The Self-Care Cookbook: Easy Healing Plant-Based Recipes

Product Information

The Healing Cookbook takes self-care to the next level. In this four-colour illustrated book, plant-based chef Gemma Ogston shows readers how to supercharge their immune system and boost their mood, to feel better and stay well. It comes at a time when many of us have struggled with our health and are looking for ways to recover from illness and stay well. Chef Gemma Ogston once worked as an addiction counsellor, but now runs the plant-based business Gem’s Wholesome Kitchen from Brighton. Her second book will be published by Penguin in September

Drain the spuds and mash them with a little plantbased milk and olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Partly due to hard work, but my first book has really helped. Penguin said The Self-Care Cookbook would never go out of fashion and it was right; I was on Saturday Kitchen recently and the book sold out everywhere. I do a lot of work with Soho House, including pop-up kitchens at Brighton Beach House. I share recipes with brands like Sweaty Betty and create energy-boosting menus for corporate meetings. I’m aware that there’s some scepticism around plant-based eating, so I developed a bean burger and a plant-based lasagne that are so good you don’t miss the meat. I’m not a fan of processed vegan food and I’m certainly not here to dictate what anyone should or shouldn’t eat. There are no rules.Unusual to have a cookbook as a goodreads book. But this one had a lot of interesting information on wellbeing, including restore, rebalance, reflect and renew and I read it from cover to cover. The recipes look simple and tasty.

Stir the tamari, thyme and parsley through the pulses mixture and spoon it into a large pie dish (remove the bay leaves if you can find them!). It’s simple,’ says author Gemma Ogston. ‘When we make an effort to eat more healthily and take proper time to rest, recharge and do more of the things we enjoy, we feel better and happier. This means we’re stronger and more able to deal with whatever life sends our way.’ Spread it out evenly and top with the mash. Run a fork through the mash and bake for 35–40 minutes, until the edges of the mash are crispy.The Self-Care Cookbook (Picture: Supplied) The Self-Care Cookbook: Easy Healing Plant-Based Recipes by Gemma Ogston I was in the mental health sector for 15 years, working in the NHS with women with serious drug and alcohol issues,” says Gemma. Self-care isn’t selfish – it’s essential for life,” Gemma says. “You’re not selfish by taking some time out on your own. It’s something we should all do every day. But people don’t, and it’s a shame because we all deserve it – we all deserve to have five minutes of peace to ourselves, or whatever that may be. And to eat well, of course.”

What’s it about? A recipe and self-care book rolled into one, this is the first of its kind. With over 60 delicious recipes including fiery bean stew for the days we feel we need some comforting, calming miso pasta to give your gut a boost and indulgent chocolate pud for those days you need a treat. This is a recipe book for anyone who feels they need some good mood food to replenish and restore – the type of food that takes away guilt and makes you feel good inside and out. A recipe and self-care book rolled into one, this is the first of its kind and will make a perfect gift for anyone needing an extra bit of TLC. As many of us know though, as much as we can have good intentions with self-care, so often busy schedules take over and we just seem to not have enough time. Gemma’s response to that? Prioritise it.So many of us go about our busy lives without eating wholesome food. Yet without giving our body what it truly needs to fuel us through the day (and night), we get ill, feel low and have trouble sleeping. In this beautiful book, Gemma Ogston introduces us to eating as the ultimate chef, and her journey to becoming a mother and business owner, each recipe has been crafted to be nurturing to your body - and mind.

When we are stressed or have a million things going around our minds, it can be hard to drop off to sleep. Or maybe you can get to sleep without much of a problem but find yourself wide awake a couple of hours later staring at the ceiling. . . . Of course, if there’s something specific worrying you and keeping you awake, then the best solution is to try and resolve that issue once and for all. But in the meantime, or if that’s just not possible right now, try these simple steps for achieving a deeply restful night’s sleep so you wake up feeling rejuvenated. Invest in some new bedding. It doesn’t need to cost a fortune—you can get some on sale—but it really makes a difference. While the potatoes are cooking, heat the olive oil in another large saucepan set over a medium heat. Fry the onion and garlic for 2 minutes, until starting to soften. First make the mash. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add all the potatoes and a pinch of sea salt and cook for 20 minutes, until soft. But the ultimate act of self-care is, of course, listening to your body and what it needs. “It’s alright to have a bit of chocolate cake if that’s what you want!” Gemma notes. “It’s about giving yourself permission to do that, rather than getting sad about it, and beating yourself up.”

I grew up the youngest of five kids, with not much money, and was cooking for my family from the age of eight. Later, I was always the one at parties cooking at midnight. I did a degree in addiction counselling and a good way of encouraging people to turn up was by offering free food. Again, I found myself in the kitchen because no one else wanted to cook and people were often more relaxed around food. Laurent Perrier vs Aldi? Wine expert reveals favourite alternatives to the real deal – and they’re all cheaper too Having worked as an addiction counsellor in women’s projects for more than a decade, Gemma has an in-depth understanding of treating yourself with compassion, especially while in recovery. Broke Vegan (Picture: Supplied) Broke Vegan: Over 100 plant-based recipes that don’t cost the earth by Saskia Sidey