My dream of turning my cookbook into a reality

Having my house burn down forced me to face reality and re-evaluate my life. I needed to work, to create opportunities for my children and establish myself in a career that I could be proud of! I moved back home to Hammersdale and my cookbook dream was put on hold, but it was never forgotten!

My love for food and cooking started at an early age. When I attended primary school, I lived in Richmond, KwaZulu Natal, with my grandmother’s cousin and her husband – KwaNtshangase. I clearly recall cooking my first meal when I was in Grade 2, I made carrots and maize rice and by Grade 4 I had stepped up my game and regularly cooked Mkhulu’s tomato soup and curry. It was a meal that I cooked with great care and took pride in creating. I think that it was at this moment where my love affair with food and cooking began.

I’ve always looked for ways to incorporate cooking into my life. For 10 years I was an educator and this is where my entrepreneurial flair first reared its head. I started making hotdogs to sell to the learners at school at lunchtime. I started with one container, which became five and I eventually made enough money to leave my job as a teacher and pursue my passion for cooking by creating a catering company.

I’ve always dreamt of sharing my passion for cooking through a cookbook, but the draft of that cookbook literally went up in flames when my home in Westville burnt down in 2007, and unfortunately for me, life happened!

It was in Hammersdale that I created Icebolethu Funeral Services. I started the business with nothing, not even a loan from the bank! Of course, once the business was up and running, I found a way to incorporate my love for cooking into my funeral business when I started Icebolethu Catering. Now that I’ve created a successful business and carved out a good life for my family, I am turning my dream of a cookbook into a reality.

I’ve always considered myself to be a cooking enthusiast rather than a cooking expert. My cookbook is titled: BOARDROOM TO KITCHEN WITH NOMFUNDO MCOYI: From Boss Meals to Supermom Dishes and is filled with easy-to-intermediate recipes and above all else, is designed to be a home kitchen-friendly recipe collection. The recipes make use of ingredients that are pantry staples.

The cookbook will include a host of mouth-watering dishes, with a strong South African influence. Dishes include Lamb Shank, Chilli Spicy Butternut, and Oxtail. The cookbook will be available for purchase in November 2020.