This year, forget sweating over a host stove in the heat of summer, preparing a magical meal for your family, and opt for Granny Mouse Country House instead! With a number of scrumptious options available, complete with the most welcoming and decadent surroundings, you can sit back and relax, and really enjoy what the Festive Season is all about, spending time with your loved ones.

Granny Mouse has prepared something for everyone this year, with an array of options, guaranteed to suit even the fussiest of palettes. Relish in the newly renovated Caversham Room, and be in awe as you are served a 5 course meal, with each course served with the best accompanying wine, for only R795 per person.

Indulge on Roast Butternut, Vodka Strawberries, Micro Greens, Herbed Crème Fraiche and Garlic Melba, paired with  Warwick The First Lady Unoaked Chardonnay as your first course and then dive into the second course of Smoked Hake & Prawn Ravioli, Slow Roast Thyme Tomatoes, Caper Parmesan Cream and Micros, paired with Villiera Jasmine. Follow this with

Confit Pork Belly, Cabbage & Apple Chutney, Herbed Potato Puree, Sweet Chilli & Cranberry Jus paired with Cederberg Bukettraube and a palate cleanser or Flavoured Meringues.

If you have room for more, the 4^th and 5^th course consist of Lamb Loin, Herbed Baby Potatoes, Mint Pesto, Sautéed Peppadew, Olive & Mixed Peppers, Lamb Crackling with Louisvale Dominique, and Frozen Trifle, Minted Mixed Berry Compote, Dark & White Chocolate Mousse, Vanilla Sponge completed with Rustenberg Straw Wine respectively.

For those seeking something a little smaller, and with options for the kids, book at the Bistro for only R390 per person for a 3-course meal, and choose a starter option including, a Chicken Salad, Crumbed Prawns, a Vegetable soup, and all the trimmings. Options for your main include, Chimichurri Beef Fillet, Fish & Chips, Curry of the week or a Roasted Mediterranean Vegetable Penne Pasta

Deserts include some decadent (and definitely not waistline approved) treats such as, Frozen Mocha Oreo Bars, Lemon Cheese Cake Mousse, a Homemade Ice Cream Trio and a Homemade Sorbet Trio.

If you’re dining with the kids, and they’re under 12, you’ll only pay R175 per person and they’ll get a specially prepared chef’s milkshake, Chicken Burger with chips or Tomato Pasta with cheese and a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream to top it off!

With a menu like this, why would you want to cook at all this Christmas? Make your booking today, as space is limited. Email banqueting@grannymouse.co.za or call (033) 234 4071 and enjoy having this Christmas off!

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, and the pressure starting to mount as to whether you’ve stuck to your 2018 goals, and deciding whether you want to make your new ones, the last thing you need to worry about, is what to feed your guests at your New Year’s Eve bash.

No one really wants a big, heavy meal while having a few drinks, so finger foods would be the easiest and best option. Not only will that offer more variety for your guests, but it also ensures less dishes for you to wash the next day. (Who wants to start off the New Year doing dishes anyway?)

A unique and tasty dish that Wayland Green, Executive Culinary Artist at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, suggests, is a new twist on the popular pepper poppers.

These pepper poppers are the perfect appetizer for parties, and take just 30 minutes to make!

Ingredients

• 1 pack of bacon, cut up into small pieces
• 8 Mini Sweet Peppers
• ½ cup of grated cheddar cheese
• 200g plain Cream Cheese
• A pinch of black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Fry the bacon pieces until cooked.
3. Rinse the peppers and cut each of them in half. (Leave the green parts on) Remove the seeds and membranes.
4. Mix the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, black pepper and bacon together.
5. Fill the peppers with the mixture and bake for 10-13 minutes, until the peppers are soft to the touch.

If you’re looking for something a little different, and that’ll make you look like an absolute wizzard in the kitchen, try these spinach-artichoke bites. They look amazing, and are also so easy to make…..

All you need is:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 230g finely chopped fresh spinach
• 340g artichoke hearts, chopped
• 170g plain cream cheese
• 1 peeled ripe avocado
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 120g cheddar cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
• 60g parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 1/2 cup), divided
• 60 mini phyllo shells

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C.
2. Heat a large pan over medium heat.
3. Add oil and the garlic, heat for about 1 minute.
4. Then add the chopped spinach and artichokes.
5. Place the cream cheese, avocado, salt, and pepper in a large bowl
6. Beat with a mixer at medium speed for 1 minute.
7. Add the cheese, 30g parmesan cheese, and the spinach mixture, stirring well to combine.
8. Spoon about 2 heaped teaspoons of the spinach mixture into each phyllo shell.
9. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining parmesan cheese.
10. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, and enjoy!

With items like this on your New Year’s Eve menu, you can be sure it will be a Happy New Year!