In western society, we are familiar with the age-old traditions of gift giving, Christmas tree decorating and feasting. However, it is not uncommon to find these traditions causing much unwanted stress and hassle for whoever is tasked with organising the festivities. Perhaps you’ve felt the inclination to simplify your Christmas day and do something different? We’ve put together 5 alternatives to the traditional Christmas celebrations.

1. A Christmas Picnic

Unlike international trends which are dictated by the much anticipated ‘white Christmas’, South Africans are privileged enough to enjoy warm sunny days and long balmy evenings over the festive season. For a fuss-free approach to Christmas, an outdoor picnic will simplify the catering and add a nice relaxed touch to the day. Find some trees, hang some decorations, pack some festive foods and you’ve got a Christmas picnic to remember. You can still incorporate your gammon or roast lamb by serving it cold on some sandwiches or rolls – simple and delicious!

*Image via At Home with Kim Vallée

2. Be Dazzled by the Christmas Lights

Every year, there is a spectacular light display in the streets of Cape Town. This is a tradition that is adhered to in many cities around the world, and it’s a beautiful sight to say the least. Whether you visit the light display in the days leading up to Christmas or you end off your Christmas day with a visit to the dazzling lights, this is a Christmas activity to be enjoyed by young and old alike.

*Image via My City By Night

3. Volunteer at a Local Charity

To give is better than to receive. It is definitely a great privilege to be able to attend to the immediate needs of someone who is less fortunate. If you’re looking to do something different this Christmas, find out which local charities are in need of volunteers or donations and get involved.

*Image via Ikhaya Le Themba

4. Christmas Lunch at Life Café

Forget about spending hours over a hot oven and dishes piled so high that you can’t see the end of them. We’re doing a traditional set menu that is sure to impress. Invite your friends and family and relax while we serve you. This will also give you the opportunity to spend the rest of the day doing something different – a long walk on the beach, a trip to see the lights, carolling – it’s really up to you.

We plan on serving a traditional Christmas lunch that will include succulent roast beef, seasonal veg and perfectly roasted potatoes. For this delicious meal and dessert, we’re charging R60 per head. If you’re interested in spending Christmas Sunday at Life Café with your friends and family, send an email to gerrit@life-cafe.co.za to make an inquiry.

5. Visit a Local Church

For some, the suggestion to visit church on Christmas may seem fairly obvious. However, there are also many individuals who do not associate Christmas with the birth of Christ. A recent study in the UK found that 83% of the public believed that Christmas was about ‘spending time with friends and family’. While it is a wonderful time to celebrate with loved ones, the truth is that Christmas is also a Christian holiday, celebrated wholeheartedly by Christ-followers purely for the significance of the day. It is a time when Christ-followers remember what God did when he sent his son to this earth to live a blameless life and to ultimately take our sins upon Him. God showed the world his love and abundant grace through Jesus by offering the gift of salvation to anyone who will receive it. A gift like no other and certainly one that is worth celebrating! The great part is that this holiday invites everyone to partake in it. You don’t have to be a specific culture, nationality or class to discover what Christmas is about. If you’re looking to attend a service on Christmas Sunday, feel free to join this one.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Traditionally, the advent of Christmas would begin on the fourth Sunday before December 25^th. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas, a family would have an advent wreath (a wreath of greenery adorned by a set of four candles), placed in the middle of their dining table. Each candle representing one of the four weeks of advent. The candles would be lit and kept burning throughout the Sunday supper, and then immediately blown out afterward.

Even though most western families don’t celebrate advent in the traditional way anymore, there are definitely other ways of preparing for and getting excited in the weeks leading up to Christmas day. We have put together a few ‘advent activities’ that you can enjoy with your children.

Advent Activities

Christmas gifts/tokens for the under-privileged:

¬   Get involved with a charity / group that collect childrens’ Christmas shoeboxes. This is a great activity to teach your children the importance of giving. Go shopping for a few goodies, create colourful Christmas cards with a Christmas message and wrap your boxes in Christmas paper. Try be part of the actual distribution of the boxes. This is where your children will really see how much their box is appreciated by an under-privileged child.

