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SHOP SMART AND COOK CLEVER

March 2009

With rising food prices - the question on many a person's lips is how can my family enjoy a wholesome, healthy meal while saving money?

Martin Kobold, Executive Chef for Fedics, explains a smaller food budget need not spell doom and gloom. "If you take the time to plan the week's meals and go through your cook books, you can shop smart and cook clever."

He says a return to home cooking was evident prior to the global recession with reality TV showcasing celebrity chefs preparing simple, fuss free meals. "What can be more satisfying than cutting a slice of warm bread and spreading it with butter and honey?"

The following recipe yields two loaves of bread and the whole family can participate in the preparation:

1 package of yeast (7 grams)
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 cups of lukewarm water
7 cups of sifted flour
2 tablespoons of melted butter
dash of salt

  • In a mixing bowl add the yeast, sugar and the water
  • Mix well then add half of the flour and the butter
  • Beat thoroughly, gradually adding the rest of the flour - till a stiff dough is formed
  • Flour countertop to ensure dough doesn't stick
  • Knead dough for five minutes
  • Place in bowl, cover with a towel and leave for two hours in warm area to rise - the dough should at least double in size
  • Again knead dough for 5 minutes
  • Let stand for 2 minutes, then shape into 2 loaves and place in 2 greased bread pans
  • Cover with a towel and once again place in a warm place and wait for 1 hour
  • After the dough has risen the second time, place into a pre-heated 200 Celsius degree oven and bake for 1 hour
  • Let the bread cool before removing from the pans

    Easy, everyday items in the cupboard can be combined for new one-dish meals - which are filling and within budget. A classic is the tuna/macaroni and cheese casserole.

    4 cups of cooked macaroni
    3 tablespoons of butter
    1 teaspoon of minced onion
    3 tablespoons of flour
    3 cups of milk
    dash of Worcestershire sauce
    400 grams tuna in water
    1 cup of grated cheese
    4 pieces of bacon
    salt and pepper

  • Preheat the oven to 200 Celsius
  • In a small saucepan on medium low heat, melt the butter and add the onion
  • Whisk in the flour and gradually add the milk, continue whisking
  • Cook until thick and smooth, occasionally stirring
  • Add Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper
  • Grease a baking dish and put in half the macaroni, half the cheese, and half the tuna
  • Pour half the sauce over and repeat with the rest of the ingredients
  • Top the baking dish with the bacon and bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees
  • Serves 6

    While many consumers might panic at the thought of tightening their belts, both literally and figuratively, Kobold says many of the dishes we indulge in today have their origins firmly rooted in more economically challenging times and often come from a time when we hardly had the price of a loaf of bread.

    "If you stop for a minute to think about it, dishes like the humble pizza was born from the fact that the poorest people in Italy only had a bit of flour, some yeast and old tomatoes - yet they conjured up one of the most popular dishes today."

    So let your creativity have free reign and enjoy preparing new dishes for the family.

    ENDS

    Words: 602

    NOTES TO EDITORS:
    As the largest black-owned company in the outsourced catering market, Fedics is renowned for its innovation in this fast-moving and highly competitive industry. Far from merely serving a meal-of-the-day to its hundreds of thousands of customers each day, Fedics provides a diverse range of outsourced catering and related service activities to a broad range of customers.

    Issued by: InZalo Communications
    Sharon Piehl
    011 646 9992 / 082 600 0138

    On behalf of: Fedics
    Martin Kobold
    011 441 5300

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