tend to phone me lately with cries for wintry recipes and top of the list is the Shepard's Pie which my picture does not do justice....but here goes that recipe for keepsake, Wes and Ian.

Recipe
500g lean ground beef mince browned
1 onion finely diced
2 chopped tomatoes or 1 tin of "all gold" tomato and onion mix 175g
700g of mashed potatoes
25ml cooking oil
25ml butter
1 tsp of mixed herbs
2 finely grated carrots
couple of sprigs of fresh thyme and flatleaf parsley
200ml meat stock
1 talespoon tomato paste
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in the frying pan and saute the onion until lightly browned.
Add the tomatoes, carrots and mince and heat through...
Add herbs, salt and pepper and the stock and simmer until all has cooked.
Place the meat in a casserole, top with the mashed potatoes and dot with the butter.
Bake at 180deg C until the top is nicely browned .

Some fresh ingredients I have enjoyed putting together to make a pretty dish are snow peas and asparagus with a soft poached egg and a drizzle of hollandaise.....a pretty picture it does make

Mac 'n cheese with skinless chicken breasts filled with sour cream and herbs and wrapped in prosciutto makes for a comforting meal.....

 My garden makes for a good place in the sun to clean the copper...

it's starting to take shape and I have planted spring seedlings at the bottom of the garden to be ready for the Spring wedding

Just praying the guinea fowls won't destroy them before...

and these pictures of sunset are what I see on a good day from my kitchen .....

Thankful for every day!

Take care

Shel xx