{"id":21733,"date":"2025-11-24T09:43:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T07:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/?p=20670"},"modified":"2025-11-24T11:41:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T09:41:18","slug":"your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><strong>Preparing celebratory meals this festive season will be easy-peasy and energy-saving &#8230;<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Thanks to the versatility of the <a href=\"https:\/\/wonderbag.co.za\/collections\/international-collection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wonderbag<\/a>\u2019s heat-retention technology, it&#8217;s a practical solution for busy holiday kitchens &#8211; while showcasing dishes that deliver both flavour and sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>This collection, developed specifically for slow, energy-saving cooking, reinforces Wonderbag\u2019s commitment to accessible, environmentally conscious meal preparation.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Cider Glazed Gammon<\/strong><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20678\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20678\" style=\"width: 261px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20678\" src=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cider-Gammon-Wonderbag-2-261x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"261\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20678\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cider glazed gammon. Image supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wonderbag&#8217;s delicious Cider Glazed Gammon has a prep time of 20 minutes, with only 50 minutes spent on the stove, and 4-6 hours spent in the Wonderbag. Saves 4 hours of cooking time in the oven. Now that&#8217;s a Christmas that Counts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serves: 6 to 8<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>For the gammon<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1.2kg \u2013 1.5kg boneless smoked gammon joint<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">500ml cider or sparkling apple juice<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 litre cloudy apple juice<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5 green apples, peeled, cored and cut into rough chunks (these will form part of your sauce)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 large onion, peeled and cut into quarters<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 pieces cinnamon stick<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">15ml coarsely crushed coriander seeds<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5ml black pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>For the glaze and sauce<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">15ml demerara sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">15ml cornflour<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place all of the ingredients for the gammon (minus the glaze and sauce) together in a medium pot.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The liquid should cover the meat; if not, add a little water to just cover it. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer gently, covered with a lid, for 40 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place the pot on a mat or cloth in a sealed Wonderbag for 4 \u2013 6 hours.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once cooked, remove the gammon from its cooking stock and transfer it to a small roasting tin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pour off \u00be of the liquid, blend the apples and leave your apple sauce to reduce until of a medium-thick consistency. Adjust seasoning.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the glaze, put a ladleful of cooking liquid into a large clean pan. Add the sugar and cook until glossy and translucent. Pour over the gammon and roast for 15 minutes, until browned and caramelised.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serve the gammon alongside your apple sauce, red cabbage and glazed root vegetables.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><strong>Oxtail Casserole<\/strong><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20677\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20677\" style=\"width: 267px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20677\" src=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ox-Tail-Wonderbag-1-267x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20677\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ox tail casserole, Image supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prep Time: 20 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stove Time: 50 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wonderbag Time: 4 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serves: 4 to 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A traditional and comforting casserole using a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cheap and cheerful cut of meat &#8211; oxtail. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While oxtail requires careful preparation and lengthy cooking to become tender, its exceptionally rich flavour makes it well worth the effort. The casserole&#8217;s hearty gravy and chunky root vegetables is perfect served with a bowl of rice, suet dumplings or slice of crusty bread.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1kg jointed oxtail<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">500g bacon (optional)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Salt and pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tbsp flour<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tbsp olive oil<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 medium onion, chopped<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4 garlic cloves, chopped<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tsp thyme<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tbsp brown sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">200ml red wine (optional)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 can of chopped tomatoes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 beef stock cubes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">450g carrots, sliced on the diagonal<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">450g potatoes, sliced on the diagonal<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Season the flour with the salt and pepper. Toss the oxtail joints in the seasoned flour until they are coated on all sides.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2. Heat the oil in a medium-large lidded pot until sizzling. Brown the oxtail in the oil, then add the bacon cubes. Set the browned oxtail and bacon aside.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3. Add the onions, garlic, \u00bd teaspoon of salt, thyme, and sugar to the pot. Cook on a low heat for 5 minutes. Next, pour half of the wine into the pot, scraping the bottom to loosen any bits of oxtail that may be stuck.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4. Add the remaining wine along with the can of tomatoes and stock cubes. Bring the mixture to a boil, then stir in the oxtail, bacon, carrots, and potatoes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5. Allow to boil for 30 minutes with the lid on. Transfer the lidded pot to the Wonderbag and allow it to stand for 4 hours. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serve with warm, crusty bread or rice.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>One pot Turkey Crown with root vegetables<\/strong><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20676\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20676\" style=\"width: 267px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20676\" src=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Turkey-Wonderbag-2-267x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20676\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One pot turkey crown and root veggies. Image supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prep Time: 20 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stove Time: 45 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wonderbag Time: 4 hours\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serves 4 to 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1\/2 large onion, sliced thinly<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3 carrots, trimmed and sliced on the diagonal<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 celery stalks, trimmed and cut into thirds<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">400ml chicken broth<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1.5kg turkey crown<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4 garlic cloves, peeled<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 lemon, quartered<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Rub Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tsps salt<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1\/4 tsp black pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1\/4 tsp ground white pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 tsp paprika<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 tsp dried thyme<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Gravy Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>3 tbsps butter<\/li>\n<li>3 tbsps plain flour<\/li>\n<li>1\/2 tsp dried thyme<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add the onion, carrots, celery and broth to a lidded pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Combine all of the rub ingredients in a small bowl. Pat the turkey crown dry with paper towels. Firstly, rub the garlic clove all over the turkey skin, then coat with the rub mix.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add the garlic cloves and lemon to your celery and carrots, then place the turkey on top.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cook on a low heat, with the lid on, for 30 minutes on the stove. Turn off the heat when the broth boils.\u00a0 Transfer the covered pot to the Wonderbag and allow it to stand for 4 hours. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The turkey is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 F\/75 C and when the juices run clear from the thickest part of the meat.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Remove the turkey crown and place in a roasting pan or baking dish. Place in the oven and crisp up the skin, for about 3 to 4 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Make the Gravy<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strain the broth from the pan and set aside.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add 3 tablespoons of butter to a saucepan and melt. S<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">tir in 1 tbsp flour and sizzle until you have a light brown, sandy paste. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0Slowly add the strained broth, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">stirring all the time, until you have a thickened sauce.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add dried thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the turkey and vegetables.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><strong>Beef Stew<\/strong><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20675\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20675\" style=\"width: 267px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20675\" src=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Beef-Stew-Wonderbag-15-267x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20675\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beef stew. Image supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prep Time: 15 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stove Time: 35 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wonderbag Time: 3 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serves: 4 to 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A traditional, warming beef casserole with a thick, rich gravy and chunky root vegetables \u2013 an ideal recipe for cheap cuts, as slow-cooking guarantees a soft and tender dish that almost melts in the mouth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1kg stewing beef <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(feather blade or brisket works nicely), cut into nice large chunks<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Salt and pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tbsp flour<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tbsp olive oil<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 medium onion, chopped finely<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4 garlic cloves, chopped finely<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tsp thyme<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 tbsp brown sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">200ml red wine (optional)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 can of chopped tomatoes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 beef stock cubes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">450g carrots, sliced on the diagonal<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">450g potatoes, sliced on the diagonal<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A loaf of crusty bread for serving<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Directions:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Coat the beef in salt, pepper, and flour until well covered. Heat the oil in a medium-large lidded pot until sizzling. Brown the beef cubes in the oil and set aside.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add the onions, garlic, pinch of salt, thyme, and sugar to the pot. Cook over a low heat for 5 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pour half of the red wine into the pot, and deglaze to release any stuck beef bits from the bottom.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add the rest of the wine, can of tomatoes, and stock cubes. Bring to a boil, then mix in the beef, carrots, and potatoes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Allow to boil for 20 minutes with the lid on. Turn off your gas or electricity, then transfer the lidded pot to the Wonderbag and allow it to stand for 3 hours. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serve with warm, crusty bread.