Getting things started

Plan your garden

Author: Reg Botha

Published by: Briza Publications

This book is the first in the TEN OUT OF TEN GARDENING SERIES and is ideal for those new homeowners who need to start a garden from scratch or who want to revamp their existing garden. And to get a perfect garden in the end, it is essential to do thorough planning. If you don’t know much about gardening or simply need a bit of guidance this handy guide will definitely be of great assistance. This handy small-format book contains handy tips and advice on how to plan the perfect garden and also has the most beautiful images to illustrate subjects discussed throughout the book. A wide variety of planning topics are discussed to ensure that you think of everything when planning your garden:

• Determining the style of garden.
• Determining the size of the area.
• Planning the various areas in your garden.
• Dealing with unsightly elements in your garden.
• Deciding on focal points and relaxation areas.
• Compiling a list of plants.
• Allow for colour and fragrance in your garden.
• Lighting options for your garden.
• Choosing accessories for your garden.
• Deciding on irrigation. 

Handy notes about each topic are also given on each page to ensure that you know exactly what you are doing or must do, making this a valued companion to take along when you head out to the garden. This book, and the entire series, is also available in Afrikaans.

About the author: Reg Botha is a well-known landscape designer with a passion for gardening. He is renowned for his beautiful garden designs as well as the lectures and gardening coursed he presents all over the country. Many of his articles and landscape images have been published in various magazines.

NB: One lucky reader can win the entire series of these useful books if you enter over the next six months, click here to enter!

Healthy options in advance

Cooking for the Freezer 

Author: Julia Orbe

Published by: Random House Struik

Are you one of those people who work from 07:00 to 19:00, has a husband and children, must go to various meetings after hours and still has to find the time to provide a healthy home cooked meal for your family, which seldom happens because your are just too busy (yes I know this sentence is just as exhausting as your lifestyle)? Then you will definitely benefit from this delicious, practical cooking guide. After numerous requests from clients, Julia Orbe developed a range of healthy, wholesome meals that can be made in quantity, in advance, and then simply frozen for later use. The hectic pace of today’s lifestyle means that we have little time and even less energy at the end of each day to cook a full-on nutritious meal for ourselves and our loved ones.

This cookbook is ideal for individuals, couples or families and each recipe in Cooking for the Freezer is accompanied by advice on increasing quantities for cooking in bulk and freezing. A comprehensive ‘Guidelines for Freezing’ chart provides information on how long each meal may be stored in the freezer, and indicates which meals are suitable for diabetics and wheat- and gluten-intolerant individuals. This fully illustrated cookbook is packed with recipes that are easy to follow and quick to make, with ingredients that are freely available. Covering beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and vegetarian dishes, Cooking for the Freezer is certain to cater to a wide spectrum of people, from school-leavers and newly-weds to busy moms, single parents, domestic workers, anyone on a budget or people simply conscious of saving time, money, electricity and water.

About the author: Julia Orbe started her own successful catering business from scratch in 2003. Over the years, she has given many cookery courses to benefit domestic workers, teenagers, and children. 

NB: One lucky reader can win this practical food guide, click here to enter!

Meals from the pot

Pot It Grow It Eat It

Author: Kathryn Hawkins

Published by: Random House Struik

Are you blessed with green fingers that can make anything grow? Many people believe that one of the most rewarding things in life is to grow their own fruit and vegetables and then use them in delicious meals. But growing one’s own produce doesn’t have to having a large garden. A whole range of vegetables, salads, herbs and fruit can be grown in limited spaces, such as windowsill containers, pots, small front or back gardens and balconies.

The first section of this interesting book tells you exactly what can be grown indoors or in limited spaces, what tools and materials are needed, how to choose the right containers, as well as where to site them for optimum results. Section two includes a vegetable, herb and fruit directory, with each entry listing planting, sitting, and maintenance and harvesting details, along with storing and freezing instructions. There are step-by-step photographs and a picture of the plant for each entry. Finally, there is also a recipe section that will guide you in to use your fresh products in the most delicious meals. There are 25 fresh, simple recipes for starters, mains and desserts included in this beautifully illustrated guide. A simple must for cooks, who are also gardeners at heart. 

About the author: UK-based Kathryn Hawkins is an experienced cookery writer and a food stylist who has worked on several women’s magazines and written a number of books.

NB: One lucky reader can win this interesting book, click here to enter!

Ietsie vir ons Afrikaanse lesers!

Hiermee ’n splinternuwe insetsel vir elke maand, spesiaal vir ons Afrikaanse lesers!

Rugby-humor

Boots en brannewyn 

Deur: Frik du Preez en Chris Schoeman

Uitgewer: Random House Struik

Toe ek ’n paar dae gelede my kopie van hierdie skreeusnaakse boek ontvang het, het my man dit van lessenaar af onderskep en toe ek hom kry, is hy op die telefoon met my pa – besig om vir hom van die stukkies wat hy amusant gevind het uit die boek te lees. En het die twee gelag! Dit wys mens net weer hoe eie rugby aan die Afrikaanse kultuur is en ook hoekom mense verkies om gedurende rugby-seisoen hiermee te ‘ontspan’ ... en natuurlik hoekom plasma-skerm televisies ’n noodsaaklikheid geword het.

Of jy nou vir die Blou Bulle, Haaie, Leeus, Vrystaat, Westelike Provinsie of die Bokke skree, rugby bly ’n spel met baie snaakse situasies, op en van die veld. Daar’s nie nóg ’n sport waaruit sóveel stories uit die skrum van die lewe gehaak word nie. Boots en brannewyn is ’n lekker ontspanboek propvol kleurryke taal, slim sê-goed en weergalose humor. ’n Hele afdeleing gaan oor staaltjies uit die verlede – oor spelers, skeidsregters en vele meer, ’n ander afdeling gaan net oor die gepaste byname van Suid-Afrikaanse rugbyspelers en heel laaste is daar ’n hele klom skreeusnaakse rugbygrappies. Die boek gee jou ’n besonderse blik op die spelers veral voor die professionele era nog die spel van die veld af kon geniet. ’n Lekker-lag boek vir rugby-liefhebbers en ’n oulike geskenk vir die manne in jou lewe.

Oor die skrywers: Frik du Preez is ’n rugbylegende en het 87 wedstryde vir die Springbokke gespeel. Hy is ’n bo-baas storieverteller en meeste van die inhoud is saamgestel uit sy snaakse rugbystaaltjies. 

Chris Schoeman was al die outeur van verskye rugbyboeke en is sedert 1992 by rugbyjoernalistiek betrokke. Hy het al verskeie kere saam met die Bokke oorsee getoer en is die redakteur van die webwerf en publikasie: South African Rugby Player’s Association. 

NB: Een gelukkige rugby-liefhebber kan met hierdie komiese boek wegstap, kliek hier om in te skryf!