Many of you only know me by Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights however since its International Women’s Day tomorrow (08/03/15) I’d like to share my story with you all, Insha’Allah/ God willing I hope to inspire you all to follow your dreams and aspirations in life.

My interest in baking started in the kitchen with my mother being her assistant peeling the potatoes and taking mental notes of recipes and handy tips, you’d think by me spending all the time in the kitchen I’d one day be a brilliant cook but once I got married and left the nest I felt lost in the kitchen I had no clue what I was doing! Cooking was very much my mother’s domain, I was the baker which suited me perfect at the time because my sweet tooth was always pleased!

My husband will often recall the first time I cooked a meal and what an inedible disaster it was, I bravely and very confidently told him that morning I was going to cook fish frikadel. I wish I hadn’t, it turned out burnt, mushy and definitely did not look like the way my mother’s use to.

However, that did not put me off cooking, I was determined and dedicated my time to perfect my cooking skills. Inspiring and words of praise from my family was what really determined me, my mother inspired me to do better and was always ready to criticise and advise me. My husband bought me Faldiela Williams cook books and from then onwards everything changed and I can safely say my cooking has changed for the better, the aromas, colours and pure passion to be found in Cape Malay cooking is a form of art all on its own.

In 2007 I attended a women empowering course where I learnt, suffice to say, words CHANGE LIVES. The course taught us that words can move mountains but they can also break spirits. They can also build, support, and yes, EMPOWER. Words have brilliance and the potential power to set free emotions strong enough to overwhelm each and every one of us. Words provoke us, inspire us and motivate, make us fall in love, go to war and save lives. We need to as women, encourage and support each other after all we can most likely relate to each other. I feel I have honestly felt the support from YOU ALL with your many words of encouragement.

Thank you all (87 000+ FOLLOWERS) for your continuous support.

Who inspires you and why?

Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights