Food & Home Magazine

Name: Beef and mushroom burger
Yield: 4 medium sized burgers
Ingredients: 250g lean beef mince; 250g button mushrooms, chopped and pan fried; ½ onion, finely chopped; 125ml dried bread crumbs; 1 large egg; 20ml tomato sauce; 10ml worcestershire sauce; 15ml oil; 4 bread rolls; 1 tomato, sliced; 1 handful(s) rocket; ½ red onion, sliced; 100ml mayonnaise; 50ml Greek yoghurt; 15ml lemon juice; 2ml freshly ground black pepper

Beef and mushroom burgers

Imka Webb — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:00:10 +0000

Juicy, flavour-packed and topped with a creamy peppery mayo, these beef and mushroom burgers are an easy way to put a fresh spin on a classic. Mushrooms are packed with loads of minerals and vitamins that will not only beef up your burger’s nutritional value, but also help lower cholesterol (that’s a win-win, especially with burgers for dinner).

Finely chopped, pan-fried mushrooms are blended with beef mince to create tender burger patties with plenty of savoury, umami flavour, then piled into soft rolls with tomato, rocket and red onion. It’s a simple burger night upgrade that delivers on both flavour and texture.

Print Recipe

Beef and mushroom burger

Serves: 4 medium sized burgers

Ingredients

250g lean beef mince
250g button mushrooms, chopped and pan fried
½ onion, finely chopped
125ml dried bread crumbs
1 large egg
20ml tomato sauce
10ml worcestershire sauce
15ml oil
4 bread rolls
1 tomato, sliced
1 handful(s) rocket
½ red onion, sliced
100ml mayonnaise
50ml Greek yoghurt
15ml lemon juice
2ml freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

In a bowl mix the mince, mushrooms, onion and bread crumbs together. Add the egg, tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Mix together well and season with salt and pepper.

Form the mixture into four patties and allow to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Heat a large frying pan and add the oil. Fry the patties on both sides until cooked to your liking.

Place the patties onto kitchen towel to drain.

To serve cut the rolls in half, arrange the patty and the rest of the ingredients on top.

In a small bowl mix the mayonnaise, Greek yoghurt, lemon juice and black pepper together and add a dollop to each hamburger.

Notes

This recipe was shot for The South African Mushroom Farmers' Association (SAMFA) by Dianne Bibby of Bibby's Kitchen @36.

Made this Beef and mushroom burger recipe? Tag us @foodandhomesa #CookingWithFH on Instagram!

Also See: Homemade burger patties

Homemade burger patties

The post Beef and mushroom burgers appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.

7 Cosy CT restaurants to warm up at this cold season

Food & Home Entertaining Staff — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:34 +0000

From fireplaces to comfort plates, the city leans into seasonal dining

Cape Town’s autumn and winter seasons have a way of slowing everything down. This is the season where restaurants shift into their most inviting form, with warm interiors, crackling fireplaces and menus built for comfort.

These cosy restaurants offer more than just a meal. They offer pause, warmth and a little escape from the grey days outside.

7 Cosy CT restaurants to warm at this cold season

1. Kloof Street’s warm and lively dining scene

Back in the city bowl, Kloof Street House feels like stepping into a hidden Victorian home, complete with fireplaces and candlelit corners. Nearby, Rick’s Café Américain and Asoka keep Kloof Street lively, blending warm interiors with global flavours and easy winter energy.

2. Riverside dining with rustic winter appeal

For something closer to the CBD, The Wild Fig offers a rustic riverside feel, where open fires and generous plates make colder days feel easier to handle.

3. Camps Bay dining with ocean and firelight views

Out in Camps Bay, Azure Restaurant pairs ocean views with indoor fireplaces, creating a space where winter storms feel far away, even when they roll in over the Atlantic.

4. Elevated winter dining at The Roundhouse

Above Camps Bay, Salsify at The Roundhouse elevates winter dining with dramatic views and seasonal menus that lean into comfort without losing finesse. It is the kind of place where time slows naturally.

