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The women behind Zimbabwe's striking hut painting art

Nov 14,2024 - Last updated at Nov 14,2024

A general view of an unfinished mud painting by Nozhipo Moyo (not pictured) on a granary is seen in Matobo, Matabeleland, on September 30 (AFP photo)

MATOBO, Zimbabwe — The golden rays of the afternoon sun enhance the bold, hand-painted patterns on the mud walls of a round, thatched hut in Peggy Masuku's village of Matobo in south-western Zimbabwe.

Outside, at a small table with two curved seats -- all fashioned out of mud -- Masuku shows visitors how she mixes soil pigments, charcoal and ash to create the earth tones that make the striking motifs.

The 54-year-old is admired as one of the best among hundreds of women who practise the traditional art of hut painting in the picturesque granite hills of Matobo, where the rocks hold spiritual value.

The art is gaining recognition beyond this part of rural Zimbabwe, with the bold patterns incorporated into fashion and designs that are finding a small market as far away as Europe and bringing income to its village artists.

For the self-effacing Masuku, it all started when her stepmother assigned her, as the youngest girl in the family, the duty of smearing a cow-dung paste onto the walls and floors of the family huts, a traditional technique to maintain the structures.

"My stepmother would oversee this chore and make sure I did it to perfection. Initially, I thought this was abuse but I later realised it was good training," Masuku told AFP.

"I graduated to doing the hut painting, which elderly women did, and over time became quite good at it."

 

International interest 

 

Masuku's talent first found recognition through a competition called My Beautiful Home, in which she has featured among the winners several times since its launch in 2014.

The annual event is the brainchild of Veronique Attala, a French woman who stumbled on "a beautifully decorated hut" when lost while hiking in the Matobo Hills, a UNESCO heritage site that has one of the highest concentrations of rock paintings in Africa.

Attala, who has lived in Zimbabwe for more than 30 years, was inspired to nurture the tradition and support the women artists and their farming communities.

A new project headed by the German Embassy has also started testing out the commercial promise of these designs.

 

In collaboration with Zimbabwe's National Gallery and Fashion Council, it has launched the Matobo Collection featuring the work of selected artists reproduced on saleable items such as textiles, flowerpots and lampshades.

The project is helping to find markets in other parts of Zimbabwe and also abroad, mainly in Germany, with the artists receiving a licence fee for their designs and royalties for every sale.

To help the women navigate issues of copyright and compensation, the embassy has also brought in intellectual property lawyers.

"The aim is to further promote the artistry of the ladies of Matobo and, subsequently, create greater awareness of this unique cultural heritage, nationally as well as internationally," the embassy's cultural attache Katrin Simon told AFP.

One of those selected for the Matobo Collection is Elgar Maphosa, who is impressed that the traditions of her community have "come this far".

"It is something that we do as routine," the 58-year-old villager said. "I never at any time imagined that I would one day get an income out of it while also learning new things."

 

Younger generation 

 

Hut painting is an ancient Ndebele tradition in which the motifs were originally imbued with meaning.

It was a "mode of communicating the worldview or beliefs, as well as ideals and values of communities that lived long ago", said cultural historian Pathisa Nyathi.

"Over time the meanings got lost and, owing to the interaction with other cultures including Western, emphasis is now on aesthetics," Nyathi told AFP.

Emboldened by her success at My Beautiful Home, Masuku has been commissioned to paint buildings at Zimbabwe's top tourist resort town of Victoria Falls, which she hopes will lead to more projects.

Younger women are also learning the craft, including 26-year-old Nozipho, a development studies graduate and civil servant who is currently learning the art from her mother, and hopes to follow the steps of the older women in her community.

 

UK writer Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker with space novel

By - Nov 13,2024 - Last updated at Nov 13,2024

Booker Prize 2024 shortlisted authors with Samantha Harvey( second from the right) pose with Britain’s Queen Camilla (centre) during a reception for the Booker Prize Foundation at Clarence House, in London, on Tuesday (AFP photo)

LONDON — British writer Samantha Harvey won the prestigious Booker Prize on Tuesday for her science fiction novel following six astronauts as they orbit Earth over 24 hours.

