Starting from Scratch: Cooking and Entertaining Made Simple is the culmination of my journey toward being an excellent cook and entertainer.
Although today my husband, Brian, is my biggest cheerleader, years ago he used to joke that I “burnt the salad.” With his encouragement and my voracious appetite to improve, I began doing the opposite of what seemed natural: entertaining as much as I had time for and attending as many cooking classes as I could find. My Cuisinart was my best friend in those early years because, with my job at an attorney’s office, time was limited. Despite my full schedule, I savored my weekends, which were spent hosting dinner parties that were known for their beautiful tablescapes and delicious food.
I immigrated from South Africa to the United States in the 1980’s, bringing my love for entertaining and food with me. I opened a food-basket business and later a successful catering company.
Fast forward several years, a friend asked me to host a cooking class for newlyweds. I continued giving cooking lessons for a decade.
Starting from Scratch: Cooking and Entertaining Made Simple began as a simple collection of my favorite recipes, bound in a book for my daughter-in-law as a bridal shower gift, but the requests for copies poured in.
This cookbook is a handy reference for any novice in the kitchen who is inspired to learn how to create delicious meals and be the exceptional host. I’ve carefully selected my favorite recipes that are easy-to-make and pulled these together in one book for you.
Congratulations on taking the first step on your own culinary journey. I hope that Starting from Scratch: Cooking and Entertaining Made Simple leads you to a lifetime of unforgettable memories around the table.
* A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this cookbook will go toward Multiple Myeloma research.