Farida’s cook book will raise dough for charity

Dec 18 2008 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

A LANARKSHIRE woman has published her family’s secret recipes in a special cookery book which will be sold to raise money for a cancer charity.

Farida Khan (66), from Carluke, launched her book at a community cookery demonstration in Burnbank Neighbourhood Centre last month.

It was organised by the Henna Ladies Group, of whom Mrs Khan is chairman.

She demonstrated how to make a few simple dishes from her Indian cook book, using recipes that had been passed down two generations from her mother and grandmother.

Mrs Khan has been teaching Scottish women to cook Indian food for 37 years, and raising money for charity at the same time.

She came to Scotland in 1966 with husband Majid (76), who spent 30 years as a surgeon at Law Hospital.

The family have lived in Carluke for 25 years.

In 2004, Mrs Khan’s friend Rahat Siddiquie (54), a non-smoker, died within five weeks of being diagnosed with lung cancer.

In 2005, family friend of 40 years Joe Boyle died from prostate cancer.

And earlier this year, a friend of her grandchildren, 12-year-old Kim Gardiner, from Lanark, died after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

Following these tragedies, Mrs Kahn decided to write an authentic Indian cook book to raise money for Cancer Research.

After eight months of hard work and taste trials, the book entitled ‘An Indian Kitchen’, is now on sale priced £10. There is also a DVD costing £5.

Mrs Khan said: “After overheads, the proceeds are going to Cancer Research UK.”

“Every Specsavers branch gave £100 each, amounting to £4700, which helped towards the £12,000 printing costs. The book would have remained unpublished otherwise.”.

In the three weeks since publication, 2000 copies have been sold.

The book, which is available from all Specsavers branches, and Mango Optical, Uddingston, has been dedicated to Rahat Siddiquie, Joe Boyle and Kim Gardiner.