¬   Make smaller gifts with your children and include a Christmas message. Keep these in your car / handbag and allow your children to give to homeless people at the robots or to the till ladies at Pick ‘n Pay!


Original Advent Calendars:

¬   Create your own ‘advent calendar’ with paper cups, brown paper and the Christmas story! Split the Christmas story into 25 different parts. Either write / print these out. Try to include a simple picture for each part of the story. E.g. a picture of Mary on the donkey. Then in each cup, place a part of the story and the accompanying picture. Remember to mark the cups so you don’t get confused! Wrap brown paper (or any other paper) around each cup, sealing it with tape. On each cup, get the child to write the numbers from 1 to 25. You can be as creative as you like. If you would like to add a small sweet in each cup, you can do that too. Then string the cups together with a punch and string. Each day, the child reads and learns about a different part of the Christmas story.

¬   Another option is to peg the cups in sequence to a long piece of string, which you hang from wall to wall near the Christmas tree, or in your child’s room. You can also hang the cups on the tree randomly, making it fun for your child to search for the correct cup every day.

* For this activity, one can also use toilet rolls or cardboard formed into a cone.

* Instead of the Christmas story, or additionally, one can add a ‘Christmas reminder’ to each cup. E.g. ‘Bake the Christmas cake!’ ‘Decorate the Christmas tree!’, etc.

Pictures courtesy of welliwillbeamonkeysmama.blogspot.com and ucreatewithkids.com.


Advent Outings:

¬   Visiting a Christmas market in the weeks leading up to Christmas day is always a great way to get into the ‘Christmas spirit’. The Christmas decorations, lights, music and food will surely notify your senses that Christmas is just around the corner!

¬   No matter how many times you have witnessed it, taking a trip to see the Christmas lights is a always a magical experience. The little suburb of Bothasig usually puts on a spectacular show of Christmas lights at this time of the year. Perhaps take some mince pies and hot chocolate along that you can enjoy on your trip!


Whichever way you decide to celebrate the advent of Christmas this year, try make it as stress-free as possible! We can so easily get caught up with the busyness of the festive season and easily forget what it’s all about. So when you’re feeling stressed, just sit back, relax and remember the real reason for Christmas, with a delicious cup of Life Café coffee of course!

The French word ‘gourmet’ in its original context was used to refer to a person who had a discriminating palate for good food. Now, when we talk about gourmet food, we are referring to food that is of a high quality and full of flavour, made using the freshest ingredients and presented in an artful manner.

When it comes to burgers, the same principles apply. The patty should be made with high quality mince meat, spiced to taste and shaped by hand, the toppings should be fresh and seasonal, and even the bread or bun should be of a high quality.

We’ve gone in search of 5 mouth-watering gourmet burger recipes that will undoubtedly secure your loyalty and make you think twice before you consider McDonald’s to satisfy your next burger craving.

1. The Triple Smoke Burger

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon minced chilli paste, or to taste
• 8 bacon slices
• 500g ground beef mince
• 2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika
• 1 large red onion, cut into 4 thick rounds, each stuck with a wooden pick to keep it together
• 1 firm-ripe avocado, quartered lengthwise, peeled, and cut lengthwise into thick slices
• Olive oil for brushing on onion and avocado
• 4 fresh hamburger buns, grilled or toasted

Steps

1. In a blender, purée mayonnaise, mustard, and chilli. Transfer to a bowl.
2. Grill bacon until crisp and transfer to paper towels to drain off excess fat.
3. Gently mix beef, paprika, and 1 teaspoon salt until combined.
4. Form into 4 even sized patties.
5. Grill over medium coals on the braai or cook on medium on the stove until done. They usually require 5 minutes on either side.
6. Meanwhile, brush both sides of onion rounds and avocado slices with olive oil.
7. Grill the onion rounds, turning over once, until slightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes total. Discard wooden picks.
8. Grill avocado slices, turning once, until grill marks appear, about 30 seconds on each side.
9. Put sauce on buns and make burgers with lettuce, avocado, bacon, onion, and cilantro.

