Kim Bagley didn’t plan to become a cookbook author, simply posting photos of her homemade meals to food groups on Facebook, but the response was overwhelming. “People started asking for recipes. That’s when I created a page called: Home Cooking in SA, which later became: Cooking with Kim Bagley.”

Read more: From Facebook foodie to cookbook author

As her page grew, an unexpected message changed her path forever. “The late aunty Fatima Sydow sent me a voice note saying she wished she could have a plate of my food. Later, she video-called me and gave me advice I will never forget. She told me to do video tutorials and write a book. That one-hour call truly changed my life.”

Bagley’s new cookbook is a celebration of South African comfort food, built around three themes: Comfort, spice, and all things nice.

She added that readers will find everything from hearty pastas and roasts to traditional Akni, Breyani, and syrupy koeksisters. “It was tough deciding what to include. There are so many family recipes I cherish, but I chose the ones that hold meaning. Meals we eat on special occasions, and dishes that bring us together.”

Bagley explained that her family played a major role. “My husband supported me through everything, even when I left the corporate world to raise our daughters. My girls were my taste-testers, and my mom taught me what it means to cook with love.”

She elaborated that love is the soul of the book. “Food is how I show I care. I want readers to feel that same joy and warmth. This is not just a collection of recipes. It’s my family’s story.”

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