5. Mont Marie

Set on a wine farm with soft lighting, mountain views, and a relaxed indoor-outdoor flow. It has that warm, unhurried atmosphere that works beautifully for long lunches and golden-hour dinners.

6. Post & Pepper

Housed in the old post office building, it’s intimate, softly lit, and stylish without feeling stiff. The kind of place where the conversation flows easily, and the plates are designed for sharing.

7. The Table at De Meye

A slow-living favourite in a farm setting with shared plates and a deeply relaxed rhythm. It’s less ‘restaurant visit‘ and more ‘afternoon escape.’

Winter dining in Cape Town’s slower rhythm

Winter in Cape Town is not something to push through. It is something to settle into. Between fireplaces, slow lunches and rain-soaked streets, the city offers its own version of comfort, one warm table at a time.

Also See: Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

This article was originally written by Angelica Rhoda for Cape Town {ETC}.

The post 7 Cosy CT restaurants to warm up at this cold season appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.

Beef, samp and bean soup

Annemieke van Nieuwkerk — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:17:25 +0000

This beef, samp and bean soup makes the perfect bowl of warmth during cold seasons. The process to make it is lovely too: you chop the veg, soak the samp and beans, sear the beef shin and then combine them all, letting them simmer for a few hours while you get busy with other tasks or start your favourite movie. While the samp and beans make this soup ultra filling, no one will say no to a fresh, fluffy and hot bread roll lathered with butter on the side. Enjoy!

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Print Recipe

Beef, samp & bean soup

Serves: 4 to 6

Prep Time: 20 minutes – Cooking Time: 4 to 5 hours

Ingredients

500 g beef shin (or any other beef cut of your liking)
2 onions, chopped (I used red, but white onions and even leeks work too)
2 carrots, chopped
3 celery sticks, chopped
3 bay leaves
4 sprigs rosemary and thyme tied together (any fresh herbs work here)
3 beef stock cubes (if you only have vegetable or chicken that works too)
3 teaspoons salt (adjust to taste before serving)
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 teaspoons paprika (or more if you like it hot)
fresh black pepper to taste
2 cups samp and bean mix, pre-soaked (follow packet instructions)
4 to 5 litres water
olive oil for sautéeing
To serve
Freshly sliced chives
Olive oil
Fresh bread rolls (optional)

Instructions

SEASON the beef shin with olive oil, salt and a generous amount of black pepper.

SEAR the beef in a big soup pot, remove and set aside.

SAUTÉE the vegetables until soft.

ADD the spices and herbs, fry for 1 minute.

ADD the pre-soaked samp and bean mix.

REPLACE the beef shins.

COVER with water and bring to the boil.

LOWER the heat to a gentle simmer, and leave to cook for 4 to 5 hours (depending on how quickly the meat softens).

ADJUST the seasoning before serving with more salt and black pepper

SERVE by garnishing bowls of soup with freshly sliced chives and a drizzle of olive oil. Don't forget a sneaky bread roll!

Also See: Apple and oat crumble

Apple and oat crumble

The post Beef, samp and bean soup appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.

Time reveals character: New Steenberg release

Food & Home Entertaining Staff — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:30 +0000

Steenberg Unveils Lady R Cap Classique 2020 with Refined New Look for its Icon Cap Classique

This Women’s Month, Steenberg Vineyards unveils Lady R Cap Classique 2020 with a refined new label that elevates its place within the estate’s prestigious Icon Collection alongside Magna Carta.

More than a new vintage, the release celebrates a philosophy that defines both the wine and the woman who inspired it: Time Reveals Character.

Lady R Cap Classique – Steenberg

Released only after almost six years of patient maturation on its lees, a traditional ageing process that develops richness, texture and complexity, Lady R Cap Classique 2020 represents Steenberg’s most considered expression of traditional method Cap Classique.

Produced exclusively as a vintage wine, every release captures the unique personality of a single harvest, allowing nature and time to shape the wine rather than pursuing consistency from year to year.

The refined new label, reflecting Lady R’s position as one of Steenberg’s icon wines and bringing it into visual alignment with Magna Carta, also reinforces the elegance and quiet confidence that defines the estate’s Icon Collection.

Lady R is a wine that rewards patience,” says Elunda Basson, Cellarmaster at Steenberg Vineyards. “Everything about this wine is guided by patience. Time is the final ingredient, allowing the wine to reveal its fullest expression. The new label reflects that same philosophy: understated, elegant and intentionally timeless.”

Named in honour of Catharina ‘Tryn’ Ras, the pioneering founder of Steenberg and Southern Africa’s first female landowner, Lady R connects two remarkable women across more than three centuries.

Arriving at the Cape in the late 1600s, Catharina overcame extraordinary hardship at a time when women enjoyed few legal or economic rights. Through resilience and determination, she established what would become one of the Cape’s oldest wine estates, leaving a legacy that continues to shape Steenberg today.

Releasing Lady R during Women’s Month therefore honours not only Catharina’s remarkable story, but the qualities she embodied: courage, perseverance, vision and an unwavering belief in creating something that would endure.

Lady R Cap Classique – Steenberg

Today, that legacy continues through the craftsmanship of Cellarmaster Elunda Basson, whose decades of experience in traditional method Cap Classique guide every stage of Lady R’s evolution.

Crafted from 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir, Lady R 2020 gains additional depth and complexity through carefully judged barrel fermentation, while extended maturation contributes harmony, texture and finesse.

Creating a wine like Lady R requires both technical precision and intuition,” says Basson. “Every component must earn its place in the final blend. It is a process that demands patience, experience and an unwavering commitment to quality.”

She adds: “Lady R is built through layers of complexity. From blending Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to carefully integrating oak and managing extended lees ageing, each element plays a specific role in shaping the wine’s texture, structure and character. The challenge is achieving harmony, where freshness, elegance and depth exist in perfect balance.”

Lady R’s philosophy has also earned industry recognition. The previous 2019 vintage was named Best Overall Cap Classique at the 2025 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, reinforcing Lady R’s position among South Africa’s leading vintage Cap Classiques and affirming Steenberg’s commitment to excellence in traditional method winemaking.

The name Lady R is about more than history,” says Basson. “It reflects the values Catharina embodied; resilience, vision and determination, which continue to shape Steenberg today. More than 340 years later, her legacy continues to inspire how we pursue excellence at Steenberg.”

For Steenberg, Lady R is ultimately created for life’s most meaningful occasions.

Lady R Cap Classique – Steenberg

Opening a bottle of Lady R is about more than enjoying exceptional Cap Classique,” says Basson. “It is about celebrating moments that deserve to be remembered. Like the wine itself, those moments become richer with time.”

With its refined new identity, acclaimed pedigree and latest vintage release, Lady R 2020 marks the next chapter for one of South Africa’s most distinguished Cap Classiques; a wine that demonstrates a simple truth: Time Reveals Character.

Also See: Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

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Signs it’s time to replace your air fryer

Annemieke van Nieuwkerk — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:00:24 +0000

Air fryers have been around for some time now and are arguably one of the most popular kitchen appliances – I mean, the whole team at F&H is obsessed with them and can’t live without them. But like all appliances, with constant use comes some tough decisions: repair or replace.

Experts have a golden rule of thumb for air fryers: they usually last between three and five years – lasting longer with regular care/maintenance. While regular cleaning makes your beloved appliance last longer, when things start sounding odd, buttons keep glitching, and you start seeing sparks, it’s time to replace your air fryer.

Signs it’s time to replace your air fryer

As much as we’d love air fryers to be lifelong kitchen appliances (just imagine), they, like so many others, have a shelf life. And ignoring the signs of a failing air fryer can lead to some serious stuff like undercooked food, burnt food, unwanted smoke, longer cooking times, and even electrical hazards (think sparks and orange flames).

If your air fryer is showing any one of these signs, it’s time to replace it (forget about repairing it; it’s past that point):

1. Soggy, undercooked food

If your air fryer was producing excellent cooked foods but is now only able to produce soggy, undercooked and unbelievably sad things – it’s time to say goodbye. It’s usually a sign that the fan or heating element has been damaged or compromised, and repairing it might just not make much of a difference, or end up costing the same as an adequate replacement.

2. Smoke or burning smells

Most air fryers have hard-to-reach places that regularly get overlooked when cleaning. But when you start noticing smoke or strong burnt smells, it’s a sign your air fryer is K-O. You can absolutely try one last deep-clean session before plugging it out and binning it.

3. Overheating and other glitches

If you start dinner only to come back and find your air fryer switched off, it’s overheating. Check yourself first: have you left enough space for the air to circulate; are you cooking in small batches? If you are and it’s still switching off due to overheating, the heating element and exhaust may be damaged.

If you notice any other glitches, like the buttons not being very receptive, or your digital display is acting like a portal into another world, then it’s time to start shopping for a new one.

4. Non-stick coating is damaged

Most air fryer baskets are coated in Teflon – a non-stick lining that’s easy to clean up. If you notice chips, scratches, or chunks that have peeled off, then the situation has become hazardous. It’s not just that your cleaning task will become more tedious; it’s the fact that you are at risk of ingesting bits of Teflon – which is extremely unsafe to consume.

As soon as you notice this, it’s time to shop for more modern alternatives like stainless steel, glass or ceramic air fryers.

5. Sparks and orange flames

As soon as you notice frayed cords, sparks or any other electrical hazards, you’re probably one or two sessions away from a small (but spreadable) electrical fire. Safety and ease of use are what we want from our air fryer, not electrical hazards and safety concerns.

Unplug immediately and start looking for a replacement ASAP.

Also See: Air fryer vs oven: Is the hype worth it?

Air fryer vs oven: Is the hype worth it?

The post Signs it’s time to replace your air fryer appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.

The mental load no one talks about: Why convenience is becoming self-care

Annemieke van Nieuwkerk — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:00:43 +0000

Ask a woman what self-care looks like, and chances are the answer won’t always involve a spa day, a face mask or an uninterrupted hour with a book.

Sometimes it’s ordering the groceries instead of going to the shops. It’s having something in the freezer that can become dinner in 20 minutes, or saying yes to the easier option without feeling the need to justify it. It might even be five quiet minutes at the end of the day with a cold drink before someone asks where their shoes are.

For many women, the real luxury isn’t necessarily having more. It’s having less to think about.

There is a particular kind of tiredness that doesn’t always come from doing too much. It comes from remembering too much.

The birthday present that still needs to be bought. The WhatsApp you haven’t replied to. What’s running low in the fridge. The appointment that needs to be moved. Whether there’s enough dog food until Friday. What’s happening at school tomorrow. And, somewhere among all of that, what everyone is going to eat tonight.

None of those things feels particularly overwhelming in isolation. Stack them on top of work, family responsibilities, finances and the general admin of everyday life, though, and they take up a surprising amount of headspace.

We know it as the mental load, the largely invisible work of anticipating, remembering, organising and keeping everyday life moving. It isn’t something carried exclusively by women, and every household divides responsibilities differently, but for many women that constant background planning remains very familiar.

Food is a good example.

A meal might only take half an hour to prepare, but dinner often starts hours earlier in someone’s head. What’s available? What needs to be used before it goes off? Do we need to stop at the shops? What can be packed for lunch tomorrow? Will everyone eat it?

The meal itself might take 30 minutes. Thinking about it can occupy space in your head for half the afternoon.

Perhaps that’s why convenience deserves a little more credit than we’ve traditionally given it.

