My ancestry in an eclectic blend of Dutch, Belgian, Italian, a bit of French and perhaps a drop or two of Scottish. With all of these forces combined, my potential recipe pool has always been multi-national, taking the traditional aspects of all these regions and incorporating the nuances of cross-heritage influences and tastes, not to mention influences from extended family and friends.
I have taken the traditional recipes handed down from my ancestors and “healthed them up”. In days gone by it was necessary to consume more calories and get them from animal sources, such as butter and cream, because people had to toil harder without the benefits of our modern technologies, they walked more and further, they rode bicycles to get places, and they didn’t live in homes with central heating. People needed a bit more meat on their bones to insulate themselves and give them the energy to work in the field, mines or factories. Knowing what we know now about fats, salt and cholesterol, we know that we have to prepare food in a healthier way while retaining all the flavours we expect to get from family favourites.
When my partner and I had our own catering business, we introduced the uninitiated to a blend of foods from all origins using fairly basic meats, lots of vegetables, breads and grains, fruits and spices. People always asked us what we had used to make our dishes. Many were surprised to learn that what we had done was not really difficult, but instead was a combination of items many had not considered, or feared trying.
I use a lot of herbs and spices, amounts that startle some of the uninitiated, people who have seen me fill my palm with dried herbs and spices and fire them into a pot of bubbling something or other. I seek-out unusual and novel sauces and dabble with them to come up with a unique blend. I firmly believe that food on its own is uninspired, but when married to the correct combination of spices, herbs and sauces has the ability to become exquisite.
Cooking, despite all the obstacles it entails, is and always will be my passion. My voyage, along it's winding road, to continue doing what I love along with sharing my recipes has become another passion. Buckle up, I am going to take you on quite a ride!
I have taken the traditional recipes handed down from my ancestors and “healthed them up”. In days gone by it was necessary to consume more calories and get them from animal sources, such as butter and cream, because people had to toil harder without the benefits of our modern technologies, they walked more and further, they rode bicycles to get places, and they didn’t live in homes with central heating. People needed a bit more meat on their bones to insulate themselves and give them the energy to work in the field, mines or factories. Knowing what we know now about fats, salt and cholesterol, we know that we have to prepare food in a healthier way while retaining all the flavours we expect to get from family favourites.
When my partner and I had our own catering business, we introduced the uninitiated to a blend of foods from all origins using fairly basic meats, lots of vegetables, breads and grains, fruits and spices. People always asked us what we had used to make our dishes. Many were surprised to learn that what we had done was not really difficult, but instead was a combination of items many had not considered, or feared trying.
I use a lot of herbs and spices, amounts that startle some of the uninitiated, people who have seen me fill my palm with dried herbs and spices and fire them into a pot of bubbling something or other. I seek-out unusual and novel sauces and dabble with them to come up with a unique blend. I firmly believe that food on its own is uninspired, but when married to the correct combination of spices, herbs and sauces has the ability to become exquisite.
Cooking, despite all the obstacles it entails, is and always will be my passion. My voyage, along it's winding road, to continue doing what I love along with sharing my recipes has become another passion. Buckle up, I am going to take you on quite a ride!
