Time to read

Recharge with books

Indigenous Plant Palettes by Marijke Honig

In this practical hardcover reference book, Marijke, one of Platteland’s regular contributors, shows how to choose the right indigenous plant for a specific place and purpose in your garden. She provides practical guidelines and 25 different plant palettes, as well as a directory of the plants with notes. It’s essential reading for gardeners who love indigenous plants. R495 Quivertree 021 461 6808 quivertreepublications.com

WIN 1: SMS Plant

Star Fish by Daisy Jones

Get to know the 10 most sustainable fish on Sassi’s green list, as well as the farmers, conservationists, fishermen and scientists who are working to ensure their survival. Each chapter – complete with paintings and illustrations – ends with recipes that will inspire you to try something different from the usual frozen white fish. R395 Quivertree 021 461 6808 quivertreepublications.com

WIN 1: SMS Fish

Perfect Parties by Janet Kohler

Most people love a good party, but hosting one can be an intimidating affair. In this book, a cordon bleu chef from Durban who also runs her own cookery school shares a wealth of ideas, recipes, décor tips and planning lists that’ll turn any celebration into a grand affair. R325 Struik Lifestyle 021 460 5400 randomstruik.co.za

WIN 2: SMS Parties

Craft Beer by Jacques van Zyl

Roving gourmand Jacques celebrates not only South Africa’s best craft beers and the people who brew them, but also writes about the history of beer brewing, how beer is made and all the anecdotes that go with the territory. Cheers! R250 MapStudio 0860 10 50 50 mapstudio.co.za

WIN 2: SMS Beer

A Year at Silwood by Alicia and Carianne Wilkinson

A year in the world of a student at South Africa’s oldest cooking school is revealed alongside outstanding recipes based on the French classical style. The school has produced graduates who now work in top kitchens around the world, including Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck. R450 Quivertree 021 461 6808 quivertreepublications.com

WIN 1: SMS Silwood

Ideas Gift Guide for Handmade Gifts

Foodies and crafters will love this book from Ideas magazine. It contains step-by-step instructions for making more than 100 holiday gifts, as well as suggestions for cards and wrapping that go with them and all the templates you’ll need. R220 Human & Rousseau 021 406 3033 nb.co.za

WIN 2: SMS Ideas

300 Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets for Painting and Decorating by Alison Jenkins

A useful guide packed with tips, techniques, quick fixes and trade secrets aimed at beginners planning their first home makeover, with clear instructions to demystify key aspects so you can get the job done quickly and professionally. R250 Struik Lifestyle 021 460 5400 randomstruik.co.za

WIN 2: SMS 300

The Reef Guide & South African Coasts

In The Reef Guide, the authors document nearly 800 reef fish and invertebrates that occur along our eastern and southern coasts. South African Coasts celebrates our seas and shores, with the best entries submitted by amateur and professional photographers for the Sustainable Seas Trust’s competition in 2013/14. R270 (Reef ) & R230 (Coasts) Struik Nature 021 460 5400 randomstruik.co.za

WIN 2 (SETS): SMS Coasts

Cookery, gardening, decorating… You name it, there’s a book on the topic. Recharge your batteries and brain power this holiday with some great reading matter.

Cupcakes With a Kick by Simone Balman

The cover promises “more than 50 sweet temptations with a boozy twist”, which tells you these flop-proof cupcakes are meant for adults, as either the cake or the frosting of each is spiked with wine, spirits, beer or liqueur. Some even have a runny inside that taste just like your favourite cocktail flavours. R185 Metz Press 021 913 7557 metzpress.co.za

WIN 2: SMS Kick

Creative Combinations in Today’s Gardens by Suzette Stephenson and Louise van Rooyen

These two experienced landscapers show why gardening is as creative as painting, focusing on aspects such as colour, shape, texture and context. Note that the book will only be available at booksellers from January 2015. R210 Metz Press 021 913 7557 metzpress.co.za

WIN 2: SMS Combinations

Coffee Culture by Peter Primich and Jennifer Stern

The book’s subtitle, “The South African Coffeelover’s Bible”, is apt: find out what coffee is, where it comes from, the best ways (and machines) to use, who sells the best coffee (with reviews of more than 100 coffee shops) and, of course, why coffee is good for you. R250 MapStudio 0860 10 50 50 mapstudio.co.za

WIN 2: SMS Coffee

Secrets of a French Cooking Class by Marlene van der Westhuizen

This magnificent hardcover book with its lovely photos by Johan Wilke arose from the 50th cooking class the writer offered in the French village of Charroux. The recipes are authentically French, surprisingly simple and sure to bring out the best in seasonal ingredients. R450 Bookstorm 011 478 6020 bookstorm.co.za

WIN 2: SMS Secrets

Cook. Better. by Nikki Werner and Brandon de Kock

This is a book about cooking rather than a recipe book. It explains the hows and whys of everyday ingredients and techniques. In short, it’s everything your mother should have taught you, plus a few good recipes. R395 Quivertree 021 461 6808 quivertreepublications.com

WIN 1: SMS Cook

Snakes & Snakebite in Southern Africa by Johan Marais

With this guide – complete with maps and colour photographs – you will be able to identify the dangerous and the harmless snakes. The author, who runs the African Snakebite Institute, describes the symptoms of snakebites and gives practical first-aid information. R180 Struik Nature 021 460 5400 randomstruik.co.za

WIN 2: SMS Snakes

Cooking in the Photographer’s House by Lynn and Obie Oberholzer

If you’d like to know how offbeat photographer Obie Oberholzer and his wife Lynn live and eat in their beach house in Nature’s Valley, you’ll love this book. It’s not only Obie’s photos that make the mouth water, but also Lynn’s simple home cooking, which focuses on fresh ingredients. Truly a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. R280 Jacana 011 628 3200 jacana.co.za

WIN 1: SMS Obie

Gluten Free & High Fibre by Hilda Lategan

The third and fourth books in Lapa’s Healthy & Tasty range focus on gluten-free and high-fibre recipes, respectively, for light meals and main meals – each complete with information about the carbohydrate, protein, fat and fibre content, and the GI and amount of kilojoules per serving. The recipes are easy and affordable, using ingredients that are widely available. R50 each Lapa 012 401 0700 lapa.co.za

WIN 2 (SETS): SMS Gluten-E