* Image and recipe via Epicurious

2. The Classic Gourmet Beef Burger

Ingredients

• 500g beef mince (ground beef)
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
• sea salt and cracked black pepper
• 8 slices pancetta
• 4 burger buns, halved and toasted
• 4 thick slices vintage cheddar cheese
• salad leaves, caramelised onion relish or tomato chutney, to serve

Steps

1. Place the mince, garlic, tomato paste, sauce, parsley, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix until well combined.
2. Shape into 4 large flat patties.
3. Place a round of pancetta on each side of each patty.
4. Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat.
5. Cook the patties for 4 minutes on each side or until cooked to your liking.
6. Place the patties on the base of the toasted buns and top with cheese, salad leaves and onion or chutney.
7. Top with remaining bun halves and serve.

*Image and recipe via Lifestyle Food

3. Blue Cheese Burger

Ingredients

• 500g ground beef
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps

1. Put ground beef, mustard, garlic, onions, blue cheese, water, egg, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper into a large bowl. Use your hands to gently mix the ingredients together. Do not over-mix. Shape into flat patties larger than your bun. Chill until you are ready to cook.
2. If you’re cooking your patties on the braai, make sure the coals are hot. If you’re doing them on the stove, cook on medium high. Make sure grill is hot and well oiled before laying down the patties. Season patties with salt and pepper. Place the patties on the clean, well-oiled grill grate. Grill the burgers for about 5 minutes per side. Do not press down on the burgers while cooking. If you don’t have a grill, you can use a grill pan or a cast iron frying pan for the burgers.
3. Serve on fresh hamburger buns with lettuce and mayonnaise.

*Image and recipe via Simply Recipes

4. Olive-Lamb Burger with Mint Gremolata

Ingredients for the Mint Gremolata

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Juice and grated zest of 1 large lemon
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Ingredients for the Olive-Lamb Burgers

• 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
• 1/3 cup chopped and pitted kalamata olives
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 hamburger buns

Steps

1. Prepare the grill or grill pan to medium-hot.
2. To make the sauce, combine the mint, parsley, garlic, lemon juice and zest, and oil. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the lamb, olives, and oregano; season with a generous amount of black pepper and a touch of salt. Divide the mixture into 4 equal patties.
4. Cook the olive-lamb burgers until seared on one side, about 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the burgers and continue cooking, about 4 minutes for medium, or until desired doneness.
5. Serve on the hamburger buns, with the gremolata sauce on the side.

*Image and recipe via Leite’s Culinaria

5. Life Cafe’s 180g Beef Burger

If you’re not in the mood to whip up your own gourmet burgers, we’d be delighted to make one for you. Our 180g beef burgers are grilled to perfection in a secret basting sauce, topped with caramelised onions and placed on a fresh portuguese roll with a rocket and tomato salad. Served with sweet potato or regular chips and tzatziki.

Of course, this is one recipe that must remain a secret, but it’s certainly one that will keep you coming back for more. Fresh, tasty and entirely ‘gourmet’!

There is a growing percentage of South Africans who skip breakfast. Are you perhaps part of this percentage? If so, what is your excuse for missing this vital meal? You don’t have time? You’re trying to lose weight? You’re just not hungry in the morning? Whatever your excuse is, in the eyes of the ‘breakfast police’, it is not one bit valid! Studies have indeed shown that adults and children who eat breakfast in the morning perform better at school and at work. It is proven that eating breakfast improves concentration, problem-solving ability and memory.

