During the winter months in South Africa, we see our fruits disappear and we prepare for an overload of comfort food and soups. But this doesn’t mean we should steer away from the fruit section at the grocery store. The winter fruits there are still in abundance, trust us!

By Taryn Wilson

Get those healthy helpings by taking a look at the current in-season fruits, as well as some yummy water infusions to keep you hydrated this winter.

WHAT’S IN SEASON THIS WINTER?

– Apples
– Cucumber
– Grapefruit
– Lemons
– Limes
– Melons
– Naartjies
– Oranges
– Pawpaws

OUR FAVOURITE WINTER-FUSIONS

1. Watermelon and mint water

INGREDIENTS
4 cups of watermelon, cut into cubes
6 sprigs mint
2 L still water

METHOD
1. Place watermelon and mint into a jug.
2. Add water and refrigerate for 2-4 hours.
3. When ready, stir the water and strain, discarding the solid pieces.
4. To serve, add some fresh watermelon and mint into the water with lots of ice.

2. Orange, lemon and cucumber water

INGREDIENTS
1.5 – 2 L still water
1 large cucumber, washed and sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 large orange, sliced

METHOD
1. Fill a jug with the still water.
2. Add the cucumber, lemon and orange and stir well.
3. Allow to infuse overnight in the fridge.

3. Rosemary and grapefruit

INGREDIENTS
½ grapefruit, sliced
6 sprigs rosemary
1 L still water

METHOD
1. Add the grapefruit and rosemary to a jug.
2. Add the water and stir.
3. Allow to infuse in the fridge overnight.

4. Mojito water

INGREDIENTS
2 L still water
3 lemons, 2 sliced and 1 juiced
6 sprigs mint
Ice

METHOD
1. Add water, lemons, lemon juice and mint to a jug.
2. Stir and allow to infuse in the fridge for 2-4 hours.
3. Add ice and serve.

5. Pear vanilla water

INGREDIENTS
1 pear, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
½ vanilla bean
1 L still water

METHOD
1. Place pear, cinnamon and vanilla bean into a jug.
2. Add the water and stir.
3. Refrigerate for at least an hour before use.

6. Apple cinnamon water

INGREDIENTS
1 apple, thinly sliced
1 cinnamon stick
500 ml still water
1 tsp honey
Ice

METHOD
1. Place apple and cinnamon in a jug.
2. Add the water and honey, then stir together.
3. Place in the fridge for at least an hour.
4. Fill the rest of the jug with ice and serve.

Image: Unsplash

The post Winter fruits and water infusions you can make with them appeared first on MyKitchen.

As most of you know by now, level 3B water restrictions have been implemented in Cape Town after the dam levels dropped below 40%. And even if you don’t live in the Mother City, it is important for each one of us to be aware of how much of this precious resource we waste. Since you all love to cook as much as we do, we thought we’d dedicate this week’s How To to water saving tips.

By Roxy Greeff

1. Put away the colander, you don’t need to wash your veggies under a running tap. Instead, fill a bowl with water and rinse them in there finishing off with a scrub from a good-quality vegetable brush.

2. Plan ahead. If you need something defrosted for tomorrow, put it in the fridge to defrost tonight instead of filling a sink with water to do it last minute.

3. Leftover boiling water from pasta, rice, eggs, potatoes or anything really should not be strained down the drain. Empty it out into a jug and use it to water your plants.

4. A dishwasher almost always uses less water than washing dishes by hand, but for some reason most of us insist in rinsing each and every dish before popping it into the dishwasher. Not only is this an unnecessary waste of time, but also redundant. Ninety percent of the time, the dishwasher will have your pots and pans perfectly clean, and if one or two have to go in again with the next batch, there nothing wrong with that.

5. If you wash your dishes by hand and prefer to rinse them beforehand so you don’t have to keep changing the dish water, rather fill your sink with water and rinse them in that before washing instead of rinsing them under that dreaded running tap.

6. In most parts of South Africa, our tap water is perfectly fine to drink. In fact we have very good water in our beautiful country, and it takes an excessive amount of water to produce plastic bottles. So rather refill your own reuseable bottle instead of buying bottled water.

7. Invest in a steamer. Not only does it use less water than boiling, but it also locks in nutrients and is super convenient since you don’t have to watch over it while your food is cooking.

8. Waiting for your tap water to cool down or heat up? Keep your watering can handy and catch this water to use for your plants.

9. Use the correct size pot for cooking. Use one that is exactly the size you need. You will need less water to fill it and won’t need to worry about most of that water evaporating.

10. Spot clean your floor. Sweep and clean up messes as they happen and mop up spills with a wet dishcloth you keep handy. This is also great for you since you won’t have to slave over the old mop and bucket as often.

Easy enough? We think so.

The post 10 ways to save water in the kitchen appeared first on MyKitchen.

By Jana du Plessis

It’s January and summer is heating up. Your first thought may to raid the ice lollies in the freezer (and stick your whole head into it while you’re at it!), but we have a few healthier and more practical suggestions to cool you off from the inside out and nourish you as well.

1. Chilled soup

Soup wasn’t made only for winter. A cool and refreshing summer soup is just as filling and delicious as its warmer counterpart. We suggest this creamy one that’s full of flavour and nutrients.

2. Watermelon slushies

… or cucumber, strawberry or any other fruit you like! Simply freeze, then blitz with some mint and a squeeze of lemon juice. (We won’t tell if you sneaked in a shot of rum, or two…

3. Fruity pops

This one is probably the easiest and quickest way to beat the heat. Pour some fresh fruit juice without any sweeteners into ice-lolly moulds, pop in the freezer for a few hours and enjoy the sweet taste summer. If you don’t have moulds, simple clean a pack of mini yoghurt tubs and use those. Poke a wooden stick into each one halfway through the freezing process.

4. Colourful water

Fill your ice-cube moulds with berries, lemon juice or refreshing herbs and edible flowers, then top up with water. Add to sparkling water to sip on throughout the day.

5. Go ice-skating

The ultimate way to lower the temperature? Take part in an icy activity! Ice-skating may not involve food per se, but spending quality time with your kids and family will nourish your soul and keep you cool as a cucumber, no matter the weather.

The post Keep cool (no ice cream required) appeared first on MyKitchen.

By Jana du Plessis

Welcome to the new year! It’s the time to start fresh, set up your new year’s resolutions and let go of all things last year. The after-effects of all the recent festive feasting may still be lingering, but here are some top tips for restoring balance and keeping healthy this year.

Let the negativity go
The first step to being happy and healthy this year is to give up on negative thinking. Yes, you ate one too many scoops of trifle or went a little overboard with the vino, but you have the memories shared with family and friends. Be thankful for past experiences and focus on a positive future.

Light and bright
Make your diet your first point of action. When grocery shopping, first fill up your basket with fresh fruits and veggies, then buy additional staples like lean protein, brown rice, pasta and beans. Seasonal produce will naturally be lighter foods (as opposed to winter’s squashes and root vegetables), which will fill you up without weighing you down.

Summer cooking
Take cue from the sunny season and stick to food preparations that are ideal for summer months. Raw veg salads and fruit, or a quick grill on the braai are healthy ways to prep dishes and eliminate the unnecessary extra kilojoules that come with deep-frying or creamy baked casseroles.

Experiment and explore
Avoid becoming bored of healthy eating by trying new recipes and ingredients each week. Ever had grilled fruit with yoghurt, nuts and honey for dessert? You’ll be surprised how delicious it is, and it won’t leave you with a sugar high like from cakes, ice cream and pudding. Don’t know what to do with brinjals? If their beautiful purple hue isn’t winning you over, a new recipe sure will!

Water wise
Water flushes out bodily toxins, aids in digestion and plays a vital role in basic cellular function. For a healthy body, it’s imperative to drink lots of water. Aim for 1L a day, but you could need closer to 2L a day if you are very active.

The post Top tips to start 2017 on a healthy note appeared first on MyKitchen.

Hydrating and healthy, the humble jug of water has never tasted so good than with it’s infused with fruit, vegetables and herbs.

Before sugar-laden fruit juices and cooldrinks, our caveman ancestors sipped fresh water straight out of lakes and streams. Sure, they probably had minimal options for hydration, but the notion that water is one of the best things you can put into your body still holds today.

Water’s health benefits are well documented, from protecting your body’s organs to clearing your complexion. So there’s no reason you shouldn’t be drinking a couple of litres a day, especially when infused with delicious flavours.

A fresh start
After over-indulging in puddings and cocktails during the festive season, your body needs a detox. Key to this process is flushing toxins out of your body by drinking plenty of water and eating food with a high water content, such as fruit and veggies. Combine the two and you have a refreshing drink that cleanses your system and tastes delicious. Plus, by loading water with lots of fruit, veggies and herbs, you’ll be upping the vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content of your diet.

The basics
Start by cutting fresh vegetables or fruit into thick slices or chunks, removing leaves or stems is optional. Herbs can be added whole or picked from their stalks, just be sure to give them a good rinse first. Place all the ingredients into a glass pitcher, jug or jar (so it can be easily stored in the fridge), and top with filtered water. Add ice before serving.

Some ingredients, such as lemon, release their flavours immediately, while others require anywhere from an hour to a day to fully infuse. Bear in mind: the more you add, the stronger the flavour will be.

Infusions are best served on the same day, but can last up to three days in the fridge, as long as you don’t use carbonated water.

Flavour savers
Follow these tips for creating a delicious, fresh drink.

• Peeling fruit and veggies is optional, but after around eight hours, peels can give water a bitter taste.
• Use a muddler or spoon to bruise the ingredients. This will break down the natural structure, speeding up the release of flavours. If you’d prefer a more subtle taste and have the time to leave the water to infuse slowly, skip this step.
• Leave to infuse in the fridge to keep the ingredients fresh. Seal the opening with a lid or cling film to avoid fridge smells permeating the mixture.

Meet your match

Here are some of our favourite combinations and their added health benefits:

• Lemon and cucumber: This slimming concoction is great for cleansing the liver and assists with bloating.
• Mint and watermelon: Mint aids in the relief of allergies, colds and indigestion, while watermelon boasts plenty of vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants.
• Pineapple and grape: This tasty combination has anti-inflammatory benefits from the pineapple, and cleansing compounds from the grapes.
• Rosemary and orange: Rosemary releases some youth-boosting antioxidants and orange adds a dash of vitamin C.
• Sage and strawberry: Sage relaxes the body and studies suggest that the flavonoids found in strawberries promote heart health.

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