A tight budget shouldn't have to mark the end of entertaining for your friends and family. Here's a delicious recipe for eight people that can be prepared beforehand so that you can get in on a bit of socialising.

The feast: Chicken casserole for eight

Eight to ten chicken pieces. A braai back will do, or a pack of thighs and a pack of drums will work too.

One can of Woolies Massam curry sauce.

One can of coconut cream.

Broccoli, washed and split into bite-size pieces.

Butternut, cubed.

Pack of baby marrows, cut into large pieces.

Four potatoes, peeled and diced.

2 cups of Jasmine rice.

Method

Preheat oven to 180?C.

Place the chicken spread out in a pyrex dish. Mix the coconut cream and massam curry together and pour over the chicken.

Put in the oven as is for about 40 minutes, make sure it's not too hot though, you could even bring the temprature down to 150?C.

Place veggies in packet (make a small whole on the side of the pack) in the microwave for about two-three minutes.

Add to the chicken in the oven and cook for about another 15 minutes. That's it ? now just add rice.

Family outing

Get out on Sunday for a family outing that won't cost the earth by visiting these places:

CAPE TOWN

Go for a late afternoon picnic on Signal Hill with your family and watch the sun set over the Atlantic ocean. Cost consideration: The petrol to get there plus sandwiches and cooldrinks.

Visit Rhodes Memorial and take in the incredible history behind the man, Cecil John Rhodes. There's a fantastic view of both Table Bay and False Bay from up there and great walks from the memorial. So take a packed lunch with you, as well as plenty of sun cream. Cost consideration: A packed lunch and petrol.

It's still summer and the days in Cape Town are really too good to miss out on. Catch a train to Muizenberg and spend a day on the beach. With the trains a safe way to travel in Cape Town, this could be a great experience for the family and educational for the kids. Take the Wynberg/Simon's Town route and be sure to get off at the Muizenberg station. Cost consideration: Approximately R 10 for an adult ticket and R 5 for a child's ticket.

DURBAN

Picnic at the Durban Botanical Gardens. There's always something happening at the gardens. It's a fantastic place to take the family and enjoy some time amongst the indigenous plants of KZN. Cost consideration: Entrance is free, packed lunch.

Do a bit of window shopping and enjoy the vibe under the lush evergreen canopy of trees at the Essenwood Craft Market on a Saturdays. The market boasts that it has something for the entire family. With a kiddies play area, and a food court nearby, parents can relax while your kids go wild. Cost consideration: Entrance is free

Familiarising ourselves with the idea of sharks in our waters is important, especially if you like to spend a lot of time swimming in the ocean. The Sharks Board encourages visits by members of the public to its complex in Umhlanga Rocks where you can view a 25 minute audio-visual presentation on the day to day work done by the KZNSB as well as on the important role sharks and other animals play in the marine ecosystem. This is followed by a 20 minute dissection... Cost consideration: Children (4-12) ? R 12; Adults ? R 25.

JOHANNESBURG

Watch planes taking off and have a milkshake at Lanseria airport. There's nothing more mesmerizing than watching a jet plane land or take off and Lanseria airport you can watch the planes while you enjoy a milkshake at the restaurant upstairs. There's plenty of seating outdoors and the kids are guaranteed to enjoy this outing. Cost consideration: Milkshake ? R15.95 and parking fare.

Sci-Bono Discovery Centre (Newtown) is a new addition to Johannesburg and what's more, it's the largest science centre in Africa. Describing itself as an edutainment centre, it offers kids and adults endless hours of fun. Cost consideration: Children ? R 10; Adults ? R 20. After 2pm on weekdays and all day on weekends, entrance is free.

Bright Water Commons to skateboard, picnic and visit the fleamarket The Bright Water Commons in Randburg also offers a wide range of entertainment that will keep the whole family happy. Let your kids try their hands at skateboarding while you enjoy a stroll through the fleamarket. For lunch, simply buy a few snacks from the nearby food stores and enjoy them on the lawns together. Cost consideration: Skate session ? R 30; snacks.

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