A German braai.

[Ineke Brunner]

that's right, but (like the germans) the dutch people hate anything like smoke coming from a braai. I am not very populair here, (onlu because of my braais) haha They will rather sit inside the house watching tv. Now that is something i never new as a kid, so if i have to make the choice..... It is easy. The braai with the wors and the tjoppies. haha

[georg ruf jr.]

Hi Ineke.
Yes, I'm German. I know what you're talking about. My neibourghs are great and never complain. It's more my wife and kids that complain about me wanting to braai so often. lol
Nobody complains about the smoke here. Bu I know, there are towns and ereas where laws are aken very serious. You're only alowed to braai a cerain amount of imes wthin a monh or so. Don't know how often, but I may find out.

[Ineke Brunner]

i am glad that it is not so strickt here. My neighbours complain sometimes, but in the evening they all go inside to watch the tv and we stay outside. We even have two heaters for when the braai itself is not enough. Great i must say. Luckaly for me my husband is just as cracy about braaing as i am and the kids. They all love skaap tjoppies (lamb) We at least braai three or four times a week during the summer. Before the rugby match in france we had a braai with every rugby fan we new and then watched the match. that was great fun because a south african friend of mine,who stayed in germany, also came to watch at our place.

[Michele Alexander (Voden)]

It's a good think they don't have those kind of restrictions here in O'mund - Mike would have left years ago!



Me personally - hate the smoke and smell of the braaied meat but what can I do - got to keep the peace!

[Ineke Brunner]

you miss it the most when you can't do it anymore and when the real thing changes. Once they forbid you to braai you will start liking the smell and smoke. But you have the sun and that makes a big diffirence.

[Michele Alexander (Voden)]

I don't know about the sun at the moment - it was here for a while today and then the mist rolled in - it's quite cool here at the moment.

I'm not a meat eater so don't enjoy the smell of the meat but love all kinds of veggies cooked over the braai - I was hoping Mike would be able to braai some mielies on the braai for us this evening but unfortunately we had none at Spar!
Had to do with Garlic bread and sousboontjies!

[Ineke Brunner]

if i make sousboontjie here they all just look at it and tell me to eat it myself. The mielies they love, but in holland they do not always have mielies. they are very expensive. I am the real meat eater and the kids and my husband as well. What they love the most are my toasted cheese on the braai with onions. Do you still do that in south africa?

[Michele Alexander (Voden)]

Yes - we also love the toasted sandwhiches on the braai, there are so many variations, the other day we were at a braai with some Afrikaans friends and they put apricot jam on the bread as well! Different. Another favourite of ours is filling gemsquash with creamstyle sweetcorn and grated cheese and wrapping it in foil and cooking them over the fire - our Afrikaans friend also does it with mussels - very nice. Mike also once did a butternut stuffed with feta and spinach - that was my favourite!

Mike is obviously a very big meat eater and both girls love their braaimeat as well, whilst in Cape Town last week their favourite was ordering spare ribs!

[Ineke Brunner]

thanks for the braai tips. will try them. I wanted to send you a foto of our braai, but it was too big. They computer gave an error and i am no hero with computers so you will have to wait for that foto. I'm sorry because i am so proud of our little South africa in our garden. We even have a south african flag hanging in there. Keep the braai tips coming. We can't make everything as we cannot buy everything here. Like the butternuts and skorsies. whould love to have them here. hahaOne can't have everything.

[Carl Wrbka]

if i make sousboontjie here they all just look at it and tell me to eat it myself. The mielies they love, but in holland they do not always have mielies. they are very expensive. I am the real meat eater and the kids and my husband as well. What they love the most are my toasted cheese on the braai with onions. Do you still do that in south africa?

From my experience in Germany in '87, mielies are considered as pig food in most EU countries. Our neighbours thought we were nuts when they saw them on our braai.

[Michael Alexander]

Mielies , Aromat and Butter wrapped in tinfoil..... and Bob's your uncle!

[Bertie Horak]

Mike, add a little sprig of Rosemary, you'll be amazed how it enhances the sweetness of the mielies!
PS - it's my duty to warn you about the high MSG content of aromat.  I know it's a great taste enhancer, but try normal salt & rosemary, you'll be amazed!

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

The Ina Paarman Rosemary & Olive seasoning is a stunner and contains no MSG.

Quick recipe for toasted buns on the braai:


6 buns
250 g grated cheddar cheese
1 pack Ina Paarman sundried tomatoes (the type in olive oil and belsamic vinegar with basil)
1 small tin mushroom pieces (drained)
250g margarine
1 small onion chopped
Seasoning to own taste

Mix all the ingredients together.   Cut buns to choise & smear with filling.  Wrap in foil and braai .......

[Bertie Horak]

@ Dalene - Sjoe nammies!  Jy maak my honger, girl!  Gaan beslis probeer.

Regarding the MSG controversy - if there's enough interest, I have a lot of info regarding MSG (dangers, which foods it's hidden in, alternative names under which it is hidden, etc) I will post it under a new topic.  Let me know, I'll have time over the weekend to post.

[georg ruf jr.]

What does MSG stand for? Is it Natriumglutamat?