Local Lady creates Plant-Based Cookbook
By Susan Wenner
Herald Publisher/People Editor
Local resident and self-employed entrepreneur, Jayna Swan of Longwood, has set out to make her mark in the culinary world with her Plant Based Cookbook.
Much of her experience in the kitchen has come from watching, what she refereed to as, intense cooking and baking shows with Gordon Ramsy, YouTube "University" and a bit of trial and error. Although she has never worked directly in the culinary industry aside from serving in restaurants, she cited that she is "just a regular girl who enjoys cooking both delicious and highly nutritious foods for loved ones."
Growing up in Sanford and attending Seminole High School and Seminole State College, Swan has a vision of helping young women in many areas of their lives such as nutrition, fitness, relationship health, managing and building a healthy home, starting a sustainable small business, finances and early investing, beauty and self-love, as well as creating strong women of integrity and self discipline. " In my experience, these are all the ingredients to creating a well-rounded woman, none of which were discussed in school," said Swan.
She further elaborated, "The truth is, my cookbook is only the first ingredient in my larger recipe to positively impact the world at large," she said. "Five years ago, at one of my lowest points, I created a clear vision for what is now known as The Swan Academy, LLC. The mission of this organization is to Educate, Elevate and Empower women from across the world to expand their abilities in all areas of life. The reason my Plant-based Cookbook is my first ingredient is that I firmly believe everything starts in the gut. Our thoughts and actions are a result of what we are feeding ourselves and our children. So my first plan of action is to help inspire people to eat more whole plant-based foods, then they will start feeling better, thinking clearer, moving more and build more self-love and confidence in time."
The creation of the cookbook, according to Swan, has come with many unforeseen rewards, such a strong sense of fulfillment, as she considers the many lives this one book has the power to impact."Food is something we all deal with every single day," she said. "Many of us have gone all our lives with a damaged relationship to food. I'd love to help people see food as the fuel for our lives that it is. Uncovering the truth behind what's in their food and empowering them with knowledge and skills to take back control. I have learned so far, creating the recipes and cooking the foods are the easiest parts. Laying out the composition of the scenes, as well as styling the foods to look eye-catching and stimulate hunger through the lens of the camera is a whole different ballgame."
As most people, it is the childhood memories of kitchen time with a family member that stirs a contentment in this endeavor of love. I have had so many memorable experiences with my mother in the kitchen growing up," she shared. "Although, this past Thanksgiving with my grandmother was an extra special one for me. In May of 2018 my grandmother had a stroke and major bleeding in her brain. She spent many days in the ICU, then a few weeks in a rehab center. I was there for some of the worst times and it was so hard to watch her struggle with some of the simplest things. It had been about 5 months since I had the opportunity to travel to see her. I remember being amazed by the progress she had made in walking and talking on her own. I was in awe while she was working that kitchen as if she had never even skipped a beat. I ended up pulling out my camera and documented her making her special Sweet Potato Casserole, then turned it into a short film. That is an experience I will never forget."
Swan also shared one of the featured recipes in her cookbook, her favorite Protein Pancake recipe. Heat skillet to med/high heat, coat with coconut oil. Mix 4 egg whites, 1 scoop of protein powder (I like Vega Sport - Chocolate), 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and a sprinkle of cinnamon in a bowl with a whisk until smooth. Pour batter onto hot pan. You can use silicone molds to create thicker pancakes (as shown). Let sit until small bubbles rise in the center of the pancake, then flip. Allow the second side some time to cook. using a spatula move the pancakes to a plate. Top with a tbsp of nut butter, fresh banana, crushed walnuts and a drizzle of honey. Optional: Add a few dark chocolate chips. You can always get creative and substitute the banana for blueberries, raspberries or strawberries.
The launch date is currently set for April 1 and can be pre-ordered at Jaynaswan.com/cookbook-presale and is coming soon to Amazon. For more information about the cookbook go to Instagram @jayna.swan or email jaynaswan@gmail.com