Book Launch: Salama: Falling in Love with Cooking Again

Join us at Marmalade for a celebration of food, friendship & community with the launch of Maymessi's new cookbook - Salama Maymessy delivers therapeutic cooking and gardening programmes across Berkshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire. Through shared cooking, growing and outdoor experiences, the social enterprise creates supportive spaces where people can build confidence, connect with others and improve their wellbeing. Working closely with organisations including Project Salama, Society Without Abuse and Reducing the Risk, Maymessy uses the power of food, nature and community to support women as they rebuild their lives and look towards the future with hope. Now the charity has created a beautiful new cookbook: Salama: Falling in Love with Cooking Again. It features more than 80 recipes and personal reflections from women rebuilding their lives after domestic abuse. The book celebrates resilience, community and the simple joy of gathering around the table The word Salama means peace in Arabic, and safety in Swahili, values that run throughout every page. Packed with dishes designed to be shared, the cookbook offers everything from comforting family favourites and treasured cultural recipes to dishes perfect for entertaining. Each recipe carries a personal connection, whether it is a taste of childhood, a celebration of family traditions or a reminder of home. For many of the contributors, cooking became an important part of reclaiming independence and rediscovering happiness. Through supportive cooking sessions at Maymessy, a social enterprise in Oxfordshire, participants have found opportunities to connect with others, rebuild confidence and create positive new memories around food. More than a cookbook, Salama is a testament to courage, culture, friendship and hope. Through the universal language of food, it reminds us that safety, peace and belonging should have safety, peace and belonging should have a place at every table. So join Maymessy & Wantage Bookshop at Marmalade (on the market square) for a glass of wine, and a delicious treat from Salama, and buy a copy of this very special new recipe book ( a great gift for someone who enjoys cooking this Christmas). As Jess Phillips MP writes in her foreword: "The act of cooking a meal for family and loved ones, or creating a taste of childhood or home with a few simple ingredients is alchemy that can heal the greatest wounds." This is a free event - just RSVP.