Embrace the fabulous outdoors by getting out there – whether its an outdoor meal at home or a special picnic – simply do it!
Take it outside
Serve it outdoors and drink in a little fresh air, open space and a slower pace of life. Chef Reuben Riffle and Robertsons have just the nibbles…
Mid-Summer Lunch Salad
Image and recipe courtesy Reuben Riffle and www.robertsons.co.za
For the Dressing:
175 ml Natural Yoghurt
5 ml Robertsons Crushed Garlic
15 ml Balsamic Vinegar
15 ml Water
Robertsons Atlantic Sea Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper to taste
For the Vegetables:
15 ml Olive Oil
10 ml Robertsons Crushed Chillies
2 Corn on the Cob
1 Bunch Asparagus Spears
A few vine cherry tomatoes
For the Spiced Chicken:
30 ml Olive Oil
5 ml Robertsons Ground Cumin
5 ml Robertsons Paprika
4 Large Chicken Breast Fillets
To Serve:
1 Red Onion half
1 Packet Mixed Leaves
Tuna Cakes with Yoghurt Sauce
Image and recipe courtesy Reuben Riffle and www.robertsons.co.za
500 g Sweet Potato peeled and cut into 3 cm pieces
425 g Tuna in Spring Water drained
1 Red Onion small. finely chopped
1 Lemon rind finely grated, juiced
5 ml Robertsons Parsley
5 ml Robertsons Lemon Pepper
Olive Oil Cooking Spray
85 ml Fat Free Natural Yoghurt
3 ml Robertsons Crushed Garlic
1 Small Cucumber chopped
80 g Baby Salad Leaves
Show some love
Get your outdoor living area fit for lazy living with Hertex’s In The Open collection of rugs, suitable for both the indoors and out. Easy to clean and UV protected to prevent colour fading, the Terrace, Portico, Plaza and Esplanade designs resemble faded traditional patterns, feel great and look even better.
Up your al fresco dining game
A picnic packing checklist to take your next picnic to the next level…
Buzz off
Keep flies away with this ridiculously easy trick
Take a few glasses of water, pop a few coins in the bottom of each, spread around the food. The flies – it is believed – think the coins are compound eyes of much bigger bugs, and stay out of reach.
Ditch the itch
Smother your body in lavender essential oil. Not only do mozzies not like the smell, but it soothes any bites when they’ve got to you before you got to them!
Outdoor 2017
Seven trends you need to know – compliments of soukop.co.za
Natural Materials
After years of minimalist and geometric dominance in décor, design and landscape design, an older fashioned, organic, free form, DIY look is creeping back. Think softer lines, free form decks, swing seating, tactile and natural materials such as wood and stone and winding paths.
Photo courtesy Scott Shigley
Colour Blocking
Colour blocking – the use of discrete blocks of colour – is trending in outdoor living spaces. It’s used to frame or highlight a particular area, feature or plants. Think a dash of colour on a wall framing a row of pot plants or an outdoor sofa. It’s very inexpensive to do – try a lick of paint, a solid colour outdoor rug, or outdoor curtains will create the effect.
Photo courtesy Potted
Hyper-localism
Just as locally sourced products continue to trend in many industries, landscape designers are finding that requests for endemic plants are increasing. Endemics (native to a very local ecosystem) make huge sense as the effects of climate change continue to make an impact.
Lawn Reborn
As large, manicured lawns continue to suffer the effects of water shortages, and get frowns from those concerned about chemical fertilisers and pest control, lawn-like alternatives such as grass mixes that don’t need to be mowed are growing in popularity. Lawns are getting smaller too, with faux grass being in high demand for play and pet areas.
Photo courtesy Tait Moring
Mix and Match
While a few years ago, people would choose a style and stick to it, a mix of old and new is trending in garden spaces. No longer about being modern or traditional, it’s now about how artfully you blend the two in your outdoor space.
Play Spaces
Playing is no longer just for the kids, adults are commissioning play spaces too – think bocce and other game courts, dining areas, fireplaces and hammocks. And for the kids, its spaces that encourage imaginative play – places they can create, build and dig rather than climb on a man-made structure.
Photo courtesy Barbara Ries
Dwarf Shrubs
As garden sizes get smaller (due to water shortages and increases in built areas) so the demand for evergreens and dwarf varieties is increasing. The horticulture industry is fast developing plants that fit – so keep a look out for great new dwarf varieties and interesting new ground covers and fillers.
Photo courtesy Land Morphology
Best places to go for lunch out of town/in the country
Bloemfontein is limitless when it comes to possibilities. There’s something to do, eat, drink or buy every day of the week.
The Best of Bloemfontein Readers’ Choice Awards celebrates all this and more but, it also gives you the chance to tell us what and who’s the best of the best.