From boss meals to supermom dishes

Bringing family and friends together through good food which is also quick and easy to prepare.

That's the aim of Durban businesswoman Nomfundo Mcoyi, who has just launched her cookbook Boardroom to the Kitchen with Nomfundo Mcoyi: From Boss Meals to Supermom Dishes.

Mcoyi, founder and chief executive of the Icebolethu Group and chairperson of the KZN South African Funeral Practitioners Association, said this week that she would spend Christmas Day with her close family and would prepare a traditional Christmas meal.

“A lot of people like roast chicken and turkey and I'll also be preparing fish. I love stuffing using lemon, thyme and other herbs and, of course, potatoes,” she said.

She is a huge fan of using herbs and spices in her dishes, especially coriander, paprika and turmeric. But to add that dash of flavour to many a meal, she also recommended humble salt and pepper "if you don't want to go spicy", she said.

With strong roots in KwaZulu-Natal, Mcoyi also enjoys traditional isiZulu dishes, including chicken feet and amazondo (cow hooves), with another favourite being a spicy lamb curry.

"I love cooking curry, but I also believe in preparing dishes which are quick and easy.

“I'm a chief executive and I don’t want to come home at the end of the day and start a new shift at home. For busy women, when you get home, you are tired and need to feed the kids, so my book includes lots of pasta and seafood – easy to prepare meals," she said, describing herself as a cooking enthusiast rather than a cooking expert. She said she wanted her recipes to inspire readers to get into the kitchen, home-cooking friendly recipes which use ingredients that are pantry staples.

"I enjoy watching cooking shows and I love to try new recipes,“ she added.

Mcoyi said most families were looking forward to the break ahead and with the surge in coronavirus cases, urged people to have small gatherings in their homes and avoid large crowds.

“Let us enjoy our homes with family this year and love and appreciate each other. Many have died from Covid, but we are still here and God has kept us here for a reason.

“This situation is temporary and will pass, we are in the valley but we will come out of this,“ she said.

Her cookbook is also filled with personal antidotes and essays, relating Mcoyi's story from humble beginnings to the businesswoman she is today.

“Meals play an important part in our families and community rituals. The aim of this cookbook is to let readers see how easy it is to bring people together through good food,” she added.

For more information on the book, go to www.nomfundomcoyi.co.za.

Independent on Saturday