The Zesty Zen
Michelle Phetlhe | Tuesday March 1, 2022 06:00
Every episode has been different, all very exciting with a lot of insight into these individuals’ lives both professionally and personally. We share lots of laughs, sound advice and encouragement, besides having developed a unique platform that serves as an interview, entertainment and empowerment and educational tool for all to be more daring in the kitchen.
Chellzkitchen still maintains we all have untapped potential in the kitchen, through our classes both virtual and physical, we offer a lifetime experience. I don’t think there is a place more intimate than the kitchen in my home because this is where I get to immerse myself and create delicious dishes for my family. There is not a day that passes that I don’t pass through the kitchen to make something, even if it is as simple as toast, frying an egg or getting a drink of water. Some days, it feels like I have spent the entire day there.
Without a doubt my boys gravitate towards the kitchen every time, anticipating what will come out of it. These days everyone can appreciate that the sensory pleasures of food and cooking are all too often obscured by the increasing demands of careers, families, battles over body image, and the desire for a life outside the 'traditional' norms of the kitchen. We had the gracious lady with many professional hats and head turning haircuts, Zenzele Hirschfeld, on our fifth episode virtual experience.
The executive music promoter at Zen Promotions, I can’t help but call her Mother of the Industry. She encompasses creativity and as such, I was inspired and found myself having made a dessert I named after her in the process. I believe the title is fitting and she is well deserving of her own dessert. The Zesty Zen! The lemon centric, three-ingredient cheesecake was delicious. Smooth, tart, and super creamy, but the crust was absolutely incredible. We opted to use ginger biscuits instead of a typical base. This gave the dessert an edge, the boldness that Zen has in each stride as she continues to aspire to inspire the girl-child. “I hope my story inspires a young girl-child. That she can achieve whatever she wants,” she said.
INGREDIENTS
1 pack ginger biscuits
1 kg plain Nutriday yogurt
¼ can Nestlé condensed milk, well shaken before opening
1 Lemon Gelatine dissolved in ¼ cup hot water (optional)
Serving suggestion: Crushed biscuits and lemon zest or 1 cup mixed fresh berries: blue berries and strawberries Mint leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
For the Base: Pop the biscuits into a bag, crush using a rolling pin.
Pour them into a medium sized square bowl, press the crumb down onto the base of the dish firmly to create your crust using a spoon
For the Filling: Mix the Nutriday plain yoghurt, Nestlé condensed milk, juice of ½ a lemon, lemon zest together in a bowl.
Microwave the filling for 2-3 minutes.
Remove the bowl, mix rapidly and put back in the microwave for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the gelatine water if using.
Pour the mixture over the biscuit base and refrigerate for a minimum of four hours or overnight for best results.
Tips For a quick fix, do one hour in the deep freezer and one hour in the fridge.