Oprah! A Royal-ish Award, What to cook & music to warm your heart, mind & body.

A Spice Masterclass & more!

Dec 08, 2023

What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for so much. For life, for good health, a loving and supportive family, and my golden boy Tuppence, such a needy dog, currently protesting against my laptop, by constantly pouncing on the keyboards. I am grateful for you, and for our growing community. This letter is packed with exciting news, must try recipes and glorious music to make you wiggle while warming your hearts. Oh and this cute one here! Look at those eyes!

My golden boy, Tuppence aka Teddy bear Tuppence

Have you tried the Black Pepper & Vanilla Chai Shortbread from Africana and my Nigerian Pithivier? These are two of my favourite recipes celebrating the art of using spice, one with a strong multilayering of spices, and the other with a spice blend whispering within. Recipe links tucked below. For the past year I have been looking forward to launching a new series, inspired by one of the most common questions I receive.

“Lerato, what can I do with these spices?”

A warm welcome to our new subscribers and members. I love and appreciate you all. Cook with Lerato is our little sunshine with recipes and stories, dropped into your inbox, and also available for you to read through the website and app. Haven’t subscribed yet? What are you waiting for? Your support keeps these letters alive. Click here to subscribe for free or upgrade for access to all recipes & member treats.

Spice Collection from Africana. Photo by Tara Fisher

NEW: SPICE MASTERCLASS

In our Spice Masterclass, I will share my secrets to using spices for fabulous recipes that you enjoy, recipes that are so flavourful and vibrant that they make it to the covers of the most fabulous newspapers and magazines. If you have ever asked such a question or thought of it, from how to store your spices, how to enjoy the best of black pepper to how to use vanilla, saffron, how to toast and grind seeds and how to create the most wonderful blends, better than anything you can find ready-made, this masterclass is for you! The timing could not be better, as one of my last two episodes of 2023 on BBC Radio 4 The Kitchen Cabinet has a spice theme. The broadcast is on 10th December 2023 and you can listen here. More on the new Masterclass in my next letter!

LISTEN TO PREVIOUS EPISODES

LIFE & WORK SO FAR…

II write to you with a joyful heart, and aching bones, after the most wonderful few months or perhaps year…years of a lot of work and with little rest. There have certainly been many enjoyable and life-changing moments, from the launch of our cookery retreats across Africa, to speaking at Meta with 6000+ staff feasting from Africana. Yes! All in one day. Thank goodness, all I had to do was write the book. Recently, I was dancing to the rapturous vocals of the queen of African music, Angelique Kidjo, live in concert at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. Take a peek at this little video. This has been a childhood dream and an experience I will never forget.

Now the Christmas lights are up, (outside, and not in my home, as we are notoriously last minute) beckoning all the joy that the season bestows upon us. They say time flies when you are having fun. Where has the year gone? As the year draws to a close, I can’t resist the urge to hibernate. Tucked in at home with my teddy bear dog, comforted with spiced hot chocolate, while greedily devouring those Black pepper & vanilla chai shortbread and binge-watching my favourite TV shows and telenovelas, I reminisce about this past year, and all the incredible things that have happened and people I have met, many of you here and now reading this. In the past few months, I have been invited to speak, cook-along and host workshops with some of the best organisations in tech, health and food, Teenage Cancer Trust to Riverford Organics, A Ted talk to a Film festival in Kenya. Many industries one would think have nothing to do with food. These organisations are made up of people like you and I, people who eat to live and for whom food is part of their identity, culture, memories and more.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Speaking of that shortbread, if you haven’t baked it yet, I can confidently tell you that you are missing out on a joyous treat. That surprise as you take your first bite, and it begins to melt in your mouth, leaving you with a spectacular sensory overload. And just when you think it’s over, it hits you. At the back of your tongue and in the corners of your mouth, the teasing piquancy of the black pepper reawakens your taste buds, leaving you wide-eyed and very pleased. I took some to our radio recording last month and set tongues happily wagging. This is one to gift to family, friends, neighbours, teachers, the postman!

GLORIOUS NEWS

If you missed me sharing this in a previous post, I have been shortlisted for the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, 2024 in the Content Creator of the Year category. One of the most prestigious food & drink awards by the poshest ‘corner shop’ in the UK, as they like to refer to their humble yet royal beginnings. Providing the most exquisite food and home produce to the royal family and with those most coveted F&M hampers. This is one of only two categories open to public votes. It came as a shock to me and a big motivational push to keep telling our stories, because you are reading, watching, listening. Thank you all for your support and for taking the time to vote. If you haven’t done so, please place your votes to support me and let's win this!

VOTE HERE

More news! I am featured in the holiday edition of one of my favourite magazines, Essence, and with Oprah on the cover. Can you see me sitting right next to her?! You might need your glasses. Grab them, with some popcorn and a cocktail, sit back and enjoy today’s letter with fabulous recipes and music that will enchant you!

Read about the rise of African food in the mainstream, with all its vibrant and varied flavours and techniques. And what a special edition to be in, with the cast of The Colour Purple. The title song and much of the music from the broadway show, as performed here by J.Hud & Cynthia Erivo are, simply, phenomenal. I cannot wait to watch this epic tale of suffering and a triumphant fight for respect and independence. I’ve heard it’s a challenging read because of its depiction of incest racism and abuse.

Read the article here, with the US cover of Africana featured.

I hope you enjoy the recipes tagged below and the enchanting music I have left for you. I have just experienced Angelique Kidjo at the Royal Albert Hall. Watching her gleaming with her rapturous voice engulfing us all, heart, mind, and body, I suddenly realised something. After almost 30 years of listening to her piercing sounds, she has enriched and inspired me with her bold, innovative sound and consistency. I love her message, a resounding message in much of her music. One of peace, love and humanity despite conflict and our differences. I continue to dance to Agolo & Wombolombo more mornings than I can count. Watch me & my friends groove to the queen here & more here.