Tannie Maria, everyone’s favourite amateur detective and agony aunt, has finally heeded the call of her fans countrywide to produce her very first cookbook.
Recipes to Die Live For, features recipes from Sally Andrew’s first four murder mystery novels, as well as some tantalising new additions. Andrew, creator of the inimitable Tannie Maria, will publish her first cookbook with Penguin Random House South Africa (PRHSA) in May 2024.
Recipes to Die Live For is not only a celebration of Tannie Maria’s delectable recipes but of her philosophy, of the Karoo and of life itself, Andrew explains. “I am so excited about Recipes to Die Live For.
It is the most beautiful book I have ever seen. The food styling, the design and the photographs are spectacular.”
The cookbook is a collection of the recipes Tannie Maria (the unforgettable agony
aunt with a knack for righting wrongs with a recipe) has shared with readers in her
column in the Klein Karoo Gazette. In the four novels - Recipes for Love and Mur-
der, Tannie Maria and the Satanic Mechanic, Death on the Limpopo and The Milk
Tart Murders - Tannie Maria has won hearts and whetted appetites with mouth-
watering creations, including the famous Venus Cake, Muesli Buttermilk Rusks and
even Spekboom Ice Cream.
Some of the letters sent to Tannie Maria, as well as her wise and considered replies, are also included in the book.
PRHSA’s Lifestyle Publisher, Beverley Dodd, says: “Spiced with enjoyable sayings from the four novels and seasoned with photographs of the food and the beautiful Karoo, Recipes to Die Live For is as warm and witty as Tannie Maria herself, guaranteed to delight fans and newcomers to the series.”
The book shares more than 60 recipes, including vegetarian and vegan options. Many of the dishes are slow foods and traditional South African recipes, but there are also quick meals and new inventions. Whether you are craving a Karoo lamb pie or a vetkoek with mince, or craving a melktert or koeksister, you will find it among Tannie Maria’s gastronomic delights.
As Andrew sums it up so succulently: “Enjoy cooking. Enjoy eating. Enjoy life. Why not?
Sally Andrew is the best-selling author of the award-winning Tannie Maria mysteries. She lives in a mud-brick house on a nature reserve in the Klein Karoo with her artist partner and other wildlife.
She has a Masters Degree in Adult Education and a background in social and environmental activism.
She’s also a Biofield Tuner (sound healer) and is training to be a doowop girl.