For most of us, when we wake up in the morning, our bodies and minds have been without food for the last 10 – 12 hours. Our bodies need to be refueled each morning in order to get us through the first part of the day. For those who still believe their excuse for skipping breakfast is valid, here are a few counter arguments to get you thinking:

You Don’t Have Time

This is probably the most common excuse. It’s understandable that our demanding, busy lifestyles leave us with little time to take care of even the very basics. However, there are ways to work around our time limitations. Pack breakfast goodies into your bag that can be eaten on the go. Cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit, juices and yoghurt drinks. Or make yourself a smoothie or protein shake the night before that you can drink while driving to work or even at your desk!

You’re Trying to Lose Weight

There are many people who believe that skipping breakfast will help them lose a few kilos. This is a great misconception. Skipping breakfast can actually cause you to gain weight and slow down your metabolism drastically. Missing breakfast can result in overeating at some point later on in the day, usually snacking on unhealthy foods, which are high in calories and fat.

You’re Just Not Hungry in the Morning

If your body has been functioning on a cup of coffee every morning for the last 10 years, it won’t be easy to get into a routine of eating a proper breakfast. One needs to introduce a breakfast slowly. Start by adding a glass of milk or fruit juice to your morning intake. Then slowly add small potions of other breakfast items. Once you start feeding your body a balanced meal in the morning, it will begin to develop an appetite for it, and you won’t be able to function without a good brekkie!

Breakfast at Life Café

At Life Café, we are super serious about breakfast. So come join us to get your fuel for the day. Check out our breakfast options below:

Living the Life Large

2 eggs, ostrich sausage, 2 strips bacon, grilled tomato and rosemary mushrooms with a choice of toast (white, wholewheat or rye).
R35

Omelette

Choose three of the following ingredients: bacon, salami, cheese, mushroom, tomato,
chives, onion. Served with a choice of toast (white, wholewheat or rye).
R35

Living the Good Life

2 eggs, 2 strips bacon and grilled tomato with a choice of toast (white, wholewheat or rye).
R25

Breakfast Wrap

Scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, tomato and spring onion relish with sweet chili sauce wrapped in a fresh tortilla.
R30

Assorted Muffins

Served with preserves and cheese.
R15

Health Breakfast Smoothie

Bulgarian yoghurt, mixed fruit and wheat free muesli.
R20

We also have a breakfast special running at the moment. From 7am to 8:30am, we offer three breakfast options with coffee for only R25. We also boast free wi-fi – giving you a chance to get started on your day’s work.

The Calorie Test

Coffee: 1 – Tea: 1

Surprisingly, both coffee and tea contain no fat, saturated fat, calories or sugar in their natural state. It’s the addition of milk and sugar that makes all the difference. So in the calorie test, both coffee and tea pass with flying colours.

The Caffeine Conundrum

Coffee: 2 – Tea: 1

On average, a cup of coffee contains 185mg of caffeine, whereas a cup of tea contains just 55mg per cup. Presuming that you want to get the maximum pick-me-up from your daily beverage, coffee wins hands down. Wowza! Feel that caffeine kick!

The Health Check

Coffee: 3 – Tea: 1

Tea has so often been proclaimed the natural remedy for all sorts of ailments. It has proven to be rich in antioxidants and a great preventative measure for high blood pressure, kidney stones and Alzheimers. Tea is also known to aid the health of bones and teeth.

Coffee, on the other hand, was presumed to be among the more insidious beverages for quite some time. BUT, we now know that coffee is a kick-ass health conscious beverage with the potential to lower the risk of Diabetes, Parkinsons, Gallstones, Alzheimers as well as liver and colon disease. BOOM! And coffee comes out on top!

The Popularity Pageant

Coffee 100 – Tea: 10

Now let’s get down to the more superficial side of the debate. If coffee and tea were real people, who would have millions of friends on Facebook, a Twitter account that constantly goes into over-capacity and a social life that exists 24/7 365 days a year? Coffee. And even though the scenario we’ve painted is entirely speculative, there are multiple groups and pages on Facebook dedicated to coffee with thousands of fans in countries across the world. Yes, there are a few pages for tea too, but they are dwarfed by the presence of coffee lovers for sure.

