What’s your love language?
Plantain Crab Salad, Mothered Oxtail, Aubergine Yassa & more Recipes to share as acts of love.
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Happy Valentine’s Day my friends!
What is your love language? Your prefered way to express and to receive love?
Food is my love language. I love cooking for others, and as generously as possible. The smile on your face is the best gift I could imagine. Sharing with others is a great privilege and blessing to me. I also love being cooked for, with care and attention. My friends who know me well tend to give me food based gifts, from unique oils, wine, honey, teas and condiments from around the world, treats from their travels, but very few self-made gifts, I have since noticed. I wonder why?! Haha!
Every other week, I am treated to fresh Portuguese pastries and confections by my dear friends Paul and Ana. With such thoughtful acts, how can I not be sure that they love me? You can be sure that I reciprocate, and deliciously! I also show myself a lot of love through the food that I eat and food related experiences that I enjoy. Acts of love can be shown in many other ways, of-course, and not just with sugar or spice induced love. How wonderful it is to feed and be fed with love?!
I hope that you find joy, happiness, and bloody delicious inspiration from the recipes and ideas I have shared below. Recipes to savour whether you share it with your family, friends or as an act of love for yourself.
Sugar & spice induced acts of love for you to share & enjoy!
Plantain & Crab Salad with Mango Piri Piri & Yoghurt ~ page 136 of Africana Cookbook
This will be going onto my future restaurant menu for it is delightful and surprising. Swap piri piri for harissa, Ghanaian shito or your favourite chilli sauce.
The herb and flower mix can be a variety of basil, from Italian to African basil also known as scent leave and edible sweet to spicy florals.
Aubergine Yassa ~ page 176 of Africana Cookbook
What I like to call, sunshine on your plate. Typically Poluet Yassa, developed into a vegan version over many years in our cookery classes and superclubs.
Mothered Oxtail ~ page 72 of Africana Cookbook Find the recipe here.
Praised by Nigella Lawson, loved by many especially my friend Nicola whose mother inspired this dish. Quite similar to the South African slow cooked Potjiekos (pronounced poy-kee-kos) Serve with pap or sadza/Ugali, polenta or mashed potatoes.
Tenderstem Broccoli with Steak, Wild Garlic & Smoky Tahini Sauce. Click below for the recipe.
A quick recipe that packs a punch. Simply swap the seasonally illusive wild garlic for garlic. With a steak and mushroom version for you to try.
And don’t miss this selection below, with 10 recipes including pancake and spiced chocolate mousse from the previous letter.
That’s it from me this week. Happy cooking and feasting!
*My Award-winning cookbook, Africana*
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Thank you for reading today. Share this sunshine with your family and friends, and also receive treats as a little thank you from me.