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><strong>Spiced Red Cabbage<\/strong><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20674\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20674\" style=\"width: 267px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20674\" src=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Red-Cabbage-5-267x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20674\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spiced red cabbage. Image supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prep Time 10 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stove Time: 20 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wonderbag Time 2 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serves: 6 to 8<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 large red cabbage (about 1kg)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">25g butter<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 onions, finely chopped<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finely grated rind and juice of 1 orange<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 clove<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 cinnamon stick<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">250ml vegetable stock<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">30ml red wine vinegar<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">250ml water<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5ml black pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5ml salt<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">30ml brown sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Peel off the outer leaves of the cabbage, then cut into quarters and slice out the core. Use a sharp knife or the slicing attachment of a food processor to thinly slice the cabbage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Heat the butter in a large saucepan, then tip in the onions and gently fry until softened, about 5 mins.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add the orange zest to the pan along with the cinnamon stick, then cook for 1 min more. Add the shredded cabbage, then pour over the vegetable stock, red wine vinegar, orange juice and water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add the sugar and seasoning then bring to the boil, and reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes with a lid on the pan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place the sealed pot on a cloth or mat in the Wonderbag and cook for 2 hours<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><strong>Glazed seasonal root vegetables<\/strong><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20673\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20673\" style=\"width: 281px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20673\" src=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Root-Vegetables-Wonderbag-1-281x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20673\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Glazed seasonal root vegetables. Image supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prep Time 5 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stove Time: 7 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wonderbag Time: 1-2 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serves: 4 to 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4 large carrots, sliced on the diagonal<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4 large parsnips, sliced on the diagonal<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 sticks of cinnamon\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Knob of butter<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sugar to taste<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Combine all the ingredients in a lidded pot without adding water. This method locks in all of the colours, nutrients and flavours of the root vegetables, all whilst reducing cooking time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Cook for 7 minutes on the stove over a medium heat, then place the sealed pot on a cloth or mat in the Wonderbag and cook for 1-2 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>And to drink &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Mulled Cider<\/strong><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20672\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20672\" style=\"width: 267px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20672\" src=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mulled-Cider-Festive-Wonderbag-2-267x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20672\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mulled cider. Image supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prep Time 5 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stove Time: 5 minutes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wonderbag Time: 1-2 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serves: 4 to 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1.5 litres Dry Cider<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5 tbsp Calvados (or brandy)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">400ml apple juice<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">75g dark brown sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Zest of 1 large orange, peeled into strips<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6 whole cloves<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2 cinnamon sticks<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1 tbsp whole allspice berries<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pour the cider, Calvados, apple juice and sugar into a large, lidded pan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stir over a low heat, then add the orange zest and spices for a few minutes until it starts to boil.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Switch off your gas or electricity source, and place a tea towel at the bottom of your Wonderbag. Swiftly transfer your lidded pan into the Wonderbag, cover the Wonderbag with its fabric lid and secure by pulling the cord tightly. Allow the dish to cook undisturbed for a minimum of one hour.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>For more info, and to buy your Wonderbag(s), visit <a href=\"https:\/\/wonderbag.co.za\/collections\/international-collection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wonderbag.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preparing celebratory meals this festive season will be easy-peasy and energy-saving &#8230; Thanks to the versatility of the Wonderbag\u2019s heat-retention technology, it&#8217;s a practical solution for busy holiday kitchens &#8211; while showcasing dishes that deliver both flavour and sustainability. This collection, developed specifically for slow, energy-saving cooking, reinforces Wonderbag\u2019s commitment to accessible, environmentally conscious meal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":21734,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[8521,8522,8237,8523,8524,8525,8526,8527,8528,8529,8530,8531,8532,8533],"class_list":{"0":"post-21733","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-food","8":"tag-beef-stew-recipe","9":"tag-easy-christmas-recipes","10":"tag-easy-recipes","11":"tag-energy-saving-cooking","12":"tag-feastive-season-recipes","13":"tag-festive-recipe-ideas","14":"tag-festive-season-mains","15":"tag-festive-season-meal-ideas","16":"tag-gammon-recipe","17":"tag-one-pot-recipes","18":"tag-ox-tail-recipe","19":"tag-vegetable-sides-recipes","20":"tag-wonderbag","21":"tag-wonderbag-recipes"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!) - Get