The Greenstone Guide December 2017 | Page 13

DECEmber 2017 Greenstone braai life | 13

A Christmas cake for the

ITo get you in the mood for Christmas , our resident ‘ foodie ’, Anél Potgieter shows you how to make a Christmas cake . On the braai ... creamed butter and sugar .

Spoon the batter carefully onto the fruit then cover the pot with the lid . Make a gap amidst the coals and nestle the

love cooking on Expresso Morning Show ( live TV is my thing ) and I love the whole team . The other day , Zola Nene gave me her recipe to make . She said : “ Anél , I want you to bake a cake … on the fire .” My first reaction was that of odd disbelief ( really ?) I nearly choked on my morning coffee but then I kind of fell in love with the idea . And now … I think it is genius ! Zola ’ s recipe is perfect for a Christmas cake on the fire and is made with seasonal cherries ,

apricots and a dash of cream . It is a real festive treat !

Ingredients

• 60ml Demerara sugar

• 60ml maple syrup

• 60ml butter

• 8 ripe apricots , halved and pitted

• 200g pitted fresh cherries

For the sponge

• 120g butter , softened

• 120g Demerara sugar

• 1 lemon , zested

• 2 eggs

• 175ml plain yoghurt

• 160g cake flour

• 5ml baking powder

• 5ml bicarbonate of soda

Heat braai coals to medium heat . Grease a medium-sized cast iron pot very well with Spray and Cook . Grease the 60ml butter onto the bottom of the pot then sprinkle 60ml Demerara sugar over this and drizzle with 60ml maple syrup .

Arrange the apricots ( cut-side down ) on top of the syrup then place the cherries in the gaps in and around the apricots . Make the sponge by creaming together the butter , sugar and lemon zest . Whisk the egg together with yoghurt . Sift together flour , baking powder and bicarbonate soda . Fold dry and wet ingredients alternately into the pot into the gap . Place some coals on top of the lid then leave to cook for 45 minutes . To check to see whether your cake is cooked insert a skewer – if it comes out dry , your cake is baked .

Remove from the coals and allow it to cool for 10 minutes in the pot before turning it out upside down . Serve with a dollop of plain cream mixed with vanilla .

Tips for braaing cake on the fire : Do remember that your braai coals must be of medium heat – otherwise this cake is going to end up something of a charred creation . All you need do is make a gap for your pot to nestle the pot in-between the coals . Do not put the pot directly on the coals . Then once on the fire place around 5 to 6 coals on top of the pot lid .

about Anél

Food writer Anél Potgieter ’ s blog was announced the winner of the 2014 and 2013 Eat Out Food Blog of the Year Award – the first time that someone has won twice in a row . She won SABC2 ’ s first season of Dinner Divas in January 2013 . She also writes a weekly food column for Rapport and is a regular face on SABC3 ’ s breakfast show , Expresso . For recipes , visit www . lifeisazoobiscuit . com

Jacaranda Academy

Jacaranda Academy is proud to announce new ownership and management control of the school . The ownership brings along an international partnership and 21st century learning practices to our young learners .

It is our commitment and assurance to the parents and learners that the new team will continue to strengthen the core values of Jacaranda which have evolved over 45 years of academic excellence and will enhance and make it a school of choice for years to come !

Admissions to Grade 00 ( 4-years-old ) to Grade 9 in 2018 is now open !

Why you should make Jacaranda College your school of choice :

• 21st century technology-aided classrooms

• GDE registered

• Small classes with personalised attention

• Aftercare with homework supervision

• In-house academic support

• Structured extra-curricular activities

• Holiday-care and holiday-club programmes

• Transport available

37 van Tonder Avenue , Edenglen , Edenvale For further information please visit : www . jacarandaedenglen . co . za Telephone : [phone]