Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Meat
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos

Race for Life 2006: We came, we saw, we ran

by Jeanne Horak on June 6, 2006 4 Comments in Good cause, London Life

Race-for-Life-2006 ยฉ J Horak-Druiff 2006

Well, the Big Race Day came and went…and hey, guess what, I can still walk unaided ๐Ÿ˜‰

I just wanted to let you know how it went and to thank each and every one who sponsored us VERY MUCH for your generosity. Between me and Lesley we have raised over ยฃ700, plus I found out today that my employer will pay ยฃ300 in sponsorship as well – so we have raised over ยฃ1000 for cancer research! Very impressive – thank you to everyone who has supported us!ย  And if anybody was waiting to see if we actually completed the race before they donated, it’s not too late!ย  The sponsorship page is still open until the end of next week – so get those credit cards out!ย  Any amount, however small will do…

Anyway, Sunday dawned beautifully sunny – hurrah! Collected my team mate Lesley & partner Roger from their place and headed for Maidstone. The traffic was awe-inspiring, so we were very glad when we got a lucky break and ended up being directed by a policeman right into Mote Park, to park within a hundred metres of the start. On the start there was just a mass of women – all ages, shapes, sizes etc etc – you name it! And everyone was wearing a back sign – a piece of paper you got in your race pack that said: “I race for life for…” with space for you to write a name or paste a picture). Some very moving ones. Mine and Lesley’s both said “Christelle 1975-2005” with a picture of her. While we were waiting for the start, they also asked the tons of people who had blue Race for Life helium balloons to release them and it was actually very affecting to see all these blue balloons floating into the sky, like letting go of loved ones.

Anyway, soon we were off and to our horror we realised that this was not a big flat park like Regents Park but a great big hilly one. However (and here’s the astounding bit!) running outside in the fresh air with springy green grass underfoot is… a lot more fun than running on the treadmill! And therefore a lot easier! We were really planning to walk most of it, but you just got such a spring in your step that you WANTED to run. EWe ended up running when it was flat or downhill and power walking uphill which worked really well – we could not believe it when they said we had covered 2km already! At the halfway mark, Nick, Roger and Donald (Christelle’s husband) waited for us and we saw them before they saw us so we could SPRINT towards them waving our arms and yelling like women possessed (a little self-promotion never hurt…) After exchanging rather breathless pleasantries, it was off again for the second half and we just sailed through. The last 500m is up a gentle hill and then into the final bit where, just like in a proper marathon, there is a fenced-off corridor that you run along towards the finish line with people standing all along and cheering you – so we SPRINTED along there and did a big finale, crossing the finish line holding hands and cheering like crazy.ย  We finished in about 45 mins, which pleased us no end.

The amazing thing is a) how much we enjoyed it (being two self-professed non-runners) and b) how motivating it was to be part of such a tremendous fundraising effort. I will definitely be doing it again next year (only next year I will remember to bring and wear my flashing bunny ears!)ย 

For those who are interested, take a peek at my Flickr photoset of pictures from the race day.

 

More deliciousness for you!

  • Tuna toasties for a busy Friday nightTuna toasties for a busy Friday night
  • London food bloggers salt tastingLondon food bloggers salt tasting
  • Saturday Snapshots #21Saturday Snapshots #21
  • Cauliflower steaksCauliflower steaks

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« The Fat Duck – a 3 Michelin star lunch in Bray
EoMEoTE#16 – Midnight in the Loeufre Museum »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Robert says

    June 6, 2006 at 6:00 pm

    Brilliant, fantastic, you hero you, wonderful and thanks for extending the End Of Month Egg thingy!! I love it!!
    Also, you have done something that not too many of us (me especially) have or will do. That is to run for a cause that means so much to you.
    I have used up all the superlatives I had in my pantry and I think what you have done is beyond splashing out words to acknowledge and bless you for what you did.
    Apart from this I think you deserve a special place in Blogosphere because of the supreme effort that will benefit so many.
    Lots of hugs n hugs and icky kiss air here, kiss air there and “omigawd you look ravishing in cerise pink running shorts dahlink” nonsense.

    Reply
  2. Misty says

    June 9, 2006 at 3:09 pm

    Hi Lady!!!
    We absolutely love your blog! Even my husband who is a picky as hell spoiled Japanese eater. If you don’t mind, I shall add you to my links! Ciao!

    Reply
  3. Rethabile says

    June 9, 2006 at 11:33 pm

    Tha plate of ribs and chips looks like something I feel like eating right now. I would also not mind washing it down with that lovely looking beverage you’re toasting with. You did it. Kudos and bravos to you.

