Kenwood Titanium Major

This is my new, much awaited kitchen gadget and with a name like Titanium Major  you just know its going to be good.
I have been using my Granny's old Magimix type food processor for the last 5 years which my mother kindly kept for me, it's unfortunately no longer strong enough to beat dough or butter and sometimes does not lock properly so my boyfriend offered to buy a new one for my birthday. I was going to get the new version Magimix when I saw this Kenwood gleaming at me from the huge box on the shelf and I could not resist. I chose this because you can buy any attachment your heart desires to attach to this one machine which was the main selling point as my kitchen space has pretty much been maxed out, I bought a juicer, pasta machine, macaroni maker and a food processor attachment but there are many, many more to choose from like spice mills, slicers, graters, coffee / herb mill, ice cream machine, flour mill and mashers that I can remember, all Kenwood mixers parts fit into each other even if they are 40 years old and the parts of this machine are made really well and solid.
Please follow my blog for some new recipes made with my amazing present.

Copyright by Tamsyn Wells

Quick Chicken Biryani

The onions take longer to caramelize than this Biryani or Curried Pilaf takes to make.
The reason why its more a pilaf than a Biryani is that you normally cook the rice and sauce separately and then layer them together where I just cook everything together.
This is wheat and dairy free and will work as a great vegetarian dish if you replace the chicken with vegetables and use vegetable stock.

Quick Curried Chicken Pilaf / Biryani

Serves 4
1 onion sliced and slowly caramelized in a pan
1/2 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 chilli, chopped
1 pk chicken breast (4 breasts) , cubed
1 tomato, peeled and chopped or just chop it finely and you wont notice the skin
1 carrot, grated
1 baby marrow, grated
1 cup basmati rice, rinsed
2ml cumin powder
2ml coriander powder
2ml turmeric
3ml garam masala
1ml cinnamon
2 cups chicken / vegetable stock or coconut milk and water
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp chutney
few sprigs fresh coriander
salt and pepper

Method:
Fry the onion, chilli and garlic.
Add chicken breast and brown.
Mix all the spices and add to pot and toast.
Add the grated vegetables, chopped tomato and the rice, stir to coat.
Add the stock / milk, vinegar and chutney.
Place the lid on and turn the pot down to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes stirring occasionally and add more liquid if it gets too dry.
Add the caramelized sliced onions and coriander.
Season to taste and serve with your choice of a tomato sambal, sliced banana, yoghurt, coconut shavings, poppadum or more chutney.

Picture and Recipe Copyright by Tamsyn Wells

& Union Beer Salon

& Union

They call themselves a Beer Salon / Charcuterie and this is what you get when you visit & Union, the best "in my opinion" Craft beer in town along with the best of everything else, food, coffee and wine.
You can find & Union on Bree St under the church in Heritage Square, there is plenty of parking outside which is an important factor for me who loathes going in search of vacant spaces.
The look is very masculine and simplistic, only the necessary with hardly any decor unless its functional, this is what I love about this place, what you see is what you get and everything they serve speaks for itself.

I have been there a few times and am now completely addicted to their food and every time somebody wants to go out for a bite I choose to go there to satisfy my craving for pretty much anything on their menu but my weakness is their Prego Rolls, both the Pork and Beef Prego's are delicious perfection, from the bread that holds the lightly smokey meat straight from the braai to the accompaniments served along side of lightly dressed rocket and watercress salad , super hot chilli sambal and crisps, making my mouth water just writing this post. They also do a great Pulled pork, slightly spicy and juicy accompanied with a dill pickle and Germanic styled Wursts, meat and cheese platters.

I never really heard about craft beer until & Union opened and now its all I hear, having tried many different varieties at the Real Beer Festival the & Union Weiss beer is still my favorite followed closely by their new addition Versus Goliath. They charge a fairly hefty R40 per beer but they have plenty of specials like the bucket 'o love at 3 for R100 and the lunch special, a sandwich, beer and Organic coffee for R95 or go on Wednesdays for their Real music night with live bands.

I highly recommend this place, you are bound to run into a few bloggers and musicians along with great vibe and excellent service its definitely worth the price.
P.S. add some chips and rocket salad to your Prego like I do in the picture above, the rocket adds some peppery flavour and the crisps, loads of crunch.

110 Bree Street
Cape Town
8001


021- 422 2770


Review and Pictures Copyright by Tamsyn Wells