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LITTLE BAKERS

PHOTOS: TOBY MURPHY COMPILED BY: GAIL DAMON & SHANI TSAI

Introducing PnP’s exciting new kiddies baking kits - guaranteed to bring a s ile o all he litt le he s

GOOD IDEA For the cookies, divide the icing between 3-4 small bowls. Add a few drops of water to thin mixture slightly and add a drop of food colouring to each bowl (we used purple, yellow, green and a touch of red).

TRY THIS

HOLIDAY COOKIE KIT Spread the summer cheer with these limited-edition shapes.

CHOCOLATE DELIGHT CUPCAKE KIT An all-time favourite they can master on their own.

Each kit comes with cookie or cupcake mix, icing mix, piping bag, sprinkles and cupcake holders or stencils. Simply add milk, oil and eggs and let the fun begin!

3 FRESH FOOD TRENDS FOR ’23

1. Eatmoreveggies!

From DIY takeaways (or fakeaways) to stepping out of your mealtime comfort zone, this is the year for trying something new

2. DON’T TAKE AWAY, MAKE AWAY!

POLENTA, PROSCIUTTO AND BALSAMIC TOMATOES FRITATTA

The polenta gives this frittata a texture you won’t easily forget.

Heat a glug olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Sauté 1 chopped onion for 5-8 minutes until soft. Add 2 cloves grated garlic and picked leaves from 2 sprigs thyme. Fry for a minute until fragrant. Remove and set aside. Bring milk to a simmer in the same pan. Tip in 1/³ cup (60g) polenta and whisk vigorously. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Whisk in 6 eggs, 2 Tbsp (30g) butter and 1 batch sticky balsamic tomatoes (see below). Season. Pour into a 23-30cm ovenproof round dish or pan and scatter over sautéed onion, extra tomatoes and feta or goat’s cheese. Bake at 180ºCfor 35-40 minutes until set. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Top with prosciutto. SERVES 6

Scan the QR code for the sticky balsamic tomatoes recipe.

BAKED GREEK SALAD

We’ve taken this classic and broken a few rules. Take our word for it – IT’S RIDICULOUSLY GOOD!

Scan the QR code to get the recipe

3. Trysomethingnew

CHICKEN CRUNCH BURGERS

A make-at-home version of the popular fast-food favourite.

Whisk together 2 cups (500ml) buttermilk and 1 egg. Season 4 chicken breast fi llets and slice in half horizontally (for thin fi llets). Marinate chicken in buttermilk mixture for 20-30 minutes. Mix 1½ cups (225g) fl our with 3 Tbsp (45ml) smoked paprika and 1 tsp (5ml) each dried Italian herbs and dried basil. Add 1 Tbsp (15ml) each onion powder, garlic powder, ground ginger and mustard powder. Season. Remove chicken from marinade and allow excess to drip off. Coat in seasoned fl our and shake off excess. Rest on a rack for 15 minutes. Deep-fry for about 10 minutes until golden and cooked. Slice open 8 buns, toast and spread spicy mayo on bottom half. Top with chicken and shredded lettuce. Sandwich closed to serve. MAKES 8

Welcome to doggy daycare

So it’s time for Scruffl es to join the big-dog world. Is he ready for the transition from being Mom’s home-offi ce colleague to joining the playground pooch pack? We have some handy tips from Samantha Walpole, behaviourist at Be The Dog.

LET’S GET STARTED

Enrol your pup in a recognised socialisation school at 8-10 weeks old. “These classes teach your pup to engage with you around distraction and to remain calm around people and other dogs,” says Walpole. This will come in handy when it’s time to drop him off at daycare.

DON’T STOP TRAINING

Has Mr MacGyver passed his fi rst class? Great! But don’t stop there, says Walpole. Regular classes in the fi rst two years of your pup’s life “cements learning and improves your handling and communication skills” with your youngster.

A WORD ON DAYCARE

“Do your homework! There are daycare facilities around every corner these days, but the sector is not regulated and often well-meaning dog-lovers start these businesses with inadequate knowledge,” says Walpole. She advises pet owners to check the establishment’s qualifi cations and association with reputable professional bodies. “Also make sure there is undisturbed nap time for the dogs in the daily routine. It is a misconception that dogs need to play all day.”

petclub

Join the Pick n Pay Pet Club It’s free! You’ll earn extra Smart Shopper points on pet product purchases, discounts on Dotsure Pet Insurance and when fl ying on a dog-friendly fl ight with LIFT.

a lett sa s

We sat down with the cat of the moment, PnP Pet Club Pet of the Year winner!

I like to be treated with… tuna in jelly for dinner. And, of course, my imported biscuit treats. I found my human at… Adopt-a-Pet in Cape Town. She raised and donated R20 000 for them and when she and my dad did the drop-off, they fell in love with me! I was just four months old at the time. I purred to let them know I liked them, too, and now they can’t imagine their lives without me!

I deserve this title because… I am the most loving girl. I insist on… being picked up and held by my humans, and my water must come straight from the tap (no water bowls needed here).

I look forward to… showing people that tortoiseshell cats ARE as beautiful as other breeds and that we don’t all have “tortitude” (attitude) issues. To all the torties out there, we are purr-fect just the way we are! With my prize money I’m going to buy… lots of tuna in jelly, that’s for sure! I will also share my prizes with my brother, Scott, and the other fur-children in our family. And I’ll help my friends at… Barefoot Rescue in Kirstenhof, Cape Town.

SCARLETT AND HER MOM, NATANYA MOSTERT, WIN:

R7 500 in PnP Smart Shopper points R5 000 in PnP Smart Shopper points to donate to an animal shelter of their choice A photoshoot A spot on various Pick n Pay Pet Club marketing channels throughout 2023 R2 000 Dotsure Pet Insurance hamper R5 000 Marltons pet products hamper

connected! LET’S STAY

Whether it’s on the Fresh Living website, our social pages or our tailor-made mailer, the FL team is always here to bring you tried-and-tested recipe inspiration...

FESTIVE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

It’s the season of entertaining, and we’ve got all the help you need at the click of a button. Serve dishes your guests will drool over with our special festive guide – a collection of festive classics as well as latest trends you MUST try.

FOLLOW U S FOLLOWUSFOLL O WUS It’s social season

With fresh recipes on Facebook and Instagram, you’re sure to fi nd the inspiration you need daily. Join in the conversation as we chat about food news and what’s happening in our kitchens. Don’t forget to tag your creations with #FLGrams – we love to see and share your amazing foodie creations!

Expect helpful cooking, baking and entertaining tips, as well as cook-along videos by the FL food team.

Visit pnpfreshliving.com now to get started.

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