Monthly Archives: August 2018

Flower of the month this September!

As we step into September and welcome in spring, it is time for the flowers to start blooming, and the trees to flourish with new leaves sprouting out. The gardens at Granny Mouse Country House and Spa are always stunning, and well maintained by the garden and grounds manager, William Brown- who has a vast knowledge on all things flowers and garden related.

If you birthday is celebrated in September, and you are unaware of what flowers represent your birth month, then consider taking a keen interest in the Aster and the Morning glory – as these are your birth flowers. Flowers are seen as a gesture of love or friendship and may have a special symbolism attached to it.

Asters
They come in a variety of purples and pinks and regarded as a feminine flower representing positivity. They prefer cooler climates with relatively wet summers. They enjoy full to partial sun in which to thrive. According to Horticulturist at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, William Brown: “Asters should be planted in early to mid-spring in fertilised and moist, well-drained soil and water thoroughly”.

Morning glory
These feature in an array of pink, purple and blue shades and is a symbol of affection. What is interesting to note about these flowers is that blooms open in the early morning and generally curl closed later in the day.

“These flowers are annual climbers that prefer a sunny, sheltered area to grow in. They do however need a lot of sun to reach their full potential. They should also be planted in well-drained soil and should be planted early in the season. Another tip is that if you are planting from seed, soak them first for a day before planting,” Brown adds.

According to proflowers.com, “it’s estimated that there are more than 600 different species of these colourful wildflowers.  Ancient Greeks name the aster after the Greek word (astér), meaning star. They often used asters to create wreaths, which they would place on altars to pay tribute to the gods.”

So whether you enjoy planting beautiful flowers or prefer receiving them, these flowers are sure to add an extra addition to your birthday!

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Image credit: https://za.pinterest.com/pin/129619295504660061/

A weekend breakfast with a twist

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Breakfast is, for some, the most favoured meal of the day and it is for this reason Wayland Green, the executive culinary artist at Granny Mouse Country House and Spa, has put a list of quirky breakfast ideas together which can be indulged anytime of the day!

#1: Egg and Bacon Breakfast Crescent

What you need:

  • 5 eggs
  • 1/2 red pepper chopped
  • 1/2 green pepper chopped
  • 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
  • Bacon bits (fried to release the juices)
  • 250g pack of croissants
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded.
  • 1 egg for egg wash, optional

Method:

  • Preheat oven to 190 degrees celcius.
  • In a bowl, beat the eggs with the chopped peppers, salt and pepper. Cook the eggs in a pan so that they’re scrambled. Next, fry the bacon until cooked.
  • Lay out the croissants on wax pepper
  • In each croissant lay a piece of bacon. Add half of the cheese and the scrambled eggs. On top of the croissant, add the remainder of the cheese.
  • Fold the croissants over. You may brush with the egg wash if you prefer
  • Bake for 20 minutesor until the croissants are cooked and golden brown.
  • Garnish with parsley, if preferred. Serve warm.

#2 Shakshuka

What you’ll need:

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 200g Italian plum tomatoes
  • parsley as required
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 roasted red pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon chilli powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds ground
  • 2 teaspoon virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon black olives
  • Step 1

Take a large pan that has a lid and heat oil in it on medium. Stir in chopped onion, crushed garlic and cook for a minute or so. Now, add roasted red pepper (sliced), sweet smoked paprika, black olives, tomatoes, sugar and spices, mix well and let the mixture simmer for around 10 minutes.

  • Step 2

Use the back of a ladle to make 2 slight depressions on the surface of the mixture and crack an egg over each depression. Cover the lid and let cook until the whites look set and the yellow is cooked.

  • Step 3

Garnish with chopped Parsley and serve with toasts.

#3 Bacon and egg breakfast cups

Ingredients:

  • 4 eggs
  • 4 slices of precooked bacon

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celcius. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray.
  2. Line muffin pans with bacon so that it circles each mold.
  3. Break an egg into the center of each mold. Bake for about 8 minutes or until the egg is cooked to the doneness of your liking. Serve while warm.

For more ideas, or to come and try a unique breakfast at Granny Mouse, call +27(0)33 234 4071.