We’ve had a complicated relationship with convenience, particularly when it comes to food. Somewhere along the way, making things from scratch became synonymous with making an effort. Pre-prepared ingredients were a shortcut. Grocery deliveries felt indulgent. Asking someone else to bring dessert could somehow feel like poor planning.

There is no prize for making Tuesday night more difficult than it needs to be.

As lives have become busier, convenience has taken on a different value. It’s less about rushing through life and more about being selective with the time and energy we have.

Keeping vegetables in the freezer means there’s always something available for dinner. Pre-cut ingredients might save half an hour at the end of a long day. Grocery delivery can give you back a Saturday morning. Keeping a few drinks chilled means friends can arrive without entertaining becoming an event that requires three days of preparation.

They’re ordinary choices, but perhaps that’s what we’ve missed in the conversation around self-care.

We’ve turned looking after ourselves into an activity in its own right. There are morning routines, evening routines, wellness rituals, apps to download, habits to track and endless advice about how to make more time for ourselves.

For someone already carrying a full mental load, self-care can start to sound suspiciously like another job.

Making life easier can be a form of looking after yourself too.

Increasingly, we’re seeing that thinking reflected in what people expect from the products they bring into their homes. Speed still matters, but convenience needs to do more than save a few minutes. Products need to fit easily into real life, whether that’s food that’s simple to prepare, packaging that actually works, versatile staples or drinks that can go straight from the fridge to the table.

It’s a shift brands such as PURA Beverage Co are paying attention to as well. Rather than asking already-busy consumers to make room for another product or another routine, the more relevant question is how a product can fit into the life they’re already living.

Sometimes simplicity is enough.

That feels particularly relevant during Women’s Month, when so much of the conversation understandably focuses on what women achieve, lead, build and contribute.

Perhaps there should also be room to talk about what women can put down.

Take the shortcut. Serve the easy dinner. Let someone else bring dessert. Order the groceries. Say no when you don’t have the capacity. Use the 20 minutes you’ve saved to sit outside with a drink, phone a friend, play with the kids or do absolutely nothing at all.

Not everything needs to be optimised, perfected or squeezed into the day.

Sometimes looking after ourselves starts with deciding that a few things simply don’t need to be done the hard way.

Also See: Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

Words and images supplied.

The post The mental load no one talks about: Why convenience is becoming self-care appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.

Women’s Month 32 Million Forms

Food & Home Entertaining Staff — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:00:30 +0000

The human form has always been central to Carrol Boyes’ creative language. Through her sculptures, Carrol explored the figure as an expression of movement, character and individuality.

From this philosophy came the iconic ‘Woman’ motif: a sculptural symbol of strength, presence and the enduring spirit of womanhood.

With more than 32 million women calling South Africa home, this Women’s Month, Carrol Boyes celebrates the extraordinary collective shaping families, communities, industries and future generations.

To honour the many forms of womanhood, we have curated 32 pieces from our collection, spanning timeless homeware, entertaining essentials and beautifully crafted gifts, each selected to celebrate the women who inspire us every day.

BATHROOM TOWEL RAIL woman

Bathroom towel rail – Carrol Boyes

The woman bathroom towel rail bears the trademark aesthetic of the Carrol Boyes brand, whose work often the beauty of the feminine form. This bathroom towel rail is classic in its design appeal and will complement any interior décor scheme. Crafted from cast aluminium with a polished silver finish.

Price: R 3,799.00

Available in Carrol Boyes Retail stores and online: BATHROOM TOWEL RAIL – Woman| Carrol Boyes ZA

DINNERWARE 12pc SET dancing girls

Dinnerware – Carrol Boyes

The Dinnerware 12pc Set – Dancing Girls unites plates and bowls in a cohesive porcelain collection. Featuring Carrol Boyes’ fluid dancer designs, this set for four transforms dining into an artistic experience. Functional, elegant and collectable, it’s the perfect expression of style for every occasion.

Price: R 3 599.00

Available in Carrol Boyes Retail stores and online: DINNERWARE 12pc SET- Dancing girls | Carrol Boyes ZA

DEEP SALAD SERVERS woman man

Deep salad servers – Carrol Boyes

Serve salad in style! Designed to serve large, generous portions of salad. From the iconic Woman/Man range, these salad servers are crafted from stainless steel with a popular figurative design.

Price: R 1 489.00

Available in Carrol Boyes Retail stores and online: DEEP SALAD SERVERS – Woman Man| Carrol Boyes ZA

VASE LARGE embrace

Vase large – Carrol Boyes

Embrace innovative design with this Iconic vase. Sculpted from aluminium with a mirror polish, this vase makes a statement on its own and with flowers.

Price: R 7,999.00

Available in Carrol Boyes Retail stores and online: VASE LARGE – Embrace | Carrol Boyes ZA

SPOON REST woman

Spoon rest – Carrol Boyes

Safe to use on your stovetop, this heat-resistant spoon rest is the perfect place to place your spoon while cooking.

Price: R 899.00

Available in Carrol Boyes Retail stores and online: SPOON REST – Woman | Carrol Boyes ZA

CUTLERY 4pc SET woman man

Cutlery – Carrol Boyes

The Cutlery 4pc Set – Woman / Man blends sculptural design with everyday practicality. Inspired by masculine and feminine forms, each stainless-steel piece features fluid contours, a mirror finish and lasting durability. Dishwasher-safe, tarnish-resistant and beautifully boxed.

Price: R 2 699.00

Available in Carrol Boyes Retail stores and online: CUTLERY 4pc SET Woman Man | Carrol Boyes ZA

For more information: Carrol Boyes: Luxury Homeware, Décor & Artistic Gifts | Carrol Boyes ZA

Facebook – @Carrol.Boyes | Instagram – carrolboyesofficial | LinkedIn – Carrol Boyes Functional Art | TikTok – carrolboyesofficial

Also See: How to style open kitchen shelves like a pro

How to style open kitchen shelves like a pro

Words and images provided.

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Apple and butterscotch French toast sandwiches

Food & Home Entertaining Staff — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:15 +0000

Take breakfast to the next level with these indulgent apple and butterscotch French toast sandwiches. Slices of muesli or raisin bread are dipped in eggy custard, filled with buttery caramelised apples and homemade butterscotch sauce, then fried until golden and crisp. Serve them warm with extra butterscotch drizzled over the top for a decadent breakfast or brunch treat.

Print Recipe

Apple and butterscotch French-toast sandwiches

Serves: 3

Cooking Time: 45 minutes + 30 minutes, for the sauce to cool

Ingredients

Butterscotch sauce
100ml golden syrup
35g butter
80g treacle sugar
100ml cream
French-toast sandwiches
30g butter
2 Royal Gala apples, core removed and cut into eighths
15ml (1 tbsp) brown sugar
2 large eggs
50ml milk
6 slices muesli/raisin bread
30g butter

Instructions

For the butterscotch sauce, place the syrup, butter and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the cream. Return to the heat, reduce the heat to medium and simmer, 2 – 3 minutes. Pour into a sterilised jar and set aside to cool and thicken, about 30 minutes.

For the sandwiches, melt the first 30g butter in a frying pan over medium heat, add the apples and sugar and fry until softened and caramelised, 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Whisk together the eggs and milk and dip the slices of bread into the egg mixture. Place 3 of the dipped slices of bread on a board and top each slice with caramelised apples and 15ml (1 tbsp) butterscotch sauce. Sandwich together with the remaining slices of dipped bread.

Heat the second 30g butter in a large frying pan over medium heat, and fry the apple sandwiches until golden brown and cooked through, 2 minutes on each side.

Remove from heat and cut each sandwich in half. Stack them, keeping them in place with a skewer, and serve immediately drizzled with the remaining butterscotch sauce or serve it as a side, if you prefer.

Enjoyed these apple and butterscotch French-toast sandwiches? Tag us @foodandhomesa #cookingwithFH on Instagram!

Also See: Marshmallow-stuffed French toast with dark chocolate ganache

Marshmallow-stuffed French toast with dark chocolate ganache

The post Apple and butterscotch French toast sandwiches appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.

Butternut, chicken and lemon & black pepper risotto

Jean-Marie Uys — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:00:22 +0000

Creamy, comforting and packed with flavour, this butternut and chicken risotto is the kind of dinner that makes a chilly evening feel instantly better. Sweet butternut, tender paprika-spiced chicken, and Parmesan come together with Parmalat’s lemon-and-black-pepper butter, while crispy sage adds the perfect finishing touch. It takes a little patience as the stock is gradually stirred through the rice, but the result is well worth the effort.

Print Recipe

Butternut, chicken & lemon & black pepper risotto

Lunch, Dinner – Italian

By Parmalat – Serves: 4

Why settle for plain butter when you can indulge in Parmalat’s tasty range of flavoured butter? Melt it, fry it or drizzle it on your everyday Winter dishes to take your cooking to the next level! Using Parmalat’s butter with lemon and black pepper, try this Butternut, chicken & lemon & black pepper risotto recipe.

Ingredients

15ml olive oil
2 chicken fillets, cubed
5ml paprika
80g Parmalat Butter with Lemon & Black Pepper
1 onion, peeled and finely diced
250g butternut, cut into small cubes
250g arborio rice
750ml vegetable or chicken stock, warmed
3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, finely grated
To serve
30ml Parmalat Butter with Lemon & Black Pepper
9-10 fresh sage leaves
Extra Parmesan Cheese
Small rocket leaves or micro herbs

Instructions

Heat the oil in a pan, sprinkle the paprika over the chicken cubes and pan fry the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the heat and set aside.

In a pot, melt the Parmalat Butter with Lemon & Black Pepper, add the onion and cook over a very low heat for 5 minutes, stirring continuously.

Add the butternut and rice and stir well, ensuring everything is coated in butter. Add a ladleful of warm stock and gently stir the risotto over a low heat, until all of the liquid has been absorbed.

Continue adding the stock, a ladleful at a time and cooking until absorbed, before adding the next ladleful of stock.

Once all of the liquid has been absorbed, return the chicken to the pot and the Parmesan cheese, cooking for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed through and the rice is tender.

To serve, melt the remaining butter in a pan and fry the sage leaves for 30 - 40 seconds, until the sage leaves are crispy.

Spoon the risotto into serving bowls, top with more Parmesan cheese, a handful of rocket leaves or micro herbs and some of the crispy sage leaves and butter mixture.

Made this delicious Butternut, chicken & lemon & black pepper risotto recipe? Tag us @foodandhomesa #CookingWithFH on Instagram!

Also See: Seared steak with rosemary & thyme butter sauce

Seared steak with rosemary & thyme butter sauce

The post Butternut, chicken and lemon & black pepper risotto appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.

How to style open kitchen shelves like a pro

Food & Home Entertaining Staff — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:00:42 +0000

If you’re currently redecorating your kitchen — or just dreaming of a quick layout refresh — open shelves can feel both stylish and intimidating.

Whether you’re a minimalist who hates clutter or someone who just wants quick access to everyday dishes, open kitchen shelves can work in a busy home. The trick is styling them in a way that feels easy to maintain, neat, and completely practical.

How to style open shelves in your kitchen like a pro

1. Stick to two or three colours

The easiest way to stop your shelves from looking messy is to keep your colours simple. Pick two or three main shades—like white, light wood, and soft green or grey—and repeat them across the shelves.

If you have bright or colourful dishes, space them out evenly across the shelves. Use plain white or clear glassware in between to balance the look.

2. Put heavy items on the bottom

Think about weight when placing your things. As a simple rule, put your largest, heaviest items—like big mixing bowls, stacks of dinner plates, or heavy wooden boards—on the bottom shelf.

