From the Archives

Keeping up with the Stanfordians

Have you noticed how it never rains, and then it pours? The beautiful drenched Market Square in Stanford is testament to how much it has been raining in Stanford, and the puddles and deep cool tussocks of grass fill us with childish glee. The wild sprouting mushrooms push their way towards the sunlight 3 days after the rains so keep your eyes peeled for those illusive mushroom foragers who are trying not to make eye contact and give away their hunting ground secrets.

And another thing that fills us with glee is the up-and-coming weekend which is about to sweep us off our feet. Are you ready for it? This is how we plan to fit it all in and you are invited to catch us if you can…

WEDNESDAY

Aerobics Revival in Stanford. See you there in lycra as the village meets in the Community Hall from 18:00 – 19:00. R10 per person is practically still 80s rates!

THURSDAY

Stanford Full Moon Tree Walk

Join our monthly Wandelpad Stroll and learn how to join the heritage Committee’s Significant Tree Survey. Afterwards…sherry!

FRIDAY

Take a deep breath, light a fire and drink some local wine. We are going to need our energy for tomorrow…

SATURDAY

First thing’s first, don a hat for Haturday and post a selfie using the hashtags #Haturday #Visitstanford to stand a chance to win a prize.

Then it is time to browse through the treasures on display at the Stanford Junktique Market in the Tourism Courtyard, 09:00 – 12:00. Breeze a little further down Queen Victoria Street to fill your basket with weekend foodie treats at the Saturday Morning Market on the stoep of the Stanford Hotel, also 09:00 – 12:00.

 

There is also time to take a slow drive on the Papiesvlei Road to the Open Day at Eikenhof Orchid Nursery. It will take you just over 10 minutes to drive there, but it will be oh-so-worthwhile to see the orchids and cymbidiums in full bloom, and for sale at special prices.

And then, pack a jersey for Hops at the Hills, a celebration of local craft beers at Stanford Wine Estate. This afternoon event is full of live music, fun for the kids, good food and beer, and usually sees people dancing under a rainbow, alongside a roaring bonfire. Make no mistake, Hops at the Hills is full-on fun.

SUNDAY

This day is for winding down. Make it about good food at one of Stanford’s restaurants, or good clean air as you walk off the ultimate weekend on one of the walking trails inside, or outside the village. Do the self-guided heritage walk around the town with a map available from the Tourism Office, and drop in at the shops open along the main street.

Phew, what a great week!

*Make sure you read our weekly ‘What’s on’ every Thursday for all events in and around Stanford. Ask to join our mailing list by emailing ask@stanfordinfo.co.za

Words: Phil Murray

Recipes through the seasons – Sorrel Pesto in Winter

This great, seasonal recipe has been generously shared by Rishi, one half of the dynamic duo at Goodwill Mountain Farm.

Sorrel Pesto 

Sorrel pesto is a quintessential Stanford Food Heroes recipe as it’s local, seasonal and sustainable. These days, sorrel grows abundantly everywhere around Stanford, so get your scissors and baskets out and go hunting for these heart-shaped beauties. The great thing about foraged food is that it is, per definition, organic and super fresh, which is more than you can say about most of the food in the supermarkets! Sorrel is a nutrient powerhouse especially rich in Vitamin C which is great for a mid-winter immunity boost, and the nuts and seeds in the recipe are high in fats to keep you warm on these cooler days.

Ingredients

A big bunch of sorrel (approx. 120 g)

15-20 leaves of kale with stems removed (spinach would work too)

1 cup cashews, soaked for 30 mins in hot water and drained

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

4 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes

1 tsp salt

Dash of olive oil

Method 

Start by dry-roasting the sunflower and pumpkin seeds together on a frying pan. They’re done when they start cracking and splitting. Let them cool off before adding to the rest of the ingredients to avoid the pesto oxidizing too fast. Add all other ingredients to a food processor and pulse until it has a creamy texture with some chunks left – pesto texture, basically. If the pesto is too tart for your liking, more kale can be added, and if it’s not creamy enough, more cashews can be added. This pesto goes well on pasta and sandwiches and can be loosened with olive oil to make a salad dressing. Also excellent to eat on crackerbread standing by the kitchen counter late at night! Store in an airtight container in the fridge where it will keep for at least a week.

*Wood sorrel (genus Oxalis) has heart-shaped leaves and is often confused with clover. The leaves are a little bigger and taste sour, as do the yellow flowers. Kids in Stanford call them sour flowers. Go on, try them!

