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  • Algerian Doubara and Mesfouf

    Next on our journey through Amazing Africa, we are stopping in Algeria. Algeria is the largest country in Africa with a culture influenced largely by bordering the Mediterranean Sea and being close to Europe and the Middle East. I would love to walk through an Algerian spice souk. It is a delight to all of…

  • Weaver, the Orchard Oriole

    Weaver, the Orchard Oriole

    Baltimore Oriole you’ve probably heard of before, but Orchard Oriole? Maybe not. The Orchard Oriole exchanges the beautiful orange of his Baltimore cousin with a chestnut brown. The females are very different from the males, wearing yellow and green feathers. Here is a video of what an Immature Male looks like, much more like the…

  • Libyan Shakshouka and Ftat Misrati

    Libyan Shakshouka and Ftat Misrati

    Over the course of the last few years, Shakshouka has been a feature on many menus in the home and in restaurants that serve breakfast. Chances are that you have tried one like I have and they are pretty good. Have you ever tried to make it for yourself? This week for our Amazing Africa…

  • Goldy, the Baltimore Oriole

    Goldy, the Baltimore Oriole

    Now on to a bird that causes a lot of excitement in the Spring. Who is a cousin of Sally Sly the Brown-headed Cowbird, but who is a lot more popular: Goldy, the Baltimore Oriole. Baltimore Orioles are members of the Blackbird family, but they certainly contain more vibrant colors than others in their family.…

  • Egyptian Koshari and Oom Ali

    Egyptian Koshari and Oom Ali

    We have been studying our way through Africa with Heritage Mom’s Amazing Africa heritage pack and the other day I had an idea… why not spend some time traveling through Africa and trying some of the national food in Cast Iron while we study these amazing and diverse countries. So, we started with the first…

  • Sally Sly, the Brown-headed Cowbird

    Sally Sly, the Brown-headed Cowbird

    Spring Forward, a Pleasure to Hear Springing forward isn’t always the easiest or nicest of events on the calendar, but one thing I really enjoyed this morning is that I was able to hear the birds wake with the dawn and chorus their calls to each other again. I sat reading on the couch in…

  • Short Ribs Potjie

    Last week, I gave some good guidelines to start with when building your own Potjie, called Potjiekos from the Heart. Some things are better than a recipe and I love using some tried and true techniques in order to build new flavors and savor the well-loved flavors of my family. This is one combination that…

  • Potjiekos from the Heart

    Potjiekos from the Heart

    Potjiekos is Afrikaans for small pot food. It’s cooked outdoors in a Potjie, a descendent of the Dutch Oven. I shared a little about the small pot last year in a Potjie Spirit Week post. For our Cast Iron Journey this year, I wanted to find a good Potjiekos recipe to share, but I have…

  • A Giant Blueberry Muffin

    A Giant Blueberry Muffin

    My husband and I were watching the series “The Ultimate Braai Master” on Netflix and we were inspired to try this recipe earlier in the week. Over the fire or in the oven, it’s simply a good idea. It’s a gigantic blueberry muffin with the same great taste, nostalgia, and a different kind of portability……

  • The Great Backyard Bird Count

    The Great Backyard Bird Count

    This weekend is the 25th annual Great Backyard Bird Count and I couldn’t resist sharing some links for those who want to participate. To learn more about the event, you can check out a free live webinar tomorrow, February 16, 2022. It is designed for all ages and would be a great way to connect…

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