Set aboard the International Space Station, Harvey’s “Orbital” tracks two men and four women from Japan, Russia, the United States, Britain and Italy as they observe and reflect on their home planet, touching on themes of mourning, desire and the climate crisis.

The Booker, which comes with a 50,000 pound ($64,000) cash prize, has launched careers and courted controversy since its creation in 1969.

Past laureates include Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, Julian Barnes and Kazuo Ishiguro.

“I was not expecting that,” Harvey said upon learning of her win, the first by a woman since Atwood was recognised for “The Testaments” alongside Bernardine Evaristo’s “Girl, Woman, Other”, adding she was “overwhelmed”.

In her acceptance speech, Harvey dedicated the prize to “everybody who does speak for and not against the Earth; for and not against the dignity of other humans, other life; and all the humans who speak for and call for and work for peace”.

 

‘Everyone and no one’ 

 

Just 136 pages long, “Orbital” is the second-shortest novel to win the award and the first to be set in space, according to the Booker Prize Foundation.

It is the 49-year-old Harvey’s fifth novel, winning 15 years after her debut novel “The Wilderness” was longlisted for the Booker.

Chair of the judges, Edmund de Waal, said that “everyone and no one is the subject” of Harvey’s novel, “as six astronauts in the International Space Station circle the earth observing the passages of weather across the fragility of borders and time zones”.

“With her language of lyricism and acuity Harvey makes our world strange and new for us,” he added.

A record five women were in the running for the prize, which was announced at a ceremony in London.

The others were Rachel Kushner for “Creation Lake”, Anne Michaels for “Held”, Yael van der Wouden for “The Safekeep” and Charlotte Wood for “Stone Yard Devotional”.

Percival Everett’s “James” rounded out the shortlist.

The prize is seen as a talent spotter of names not necessarily widely known to the general public.

The Booker is open to works of fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the UK or Ireland between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024.

Dua Lipa cancels Indonesia leg of tour over unsafe staging

By - Nov 12,2024 - Last updated at Nov 12,2024

Dua Lipa during a recent visit to Singapore (AFP photo)

JAKARTA — Glastonbury headliner Dua Lipa has cancelled the Indonesian leg of her Asian tour, citing unsafe staging.

The 29-year-old pop star was due to perform in Jakarta on Saturday but pulled out the night before over safety issues at the capital's 16,500-seat Indonesia Arena.

"I'm heartbroken to share that I won't be able to perform in Jakarta this Saturday," she wrote in a social media post late Friday.

"I am here in your amazing country and ready to perform, but I am gutted to share that it has been determined that it is not safe for the performance to carry on due to safety issues with the staging."

She had just performed in Singapore but her tour will now skip past Southeast Asia's biggest economy and home to about 280 million people, moving on to the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand.

 

"I was so looking forward to this night, and it truly pains me that we cannot perform for you all, especially after such a long time since my last performance in Jakarta," she said.

"I love you all and truly can't wait to be back together in the same room with you singing and dancing our hearts out as soon as possible."

'Venom' stays potent, again leading N.America box office

By - Nov 11,2024 - Last updated at Nov 11,2024

Venom: The Last Dance,’ starring Tom Hardy as the titular anti-hero, held tight to the top spot in North American theatres this past weekend (AFP photo)

LOS ANGELES, United States — Sony's "Venom: the Last Dance", extended its streak atop the North American box office with an estimated haul of $16.2 million on a notably slow weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday.

The horror threequel, with the popular Tom Hardy in the titular role, benefited from the big studios' decision to avoid releasing major films on a weekend when some feared the US election might spark chaos.

"Venom" has now taken in $114.8 million domestically and $279 million internationally in its three weeks out.