It is also true that in countries throughout the world, with the exception of Asia, you will find many more coffee drinkers than tea drinkers. Having said that, we think it’s time for you to bow out of this debate if you’re a tea drinker. That is, unless you would like to relocate to Asia.

The Modernization Test

Coffee: 1000 – Tea: 200

Despite its extensive history, two primary methods of making tea remain – the kettle and the stove. Coffee lovers are smiling right about now. Why? Gadgets, gadgets and more gadgets! You want to make state-of-the-art coffee? No problemo. The coffee drinking community is at the cutting edge of technology. Machines that will do everything except fetch your speciality beans from South America adorn coffee shops and homes alike. It’s the coffee drinking age. If you’re a tea drinker and you’ve just realised this, it’s okay. We welcome you with open arms, we don’t discriminate, we’re glad you’ve seen the light and come over to the dark, creamy, froth-laden side.

Life Café is home to passionate coffee drinkers, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t indulge the taste buds of our friendly tea-drinking counterparts. We just cling to a quiet certainty that one day all tea drinkers will have their taste for coffee awakened. Pop in for an unforgettable coffee experience anytime

There are many Christmas markets happening in and around Cape Town in the next month where you can find the perfect gifts for your loved ones while enjoying the Christmas atmosphere. Take the family along and make an outing of it, or spare an hour or two for yourself to stroll through a local market. You are bound to find interesting, unusual gifts at good prices. And alleviate the stress of having to visit the mall during this busy season! We have found quite a comprehensive list of Cape Town Christmas markets on Cape Town Magazine that we thought would be great to share with you.

Cape Town Christmas Markets 2011

Walk Cape Town Christmas Market – 14 to 16 December 2011
The Courtyard at the Cape Waters Building | 71 Waterkant Street

Stellenbosch Christmas Market – 25 November to 3 December 2011
Open on weekdays between 09:00 – 15:00 and 09:30 – 20:30 on Saturdays.
Dutch Reformed Central Church | Stellenbosch

Nitida Night Market – 25 & 26 November 2011
Open between 17:00 and 21:30 on Friday and between 07:30 and 12:00 on Saturday.
Nitida Cellars | Nitida Wine Estate | Durbanville Winelands

Adventsbasaar of the St. Martini Church – 26 November 2011
Open from 10:00.
240 Long Street | Cape Town

Christmas Candlelight Market – 2  & 3 December 2011
Open between 17:00 – 22:00 on Friday and 09:00 – 14:00 on Saturday.
Oude Libertas Amphitheatre | cnr Adam Tas & Oude Libertas Roads | Stellenbosch

Durbanville Night Market – 2 & 16 December 2011
Open between 17:00 – 22:00.
Rust-en-Vrede Heritage Site| Wellington Road | Durbanville

St Luke’s Hospice Annual Market – 4 December 2011
Open from 16:00.
92 Harfield Road | Kenilworth

Laborie Night Market – 9 December 2011
Open between 17:00 and 21:00. Entrance fee is R50p/p and R20p/c over 12. Booking for the Carols is essential and picnic baskets can be pre ordered.
Taillerfer Street | Paarl

Oaks Xmas Lights Festival – 9 to 31 December 2011
Open between 18:00 and 23:00.
144 Main Road | Somerset West

Kirstenbosch Craft Market – 11 & 18 December 2011
Open between 09:00 and 15:00.
Stone cottage grounds | corner Kirstenbosch & Rhodes Drive | Newlands

Earth Fair Market – 24 & 31 December 2011
Open between 09:00 and 14:00.
South Palms Centre | Main Road | Tokai

Adderley Street Night Market – 17 to 30 December 2011
Open between 18:00 and 24:00.
Adderley Street | Cape Town

Celebrate Xmas Fair – 3 December 2011
Open between 12:00 and 17:00
Novalis Ubuntu Institute | 39 Rosmead Avenue | Wynberg

Porter Estate Produce Market – 21 to 31 December 2011
Open between 14:00 and 18:00.
Crysalis Academy | Tokai Manor | Tokai Road | Tokai

