From Soil to Soul: African Vegan Recipes by Stephane Kotto and the Pan-African Plant-Based Alliance (2024) is unique and more than a recipe book. The book’s biggest strength is its deep and diverse dive into African plant-based cuisine covering dishes from the five regions of the African continent: South, East, Central, West, and North. It does more than provide recipes as it weaves in history, Pan-Africanism, Ubuntu philosophy, and Maat principles linking plant-based eating to cultural identity and ethical values. It is educational with information on health, history, and environmental sustainability. It takes a strong stance against neocolonial food systems, promoting self-sustainability. The incorporation of indigenous knowledge pushes back on the myth that veganism is a Western concept. Another strength is that it reinvents classic dishes using plant-based alternatives instead of simply removing animal products – such as plant-based mince in South African Vetkoek – and dairy alternatives, such as coconut milk. This has encouraged me to substitute corn or soya mince in my Babotie recipe (curried meat with fruit from South Africa). I have lived in west and east Africa, and I like the inclusion of my most-loved meals such as Jollof Rice. Other features of the book include storage and leftover guidelines, and protein-rich options. Each section has street food, hearty mains, and desserts, and each recipe shows preparation and cooking time, serving sizes, and level of cooking difficulty. I would prefer more nutritional information such as the caloric breakdown – or even protein, fibre, and iron content per serving. Most recipes include accessible ingredients such as beans, grains, vegetables, and spices, but some ingredients such as teff flour for Injera or scotch bonnet peppers are more difficult for me to find, so the book could include some ideas for substitutes. From Soil to Soul is an inspiring, well-presented cookbook that stands out for its uniqueness and authenticity. It is an excellent addition to my kitchen. Can’t see the whole article? Want to view the original article? Want to view more articles? Go to Martina’s Substack: The Stories in You and Me As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Wednesday, 5 March 2025
Vegan cuisine around the African continent - book review
Tuesday, 4 March 2025
Launch Day: If Paris Were My Lover by Martina Nicolls
Launch Day: If Paris Were My Lover by Martina NicollsWhat if Paris were my lover? Paris, the city? …
Today is the day! If Paris Were My Lover is officially out in the world. This journey began as a whisper – a lingering question about the ways we fall in love, not just with people, but with places, memories, and the versions of ourselves that only exist in certain corners of the world. For me, that place has been Paris. This book is a love affair told in fragments. It is for those who have ever wandered through a city and felt something shift deep inside. It is for those who know that some places call to us like an unfinished sentence, waiting to be completed. Paris is more than a postcard or a perfect café table. It is a city that mirrors our own complexities—the contradictions of beauty and solitude, passion and melancholy, adventure and stillness. In these pages, I have woven together fiction, memories and poetry, crafting a story that invites you to ask: What if a city could love you back? Early readers have called If Paris Were My Lover "a literary love letter with a heartbeat" and "a book that lingers like a favorite song on repeat." It has been described as a blend of nostalgia and possibility, of intimacy and adventure. But most of all, readers tell me how it makes them feel. To mark this launch, I’d love for you to be part of the celebration: Grab Your Copy – Available now in eBook and paperback on Amazon. Share the Love – If this book speaks to you, share it! Post a photo, write a review, or simply tell a friend who needs a bit of Paris in their life. Connect with Me – I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let’s talk about the places that have changed us, the loves that have shaped us, and the books that have left a mark on us. Drop a comment below, send me a message. Find me Substack or on facebook. À Bientôt, Paris – As I launch this book, I hope it finds its way to those who need it most. I hope it reminds you that love—whether for a person, a city, or a fleeting moment—is always worth the risk. And most of all, I hope it stirs something in you, the way Paris has always stirred something in me. With gratitude and excitement, Martina
The cover design: Twenty-five designers from 99designs by Vista competed in the book cover competition for the novel, If Paris Were My Lover. Eight designers made the semi-final poll and five competed in the final poll. Congratulations to SanjaVu who was the winning designer. Sanja is a forty-year-old Serbian graphic designer. She is the head designer for the national governmental organization “Happy Family” and works as a full-time freelancer at 99designs. “PARIS as I write” in “The Stories in You and Me” Substack. MY PARIS WEBSITE AND ALL THINGS PARISIAN Photographer: Martina Nicolls PIP DECKS, the fun and engaging how-to guides for business. LATEST BOOK: INNOVATION WITHIN CONSTRAINTS HANDBOOK
5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical and Inspiring Guide to InnovationJAQUES: Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2025 I didn’t expect a book about constraints to feel so encouraging, but Innovation Within Constraints really delivers. It’s not just about thinking outside the box—it’s about working with the box you have and still creating something new. Invite your friends and earn rewardsIf you enjoy The Stories in You and Me , share it with your friends and earn rewards when they subscribe.
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Sunday, 2 March 2025
Cross Fit for the Mind
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petrini1 posted: " For Week 7, the theme of genealogist Amy Johnson Crow...
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… personal protection vs environmental protection – is that the issue? … ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ...
