At 89, Morehill artist and potter Katinka Meiring has added another achievement to her creative legacy with the release of her book, Ma-Tinka’s Vegetable Magic Cookbook.

Published last June, the illustrated book has easy, healthy vegetable-based cooking and showcases Katinka’s family recipes, along with practical suggestions and ideas inspired by her lifetime of home cooking.

The book is vibrant and colourful, featuring illustrations and cherished old photographs of Katinka and her family.

Well-known in Benoni for her art and pottery, Katinka featured in the Benoni City Times in 2024, when she shared her life story and hinted at plans to write a cookbook after realising the vast diversity and potential of vegetables and plant-based foods.

The book’s title, Ma-Tinka, was inspired by her son-in-law, who affectionately calls her by that name.

Katinka said among her favourite recipes in the book is a spinach salad, which she describes as having “texture, colour and a balance of sweet and sour”.

“What makes my book unique is that the recipes are easy, tasty and accessible. They are not made with luxury ingredients.”

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More than 100 copies have already been sold, with the first print run moving purely through word of mouth.

Katinka says the feedback has been positive.

“I’ve had good responses from a range of people, including my nephew’s wife, who lives in Canada. She loves the book. A friend of mine who hates cooking says she loves it because she can finally cook.”

She credits her family for making the project possible.

“My family helped me so much. My son-in-law, Chris Koch, who lives with my son, Anton Twigg, in Cape Town, did the graphics and the construction of the book after spending time with an expert learning how to put togethera cookbook.

“I helped with the editing and indexing, but he did much of the formatting. Anton handled everything else, including financing the book, some of the photography and managing social media.

“My wonderful daughter, Tanya Kraner, helped with tasting the recipes and photography. It was truly a team effort; everyone pitched in.”

The idea for the book took shape three years ago while Katinka was recovering from a serious fall that left her hospitalised for six weeks and needing two knee and hip replacements.

“When I came out of hospital, I was wheelchair-bound and not in a good space. I relied on home care. My son flew up from Cape Town to help me and suggested I do something like writing a book on vegetables.”

Katinka will feature on kykNet’s Kwêla this month or in February. She described this experience as unforgettable.

“I am proud that I have achieved this, and especially grateful for my family. I’ll be turning 90 next year, and this was the last thing I ever thought I would do,” she said.

Ma-Tinka’s Vegetable Magic Cookbook sells for R800. To get a copy, email katinkameiring@gmail.com or order through her website: www.matinkasmusings.co.za

Katinka plans to donate a portion of the proceeds of sales to the SPCA.

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