Win a signed copy of my new cookbook Cook from the Heart : Food for every mood
My second book has been out for a few weeks now and I am so overwhelmed by the response of the media, friends, family and readers. I am so incredibly happy because I love this book so much. The fact that others like it, really is like the cherry on top. I’m very proud of this book and feel like the photography and styling is the best I’ve ever done and the recipes are all ones I love. Through this post you’ll see a sneak peak of what you can find in the book.
With that (and Christmas right around the corner), I thought it only right that I share the love with you guys. I’m giving away 6 copies of my new book and for the first time ever, 2 of those copies are up for the take by International readers. As most of my readership is based in Northern America and Canada, I think that’s just fair. Locally (South Africa), I will be giving away 2 English and 2 Afrikaans copies. All signed. All with one of the custom-made spoons we had made for the launch of the book. These spoons are so drop-dead gorgeous and everyone who sees them falls in love instantly.
As Cook from the Heart is a book all about emotion, all you need to do to enter is to comment with what emotion inspires you most to cook/eat and what you like to cook/eat when you are experiencing that emotion. Also please add your location to your comment and if you are local, whether you’d like the English or Afrikaans version of the book. This giveaway will be open until Friday 6 December 2013 and winners will be notified by e-mail (so please make sure the e-mail you use is correct). {Sharing this post on your social media channels will give you an extra entry.}
I thought I’d also share some pics of my lovely media launch with you. I decided to give the table a big food influence and got some help from an amazing friend with a gorgeous vegetable garden. I’m so utterly in love with this rustic, casual yet chic style of table decor.
Inspiration – simply fresh ingredietns! When I go shopping and pick up a bunch of tomatoes and they smell so divide you just want to roast them. Or seeing lovely ripe watermelon, thinking salad for summer, Fresh fish!!!!! so many posibilities, but kids love fresh fish fingers! I simply get inspired by seeing and smelling food! I am a “import” as my hubby calls me from Europe, live locally for the past 9 years but still would prefer a copy in English please:)
Thanks Alida!
Such a FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY! This has “Megs” written all over it! Hello!
My love of cooking and baking? Oh please please please pick me ? Comfort and Joy is the emotion/feeling I get when cooking and baking! Nothing radiates my spirit as warmly as food favourites in my household, whether it’s baking sugar cookies with my daughter in our cozy kitchen, or gathering the family
around the dinner table for Macaroni and cheese. But it’s not just the memories made from making these decadent treats and meals; it’s the giving and sharing food that I treasure. Certain tastes and smells from various treats and/or meals create
a sense of nostalgia for me. Some in particular are the ingredients in chocolate cake. Shared your giveaway on Twitter too (@flutterbymegs)! I am from East London in the Eastern Cape and I would like an English copy of your book 🙂 Fingers crossed! xxx
I cook when I am stressed, it relaxes me and clears my head. Baking on the otherhand, I only do when I’m happy, otherwise it flops…… I am local, live in Cape Town and would love an English copy please. 🙂
I enjoy cooking the most when I’m happy and energetic! Hate cooking when I have NO energy! My favourite is to cook pancakes and that I do when I’m at my happiest, and especially when my 5 year old daughter helps me (she sprinkles the cinnamon sugar on the finished pancakes). I don’t mind winning an English or an Afrikaans cook book, I can read and understand both 😉 Wonderful give-away! Thank you so much! Definitely holding thumbs I win!!!! 🙂 Love the spoons too!!! 😉
I wear my heart on a plate. I express my love for the people in my life by cooking recipes that has been past down from my mother and grand mother. When I am entertaining I am in my element! Growing up I was one of 6 children and my mother and granny showed me that food brings families together, Sunday roast with green beans, crispy potato wedges, sweet carrots and of course my Ouma Joey’s Jan Ellis Pudding with custard! I received your first book, Heerlik & Maklik as a birthday present from my best friend, Valerie Teresa Smit and draw inspiration from it regularly. I live in Cape Town and would love an Afrikaans copy.
The photos are absolutely gorgeous so cannot wait to get my hands on the entire book! Everyone always says that they eat when they are depressed/sad/bored and this is definitely true for me but this is when I eat crap! I will launch into a bag of chips and a slab of chocolate slugged down with coke… Gorgeous and tasty food that needs to be created with care and love (but is still easy to make) is a bit of a “hobby” that I love indulging in when I am feeling inspired, happy and loved. The only time that I really want to cook is when I have friends or family coming over. There is nothing like sharing great food! I will always cook something different but am definitely not one for standing in the kitchen for hours prepping and cooking. As a general rule I don’t make anything that takes longer than an hour from start to finish! I love salads/nachos/wraps and that kind of thing for blissful summery meals and soups and stews in winter for some healthy indulgence. I am based in Jhb 🙂 Lovely competition X
Love and pleasure are the 2 emotions that inspire me to cook. It gives me such great pleasure to prepare and share food with those I love. I am based in Cape Town and would love an English copy please. Thank you.
Eating is about sharing and love and laughter so I remember the special treat of pudding on a Sunday afternoon after a huge roast lunch or the boozy Christmas trifle I looked forward to every year (it was never made at any other time of the year) or that Saturday afternoon chocolate cake with ice cold milk after a time of baking with the kids in the morning. To think of a specific time and meal is so difficult as it is so well woven into my life but the common factor is always made with love no matter how rushed or what the kitchen looks like xx
P.S. Yes, I am local and I would love to win an English copy please 🙂
My cooking emotion is CURIOSITY. I’m a new cook so experimenting with flavours and textures and techniques is very exciting! I love to cook anything with pasta. Or cheese. Or garlic!
I’m from Cape Town and would love an English copy of your fabulous book.
I love food and I hate when I’m rushed to finish a meal or when my meal is not at all as flavoursome as I imagined. I also love seeing other people enjoying my food that is delicious and full of flavour and that’s what inspires me to cook. What I love about your recipes is that my boyfriend loves the ingredients you use and how all the flavours come together. If I win, I know my boyfriend will want to try out everything in the book!
I’m local – based in Jhb and I’ve love an English copy please.
Love is what inspires me the most to cook, I have a little girl and the love I feel for my family is. There is no words to describe. When I cook I want to cook the best for them so that they can love the food I give them. Love to cook Creamy pastas and Chocolate Cake. I am local and if I win it doesn’t matter if it is in English or Afrikaans!
Awesome awesome giveaway!! <3 I HEART your work! <3
I like to eat ALL the time (no matter what the emotion…haha!) but I LOVE cooking when I am HAPPY! I usually cook a good old pot of spaghetti bolognaise cos pasta really does make me HAPPY and it is SUCH a comforting and HEART-warming dish! It's my feel good food! ;o)
I am based in Joburg and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win an English version of your cookbook!
When I get *excited* I love to cook. But the thing that excites me is what is the important part, and that is any occasion where my family and friends are together. The thought of bringing everyone round a plate of food is my absolute best and this December is an incredibly special one as my sister is coming back for the first time in 2 years after moving to Aus and my other sister is coming down to Cape Town after being in KZN as a ranger. We are so excited to see each other again and this means only ONE thing! Cooking, bubbly and gnt’s! My sisters birthday is on the 7th and we’re “going Greek” but I love to cook any food that is tasty, fresh,seasonal and non-fussy, I’m not very good at plating! I have been following your blog devotedly and would treasure to have that love for food and good times with me! English please 🙂
Love is definitely the emotion that makes me cook! When I feel the love of and for my family it makes me want to go straight to the kitchen and make them something amazing for dinner, or if it’s a weekend then a delicious cake or sweet treat (lemon meringue is a firm favourite at the moment) 🙂 And watching them enjoy what I have made is the most rewarding feeling. There’s nothing like spoiling the ones you love to show them how much you care and appreciate them. My fiance helps by tending to our gorgeous herb and vegetable garden so that there’s always fresh homegrown ingredients for me to cook with! I would love a cookbook!
From Lee-Ann, Johannesburg
[email protected]
xxx
The one overwhelming emotion that makes me want to get out the pots and pans is when family and friends gather. That feeling of belonging and being loved, that warm feeling when you are surrounded by loved ones. Especially us Afrikaans folks, where there is a celebration or even just a get together, there is food. So for me, precious time with family and friends will always go hand in hand with a home cooked meal or a braai on a sunny summers day 🙂
When life is a little hard and there are big decisions that need to be made, I bake. Then I share what I made with family and friends it just helps the process. As Christmas approaches I am reminded that this is the first year I won’t be making biscuits and carrot cake with my gran. Memories are made in the kitchen and the heart is warmed when you create something from the heart and it is loved by those who consume it. Johannesburg, South Africa, English
I’d definitely consider cooking a form of art. It rejuvenates my senses and gives my life a completely new form of happiness. Nothing beats that undeniable moment of sinking your teeth into a rich and ridiculously moist lint chocolate cake with a salted caramel buttercream. If there is one emotion I can link with good food it would be complete and utter happiness and overall sense satisfaction. It’s almost as if for that small moment of indulgence… I fall in love.
There are soo many emotions that activates my cooking brain but the one that stands out would have to be when I’m feeling -> courageous! I enjoy cooking all sorts of meals, whether it be vegetarian, mexican or local. With summer around the corner, I have turned to making light dishes – sea food has become my ingredient of choice. I have never made salmon before and this past Sunday, with the weather being absolutely perfect in the Cape – I opted to take on a delicious salmon and mango salad recipe. My boyfriend, who is also my guinea pig absolutely loved it! I will most definitely try something new with the different types of seafood on the market and let my courageous side take over!
I am a local chick and would love to win your cookbook and learn more from your combinations!
P.S. – English, please! 🙂
I love to cook for people so I guess the emotion that most influences my cooking is love 🙂 I love baking cakes and my go-to recipe for a special occasion is my White chocolate and orange cake. I’m in Cape Town and I’d love an English copy of your book!
My emotion to cook is “Happiness”…the feeling I also get when I eat my Carrot Cake (with cream-cheese frosting, pistachio nuts). 🙂
I live in Sandton, Johannesburg – and would love the English version please.