How to take the edge off self-isolation

 

Had you ever heard the term self-isolation before recent times??? Us neither, but now it is daily talk these days. We are longing for the days when we can sit back around a table, with a cheese platter and chink glasses with our Billy Goat crew…

 

And while working from home and being housebound might seem nice at first… inevitably then boredom sets in, and you need a good stack of things to keep the time passing, some self-care and keeping your mind active.

 

So here they are… Our top self-isolating tips!

 

Read all those books sitting on your bedside table collecting dust

You know who you are… the hoarder of books over there in the far corner. Well now is your time to enjoy the slowdown and get reading…

 

Plant a veggie patch

Now more than ever, sustainable living should be a focus for all. So, it’s high time that you plant that veggie patch and watch your garden grow.

 

Eat good food

Now is the time to be giving your immune system a fighting chance, so try and eat good food where and when you can. Get into the kitchen and cook your meals from scratch, and maybe even host a virtual dinner party.

 

Paint

Have you ever wanted to take up painting, photography or some other creative hobby? Well now might be your time to get into that creative hobby that you can do at home.

 

Organise

Time to organise that cellar, spare room or cupboard that you stuff things into… now is your time to get it done. We suggest doing it with a good glass of vino in hand for good measure. And when you’ve organised the cellar and realise you need more vino, give us a call.

 

Sleep

Sounds simple right, but most of us are really sleep-deprived, so if you can fit in a few extra hours of shut-eye, then do so. Take this time to slow down and enjoy some self-care time.

 

Join us for our live stream wine tasting this Friday!

You know you want too, join us for some fun, hilarity and wine tasting this Friday from 5:30 pm. Just jump on our Facebook page and enjoy the magic.

 

 

Hearty French onion soup

 

As the world descends into lockdown, it’s a great time to hang up the March Madness boots, get into your comfy clothes, get in the kitchen, put some good tunes on and do some cooking.

 

Nothing is more satisfying and good for the anxious soul than a delicious soup, to keep you healthy, and to freeze portions for those nights that you just can’t be bothered to cook.

 

This French onion soup pairs perfectly with cosy nights on the couch, crusty cheesy bread and a little bit of social distancing. Oh, and whatever wine you've got chilled in the fridge!

 

Enjoy.

 

What you’ll need:

 

60g butter, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

6 (1kg) brown onions, thinly sliced

2 teaspoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons plain flour

4 cups beef style liquid stock

 

 

Method:

 

 

Heat butter and oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat until sizzling. Add onions and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, uncovered, stirring often, for 45 to 50 minutes or until onions are very soft. Stir in sugar and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes or until onions caramelise.

 

Add flour to saucepan and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add stock and 2 cups water. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes to allow flavours to combine.

 

Make cheesy bread Preheat oven to 180°C. Spray both sides of bread with oil. Rub both sides of bread with garlic. Arrange bread on 2 baking trays.

 

Bake, turning once, for 10 to 12 minutes or until bread is lightly golden. Sprinkle cheese over 1 side of bread. Return to oven for 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese melts.

 

Ladle soup into bowls. Top with cheesy bread, season with pepper and serve.

Let’s talk juicy grapes

Vintage is in full swing for another year, we thought we'd share some facts and things you may not know about grapes. Those juicy fruits that come off the vines and make some delicious wines.

 

So, here are some juicy grape facts; suitable to tell your friends at a dinner party over a bottle of your favourite vino or to be used at a trivia night. 

 

• Though you’ll commonly hear grapes referred to as “fruit,” botanists technically classify grapes as berries since each fruit forms from a single flower.

 

• It takes about 2.5 pounds of grapes to make one bottle of wine.

 

• There are more than 8,000 grape varieties known to scientists, and more than 1,300 varieties are currently used to make wine around the world.

 

• Raisins are dried sweet grapes. The drying happens naturally when the grapes are left in sunlight.

 

• Grapes come in many colours, including green, red, black, yellow, pink, and purple. "White" grapes are green.

 

• Grapes are made up of 80% water, which makes them a low-calorie dessert or snack.

 

Potato Gnocchi delight

 

Hello Autumn, we are excited to see you again. Boy did you swing around fast!

 

There is not much better than handmade potato Gnocchi to get you excited about life!

 

Pasta is one of life's greatest gifts in our opinion and pairs perfectly with a delicious glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz.

 

This recipe is just for the Gnocchi and can be paired with a pasta sauce of your choosing.

 

What you’ll need:

 

4 medium russet potatoes

1 teaspoon salt, plus more for the water

1 teaspoon pepper

1 egg

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190 g), extra to dust

2 tablespoons butter, for pan-frying

Sage leaf

 

 

Method:

 

Add the potatoes to a large pot of cold salted water. Bring the water to a boil and cook for 20-25 minutes. Drain the potatoes and set aside until cool enough to handle but still warm.

 

Using a peeler or your fingers, remove the skin from the potatoes. In a medium bowl, mash the potatoes until all lumps are gone. Add the salt and pepper and mix well.

