No fuss hosting
Celebrate the last golden days of summer
Get out of the late summer funk.
It’s that strange time of year. We are back at school and work, the December holiday tan lines are quickly fading and the year is speeding up like nobody’s business.
Weekends are full of school sport days, birthdays or home reno-to do lists…it’s a bit distressing how quickly everything just settles back into the crazy rat race of everyday life.
What you need, is a golden afternoon.
You deserve a break from the fast-paced monotony of life. A stretch of time to remind you of those lovely early summer days, only a few weeks ago, when life was all about sun, festive vibes and the clink of ice in a glass or the splash of a kid in a swimming pool…
Don’t give up just yet!
Yes, you might still be knackered from your festive season hosting duties, and even though the January pay day finally came, things are still tight. So, a rib eye braai with Woollies potato salad isn’t on the cards just yet.
We are here to share a recipe that will give you all the magic of a summer feast, without having to break the bank, and braai yet again.
Grapefruit and Mozzarella Di Bufala salad with hot honey
This recipe is a twist on a classic, using grapefruit and fresh rocket instead of the more traditional tomato and basil. The addition of the hot honey adds some fire and offsets the creamy richness of the mozzarella.
Get the recipe here: Grapefruit and Mozzarella Di Bufala Salad
The white gold of the cheese world
If you are a foodie, you might know about Mozzarella Di Bufala. It is the so-called “white gold” of the cheese world. This is a luxuriously creamy, milky white and soft mozzarella – not at all like the rubbery pale-yellow stuff you are used to. This white gold is made not from cow’s milk, but from the ultra-rich milk of the Mediterranean Water Buffalo. In previous times this cheese was only produced in Europe and had to be imported for SA foodies, but these days there are one or two breeding herds of Mediterranean Water Buffaloes that are producing enough milk for cheesemakers to craft this white gold locally. Most notably Zandam Italian Cheese just outside of Paarl.
Where can I get my hands on it?
Certain Woolworths stores carry imported buffalo Mozzarella, but the most reliable place to get it is from your local Checkers cheese counter as part of their Forage and Feast range. They sell a delicious locally made version, expertly crafted by Zandam, that is available all over the country, just one 60/60 order away…Certain Spar stores in the Western Cape also sell it under Zandam’s own brand. The same goes for specialised Italian delis around the country.
Top Tip: When it comes to creamy luxury nothing compares to Mozzarella Di Bufala, but if you can’t get your hands on it, you can substitute it with the other fresh mozzarella variant made form cow’s milk, Mozzarella fior di latte. Similar in texture, but without the distinct earthy richness of Mozzarella Di Bufala.
This is the perfect lunch on its own, just add some toasted ciabatta. But obviously it is also the perfect side dish…your time and budget will be the only deciding factors.
Credits
Photography by Jeanette Clark
Recipe tested & prepared at Chrisna du Toit’s beautiful home on the Du Toit farm Kromfontein.
Styling by Ilanie du Toit.
Want to give your last summer days event more kick? The also read our article on how to make grown up slushies.
