Latest news with #99
Daily Maverick
16-05-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
Avocados are here: The ultimate stuffed avo recipe
South Africa's avocado peak season runs until November, bringing ripe, affordable fruit back to grocery shelves after months of shortages and high prices. I explored the season's bounty with avo boats featuring soft fried eggs and toasted chickpeas. It's peak season for avocados in South Africa, which is set to run until November (the latest). This means farmers are ready to harvest avocados and supply them to retailers. So, grocery store shelves are brimming with ripe and ready-to-eat avocados, the price of which has reduced because their supply has improved. January and February were off-season months, with many retailers facing avocado shortages. And because of the shortages, the prices of avocados were inflated. Society has a love-hate relationship with avocados. People who hate avocados often say they are bland and grassy. In a recent conversation with an anti-avo friend, he described the fruit (yes, avocado is considered a fruit) as 'like lukewarm butter and freshly mowed grass'. He went on to say that avocado 'tastes like nothing'. I was offended as I am part of the pro-avocado camp. Beyond their exceptional nutritional benefits (they pack healthy fats), I love avocados for their creamy texture and mild flavour. They take on a variety of spices so well. Avocados are versatile in dishes, and can be used in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and spreads. The only downside is that avocados spoil quickly, making them inconvenient for people who dislike food waste or the unpredictability of ripeness. It doesn't help that I live alone and often cook for one. Going through a pack of ripe avocados takes a while. Whether you hate or love avocados, you cannot deny that they are popular and increasingly considered a household staple. The South African Avocado Growers' Association (Saaga), an industry body representing avocado growers, is the authoritative source of information on consumption patterns for the fruit. According to research from Saaga, a significant portion of South African consumers prefer ripe and ready-to-eat avocados and are willing to pay a premium for this convenience. In recent consumer surveys (circa 2021), 68% of South African respondents reported having avocados on their shopping list when buying fruit and vegetables, indicating a strong planned purchase behaviour rather than impulse buying. Additionally, 71% of respondents considered avocados affordable, showing a broad acceptance of price points for quality and convenience. However, I think there needs to be a proviso when it comes to the affordability of avocados. I religiously purchase avocados during the peak season. During this season, a ripe and ready pack of avocados usually retails for R54,99. However, during off-season months, the cost could easily be close to R100. I bought avocados, taking advantage of the seasonal affordability. Over the next few weeks, I will make recipes that include the fruit as the main ingredient. I took some inspiration from Saaga, as the industry body has plenty of avocado recipes posted on its website. I will be tweaking Saaga's recipes to make them my own. On the menu this week are avo boats with soft fried eggs and toasted chickpeas. The original Saaga's recipe uses baked beans that I swapped for chickpeas. The original recipe also contains scrambled eggs, but my version has soft fried eggs. I also added feta cheese and spinach. Ray's stuffed avocado boats with soft fried eggs Ingredients 1 avocado, halved and peeled Olive oil or your preferred cooking oil for frying 2 eggs Salt and pepper 1 avocado, halved and peeled Can of chickpeas 1 tsp mixed herbs 1 tsp chilli flakes Block of feta cheese A few spinach leaves (optional) Method To toast chickpeas: Drain and dry the chickpeas thoroughly using paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture. This is crucial for getting them crispy. Heat a frying pan over medium to high heat and add about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or your preferred cooking oil. Add chickpeas and continue cooking and shaking/stirring every few minutes for about 8-12 minutes, or until the chickpeas are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Season the toasted chickpeas with salt, pepper, chilli flakes, and mixed herbs. Set aside to cool. To fry eggs with a soft, runny yolk: Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and add 1 teaspoon of oil. Crack two eggs into the pan. Cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes until the whites are set but the yolk remains runny. Take off the heat. Stuffing avocados:
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Raj & DK reminisces about their 'first hustle' '99' starring Kunal Kemmu, Soha Ali Khan
