Tried and tasted for success

“I did all the work, so that you can get the credit,” said local recipe lover, Louisa Stranack.

After the fantastic response to her first book, Bring and Share, Stranack decided it was time for a second book, Tried and Tasted, which was launched at the Salt Rock library on December 13.

“My first book was inspired by the many bring and share functions I love to attend and I noticed everyone always wanted to know each other’s recipes,” she said.

The book sold out in no time and traveled across the globe, as people gave them to their friends and family.

“I spent two years collecting recipes from friends and community members for the second book and I even got some of the “family secret” recipes,” she said with pride.

Each recipe has a personal story, which is included in the book.

“Many of the recipes belonged to people who are no longer with us, but their legacy lives on through their recipes, which are being used by my children and their friends and so they are handed over from generation to generation,” she said, while paging through her book.

For Stranack, the most difficult part of the book creating process, was putting it all together.

“I am a photographer and so I have taken all the photos in the book myself,” she said.

The most fun part in the process, was probably the tasting of all the recipes.

“Every recipe has been made and tasted, as I did not want to give people a recipe unless I know it works,”she said and mentioned that she spent two years perfecting a marshmallow recipe.

“Thanks to Jags Boot Camp, I managed not to put on 15kgs during the tasting process,” she said, laughing.

Everyone in Stranack’s life got involved in the making of this book, as the boot campers helped with the tasting, the Ballito Writer’s Club kept her on deadline and the Dolphin Coast Conservancy helped with recipes.

“I have been working on a book about the Dolphin Coast for the past 10 years, focusing on various aspects of the coast and it includes a few recipes,” she said.

After trying a few of her delicious treats displayed at the launch, it is easy to understand why Stranack’s books and recipes are so treasured.

If you would like to buy a copy of the new book, contact Louisa Stranack on 032 5255477 or 074 891 3917.