Lionsgate's comedy-drama "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" meantime managed a surprise second-place showing at $11.1 million, not a bad start for a film shot on a $10 million shoestring.

Judy Greer plays the mother of the Herdman herd -- introduced as the six "worst kids in the history of the world" -- who is tricked into directing a small town's Christmas pageant. Pete Holmes also stars in the semi-faith-based film.

 

A24's new horror movie "Heretic" -- featuring a Hugh Grant playing very much against type -- opened in third place, taking in $11 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.

 

That was "a very good opening for an original, non-series horror film.... with sensational critics' reviews," said industry analyst David A. Gross.

"Heretic" tells the story of two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who, while trying to convert a reclusive Englishman (Grant), stumble into a terrifying game designed to test their faith.

Universal and DreamWorks Animation's family-friendly "The Wild Robot" extended its top-five run, taking in $6.7 million to place fourth in its seventh week out.

And Paramount's horror film "Smile 2" dropped two spots, taking in $5 million. Made for $28 million, it has earned $60.5 million in North America.

Herbal vinegars

Infusing f lavour and health into your everyday life

By , - Nov 11,2024 - Last updated at Nov 11,2024

Photo courtesy of Family Flavours magazine

By Sheela Sheth,
Food Expert

 

Herbal vinegars are a delightful way to blend the rich flavours of freshly home-grown herbs with a tangy zest.

 

Let’s explore creative ways to incorporate herbs in our lives by infusing them in oils and vinegars.

These infusions typically last two to three weeks, with some lasting up to a month.

 

Did you know?

 

Certain aromatic herbs, rich in essential oils, provide an excellent base for making herbal oils.

Vinegar world: The word “vinegar” comes from the French term meaning “sour wine.”

Vinegar is created when alcohol undergoes a second fermentation process, where it’s exposed to oxygen and acetic acid bacteria.

The most popular types of vinegar include apple cider and balsamic, with rice and peach vinegar being less common.

It can be made from anything one can make alcohol from like fruits, grains, vegetables, honey and much more.

Herbs like dill, basil, tarragon and lemon balm pair with white wine vinegars as they are mild.

Savoury herbs like sage, thyme and parsley pair well with red wine vinegar.

If you use raw apple cider to make your infusion, your herbal vinegar will be a good source of probiotics.

Apple cider: This is a type of vinegar made with crushed fermented apples, yeast and sugar.

It is an excellent source of potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous.

It has a mellow flavour and is used in recipes, soups and salads.

 

Recipe for success

 

1. Chop or grind your herbs to a coarse powder and fill one quartre of a sterilised jar with herbs.

2. Pour apple cider vinegar over the herb until the top and cover it tightly and allow to infuse for 14 days in a cool, dark place.

3. Shake the jar daily. Strain the vinegar and allow the sediments to settle overnight.

Store for up to 6 months in a cool dark place Another method is to turn your vinegar into an “Oxymel” which is a mixture of honey and vinegar.

Balsamic vinegar: This is dark brown vinegar, traditionally made from unfiltered unfermented grape juice where grapes are pressed and aged like wine.

The older the vinegar, the sweeter and syrupier.

Rosemary and sage vinegar create an aromatic dip for ciabatta breads and salads.

Balsamic vinegar also goes well with many cheeses.

The darker the vinegar, the more antioxidants in the liquid.

 

Health benefits

 

This age-old sour wine infused with herbs offers amazing health benefits.

It is known to regulate blood glucose levels, improves gut and heart health, reduces cholesterol levels, fights cancer, decreases food allergies and help in weight loss.

It helps balance the alkaline levels in the blood.

It is also known to reduce amyloid formation in the brain, which promotes protein production and improves brain health. 

It is an excellent treatment for acne, eczema and shingles.

It can be a good source of polyphenols, which are plant compounds that have antioxidants and anti-microbial properties.

It also works as a natural cough syrup.

 

Beauty boost

 

Medicinal scented herbal rinse relieves itchy scalp, removes flakes and restores your hair’s pH balance.

Vinegar helps treat brittle or cracking nails and hair fall, often caused by nutrient deficiencies, by balancing nutrients.

Washing frizzy hair with vinegar once a week can act as a natural conditioner.

A warm vinegar bath can ease sunburns

Vinegar can help whiten teeth, reduce tartar buildup, prevent tooth decay and reduce gum inflammation.

Precautions: Vinegar is very acidic and can damage your teeth enamel if consumed undiluted.

It may also impact your potassium levels if taken in access. Vinegars may interact with many medications.

They may also interfere with drugs that are intended to reduce swelling and inflammation.

 

Did you know?

 

Four Thieves Vinegar was used to ward off the plague in Europe.

This is a vinegar infused with camphor, cinnamon, clove, garlic, nutmeg, peppermint, rosemary, rue, sage and wormwood Rubbing a mixture of vinegar and herbs onto your hands and veins with a cotton ball can help decrease inflammation in your joints A bunch of stinging nettle leaves boiled in 2 cups of water and vinegar makes a perfect shampoo to cure dandruff.

 

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

Rome's Trevi Fountain unveils tourist catwalk during cleaning

By - Nov 09,2024 - Last updated at Nov 09,2024

A person is seen working at the renovation of the Trevi Fountain on Saturday (AFP photo)

ROME — A suspended walkway providing tourists an up-close view of Rome's Trevi Fountain was unveiled Saturday, a temporary addition while the famous "La Dolce Vita" site undergoes a cleaning.

The Baroque masterpiece constructed on the facade of a palace is one of the most popular sites in Rome for tourists, who strain over the crowds to throw their coins into its water.

While the fountain is being cleaned to remove limestone deposits and grime, however, the walkway positioned over its basin will accommodate some 130 people at a time to take a closer look.

That will give tourists "an experience not ruined by excessive crowding," said Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri.

"We wanted to give everybody the opportunity to admire the fountain and to do this from a unique perspective, because what you can see from the walkway, you will never be able to see normally," he said.

French tourist Franc Petretto, 50, was one of the first to walk across the passageway, calling the view "wonderful and very, very beautiful".

"Even without the water flowing inside the fountain, you can really see that the architecture is serious... and that's really very pleasing," he said.

Micaela di Caterina, a 32-year-old visiting from Argentina, agreed, saying the up-close look at the intricate sculptures of Oceanus, father of the river gods, and his sea-horses was "incredible".

 

Still, she acknowledged, it was "kind of weird" to be walking over the fountain.

 

No coin toss 

 

The fountain -- where Anita Ekberg frolicked in Federico Fellini's 1960 film "La Dolce Vita" -- last got a thorough scrub a decade ago during an 18-month renovation sponsored by Fendi.

Then, too, the Italian fashion house installed a plexiglass bridge above the basin allowing tourists to still admire the fountain.

The current work involves removing limestone deposits on the fountain's facade, which can turn black with time, while removing loose material between stones where vegetation grows.

Tourists won't be allowed to toss coins over their shoulders into the fountain's basin -- where tradition has it that visitors who do so will return to Rome.

Instead, a small pool set up next to the walkway has been installed to receive spare change.

That pool "allows us to avoid throwing coins, which, without water, would damage the fountain", Gualtieri said, adding that anyone doing so would be fined.

It also allows the flow of donations to Rome's needy to continue.

Every week, authorities recuperated some 10,000 euros in coins from Trevi Fountain, which were donated to the Caritas charity to fund meals, said Gaultieri.

"We are proud not to have interrupted such an important work for those in difficulty," he said.

The walkway will be up until the cleaning is complete, sometime in December.

Gaultieri said city officials were still considering a possible ticketing system to control the crowds at Trevi Fountain once the cleaning is over.

Visitor numbers are expected to surge next year for the Jubilee, a holy year held by the Catholic Church around once every 25 years, with some 30 million people expected in Rome and the Vatican.

Dutch police nab suspect in Warhol art theft

By - Nov 05,2024 - Last updated at Nov 05,2024

THE HAGUE — Dutch police said on Tuesday they had arrested a man suspected of involvement in the theft of two works by artist Andy Warhol stolen last week with the help of explosives.

Officers raided several locations and detained a 23-year-old suspect, who is now in solitary confinement allowed contact only with his lawyer.

Police declined to say whether any works have been recovered.

 

The theft took place overnight Thursday to Friday, with heavy explosives exployed to break into the MPV Gallery in Oisterwijk, southern Netherlands.

Two screenprints showing former queens Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Margrethe II of Denmark were stolen.

 

Warhol's "Reigning Queens" series was on display at the gallery before going on sale at the PAN Amsterdam art fair that runs from November 24 to December 1.

Two other works from the same series, showing former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, were abandoned on the street.

 

"The works are worth a considerable sum," the owner of the gallery, Mark Peet Visser, told local media after the robbery.

 

The "Reigning Queens" series was created in 1985, two years before the American artist's death, when all four queens were in power.

Quincy Jones, peerless music giant, dies at 91

By - Nov 05,2024 - Last updated at Nov 05,2024

Grammy award winning musicians Quincy Jones (left) and Lionel Richie pose together in Beverly Hills, CA, 16 June 1998 (AFP photo)

NEW YORK — Quincy Jones, the polymath hitmaker who ruled the American music industry with a magic touch for well over half a century, has died. He was 91 years old.

 

The singular artist was surrounded by family at his home in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Bel Air at the time of his death on Sunday, his publicist Arnold Robinson said in a statement, without specifying a cause.

"Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones' passing," his family said, according to the statement. "And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him."

 

"We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created," their statement continued. "Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones' heart will beat for eternity."

From Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, jazz to hip-hop, Jones tracked the ever-fluctuating pulse of pop over his seven-decade-plus career -- most often orchestrating it himself.

 

A jazz musician, composer and tastemaker, Jones's studio chops and arranging prowess made him a star in his own right.

 

But his mark on the business side was indelible as well: Jones became the first Black executive of a major record company, and developed infrastructure within the industry to pave new pathways for Black artists.

"Today, we remember a true giant -- a cultural icon whose transformative influence will live on," posted Reverend Al Sharpton in tribute.

 

'You name it, Quincy's done it' 

 

Quincy Delight Jones Jr. ascended to the upper echelons of entertainment from humble beginnings, the grandson of a former slave who was born in 1933 on the south side of Chicago.

 

He discovered his natural aptitude for the piano at a recreation center, and later became teenage buddies with Ray Charles.

He briefly studied at the Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts before joining bandleader Lionel Hampton on the road, eventually relocating to New York, where he earned notoriety as an arranger for stars including Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Count Basie and Charles.

 

He played second trumpet on Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel", teaming up with Dizzy Gillespie for several years before moving to Paris in 1957, where he studied under the legendary composer Nadia Boulanger.

He wrote his own hits, like the addictively cacophonous "Soul Bossa Nova", while also arranging at a breathless pace for dozens of stars across the industry.

And his scores for film and television became instantly recognisable classics in their own right; in 1967, Jones was the first Black composer to be nominated in the original song category of the Oscars, for the film "Banning".

But even on top of that laundry list of accomplishments, Jones was perhaps best known for his work with Michael Jackson, producing "Thriller" as well as "Off the Wall" and "Bad".

 

Among entertainment's most decorated figures, Jones won virtually every major achievement award, including 28 Grammys.

 

He also started a label, founded a hip-hop magazine, and produced the 1990s hit television show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," discovering Will Smith.

"He pointed me towards the greatest parts of myself," wrote Smith on Monday. "He defended me. He nurtured me. He encouraged me. He inspired me. He checked me when he needed to. He let me use his wings until mine were strong enough to fly."

 

'What a guy' 

 

And as the tell-all celebrity interview grew increasingly rare, Jones remained one of entertainment's most opinionated gossips, beloved for his willingness to dish on the record.

He had tales about everyone from Sinatra and Jackson to Malcolm X and Prince, leading his daughters to reportedly nickname him LLQJ: Loose-lipped Quincy Jones.

From music to film, activism to theatre, figures from across entertainment paid homage to Jones's vast legacy upon news of his death.

"Music would not be music without you," said hip hop pioneer LL Cool J, as playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris posted that Jones's "contributions to American culture were limitless".

 

"Truly one of the greatest minds the music world has ever known," wrote the prolific musician Harry Connick Jr.

 

"Nobody had a career as incredible as Quincy Jones," posted Elton John. "He played with the best and he produced the best."

 

'Venom' dances on, again leading N.America box office

By - Nov 04,2024 - Last updated at Nov 04,2024

The cast of the new Columbia/Marvel superhero film ‘Venom: The Last Dance,’ from left to right: Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kelly Marcel and Tom Hardy (AFP photo)

LOS ANGELES, United States — "Venom: the Last Dance", starring Tom Hardy as the titular anti-hero, held tight to the top spot in North American theaters with an estimated weekend haul of $26.1 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday.

 

Though it has had a weaker opening than either of its two "Venom" predecessors, it has grossed a respectable $90 million domestically and $227 million internationally in its two weeks out.

Meanwhile, the Universal and DreamWorks Animation film "The Wild Robot", a family-friendly yarn about a mechanical creature having to share a remote island with fuzzy animals, actually rose in its sixth weekend out, gaining two spots to second place while taking in $7.6 million.

 

Paramount's horror film "Smile 2", with Naomi Scott playing a pop star afflicted by a grim curse, slipped slightly to third, with ticket sales estimated at $6.8 million for the post-Halloween Friday-through-Sunday period.

 

Also down one spot, to fourth place, was religious thriller "Conclave" from FilmNation, at $5.3 million. Ralph Fiennes, playing a cardinal called on to "manage" the election of a new pope, finds himself caught in a web of unseemly ambition and shadowy intrigue that has drawn Oscar buzz.

But a much-talked-about new film from Miramax and Sony, fantasy drama "Here" from "Forrest Gump" director Robert Zemeckis, performed below analysts' expectations, placing fifth with just $5 million.

 

It uses AI technology to "de-age" Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, as part of an ambitious epic, set in a single location, that spans from the dinosaur age to the present.

That was "a weak opening for an original drama," said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

"To work, this kind of story needs to connect emotionally and powerfully," he said, adding that critics' reviews and audiences' reactions show that this film doesn't.

With a production budget of close to $50 million, the film "release will end in red ink", Gross said.

Hearty, Savoury & Flavourful

By , - Nov 03,2024 - Last updated at Nov 03,2024

Photo courtesy of Family Flavours magazine

By Taghreed ‘Odeh
Food Expert

 

In today’s fast paced world, finding comfort in a delicious and hearty meal is a true luxury. Imagine a perfectly cooked steak paired with buttery potatoes that melt in your mouth!

This combination of flavours will definitely warm your soul.

But how much time does it take to prepare and make this recipe?

I’ve got you covered in under 30-minutes!

Garlic Butter Steak & Baked Potatoes

 

Ingredients

 

600g steak flank sliced

600g baby potatoes

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp rosemary

Salt and pepper to taste

Crushed red chili pepper flakes (optional)

The Marinade

1/3 cup soya sauce

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp sriracha hot 

 

sauce Black pepper

Directions

 

1 . In a large bowl marinate the steak stripes with soy sauce and then with the rest of the marinade ingredients, set aside for half an hour minimum in the fridge.

2. In a large skillet, pour in the oil and the butter on low heat. When the butter is melted add the potatoes cut in wedges, cook for about 4 minutes, stir and cook for another 4-5 minutes until they 120 FAMILY FLAVOURS SEPTEMBER 2024 By Taghreed ‘Odeh, Food Expert are golden and are tender from the middle.

3. Transfer the sautéed potatoes onto a plate and set aside.

4. In the same skilet and over medium heat, add the remaining two tablespoons of butter and the garlic, red chili flakes and herbs.

5. Drain the steak from the marinade then drop the strips into the skillet keeping the drained steak marinade for later.

6. Cook the steak strips on each side for one minute each until nicely browned. Adjust cooking timing based on how you like your steak.

7. Right before the steak is done, you can stir in the reserved marinade and cook for one more minute, add the potato and cook together.

8. You can adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.

9. Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with chili pepper and herbs.

 

Homemade Fig Bars

 

As the season changes, nature offers us a bounty of fresh flavourful ingredients to savour. One such delight is the luscious fig.

Bursting with sweetness and a unique texture, figs are versatile fruits that can elevate both sweet and savoury dishes to the next level. This desert is very easy make showcasing the magical flavours of figs

 

Fig Bars

 

Ingredients

 

Filling

500g fresh figs

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp lemon zest

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla Oat Meal Crust

1 cup butter

2 cups flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup brown sugar

½ tsp salt

¾ tsp baking powder

2 tsp vanilla

 

Directions

1 . To make the fig filling combine figs and brown sugar, lemon zest, salt and vanilla in a medium heavy bottom saucepan.

2. Heat over medium heat until the figs release their juices and boil.

3. Turn down the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up larger pieces with the back of a wooden spoon.

4. Remove the filling from the saucepan and cool. For a smoother texture purée with a blender or food processor.

5. To make the crust, preheat the oven to 200° Centigrade, line a baking pan with a baking sheet, melt the butter, add in the flour, rolled oats brown sugar, salt , baking powder and vanilla.

6. Stir to combine until thick and a dough is formed. It’s easier to form by hand.

7. Set aside1 ½ cup of the oat mixture, press the rest into the bottom of the baking pan using the bottom of a glass to push the dough into a solid flat layer.

8. Spoon the jam over the crust and spread evenly with a knife or a spatula then sprinkle the crumble from the remaining dough over the jam layer.

9. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the jam bubbles and the top crumble is golden brown.

10. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

11. To serve, lift the entire layer of jam bars from the pan using the baking sheet. Slice into bars and serve.

 

Homemade Cheese Crackers

 

With the back-to-school season, parents are on the lookout for quick and easy snacks that their children will like as a lunchtime break. Cheese crackers are a timeless favourite that kids of all ages adore. Get ready to delight your little ones with these delicious treats that are perfect for lunchboxes or afterschool snacking. 

 

Ingredients

 

1 cup flour

1 ½ cup shredded che dar cheese

½ tsp salt

½ tsp dried basil

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp garlic powder

6 tsp cold butter chopped into

small pieces

2 tbsp ice water

Cooking spray

 

Directions

 

1. Blend the cheddar cheese, flour and all the spices in a food processor for about 30 seconds and until well combined.

2. Add the cold butter and continue processing for 20 seconds until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Add the water and pulse for 10 to 12 times and until the dough comes together in large clumps.

4. Move the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Cut in half and shape each portion into a square using your hands. Wrap each square of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 45 minutes.

5. Preheat the oven to 200° Centigrade, line two baking pans with parchment paper.

6. Place the cold dough on a floured surface and roll each one into about 22 cm square using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife.

7. Cut the squares into 6 to 8 strips, each about 2½ cm wide and then make 6 to 8 vertical cuts to create square crackers from each dough.

8. Place the squares onto the baking sheet. Lightly spray them with cooking oil and sprinkle with more shredded cheese or herbs (optional).

9. Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Rotate baking sheet halfway through. For crunchier crackers, bake for 20 minutes.

10. Remove from the oven and let the crackers cool completely on the baking sheet.

11. You can store the crackers in an airtight container at room temperature for 7 days.

 

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

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