Picture Credit: X As their first feature film '99' completed 16 years in Hindi cinema , makers Raj & DK took a trip down memory lane and recalled the time "before streaming and hashtags" were a thing. The filmmaker duo took to Instagram, where they shared pictures from the making of the crime comedy movie, which also stars Kunal Kemmu , Soha Ali Khan , Vinod Khanna, Boman Irani and Cyrus Broacha. The duo wrote as the caption: "Throwback to the time before streaming, before 'content', before hashtags were a thing, and before we had beards. Our first Hindi feature. Our first hustle. Thanks to everyone who took this quirky ride with us! #99TheFilm #VinodKhanna #AmitMistry @kunalkemmu @boman_irani @sakpataudi @cyrus_broacha @maheshmanjrekar @ @mensit @rajasen @simonesinghs @pitobash @ The film is set in the year 1999, with cricket controversies of that year as the backdrop. It tells the story of a gangster who deploys two of his trusted men in different cities to extort money from people who have escaped. While on their mission, they find themselves in various adventurous situations. Raj & DK are best known for their work as creators, directors, writers, and producers of the Hindi-language thriller series ' The Family Man ,' 'Farzi,' and 'Guns & Gulaabs'. They have also directed the films '99', 'Shor in the City', 'Go Goa Gone', 'Happy Ending' and 'A Gentleman', and written the comedy horror film 'Stree'. Their latest work includes " Citadel: Honey Bunny ", a spin-off/prequel to the American television series Citadel and revolves around the story of Honey and Bunny, who are the parents of the character Nadia Sinh. The series stars Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu as the title characters with Kay Kay Menon, Simran, Sikandar Kher, Saqib Saleem, Soham Majumdar, Shivankit Singh Parihar and Thalaivaasal Vijay in supporting roles. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy OTT Release Date - When and where to watch Gillian Pachter-directed true documentary
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy OTT Release Date - The bizarre story that once gripped America is now getting the documentary treatment. Trainwreck: Balloon Boy, a brand-new docuseries directed by Gillian Pachter, is set to premiere on Netflix starting July 15, 2025, and it promises to take you back to one of the strangest media frenzies in recent history. Produced by RAW and BBH, the series is backed by executive producers Sheun Adelasoye De Nicola, Alexander Marengo, and Tim Wardle from RAW, along with Casey Feldman, Erica Roberts, and William Swann from BBH. The real incident behind the documentary Trainwreck: Balloon Boy is based on the real-life "Balloon Boy" hoax that happened on October 15, 2009, in Fort Collins, Colorado. A man called 911, claiming his 6-year-old son had accidentally taken off in a helium-filled homemade balloon. What followed was hours of live TV coverage as helicopters chased the drifting balloon, and the entire country watched with bated breath, hoping the boy would survive. But when the balloon finally landed, there was no child inside. The shocking twist came later when it was revealed the boy had been hiding at home the whole time, and the entire ordeal had been a planned hoax by the parents, allegedly to get media attention and land a reality TV show. Public sympathy turned into outrage almost overnight, and 'Balloon Boy' became a household name for all the wrong reasons. More About Trainwreck series This summer, the Trainwreck series is back with more shocking and unforgettable real-life stories that once took over the news. You might remember headlines like 'Boy Trapped in UFO Balloon' or 'Cruise Ship Disaster with Overflowing Toilets.' These events were everywhere, but there's more to them than what we saw on TV. Told through the eyes of people who actually lived through it, Trainwreck digs into wild music festivals gone wrong, political messes, and even the dark side of reality TV. The series started in 2022 with the chaos at Woodstock '99. Now, from June 10, it's bringing eight new episodes with a new episode every week. Ben Rumney is the producer behind most of these new chapters, kicking off with The Astroworld Tragedy.
TimesLIVE
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Bolt drivers offered discounted dashcam app to improve safety
Ehailing company Bolt is offering drivers access to a dashboard camera app to help improve their safety. The app, in partnership with technology provider Driver Technologies, allows drivers to turn their mobile phones into a forward-facing exterior and driver-facing interior dash camera, with videos backed up in the cloud. Bolt is offering its 'driver partners' a free month of the dashcam app, followed by a 75% discounted rate for R54,99 per month. The app works in the background of other apps, showing picture-in-picture, so the driver knows they are recording, which will not affect the functionality of the Bolt app. It allows unlimited trip storage, access and sharing capabilities of dashcam footage via the driver cloud. Lerato Motsoeneng, senior GM for Bolt South Africa, said: 'Driver partners regularly tell us a dashcam can provide them with additional security and peace of mind. However, buying a device that meets their requirements can be expensive, with drivers citing the cost as the main obstacle to getting one. By providing discounted access to premium dashcam functionality, our partnership with Driver Technologies ensures they can access the tools they need to create safer environments for themselves and their passengers at a discounted rate.' With the scheme, Bolt aims to help reduce safety incidents and support driver partners with evidence for customer support and the police. This can also be useful in insurance claims in case of accidents as the interior and exterior of the car will be recorded. Driver Technologies will provide Bolt drivers with IT support, as well as data handling and processing support. This is the latest in safety initiatives by Bolt in South Africa, which include rider verification, pickup codes and trusted contacts.
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Rising food prices in South Africa: April 2025 Household Affordability Index
Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) said that the April 2025 Household Affordability Index indicated that the average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R90,94 (1.7%), from R5 329,36 in March 2025 to R5 420,30 in April 2025. Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) said that the April 2025 Household Affordability Index indicated that the average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R90,94 (1.7%), from R5 329,36 in March 2025 to R5 420,30 in April 2025. Civil society organisations have raised concerns about the rising cost of foods. Mervyn Abrahams, PMBEJD programme co-ordinator, said that in April 2025: The average cost of the Household Food Basket is R5 420,30. 'Year-on-year: The average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R83,99 (1,6%), from R5 336,31 in April 2024 to R5 420,30 in April 2025. Food pricing trends in April 2025. In April, of the 44 foods tracked in the basket: 24 foods increased in price, and 20 foods decreased in price.' Abrahams added that foods in the basket which increased in price in April 2025 by 5% or more, include: potatoes (6%), onions (11%), beef (7%), fish (7%), tomatoes (26%), carrots (20%), spinach (7%), cabbage (6%), green pepper (7%), bananas (7%), and oranges (18%). 'Foods in the basket which increased in price in April 2025 by 2% or more, include: maize meal (2%), full cream milk (2%), beef tripe (2%), cremora (3%), apricot jam (4%), and brown bread (2%).' Abrahams said that they have noticed increases in the food baskets across major cities in the month of April. 'In April 2025, food baskets in Joburg, Durban, Cape Town, Springbok and Pietermaritzburg increased in price. The Joburg basket increased by R77,58 (1,4%) month-on-month, and decreased by R52,72 (-0,9%) year-on-year, to R5 559,46 in April 2025. The Durban basket increased by R157,64 (3,0%) month-on-month, and increased by R168,23 (3,2%) year-on-year, to R5 425,23 in April 2025.' Abrahams added that the Cape Town basket increased by R11,25 (0,2%) month-on-month, and increased by R129,80 (2,5%) year-on-year, to R5 316,56 in April 2025. 'The Springbok basket increased by R242,93 (4,3%) month-on-month, and increased by R186,68 (3,3%) year-on-year, to R5 908,84 in April 2025. The Maritzburg basket increased by R138,46 (2,8%) month-on-month, and decreased by R15,84 (-0,3%) year-on-year, to R5 044,47 in April 2025.' Abrahams said that Statistics South Africa's latest Consumer Price Index for March 2025 shows that headline inflation was 2,7%, and for the lowest expenditure quintiles 1-3 it is 4,2%, 3,7%, and 3,3% respectively. 'CPI food inflation was 2,2% (for CPI Food & NAB it was 2,7%. STATS SA's Producer Price Index for March 2025 shows agriculture was 2,4%, of which, products of crops and horticulture was 9,2%, and live animals and animal products was -7.1%.' Evashnee Naidu, regional manager for Black Sash in KwaZulu-Natal, said that the organisation continues to advocate for an increase in the value of social grants across the board to the extent that these increases are able to cushion the ever-increasing blow of food price increases. 'Whilst Black Sash welcomes the fact that there will be no VAT increase in 2025, which would have had a significant impact on poorer households, South Africa continues to see food prices increase. The Black Sash amplifies its call for permanent Basic Income Support to provide additional support to individuals and households.' Aliya Chikte, project officer at the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC), said that although food inflation is slowing down, the average cost of a household food basket is unaffordable in a context of mass unemployment and deep impoverishment. 'Even though more than half the population lives in poverty, the high rate of exclusion from the Social Relief of Distress leaves millions without the support needed to meet their immediate nutritional needs. As a new fiscal framework is tabled, we urge the government to protect and enhance social protection.' Siyanda Baduza, a researcher with the Basic Income Project at the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), said that for the millions of grant recipients, the increase in food prices will continue to make life more difficult, as it does everyone else, even with the VAT reversal. 'The value of the child support grant and SRD grants remain far below adequate levels. Both lie below the food poverty line, now at R796, and also below all estimates of the cost to feed a child a nutritional diet.' BUSINESS REPORT