 

Make a well in the centre of the potatoes and crack an egg into it. Whisk the eggs briefly. Then, using your hands, gently mix it into the potatoes until evenly distributed.

 

Put 1 cups of flour onto a clean surface and turn out the potato dough onto it, keeping the remaining ½ cup close by in case you need it. Working quickly and carefully, knead the dough, only incorporating as much flour as you need along the way until the dough loses stickiness and becomes more solid. Slice the dough into four parts.

 

Roll out 1 part into a long rope, about 1 inch wide, cutting in half and working with one half at a time if the rope is becoming too long. Slice the rope into ½-inch squares and set aside on a lightly floured surface. Repeat with the remaining dough.

 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the Gnocchi in batches, stirring gently once or twice to ensure they are not sticking. Boil until they float to the surface; after another 15-30 seconds in the water, remove.

 

In a pan over medium heat, melt butter and add the sage. Add the Gnocchi and toss until lightly golden.

 

Enjoy!

 

How to travel more often

Do you wish you could hit the open road a little bit more often? Is more travel a goal of yours for 2020?

 

We hear you!

 

Getting out of your comfort zone and hitting the open road, jumping on a plane and heading to a new location can do wonders for your health, relationships and to spark new ideas.

 

If travel is your goal, you might be asking; but how can I make that a reality? Well here are some tips for getting more travel time in this year.

 

 

Explore Where You Live

 

Let's start small with a weekend staycation. That's right: Be a tourist in your own city. You might just be surprised to find how much a spa day makes you feel like you just got back from Bali.

 

And of course, if you have never been to the Coonawarra, we highly recommend packing the car, the kids and even the dog and heading our way for a weekend getaway.

 

Cut back on unnecessary spending

 

I know… boring but having a budget and cutting back on unnecessary spending can help you reach your goals a whole lot quicker. Try and have one less coffee or lunch out a week and add this into a saving bank account.

 

Maybe call it your adventure account for when you want to throw caution to the wind and go away somewhere.

 

Subscribe to travel blogs and airline deal emails

 

Be the first to hear about all the latest deals by subscribing to hotel and holiday deals; that way you can book a getaway when the prices are reasonable and spend less money in the process. Win, win.

 

Spontaneity is often rewarded

 

Be willing to throw caution to the wind and travel and go when and where you can on a whim, if you have a free weekend coming up or a slow time at work that you can take some additional leave, why not book a trip away?

 

Travel is worth working for

You might have to work hard and sacrifice some things to fulfil your dream of travelling more, but it's worth working for. You will always remember experience over things and getting out and exploring is good for the soul.

 

 

 

 

Seafood and eat it

​

While we are still rolling with the summer vibes, we thought it only fair that we keep the seafood eats rolling. And what better way than with a delicious seafood pasta for a weeknight dinner that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. 

 

And paired with a Raidis Estate The Kid Riesling you are sure you be in foodie heaven.

 

What you’ll need:

 

Calamari – 3/4 lb, sliced into rings

Mussels – 1 lb, cleaned and debearded

Garlic – 2 cloves, minced

Shallots – 1/2 bulb, diced

Parsley – 1/4 bunch, chopped

Linguine – 1/2 lb

Cooking oil – 2 Tbsp

Anchovy paste (opt) – 1 1/2 tsp

Capers – 1 Tbsp

Diced tomatoes 

White wine – 2 Tbsp (Use a dry white like a sauvignon blanc)

Lemon – 1/2, juice of

 

Method:

 

Bring a saucepan of water to boil. Salt generously and add linguine. Cook until al dente.

 

Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cooking oil and then garlic, shallots, anchovy paste, and capers to heated oil. Sauté for ~2 minutes.

 

Add diced tomatoes and wine, and sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes.

 

Add mussels to pan. Cover with a lid and cook for ~5 minutes. Give the pan a shake before removing the lid and folding in calamari.

 

Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until squid, is cooked through.

 

Toss with linguine and finish with lemon juice and then season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley.

 

 

Enjoy your Italian seafood pasta (preferably with a glass of Raidis Estate Riesling!).

Celebrate love

Every day should be a day that we appreciate our beloved, but Valentine's Day is a good excuse to think about doing something nice with our partner and celebrating all that they are.

 

If you are not into fanfare and long-stemmed roses arriving at your door that's ok, there are lots of lovely ways to spend time with the one that you love. It doesn't need to be anything fancy or extravagant, but something that you both enjoy.

 

Here are our top tips for something special with your lover that are creative and don't cost the earth.

 

 

Pack a picnic

 

And head to the beach or your favourite park. Enjoy the beautiful summer weather, the great outdoors and each others company while you enjoy some cheese, dip and olives and maybe a cheeky bottle of Raidis Estate for good measure.

 

 

No phones for 24hours

 

In the tech-centric society that we live in when was the last time that you sat down and enjoyed your partner's company with no distractions.

