The Godfathers and Godmothers of cooking

 

Long before social media, the internet and even TV in some cases, the cookery Godfathers and Godmothers were born and began sharing their culinary skills and knowledge with others.

There are a number of the old-school foodies that I wish I could find today on Instagram – a glimpse into their worlds, seeing how they created some of the most marvellous dishes that are the staple dishes of today’s chefs still, watching them work, seeing those finished dishes and having an insight into lives that we can now only imagine….yes, these are people that I would love to see on Instagram today.

 

Mrs Beeton

 

 

In lots of ways, this is where it all started, as Mrs Beeton was a Victorian writer whose ‘Book of Household Management’ is arguably one of the most famous cookery books ever published.

In times when your household management was a measure of where you stood in society, Mrs Beeton not only provided recipes for all occasions, she wrote the complete manual of how a well ordered household could be achieved.

It is widely recognised that almost all of the recipes in her books weren’t her own – it is the way she wrote such clear instructions that helped ladies with no experience of cooking recreate the meals, or supervise their own cooks to do the same.

In her own words: “I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife’s badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways. Men are now so well served out of doors – at their clubs, well-ordered taverns, and dining-houses – that in order to compete with the attractions of these places, a mistress must be thoroughly acquainted with the theory and practice of cookery, as well as be perfectly conversant with all the other arts of making and keeping a comfortable home.”

Obviously this is a hilarious point of view for the modern woman. But there is no doubt that a delicious meal (cooked by woman or man) is a delight to share with family, friends and relatives, and is the mainstay of our health and happiness.

 

Julia Child

 

 

Widely considered to be the chef who brought French cuisine to the American housewife, her first cookery book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ was a best-seller which tapped into the American interest in French culture in the early 1960s. It’s helpful illustrations and precise attention to detail helped to make fine cuisine accessible.

The book is still in print and we can only imagine the impact that this chef would have had on Instagram had it been available in the day.

Her TV career began after she was interviewed on a book review show and demonstrated how to cook an omelette. Viewers loved it, and the rest is history!

In 2009, a film of Julia Child’s start in the cooking profession was released and her story runs alongside that of blogger Julie Powell’s 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child’s first book. I particularly love the scene where she learns to chop piles of onions!

 

Mr Food

 

 

Just had to mention this very enthusiastic guy. I love the catchphrase that he was known for in his TV appearances “Ooh! It’s so good!” (which, incidentally, is registered as a sound trademark in the US!)

Mr Food was an American TV chef, who pioneered quick and easy cooking, wrote 52 cookbooks, and led the way for other TV food personalities who followed after.

His recipes were practical in their preparation techniques and used readily available ingredients, and his philosophy was that “anyone can do it”. He wrote 3 books about cooking for diabetics too, which is quite significant as specialist dietary cookbooks were not nearly so available then as they are today.

 

The Galloping Gourmet (Graham Kerr)

 

In terms of TV personality and character, the Galloping Gourmet has it in abundance.

His was one of the first classic cooking shows. This cook was charismatic, jokey, incredibly engaging and energetic, demonstrating obscenely rich and decadent recipes. Later he was dismissive of his earlier cookery style, citing the emerging high obesity rate and began substituting low fat options for dairy fats and using less sugar and generally making his dishes much more healthy by today’s standards.

He has written a number of cookbooks, often associated with his television shows, and has made guest appearances on the shows of some of the world’s greatest cooks and chefs.

 

@simplycaro

 

 

And hey – don’t forget about me!
You CAN follow me on Instagram, try my recipes and share your own. Let’s make cooking a journey that we can share together. In the words of Ruth Reichl, “Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”

Natural is beautiful

 

Healthy, glowing skin is our outside presentation of what’s going on within. Our skin has an uphill battle with outside pollution and the weather, internal factors such as age, our DNA and hormones (none of which we can do much about), smoking and alcohol which we CAN influence, and diet.

