My grand mother's cook book

KHURSHIDA KHAN | Friday April 18, 2008 00:00

The Book received the top award for charity cookbooks in London on April 13. This book is to be handed down as a family heirloom. Khan's cookbook was one amongst 24 other countries in the category of Charity and Fund-raising Cookbooks from 107 countries including Botswana. The books are to be exhibited at the London and Frankfurt Book fairs in October.

The foreward of this famous cookbook is honoured with a personal message from former president Festus Mogae, who was a regular guest at the late Shamshad Khan's home (the author's late husband). Mogae words in the book are as follows: ' I have always enjoyed the variety of fine cuisine prepared to perfection by Khan.....Books on Indian and Chinese cuisine, written by Batswana of Indian origin as in the present case, add to the cuisine of Botswana. Visitors and tourists will in future know that when in Botswana they can enjoy Tswana dishes from different tribes but also Indian and Chinese dishes. For this reason I commend and congratulate Roshan Ara Khan for having allowed her daughter Fatema to persuade her to compile this book.'

Born and bred in Lobatse, and now residing in Gaborone, the author's passion for cooking started in primary school in the lap of her skilled late mother and continued with her well travelled  late mother-in-law who was a brave perfectionist. Her mother-in-law shared all her international recipes with her, resulting in such a variety. Khan lost her husband Shamshad Khan recently. Khan was a generous host who entertained many a famous guest.

This is also reflected in the foreward by former President Mogae, Preface written by an editor from  Lenasia ASK Joomal, Comments by the headmaster from Al-Nur School who hails from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Moulana Mall from Durban, Sadatullah Khan, an editor from  Bangladesh, and A.S. Dada from Botswana. The late Khan was well known for his famous 'Lobster soup', one could lick one's fingers off after tasting this soup.

The book is a brainchild of the author's daughter Fatema (Hussain) Khan, who also did the illustrations. This mouth-watering recipe book is in memory of her daughter Zahraa-Naaz Hussain, who sadly died in a car accident, and as a result the 'Zahraa-Naaz' Fund emerged, to make a positive difference to all those children who lack basic needs. These scrumptious recipes originate from various international Asian ranging from Indian, Chinese, Burmese, Thai, etc.

Friends, relatives even strangers who have had the hounour of partaking in these absolutely delectable dishes cooked at the Khans' household have been waiting impatiently for it to be printed. The book is published by the Zahraa-Naaz Children's Fund. It can be obtained internationally via the Internet website: www.mygrandmotherscookbook.com. It is printed and published in Botswana.

It can also be obtained at the OK Foods and Choppies outlets, Properties and Home
The cost per copy is P60. They say :'The proof of the pudding lies in the eating'.
So cook and eat to your heart's delight...