The Cookbook That Gives You an Excuse to Get Saucy

Plates with benefits. Eat me first. Sugary seduction. Before you've even reached the first recipe, the intentions are perfectly clear. Greedy Girl is that rarest of things – a cookbook that gives you an excuse to get saucy.

Behind the sass is a woman as naturally warm as the kitchen she cooks in – Jenny Morris – affectionately known as the Giggling Gourmet, and a food personality who has always had the rare ability to make you feel as though you've known her forever. But what sets this cookbook apart is that beneath the cheeky chapter titles, there is substance beneath every sequin. Jenny writes about gratitude – for nature's bounty, for the joy of feeding people you love, for the simple pleasure of watching someone's eyes light up over a meal. And woven through all of it is a kind of permission to be unapologetically indulgent: to lick the spoon, add more butter and be a greedy girl, if you're brave enough to own it.

And what makes me love it even more is that this culinary icon has partnered with a wine farm that knows exactly what deliciously indulgent food tastes like – and it couldn't be a more perfect match. Leopard's Leap have selected four pairings from the book that show a real understanding of when wine should lead and when it should listen – the Tuna Tartare with Avocado and Wasabi Lemon-Caper Aioli alongside the Culinaria Pinot Noir, the Sexy Greek Beetroot Salad with Crispy Lamb paired with the Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, the Zesty Lemon Herb and Apple Orzo Salad with the Sauvignon Blanc, and the Bold Braised Brisket with the Culinaria Grand Vin.

And then there are the naughty desserts: the Date Me in Dubai Sticky Date Cake with Tahini Toffee Sauce, the Greedy Girl's Chocolate Ganache Cake and the vanilla passionfruit buttermilk creation – the kind that make you never want the night to end.

Whatever takes your fancy, one thing is certain – this is not a cookbook that’ll gather dust.

At R420, it might just force you to be a little saucy. And it's worth every single cent.

Greedy Girl by Jenny Morris is available from leading bookshops, online retailers and the Leopard's Leap farm shop.