I will share with you the best foods I find can help to keep your skin as healthy and glowing as possible.

Of course, covering up in sunlight, moisturizing well in chill winds, stopping smoking (a must!) and reducing alcohol consumption will all help too, so we should always be aware of those things that we can do to help ourselves.

 

Water

 

 

Although not strictly speaking a food, water is the single biggest influence on our skin.

Keeping hydrated will not only keep our skin healthy and glowing but will rid our bodies of toxins too.

It varies on how much water we are advised we should drink each day, but it helps to keep some with you at all times so you can take regular sips throughout the day. I aim for at least 2 litres.

 

Sardines, mackerel and salmon

 

 

It is well-documented that fatty fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids which are very good for you, and help keep your skin clear.

It is said that a particular type of fatty acid is an anti-inflammatory, which can also help with acne and similar skin conditions.

Plus, we all know how great Victoria Beckham’s skin looks. She maintains her flawless skin by eating salmon every day, under the instruction of her dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer. And we can’t deny her skin is GORGEOUS!

There are some delicious recipes around using this type of fish, or just go mediterranean style and throw it on the barbeque, serve with fresh salad and petite or fingerling potatoes!

 

Kale

 

 

According to research, kale is one of the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that absorb and neutralize the free radicals created by UV light, as well as providing you with skin-firming vitamins C and A.

Great in stir fried dishes, as part of a salad, or as a side; don’t overcook your kale as it will lose precious nutrients.

 

Nuts

 

 

Especially good for vegetarians as they contain the omega-3 fatty acids which are found in fatty fish, walnuts in particular can help eliminate dry, scaly skin due to the omega-3 fat called alpha-linolenic acid.

A handful of nuts with yoghurt or fruit, or with cheese and apple is so tasty. Nuts can be used in all kinds of recipes, both sweet and savoury.

 

Vegetables

 

 

We all know that vegetables are good for you. They are packed full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that you need to keep you healthy.

But it’s yellow and orange vegetables that tend to have more flavonoids, beta-carotene, carotenoids and vitamin C that improve skin health and heal skin damage.

Carrots in your slaw, grilled bell peppers in your salads and stir fry dishes and sweet potato as a side will all promote great skin!

 

Dark chocolate

 

 

Tastes delicious and is anti-ageing; dark chocolate is great for your skin.

Cocoa is rich in flavanol antioxidants that defend skin against free radicals, which is said to prevent wrinkles, although it’s still up for debate as to how much you would need to eat to turn back the clocks!

Bearing in mind your calorie count, it’s fair to say that a little dark chocolate each day may well help your complexion, but don’t overdo it! A dark chocolate milk shake as a post workout snack may be just what your skin is crying out for.

 

Kiwi fruits

 

 

This little fruit is packed full of vitamin C which is said to help in the battle against skin dryness and wrinkles.

I love kiwi in a fruit salad, or for a divine sweet treat, a beautiful pavlova topped with cream, strawberries and kiwi, with a little passion fruit drizzled over the top is a perfect dessert.

 

Tomatoes

 

 

Tomatoes contain lycopene which gives them their deep red color. It is considered that eating tomatoes can help protect the skin from damage by the harmful rays of the sun, protecting your skin against ultraviolet lights.

Tomatoes and natural tomato products can enable your skin to take in oxygen, delaying aging and wrinkling.

Italian cookery has an array of tomato based pizza and pasta sauces so it is easy to include tomatoes in your cooking.

You could try making a face mask from tomatoes, which is also supposed to benefit your skin, tackling it from the inside and out!

 

Avocados

 

 

One of the main avocado skin benefits comes from their high oleic acid content. This is a ‘good’ fatty acid which helps to maintain moisture in the outer layer of your skin, helping to keep it soft and hydrated. Oleic acid also helps to regenerate damaged skin cells and reduces facial redness and irritation. It also contains vitamin C which is necessary for the creation of elastin and collagen, which bind your skin cells together and maintain their firmness and structure. So avocado as a part of your healthy diet is great for your skin, though remember that, although the fats it contains are ‘good’ fats, it is high in fat and can add a lot of calories.

 

Almond milk

 

Some research has shown that dairy milk can be inflammatory for skin conditions such as acne, and so substituting almond milk for dairy may help alleviate acne, wrinkles and rashes.

There may be other reasons for these conditions too, but it could be worth trying it for a period of time just to see if it works for you. Almond milk can be used in most of the ways that dairy is used.

 

I hope that you find something here to help your skin look great, and don’t forget to keep up a great cleansing routine too. Many of the food items here can be adapted into natural skin care products, which we could look at in a future blog.

You can share pics with me on Instagram – if you try a new routine, snap some before and after selfies – it can help you to remember how your skin was and to compare with how it looks now!

Why do we need to snack after our workout?

 

We know how important it is to get our pre-workout nutrition right so that we have energy to take us through our exercise routines and to build muscle and burn fat, right? Well, it’s really important to help our bodies recover quickly from our activity by having good snacks for after our workout too.

 

A really good rule is to learn to listen to our bodies which helps us to understand what we need, when to eat and how much to eat, but it’s not always easy, especially when you get started on a new healthy eating and exercise plan, and particularly when you have particular dietary needs such as gluten intolerance.

 

Gluten-free but not sugar or fat free!

 

What we are trying to avoid by having our post-workout snacks ready is a sugar crash. A sugar crash puts us at risk of eating too much of the wrong things in order to quickly raise our energy levels back up, but this quickly leads to a further crash and ultimately makes us feel worse and eat badly to achieve a quick fix. Often you can see that store bought gluten-free products have the wheat and the flour replaced by fat and sugar, which gives us an immediate energy high but doesn’t sustain us for very long.

 

One thing we do know though is that post-workout is the very best time to eat carbs as your body will quickly and easily convert them to energy rather than storing them as fat. But, of course, we don’t want to overdo it and wipe out all the effort we’ve put in by eating too many carbs, so again, balance is really important.

 

So, for our gluten-free recovery snacks, we want to achieve a good mix of protein and carbs, and these are my suggestions for some easy-to-prepare and easy-to-carry gluten free post-workout snacks:

 

Rice cakes with peanut butter

 

Go for smooth or crunchy (my favourite has to be smooth!). There are some great natural peanut butters on the market which don’t have so many additives, such as salt, sugar and hydrogenated fats. There are some really tasty alternatives to peanut too, such as cashew nut butter. Of course, this isn’t a good choice for anyone with a nut allergy, it goes without saying.

 

Chocolate milk

 

Regular chocolate milk made with dairy milk provides a great balance of protein and carbohydrate (soya milk doesn’t provide the carb and almond milk doesn’t provide the protein so don’t be tempted to swap!). An 8oz glass is perfect for a post-workout snack.

 

Fresh fruit

 

A bowl of fresh fruit with some unsweetened natural greek yogurt is an easy and so refreshing snack, with the fruit adding sweetness. Make sure you add some banana for a more slow-release snack. Your fruit can be prepared in advance and kept in the refrigerator in a tupperware container or similar.

 

Cheese and apple

 

Fresh, crunchy apple slices with some cheese or cottage cheese is a heavenly match, and you can choose a lower fat option if you want to. If you prefer the full fat options, then don’t have quite as much cheese, especially if you’re weight-watching (an ounce of cheese is about right). You can add some celery sticks too.

 

Dried fruit

 

A handful of dried fruits such as dates, raisins and apricots is a quick and easy store cupboard post workout snack – pop some into a bag and you’re good to go! If you have a sweet tooth this is a great snack but don’t overdo it, the sugar of the fruit is more concentrated when it’s dried.