it Joburg North<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!) - Get it Joburg North\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Preparing celebratory meals this festive season will be easy-peasy and energy-saving &#8230; Thanks to the versatility of the Wonderbag\u2019s heat-retention technology, it&#8217;s a practical solution for busy holiday kitchens &#8211; while showcasing dishes that deliver both flavour and sustainability. This collection, developed specifically for slow, energy-saving cooking, reinforces Wonderbag\u2019s commitment to accessible, environmentally conscious meal [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Get it Joburg North\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/getitjoburgnorth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-24T07:43:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-24T09:41:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1316\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"566\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Get It Local Media\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@getitjhbnorth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@getitjhbnorth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Get It Local Media\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Get It Local Media\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a0a7343da285456f8363e2bfa99149c6\"},\"headline\":\"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!)\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-24T07:43:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-24T09:41:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1666,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/19\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png\",\"keywords\":[\"beef stew recipe\",\"easy christmas recipes\",\"easy recipes\",\"energy-saving cooking\",\"Feastive season recipes\",\"festive recipe ideas\",\"festive season mains\",\"festive season meal ideas\",\"gammon recipe\",\"one pot recipes\",\"ox tail recipe\",\"vegetable sides recipes\",\"Wonderbag\",\"Wonderbag recipes\"],\"articleSection\":[\"FOOD &amp; WINE\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/\",\"name\":\"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!) - Get it Joburg North\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/19\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-24T07:43:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-24T09:41:18+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a0a7343da285456f8363e2bfa99149c6\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/19\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/19\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png\",\"width\":1316,\"height\":566},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/24\\\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/\",\"name\":\"Get it Joburg North\",\"description\":\"Lifestyle Magazine\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a0a7343da285456f8363e2bfa99149c6\",\"name\":\"Get It Local Media\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/01\\\/avatar_user_113_1675168333-96x96.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/01\\\/avatar_user_113_1675168333-96x96.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/01\\\/avatar_user_113_1675168333-96x96.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Get It Local Media\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getitmagazine.co.za\\\/joburg-north\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/larav\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!) - Get it Joburg North","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!) - Get it Joburg North","og_description":"Preparing celebratory meals this festive season will be easy-peasy and energy-saving &#8230; Thanks to the versatility of the Wonderbag\u2019s heat-retention technology, it&#8217;s a practical solution for busy holiday kitchens &#8211; while showcasing dishes that deliver both flavour and sustainability. This collection, developed specifically for slow, energy-saving cooking, reinforces Wonderbag\u2019s commitment to accessible, environmentally conscious meal [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/","og_site_name":"Get it Joburg North","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/getitjoburgnorth","article_published_time":"2025-11-24T07:43:56+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-24T09:41:18+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1316,"height":566,"url":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Get It Local Media","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@getitjhbnorth","twitter_site":"@getitjhbnorth","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Get It Local Media","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/"},"author":{"name":"Get It Local Media","@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/#\/schema\/person\/a0a7343da285456f8363e2bfa99149c6"},"headline":"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!)","datePublished":"2025-11-24T07:43:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-24T09:41:18+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/"},"wordCount":1666,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png","keywords":["beef stew recipe","easy christmas recipes","easy recipes","energy-saving cooking","Feastive season recipes","festive recipe ideas","festive season mains","festive season meal ideas","gammon recipe","one pot recipes","ox tail recipe","vegetable sides recipes","Wonderbag","Wonderbag recipes"],"articleSection":["FOOD &amp; WINE"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/","url":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/","name":"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!) - Get it Joburg North","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png","datePublished":"2025-11-24T07:43:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-24T09:41:18+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/#\/schema\/person\/a0a7343da285456f8363e2bfa99149c6"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/wonderbag-Get-It-Featured-Image-template.png","width":1316,"height":566},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2025\/11\/24\/your-festive-mains-and-sides-are-sorted-in-half-the-cooking-time\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Your festive mains and sides are sorted (in half the cooking time!)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/#website","url":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/","name":"Get it Joburg North","description":"Lifestyle Magazine","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/#\/schema\/person\/a0a7343da285456f8363e2bfa99149c6","name":"Get It Local Media","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/avatar_user_113_1675168333-96x96.jpg","url":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/avatar_user_113_1675168333-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/avatar_user_113_1675168333-96x96.jpg","caption":"Get It Local Media"},"url":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/author\/larav\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21733"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21733\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}