Keep lighter items, like wine glasses, small jars, or small decor pieces, on the top shelf. This makes the whole setup look neat and sturdy.

Unsplash

3. Layer things instead of putting them in a straight line

Layer your items from back to front. Stand a cutting board or small picture against the wall, then place a bowl or jar just in front of it to create depth.

Mixing tall and short items next to each other also keeps things looking natural and relaxed.

4. Use glass jars for dry food

Store packaging creates a lot of visual clutter. Pour everyday food—like rice, pasta, coffee, and oats—into simple glass jars or containers.

This keeps your ingredients fresh while making your shelves look clean and organised.

Unsplash

5. Add a touch of green

A small plant instantly softens a kitchen and brings life into the room. Try a small pot plant on a top shelf, or keep a pot of fresh herbs near your cooking area.

If your kitchen does not get much natural light, a small vase with dried flowers or greenery works just as well.

6. Mix useful items with a few pretty pieces

Your kitchen shelves still need to work for your daily life. A good rule of thumb is to use most of the space for items you use every day, and a small space for pretty extras.

You can easily add personality with simple touches, like a favourite cookbook resting on its side, a small art print, a pretty ceramic jug, or a nice wooden salt and pepper set.

7. Leave a little empty space

The biggest mistake people make with open shelves is filling every single spot. Empty space lets the eye rest and stops the kitchen from feeling crowded.

Leave a little breathing room between small groups of items. If a shelf starts to look messy, just take one or two things away!

Also See: The one laundry habit ruining your clothes

The one laundry habit ruining your clothes

This article was originally published by Lutho Gagamele for Woman and Home.

The post How to style open kitchen shelves like a pro appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.

Food & Home Magazine

Beef and mushroom burgers

Beef and mushroom burger

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Made this Beef and mushroom burger recipe? Tag us @foodandhomesa #CookingWithFH on Instagram!

Also See: Homemade burger patties

7 Cosy CT restaurants to warm up at this cold season

7 Cosy CT restaurants to warm at this cold season

1. Kloof Street’s warm and lively dining scene

2. Riverside dining with rustic winter appeal

3. Camps Bay dining with ocean and firelight views

4. Elevated winter dining at The Roundhouse

5. Mont Marie

6. Post & Pepper

7. The Table at De Meye

Winter dining in Cape Town’s slower rhythm

Also See: Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

Beef, samp and bean soup

Beef, samp & bean soup

Ingredients

Instructions

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Time reveals character: New Steenberg release

Also See: Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

Signs it’s time to replace your air fryer

Signs it’s time to replace your air fryer

1. Soggy, undercooked food

2. Smoke or burning smells

3. Overheating and other glitches

4. Non-stick coating is damaged

5. Sparks and orange flames

Also See: Air fryer vs oven: Is the hype worth it?

The mental load no one talks about: Why convenience is becoming self-care

Also See: Experience 5 Winelands escapes run and owned by women

Women’s Month 32 Million Forms

Also See: How to style open kitchen shelves like a pro

Apple and butterscotch French toast sandwiches

Apple and butterscotch French-toast sandwiches

Ingredients

Butterscotch sauce

French-toast sandwiches

Instructions

Enjoyed these apple and butterscotch French-toast sandwiches? Tag us @foodandhomesa #cookingwithFH on Instagram!

Also See: Marshmallow-stuffed French toast with dark chocolate ganache

Butternut, chicken and lemon & black pepper risotto

Butternut, chicken & lemon & black pepper risotto

Ingredients

Instructions

Made this delicious Butternut, chicken & lemon & black pepper risotto recipe? Tag us @foodandhomesa #CookingWithFH on Instagram!

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How to style open kitchen shelves like a pro

How to style open shelves in your kitchen like a pro

1. Stick to two or three colours

2. Put heavy items on the bottom

3. Layer things instead of putting them in a straight line

4. Use glass jars for dry food

5. Add a touch of green

6. Mix useful items with a few pretty pieces

7. Leave a little empty space

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