Winter Stay-cation Party: Exotic Destination – South African Safari Adventure

For a safari adventure to South Africa, follow the cocktail recipes, food recipes, and décor tips below.

Cocktails

• Bertrams VO(serves 1)
  • Serve 2 oz Bertrams VO on the rocks or straight up
    • A traditional South African brandy that epitomizes the art of traditional blending

• Parrot Bay Frozen Pouches Mango(serves 1)
  • Method:
    • Freeze overnight
    • Pour into a daiquiri glass
    • Garnish with a fresh mango

• South African Sun (serves 1)
  • Ingredients:
    • 1 ½ oz Bertrams VO
    • ½ oz Ketel One Orange
    • ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
    • ¼ oz fresh orange juice
  • Method:
    1. Pour all ingredients over ice in a shaker and shake vigorously until combined.
    2. Serve in a martini glass

South African Sosaties and Yellow Rice

• Traditional Cape Malay Sosaties (Kebabs)- These popular kebabs are served with BBQ “wokked” vegetables. The kebabs have a very gentle curry flavor smell wonderful on the BBQ. Lamb, chicken and fish all work really well with this recipe.
  • Ingredients:
    • 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
    • 1 tablespoon chopped gingerroot
    • Vegetable oil
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • 2 whole cloves
    • 3 tablespoons curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 1 cup white wine
    • ½ cup cider vinegar
    • ½ cup chicken stock
    • 2 tablespoons apricot jam
    • ½ cup strained fresh lemon juice combined with ½ cup water
    • 1 ½ pounds beef or lamb cubed (chicken can substitute)
    • 1 cup dried apricots, softened in boiling water
    • 1 onion, cut into quarters and softened in water
    • 1 green pepper, cut into one inch pieces
    • 1 red pepper, cut into one inch pieces
  • Method:
  1. Sautee the garlic and ginger in oil until soft, approximately one minute.
  2. Add dry ingredients and stir for approximately 30 seconds; then add the remaining liquids and bring to a boil.
  3. Simmer for 5 minutes and remove from the heat and let cool.
  4. Skewer the meat alternating with apricots, onions and peppers.
  5. Cover the skewers with cooled marinade.
  6. Cover and marinate overnight or up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
  7. Grill the skewers over high heat basting with the leftover marinade. (The marinade can be used as a sauce–simply boil for 3 minutes)

• South African Yellow Rice
  • Ingredients:
    • 1 cup long grain white rice
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 3 tablespoons white sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ cup black raisins
    • 1 teaspoon butter
    • 2 ½ cups water
  • Method:
  1. In a saucepan, combine the rice, salt, turmeric, sugar, cinnamon, raisins, butter and water.
  2. Bring to a boil uncovered.
  3. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and let it simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until rice is fluffy and water has been absorbed.
  4. Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork.
  5. Keep warm until serving time.

Décor:

• Accents
  • Cover your tabletop in African inspired fabrics with a weaving pattern in bright colors.
  • You can also purchase (or make) pillows in similar fabrics for the couch and sitting areas in your home

• Centerpieces and Accent Décor
  • Use brightly colored florals to make a living centerpiece.
  • Soak floral foam in water and place it at the bottom of a wide-mouthed vase. Place greenery in the bowl in a criss-cross pattern to serve as your base and hide the foam. Insert the flowers into the foam starting with the most prominent and fill with lighter florals in the negative space.

• Animal Print
  • Place touches of animal print fabrics and décor pieces to give you the feeling that you are on an African safari