    Reply
  4. Jeanne says

    June 15, 2006 at 11:27 am

    Hi Robert
    *Blush blush blush*!! Thank you for all the gratuitous use of superlatives! And the air kisses! I really did enjoy our little run and I am SO impressed with the support that we received (from fabulous people like yourself!) It is great to know that we raised over ยฃ1000 for a cause so close to my heart. This charity thinkg could get addictive…
    And as for the cerise pink running shorts – who told, who told?? :o)
    Hi Misty
    Thanks for dropping by and I’m thrilled to hear how much you like Cooksister! It would be an honour to be added to your links ๐Ÿ™‚ Hope to see you back soon…
    Hi Rethabile
    I do have to say that the ribs and chips were well worth the effort of the run! And henceforth in wine and food matching discussions I shall be recommending champagne as an ideal accompaniment to BBQ ribs!! Thanks again for your continued support – it’s very much appreciated.

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Get my latest recipes delivered by e-mail!

Search over 500 recipes

Recently on Cooksister

  • Cauliflower steak Welsh rarebit
  • The Melusine
  • Potted smoked salmon with quick pickle apple slaw
  • Discovering the wines of Pays d’Oc
  • Cranberry pistachio Bircher muesli – a Pret-a-Manger fakeaway
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts
  • Myristica Grenadian supperclub
  • 8 favourite Singapore food experiences

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Oxtail and red wine potjie
Roosterkoek - a South African braai essential
Gem squash 101: how to find them, how to grow them, how to eat them!
My big, fat South African potato bake
Crab-stuffed portobello mushrooms

Featured on

Also available on

"Spring fever, my heart's beating fast. Get up, ge "Spring fever, my heart's beating fast. Get up, get out, Spring is everywhere" - Elvis Presley

What better way to celebrate the day when the clocks go forward to British Summer Time than with  a glorious photo of St Paul's Cathedral shyly peeping out from a cloud of pink cherry blossoms against a perfect blue sky! ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒž

London is awash in glorious blossoms at the moment, from Greenwich Park in the east to Kew Gardens in the west, and the fun part is trying to catch each type of tree just when the blossoms are at their best.

The cherry plums have been exploding into clouds of small white blossoms and sweet fragrance for a few weeks already; and the early flowering cherry trees, camellias and magnolias are coming into their own right now. Plus we still have the late-flowering cherries, rhododendrons and wisteria to look forward to!

Do you have a favourite Spring tree or park for blossoms in London? Let me know in the comments ๐ŸŒบ

And please remember to share, save or like my posts if you want to see more of me in your feed ๐Ÿ™
"The essence of being human is that one does not s "The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection" 

I wonder what the author if those words would have made of the age of Instagram? We are fed an endless stream of perfect images of perfect bodies and perfect lives. In the back of our minds we KNOW this is not reality, but still the subconscious yearning for this imaginary world of perfection persists. Humans are funny that way.

But so often in life, things fall short of the perfection we imagined - seemingly perfect relationships fail, cakes look nothing like the picture in the book, clothes that looked good on the internet look ridiculous on our bodies, the wrong turn we took meant we never got to our planned destination.

Falling short of perfection is part of life. The big question is how you deal with it. Do you throw your hands up in despair and berate yourself for failure? Or do you find the positives in the imperfect outcomes of your plans? 

This photo taken almost exactly 4 years ago was meant to be a "perfect" Instagram shot of me in my signature pose, on a perfect sunny day on snowy ski slopes. Instead, as @explorista snapped the photo, our ski instructor decided to throw handfuls of snow at me - but as it turns out, this "imperfect" shot turned out to be my favourite of the day ๐Ÿ˜

Do you find joy in life's imperfections?
What's your favourite way to eat cauliflower? Up What's your favourite way to eat cauliflower? 

Up until about a week ago I would have said cauliflower cheese... but all that changed when I made this low-carb cauliflower steak Welsh rarebit... I first made cauliflower steaks years ago, before cauliflower started enjoying its 15 minutes of fame, as a main course for vegetarian friends. But it wasn't till last week when I wanted to make Welsh rarebit for St David's day and discovered I had no bread that it struck me that cauli steaks would make the perfect base for Welsh rarebit! It's totally indulgent - like pouring a beery cheese fondue over your cauliflower - and totally addictive. You can find the full recipe in the link in my profile,  or SAVE this post for basic instructions! Remember to tag me if you try it -I'd love to see ๐Ÿ˜Š

* Slice two 1cm steaks vertically from the middle of a large cauliflower, season and fry in  butter and oil till browning slightly.