French Christmas Market – 2 to 3 December 2011
French School | 101 Hope Street | Gardens

Fab Ideas Christmas Market 9 – 11 December 2011
Monkey Valley Resort | Noordhoek

Edgemead Christmas Market – 9 to 22 December 2011
Open between 10:00 – 20:00.
Community Hall Edgemead | Bosmansdam Road | Edgemead

Pure Boland Christmas Market – 14 December 2011
Green Shed | Brandwacht | Worcestor

Kloovenburg Christmas Market – 17 December 2011
Open from 09:30 – 15:00.
Kloovenburg Estate | Bothmaskloof Pass | Riebeek Kasteel

Blaauklippen Christmas Market – 18 to 20 December 2011
On Sunday the market is open from 10:00 – 15:00, and from 16:00 – 21:00 on Monday and Tuesday.
Monkey Valley Resort | Noordhoek

*Image via Garden Guides

While there aren’t any hard and fast rules when it comes to harvesting, there are a few rules of thumb to guide you along in determining which veggies are ready to be picked and eaten. The majority of vegetables are best picked just before they reach full maturity. If you harvest at the right time, your vegetable garden will also be more likely to yield additional vegetables. The following criteria can be observed as a general guideline:

Spinach: Known to grow quite rapidly, spinach is best harvested by cutting at the soil line before you begin to see a flower stalk shoot up.

Swiss chard: The outer leaves should be cut and the centre should be left to continue growing.

Leaf lettuce: In the same manner as swiss chard, the outer leaves should be cut once the plant has reached approximately 10 centimetres in height and the centre should be left to continue growing.

Tomatoes: These should have full red colouring and be slightly soft to the touch. To harvest, simply twist and pull from the vine.

Carrots: Somewhat tricky to judge, carrots need to have the right diameter before harvesting. If the diameter is right for your variety, the length will most likely be fine too. The best thing to do is to pull one carrot from the ground to determine how the batch is coming along. The great thing about carrots is that they can be let in the ground once matured, so you don’t need to stress too much about over-ripening.

Spring onions: When the tops have reached approximately 15 centimetres in length, the spring onions can be pulled from the ground.

Garlic: When the bulbs are ready to be harvested, the garlic tops will fall over and begin to brown. Don’t pull the garlic out, rather dig it out. Avoid washing. Instead, brush off the dirt and allow it to dry out.

Cucumbers: These lovely greens grow quickly. Cucumbers should be checked daily and harvested early. The fruit should be firm and smooth, as overripe cucumbers will begin to turn yellow and have a rather bitter aftertaste.

String beans: These should be harvested before the seeds begin to bulge. Check them daily, as it doesn’t take very long for beans to go from being tender to tough. The test to see whether they are ready to be harvested is that they should easily snap in half.

These are harvesting tips for some of the more common varieties of vegetables. If you have any tips of your own or if you would like to know harvesting tips for another variation of veg, let us know in the comment section below. We hope you’ve enjoyed our Green Fingers series. Happy planting!

The word quiche derives from the German word Kuchen, meaning cake. Today, we know quiche as a savoury, open-faced pie made up of vegetables, meats and herbs in a custard mixture, baked in pastry crust. A healthy, tasty, simple meal usually enjoyed for lunch or dinner, the quiche has become a South African favourite.

For those warm Summer evenings that are nearly upon us, we thought that we would share a few quiche tips and recipes to help you out on those days when you ‘just don’t know what to make!’

The Crust

A quiche just wouldn’t be the same without a crust to hold all those tasty ingredients. There are various options for the crust. One option is to make your own pastry. If you are keen to put in the effort, a homemade crust always works well. We’ve given you an easy, fail-proof pastry recipe below. Otherwise, if you would prefer to keep it simple, you can purchase a roll of pastry from the store. Short crust, Puff and Phyllo pastry can all be used for a quiche crust. It just depends on what kind of texture you prefer.