 

Can you remember such a time? How about giving the gift of your full attention for 24 hours and turning off your phone, putting it in the draw and enjoying each other.

 

Plant a garden together

 

What better way to celebrate love than planting a garden and watching it grow? And grow it will over a 12month period so that this time next year you will be able to sit down and look at the fruits of your labour and hopefully taste them if you plant something edible.

 

Cook together

 

Pick out a recipe you have been dying to try and plan a night of cooking, turn the music up loud, pour some wine and dance in the kitchen.

 

And if you are feeling adventurous, try cooking some delicious, decadent dessert together.

 

Write a little love note

 

When was the last time you told your lover how you felt about them? Why not write them a little love note telling them how special they are to you, and something for safekeeping to remind them of this when you might be going through some tough times.

 

And if all else fails sometimes simple is best. Pour a glass of your favourite wine and enjoy each other's company.

 

Happy V day lovers!

Spicy Seafood Laksa

 

A big bowl of delicious Seafood Laksa is a sure-fire way to warm up your mid-week cooking rotation.

 

If you are not familiar with this deliciousness, Laksa is a popular Peranakan spicy noodle soup.

 

Peranakan culture is based in Southeast Asia and is a mash-up of Chinese, Malay and Indonesian influences.

 

So, it's no surprise that Laksa is a fusion of Chinese noodles and Southeast Asian curries, and range from the mild "Chinese" type curries to the full-blown spicy variety and it's Oh so delicious. 

 

 

It’s warm, nourishing and will instantly whisk you away to Singapore!

 

What you’ll need:

 

250g rice vermicelli

1 tablespoon of peanut oil

1/4 cup laksa paste

3 cups of vegetable liquid stock

400ml coconut milk

750g green prawns, deveined, shelled, tails on

250g squid

100g deep-fried tofu, quartered

100g bean sprouts, trimmed

1/2 cup fresh coriander

1/2 cup Vietnamese mint

1/2 cup Thai basil leaves, plus extra to serve

1 small red chilli, seeds removed, cut into thin strips

2 tablespoons chopped peanuts, to serve

Fried Asian shallots, to garnish

 

 

Method:

 

Place the vermicelli in a bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for 10 minutes to soak. Drain and set aside.

 

Place oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add the laksa paste and stir-fry for 1 minute. Stir in the stock, bring to the boil, then add the coconut milk and simmer for 2 minutes.

 

Add the green prawns, squid and tofu and cook for 2 minutes before adding 1 teaspoon of salt.

 

Divide the noodles between serving bowls, top with the bean sprouts and the fresh herbs. Pour the laksa soup over the noodles, dividing the seafood equally among the bowls.

 

Garnish with slices of chilli, peanuts, shallots and the extra fresh herbs

Red wine sangria

Looking for a summery cocktail to spice things up this Christmas?

 

Sangria is the perfect Spanish addition to the Christmas table and is easy to make in advance.

 

A crowd-pleasing Sangria recipe usually calls for a bottle of red wine.

 

What you’ll need:

 

1 x 750ml bottle of red wine

1 lemon (cut into wedges)

1 orange (cut into wedges)

2 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 ounces of brandy

2 cups ginger ale or club soda

Optional: lemon wheels, orange wheels

 

Method:

 

Pour the wine into a pitcher and squeeze the juice from the lemon and orange wedges into the wine.

 

Toss in the fruit wedges (try to remove seeds first, if possible) and add the sugar and brandy, stirring gently until the sugar dissolves.

 

Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight to marry the fruit and wine flavours.

 

Add the ginger ale or club soda just before you serve it. Garnish with a freshly cut lemon or orange wheels if desired.

 

Enjoy!

 

Green alternatives to wrapping paper this Christmas

We’ve all been there. After the mayhem of Christmas present opening time there are piles and piles of ripped Christmas wrapping paper strewn around the living room, which often swiftly gets packed up and put in the bin.

 

Possibly you keep some of it, but let’s face it if you have kids most of it gets ruined in the opening process.

 

So, what are some green wrapping alternatives?

 

We are glad you asked.

 

Baskets

 

Baskets can make great present givers for plants, toys and food and wine goodies. They are re-usable and can help store things around the home.

 

They also come in a range of assorted sizes and shapes to suit your home.

 

 

Paper Bags

 

Paper bags can become really pretty wrapping paper when you add bits and pieces from around the house. And they can be decorated with markers, stickers, etc.

 

You can also add a ribbon to jazz them up.

 

Old maps

 

Who still has a book of road maps sitting in their car somewhere collecting dust?

 

Maps can make great wrapping paper for smaller items such as books, and you can even mark some landmarks that you have visited or created memories at.

 

Re-used gift bags

 

You are bound to have a stash of reusable gift bags lying around at home somewhere. How about giving some of these a new lease on life by getting the kids to paint designs on them, or just simply re-use them.

 

Furoshiki 

 

Furoshiki is a method of folding cloth into beautiful packages. Using a piece of beautifully printed cloth with a few knots in interesting places will create an eye-catching package.