* Oven bake for 10 mins at 200C while you mix grated cheddar, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and beer. (The Duvel Belgian ale works a charm, BTW!).

* Spread the cheese mix generously over the 2 steaks and pop under a medium grill until golden and bubbly

You're welcome ๐Ÿคฉ
Dyed Gwyl Dewi Hapus - or happy St David's Day if Dyed Gwyl Dewi Hapus - or happy St David's Day if you don't speak Welsh ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ

March 1 is the day on which the Welsh people celebrate their patron saint, St David, and one of their traditions is to wear a daffodil, the national flower of Wales. Here are five daffodil facts to impress your Welsh friends:

๐ŸŒผ There's no difference between a daffodil and a narcissus. Daffodil (or jonquil) is simply the common name for members of the Narcissus genus, so all daffodils are narcissi.

๐ŸŒผ There is only one species if daffodil that is native to the UK - Narcissus Pseudonarcissus, or wild daffodils. You can spot them by the fact that their outer 6 petals are a paler yellow than the central trumpet, and they are usually smaller than the showy, giant yellow commercially grown daffs. 

๐ŸŒผ It's not entirely certain how the daffodil came to be the national flower of Wales - one theory is that they are one of the few flowers in bloom on 1 March. Another is that the daffodil is less... antisocial to wear than the other Welsh national symbol, the leek ๐Ÿคฃ

๐ŸŒผ Daffodils are the official 10th wedding anniversary flower.

๐ŸŒผ Daffodils contain a poisonous sap - keep away from pets and if mixing daffodils in a vase with other flowers, let them stand in water separately for 24 hours first I case they affect the other flowers. 

Are daffodils your favourite Spring flower? Or do you prefer something else?
As a girl who lived more than half her life in the As a girl who lived more than half her life in the African sun, February and March are the hardest months for me to bear in the UK. All the excitement of Christmas and New Year has faded; the credit card bill has arrived; the sun is still setting before I finish work; and the snow that we all hoped for at Christmas finally arrives and disrupts everything. This is why, every year in Feb/March since I moved to the UK (other than the year I broke my femur a week before I was due to fly!), I decamp to South Africa for 2 weeks to visit my family and get my fix of vitamin D (and vitamin Sea!).

This week I should have been here - the Beacon Island hotel in Plettenberg Bay, which I have been visiting since I was about six years old. It is where I go to lift my spirits and clear my head. But for the last 2 years, Covid has meant that I have not been able to go home - or see my family. 

For the most part, although I miss travel, I am secretly quite liking taking a breather and being able to be home without FOMO for a while. But not being able to see my family has been incredibly hard, particularly as I have no family in this country.  And my blood boils at people bending the rules (a dentist appointment in Tenerife when you live in Manchester? Seriously??) to go on holiday while I have not seen my clinically vulnerable brother in two years. Covidiots.

But you can bet your bottom dollar that as soon as vaccinations are widely rolled out and international travel becomes practical again, I will be on a plane to South Africa so fast it will make your head spin.

Where will YOU head to first once we are able to travel again,  and why?
Love is in the air... ๐Ÿ’• Are you making a speci Love is in the air... ๐Ÿ’•

Are you making a special dinner for your sweetheart tonight? This potted hot-smoked salmon with a pretty pink apple and red onion pickle is easy to prep and oh-so-delicious! It's also gluten-free if you serve it with GF crackers. Full recipe now on the blog - tap the live link on my bio to view. 

Are you doing anything special to celebrate today? Let me know in the comments! ๐Ÿ’–
Ready for a wine tasting? ๐Ÿท [Press trip] Back Ready for a wine tasting? ๐Ÿท

[Press trip] Back before Covid put our lives on hold, I spent a few days in the Languedoc-Rousillon wine region of France learning about (and tasting!) Pays d'Oc IGP wines. 

Want to learn more about the region's wines? Read on, swipe through the images (remember to  bookmark this post to refer back to later) - and click the live link in my bio for the full blog post! 

๐Ÿท The Languedoc-Rousillon region is the largest wine producing region in the world, and produces about a third of all French wine. Pays d'Oc IGP is a classification region within Languedoc-Rousillon, with vineyards that take up over half the total vineyard area in the Languedoc-Rousillon region. Pays d'OC IGP wines account for about 20% of the total of all French wine produced.