Whether you are making your own pastry or using a bought pastry, it is always best to ‘blind bake’ your pastry before adding the other ingredients. Once you have rolled your pastry out and placed it into your dish, line it with wax paper and fill with any beans you have lying around – sugar beans, black beans, etc. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for +- 15 minutes or until the crust is light brown. This just speeds up the cooking process of the crust so that you don’t end up over-cooking the filling while waiting for the crust to cook. These ‘blind baking beans’ can be used again and again.


Short Crust Pastry Recipe:

175g plain flour
75g butter or margarine
2 tablespoons cold water
Pinch of salt

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and add butter (or margarine). Rub until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add water and mix together making firm dough. Wrap in a cling film and fill in a fridge for 30mins.

The Filling:

For the filling, you also have your options.  The simple quiche filling is a combination of egg and milk. Combine two eggs to 125ml milk.  Whisk and add salt and pepper. This is the simpler, healthier option. However, for a more creamy, decadent filling, here is another option for your quiche filling:


Cream Cheese Filling:

3 Eggs
¾ cup cream
1 cup cream cheese
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Beat eggs with cream. Add cream cheese and whisk to break up lumps. Add cooled melted butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Putting it all together

So once you have blind baked your crust and have mixed your filling. It’s time to prepare your ingredients. Whatever you choose to use, cut it up into small pieces and spread over the crust. Then pour your custard mixture over, filling the crust to the top. Then finish off with grated cheese, herbs and spices.

Place in the oven and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes or until the filling is set and the pastry has turned a golden colour.

Enjoy with a salad and a glass of something cold!

Quiche Variations:

Feta and spinach

Mushroom and Asparagus

Butternut and Feta

Ham and mushroom

Pepperdew and feta

If you have any quiche recipes or tips to share, please do so in the comment section below. We would love to have your input!

And there you have it, our roundup of some of the most creative coffee inspired logos. These talented graphic designers must have been sipping on a quality espresso when they dreamed these up. Now we’re not claiming that a cup of coffee is going to transform you into a talented graphic designer, but there’s certainly a dash of energy, a sprinkling of inspiration and a whole lotta get-up-and-go in every cup of Life Café coffee.


Which logo do you like the most? Tell us in the comment section below and feel free to share any other innovative coffee-inspired logos you may have found.

For those of you who live in a box, ‘Moustache’ plus ‘November’ equals ‘Movember’. For some men, it’s an excuse to ditch the razor and have a lazy shave-free month, for others it’s an opportunity to raise awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate and testicular cancer. For others, it’s nothing unusual to allow their ‘tache to grow wild and free.

Whatever it means to you, Movember is here and it’s inviting men all over South Africa to take part. All that’s required is that they shave their faces on the 1st of November and then allow their caveman roots to emerge in the form of a lip caterpillar. To really get involved, men can become ‘Mo Bros’ by registering online at za.movember.com. Here they will learn how to style and groom their ‘tache and find out about throwing ‘Mo parties’ to raise funds for the cause.

Mo-spiration

We think it’s a great idea. So much so that we decided to put together an album of
Mo’s that are sure to inspire you. Ladies, if at this point you are feeling a tad left out, it would probably be a good time to inform you about ‘Mo Sistas’. These are the lovely ladies in Mo Bros’ lives, supporting and motivating their men throughout the month as they seek sponsorships, prompt men’s health conversation and simply solicit attention for their mo-growing efforts. So ladies, play your ‘Mo sista’ role with pride, knowing that you are an integral part of Movember.

Without further ado, we would like to show-case our round-up of Mo-spiration:

And now for some famous mo’s:

We invite all men to take part in Life Café’s Movember Mo-down Challenge. Grow your ‘tache for the month of November, and then send us a pic of your lip mane to lifecafesocialmedia@gmail.com by the 25^th November to enter. The winner will enjoy free coffee at Life Café for the duration of Summer (Dec, Jan & Feb). Worth the challenge? Go for it!