Words by Rishi from Goodwill Mountain, and Phil Murray

Stoep Talk: December 2014

The holidays have rolled round again, and Stanford is gearing up for a very busy festive season! I vividly remember holidays as a child when my mom and dad used to take us for our annual holidays. They were probably impatient for the holiday to start because I can still recall being woken up in the middle of night, suitcase already packed, and told that we were leaving early (so early, in fact, that it was still dark).

That sense of excitement is still with me every Christmas and New Year; the wonder of going somewhere I’d never been before. December is also such a special time because there is so much goodwill this time of the year. Strangers wish you a merry Christmas, people look to see how they can help those less privileged, and everyone looks for that perfect present that will give joy to their loved ones. The whole world seems right again!
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Stoep Talk: November 2014

One of my absolute favourite things to do is to have a leisurely lunch in the countryside – for me, living in Stanford, that’s usually a 5-minute walk or drive to some of the best restaurants in the country. I have spent some heavenly afternoons having lunch in Stanford – laughing with friends, enjoying the unbelievably good food, and pairing it with Stanford’s breathtaking views.
The food art on the plate is so beautiful, and the views from the restaurants so inspiring, that we decided these views need frames! So we asked 11 local artists to decorate wooden frames in their unique style, and they’ll be placed around Stanford from 1 December! So the next time you’re in Stanford having lunch, take a photo with one of the frames and share it on your Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #StanfordFramed. We’ll keep our eyes out for these great moments and share it on the official Stanford Tourism platforms! There are weekly prizes up for grabs, so check our Facebook and Website for more info in the upcoming weeks.
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Stoep Talk: October 2014

Isn’t October a beautiful time of year? Apart from the carpet of purple and yellow flowers dusting the fields and slopes, cialis tiny fledglings are testing their wings, buy tadpoles are investigating the river, here and the swallows have returned (both feathered and non-feathered!).

Here in our little corner of the globe, we are getting ready for a very busy holiday season. There’s a real buzz in the air – the exciting news is that our much-loved Stanford Table will be re-opening on 31 October, serving delicious meals made with love by Jake and Esther Uys. A new coffee shop, The Stanford Harvest, is opening on 15 November selling breakfast, lunches and teas. Also new on our streets is the Stanford Treasure Trove, a shop with a difference full of beautiful fine furnishings and well-worth a visit!
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Stoep Talk: September 2014

September is heritage month and we celebrate all that we’ve inherited and that has shaped our little village.
Although South Africa has not always had an easy history, adiposity there are many traditions worth keeping. One such tradition is that in country villages, viagra buy people used to gather on the Common or Village Square, sick to talk about the events of the day and to share local news (this was a time before newspapers and e-zines). Whatever stress or worry you had would disappear after some friendly banter and a few laughs with friends. Thankfully this is a tradition that Stanford has kept.
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Stoep Talk: August 2014

Spring has arrived. The bare trees with their knotted fingers are showing off their beautiful blossoms like jewels against the backdrop of the majestic Klein River Mountains. It takes me back to cherry blossom season in Japan and how the Japanese celebrate every seasonal event with great wonderment and enthusiasm, buy cialis regardless of the fact that it comes around every year.

After the winter snow had melted, order the cherry blossoms would appear; little pink dots on an otherwise bleak landscape. They would only last only a week and so everyone would be out, going for picnics or simply participating in cherry blossom viewing.  The breeze would come and shake the blossoms from the trees, and it would be as if pink snow was falling from the sky.

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Stoep Talk: June 2014

‘Winter has a magical charm. You get to wear winter clothes; sit by the fireside, sip gluhwein and hot chocolate, and tell and listen to stories.’

Winter it is one of my favourite times to travel and explore the countryside. When I lived in London, my friends and I would often hire a car and spend the weekend in the countryside. We’d go on long walks, visit old houses, and cook dinner at night. Often we’d get caught in the rain and burst into the nearest pub, laughing and shaking the rain off our coats. Once we had ordered mulled wine, we’d warm ourselves by the fire while we waited for our clothes to dry.
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Stoep Talk: May 2014

‘Villages have always been a mystery to me. Most of my information came from the television series “Nommer asseblief?” and “Koöperasie Stories”.‘

I’ve had the privilege of living and working in three big cities in South Africa: Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. During my travels, I have visited London, Paris, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin and marvelled at the neon lights, boutique shops, and throngs of people.
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