 

Hydration is key

 

 

It’s important to remember to drink plenty of water throughout your exercise program and throughout the day. Water is so good for glowing skin and sparkling eyes, as well as being critical in helping your body perform at its best. I try to carry a bottle of with me at all times.

 

Don’t forget to share your photos with me on Instagram, and let me know the workout snacks that work best for you too. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Show how much you care.

It’s easy to think that Mother’s Day is all about buying a gift and a card and showing that you’ve given some thought to letting your mom know that you appreciate her, but taking her out for brunch means that you get to spend some time with her.

In many ways this makes the day really special – not only are you showing how much you care but you’re also treating her as a friend as well as a parent, which adds another dimension to your relationship.

New York has some wonderful places to eat on Mother’s Day, and I’m going to share some of my favorites with you, but there are, of course, great places the world over where you can spend some quality time with your mom.

Gotham Bar and Grill

 

With awards in abundance and fabulous reviews, this downtown New York restaurant is a lively and beautiful place to eat wonderful food.

It’s situated in a tree-lined stretch of Greenwich Village area and has a set price Mother’s Day Brunch for $75, including such delights as House Made Granola Parfait, Maine Lobster Tagliatelle, and Gotham Chocolate Cake.

The menu is plenty and varied and has a good number of options for those with special dietary requirements. (www.gothambarandgrill.com)

 

Lupulo

 

This Portuguese inspired restaurant, based on the traditional recipes of the chef George Mendes’ own mother, Lupulo gives you the choice of a fixed price Mother’s Day Brunch menu or you can go a la carte.

The prix-fixe is $42 for 3 courses, and includes choice of tea, coffee or juice as well as Bacalhau Croquettes, skirt steak and eggs plus traditional Portuguese egg custard tarts. This is a really relaxed and inviting place to eat which pays homage to traditional Portuguese Taverns with its striking blue and white tile and rustic wood tones. (www.lupulonyc.com)

 

ABC Kitchen

 

For wonderfully fresh and seasonal ingredients with a local producer focus, this restaurant not only serves award winning cuisine but has a farm-to-table ethos and is environmentally conscious.

Their brunch menu makes great reading, with amazing choices such as scrambled eggs, crispy oysters and hot sauce butter, or the delightfully named eggs benedict with flying pigs farm ham, and has a great choice of wonderful salads, entrees and appetizers. This is a place to eat that makes your soul feel good!

The wine and cocktails list are imaginative and broad and there are house made juices too. (www.abckitchennyc.com)

 

Cookshop

 

Whether your mom is a foodie or not particularly into the cuisine side of things, Cookshop on Tenth Avenue is perfect for a Mother’s Day Brunch with a chef’s selection pastry board, the Cookshop breakfast bowl (kale, spinach, farro wheatberries, sesame seeds, hazelnuts, feta cheese, walnut oil, nigella seed, falafel, sunny side up egg), egg white frittata and so much more to enjoy.

As they say about themselves; “At the heart and soul of this restaurant lies the owners’ commitment to bringing an honest, seasonal dining option to New York City.”

This restaurant has charm and atmosphere and also has a great selection of wines, which are completely suitable as a gift/momento for your mom at the end of your meal. (www.cookshopny.com)

 

Chalk Point Kitchen

 

This Soho restaurant is my slightly guilty pleasure, included because its menu is really helpful to anyone who has a gluten free, vegan, or carb free diet, and their food is ultra organic but has a by no means limited offering.

Another eatery with a market to table ethos, the Mother’s Day Brunch menu includes a complimentary strawberry Bellini, and the regular menu has delights which include homemade chorizo hash, warm ancient grain porridge and Nancy’s Hudson Valley Camembert with house-made apricot jam. Food is so fresh and lovely, this is a super-friendly place to eat. (www.chalkpointkitchen.com)

 

Wherever you choose to spend time with your mom on Mother’s Day, do share your experience with me and send photos. Have a wonderful weekend!