๐ŸทIGP stands for Indication Geographique Protegรฉe, meaning it is a protected indication of origin and wines must be made only from approved grape varieties that must be grown entirely within the region's geographic boundaries.

๐Ÿท Most French wines are named for their region (Bordeaux, Chablis, Champagne) but you won't see the name of the grape variety on the label. In response to consumer demand and the New World trend to label wines with grape varieties, rules were changed in Pays d'Oc in the late 1980s and Pays d'Oc wines now account for 92% of French varietal wines (e.g. labelled Chardonnay, Syrah, Viognier etc.).

๐Ÿท There are 58 grape varieties that are allowed to be planted in the region but the Pays d'Oc IGP varietal wines to watch out for include Chardonnay, Rolle (another name for Vermentino) and Viognier among the whites; and Syrah, Mourvedre and Pinot Noir among the reds.

๐Ÿท All wines labelled Pays d'Oc IGP are sampled and approved in a blind tasting by a panel of professionals, meaning the label is a guarantee of quality to the consumer. 

๐Ÿท Producers that you should look out for include Gerard Bertrand, Domaine Gayda, Les Jamelles, Les Yeuses, Paul Mas and Domaine Aigues Belles.

First ๐Ÿ“ธ: @everyglassmatters
New year's resolutions: waste of time or the way f New year's resolutions: waste of time or the way forward?

I have mentioned before that I don't really make new year's resolutions. There is always so much pressure to make them BIG lofty goals and this is essentially what dooms them to failure. Instead, for the past few years I have made a list of... affirmations? Mantras? I have yet come up with a word that does not make my toes curl ๐Ÿคฃ

These are essentially reminders rather than goals - presets, if you like, for the year ahead. I keep them in a handwritten list next to my computer and when I don't know how to react to something or how to shake a mood, I read them and there is usually an answer in there somewhere. 

Given the bruising year last year was, and how 2021 has so far proven itself to be not much better, I really wanted to add something practical to this year's list to lift my spirits on days when I am down. And for that I borrowed shamelessly from the wonderful @gretchenrubin:

๐ŸŒˆ  ACT THE WAY YOU WANT TO FEEL ๐ŸŒˆ

And this photo is a reminder of how I want to feel on so, so many levels: hanging out with friends; dancing in the sunshine; wearing my favourite red dress; travelling (this was in Carouge, Switzerland); and surrounded by a rainbow of colour. I can't travel and I can't see friends, but I can dance in my kitchen, singing at the top of my voice wearing my brightest clothes. 

What strategies do you use to lift your spirits? I'd love to hear! 

๐Ÿ“ธ by @tasteofsavoie
If you, like me, are mssing your Pret-a- Manger Bi If you, like me, are mssing your Pret-a- Manger Bircher muesli during lockdown, you will want to bookmark this post right now! ๐Ÿ”–

I have learnt a few things during lockdown. I have learnt that I am more comfortable spending long periods alone than I had ever imagined; that I suffer a lot more from FOMO (fear of missing out!) than I would like to admit; and that pre-Covid I spent rude sums of money on commuting and barista coffee...! 

I also learnt that although I miss travel and social events and meals out, it is often the smaller things that you miss most acutely - the freedom to call up a friend you haven't seen in a while and inviting them over. Hugging (or even seeing) my family. And grabbing a macchiato and a Pret Bircher muesli on the way to work. Don't ask me why, but it became a small obsession of mine to create a fakeaway Pret Bircher during lockdown - and I think I have succeeded! Here's how:

For 2 servings you will need:
100g rolled oats
200ml milk or water
1 Tbsp sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp pumpkin seeds 
1 Tbsp shelled pistachio nuts
1 Tbsp dried cranberries 
2 small apples
175g plain yoghurt
Honey
Pomegranate rails

Mix the oats, seeds, nuts and cranberries together then add the milk/water and a pinch of salt. Mix well, cover and refrigerate overnight. 

When ready to serve, grate the apples and mix them in with the oats and yoghurt (add a little extra milk to loosen if needed). Stir in honey to taste and serve topped with pomegranate arils and pistachios. Full recipe and more photos are available now on the blog - click the live link in my profile.

Did you try any fakeaway recipes over lockdown? Please let me know in the comments - I would love to hear about it!
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

Cooksister

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read Moreโ€ฆ

Latest Recipes

Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli
Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts
Plum upside down cake
plum flapjack crumble
Sesame ginger Brussels sprouts
Jersey-royals-salmon-salad2 ยฉ Jeanne Horak 2019

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2021 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2021 ยท Cooksister on Genesis Framework ยท WordPress ยท Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT