MENU SUGGESTIONS

SOME IDEAS:
You've gotta start somewhere when you're planning a menu. So, here's our Khutse start. Please use this facility to exchange ideas and thoughts. Look forward to hearing your ideas.

Everyone should be able to post on this site, so go for it! (If you can't please just e-mail.)

Once we get some input on what people like - or don't - we'll put together a shopping list and plan....

Wednesday 8th August

Pack a couple of sarmies or roast chicken legs in your car (with a flask of coffee of course) for the early morning drive. We'll stop in Gabs for brunch.

After a long day's drive, we'll want a simple dinner, so I suggest pasta with a pre-prepared sauce. I have a pretty neat recipe for a napoletana sauce which consists of tomatoes, onions, olives, small slivers of crisp bacon, a dab of garlic and chilli and a little stir of fresh cream. It's easy to cook up some pasta and heat this delicious sauce.

Thursday 9th August

We'll want to pack up quickly to get into the park and to set up our base, so a light breakfast is suggested. Coffee, rusks, a slice of cheese and we'll be on our way.

It'll take a while to get to our camp, and then we'll be busy setting up house, so a finger type lunch is ideal. Perhaps a few slices of salami, pickles, cheese, crisps and dips, crackers and so on?

By the time the evening comes, we should be ready for a braai. I suggest the classic; steak, jacket potatoes, roast onions and a tomato and mozarella salad. Some good chocs and a port for dessert?

Friday 9th August

As usual, a light breakfast should be available with coffee, rusks, light cereal and fruit on hand.

Perhaps we'll pack a breakfast/brunch and take a day drive to another pan. A good brunch might consist of eggs, bacon, tomato, baked beans and toast (plus whatever might be left over from the braai last night?)

That means we'll probably return late to our camp and might want something easy and light.

It might be a nice idea to cook up a couple of rolls of boerie at our "away brunch" and this, with peppadews, asparagus and some cheeses might be a nice, low input dinner after a day out in the desert fields.


Saturday 10th August

The usual. When you dribble out of your tent, coffee, light cereal and fruit.

If we drove out yesterday, it'll be nice to stay put today. Perhaps a brunch of cold meats, tuna mayonnaise, pickles and cheeses for lunch at - or near - our base.

Then, a lekker early feast of beef fillet, jacket potatoes accompanied by a cucumber tomato and feta salad.

Sunday 11th August
It's habit. Early morning camp snacks of fresh brewed coffee, rusks and fruit.

Whether we drive out or stay at base, a Spanish omelette is always a brunch winner in the bush. You can add just about anything.

For our last night, it seems a varied banquet is in order. I think lamb chops, sausage and tee-bones should all go onto the fire, with butternut, roast onions and creamed sweetcorn.

Monday 12th August

Old habits die hard, so we'll have our usual as we start to pack up and get ready to head back to the big smoke. Already. With a tear in our eyes....

SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER

"Soft" fruit and veg do not do well on trips like this. We should avoid veggies like mushrooms, peppers and lettuce. Naartjies, avos and bananas can also be too squishy and troublesome. Firm veggies like potatoes, onions and butternut are good. Carrots, cucumber, gem squash, sweet potatoes and baby marrows are also good. Apples, pears, melons and oranges are okay - tomatoes are fine if you're careful with them.

SNACKS

It's easy to forget how filling snacks can be, and how one tends to nibble throughout the day.
Crisps, dry wors, biltong, chocs and dried fruit are really nice treats to have with you. At sundown, it's also nice to have a few crackers on hand for a smoked mussel and tabasco hors d'oeuvre. Stuffed olives are also a nice accompaniment to sundowners. A cheese spread or dip is also a good standby.