The Course

Hi All

It's Friday, yes you guessed it, I will be on course from 12pm today. The golf course of course.

I like to call it "my R & R" before the weekend. I mentioned earlier in the week that we are all going up to Paul and Gayle's house tonight for the start of the Rugby World Cup, it was their, I think 11th or what anniversary yesterday, congrats Guys. The rest of us would like to know if there are any wedding plans yet?

Rhys loves coming to the country club after my round, he is a budding little golfer himself. Rhys loves driving our golf cart around, always messes juice on the seat so when I get on the next time it's all sticky. The golf cart's name is Braddy just for the record. Rhys' mates always on a Thursday when I fetch him from school ask, ' Uncle Gary can we come and play at Rhys' house tomorrow?' knowing all to well that there might be the off chance of a ride on Braddy before we take them home.

Newcastle is a small town in the northern part of Kwazulu-Natal, about 3 hours drive north of Durban. we are situated in the mountains and have these great views all round. Its a small place about 500 000 citizens, very peaceful and safe. The great thing about living here is that we have formed a great band of Friends, so on the weekends we always are gathering at someones' house for a jol( Afrikaans for party).

I will try and do some blogging over the weekend, its a pretty busy one, going to the launch of the new Mercedes Benz C-Class on Saturday(Free wine and beer) and more rugby at my place on Sunday, join us for a jacuzzi if you want.

2 simple recipes for you to try over the weekend, the salad one I stole from an Afrikaans magazine, I perfected it. Actually Davida asked me to start with it but it started smelling and tasting so good that it has become my salad. I always say to my mates that Davida does not have to do anything at BBQs anymore, because I will always do the meat and salads.

The 2nd is a the basic burger recipe found in your Weber cookbook, but again have made a few changes to bring you the most moist burger and great tasting ever.

G's French Potato Salad

(Serves 6)

• 2kg baby potatoes
• 70ml chicken stock
• 70ml dry white wine
• 70ml extra virgin olive oil
• 30ml wholegrain mustard
• 30ml Dijon mustard
• 15 hot English mustard( cannot let the French take over )
• 15ml white wine vinegar
• 15ml apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbs capers
• 250g streaky bacon
• 10 spring onions
• Molden sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

1. Cook potatoes with skins on till almost soft
2. Remove potatoes from stove, drain water and cover pot, will steam a little more.
3. Cut bacon into pieces and fry until crispy, set aside
4. Chop spring onions, set aside
5. Combine all remaining ingredients (except bacon,capers and spring onions) and mix well
6. Cut potatoes in half and put in large salad bowl
7. Once all potatoes are cut, add above mixture and mix well, try not to break potatoes to much
8. When ready to serve, sprinkle bacon, spring onions and capers over salad.
9. Toss lightly and ENJOOOY!!!

G's BURGERS

• 400g Lambs mince
• 400g Ostrich mince
• If you cannot get any of the above use extra lean ground beef
• 80ml iced cold water
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Mix all ingredients well
2. Make mince into 6 patties
3. Cook in hot ribbed pan or on BBQ open fire for 3 minutes each side
4. This will give you a medium burger or cook a little longer for more well done.
5. Add slice of cheese, lettuce, pickle, tomato or whatever you like putting on your burger

It will be the juiciest one you have ever eaten and you probably will not buy ready made burgers again.

I hope you will all have a family filled fun weekend and would like to have some feedback on the recipes that I have posted.

HAVE A GOOD ONE.