Mrsgardom's interview
Interview by LauraWe interviewed mrsgardom!
Visit the blog: Being Mrs Gardom.
Discover mrsgardom's favourite recipe: North African Stew with Tomato and Spices
"Even if you eat meat, a few vegetarian meals a week can be hugely beneficial for both your health and your wallet and I want to share how exciting and varied vegetarian cooking can be - it's not all hummus and quorn and lentils, I promise!"
Hello mrsgardom, so tell us...
When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog in December, 2013. I am always looking online for new recipes and often make up my own so I thought it would be good to share them. A lot of things I cook at home are quite unique, friends and family always comment on them and meals that seem quite daunting are actually simple to make if you know how!
Why are you passionate about sharing vegetarian recipes with your readers?
I think vegetarian cooking is such a great, healthy way to eat. It is brilliant for the planet, and it has huge health benefits - like lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease and some cancers. It is also a really cheap way to eat - our weekly shop is a quarter of what my parents and in-laws spend!
I think a lot of people who eat meat fall into the 'meat, potato and two veg' pattern of eating, which is fine, but food can be so much more exciting! Even if you eat meat, a few vegetarian meals a week can be hugely beneficial for both your health and your wallet and I want to share how exciting and varied vegetarian cooking can be - it's not all hummus and quorn and lentils ,I promise!
Tell us about your cooking experience since becoming a newlywed.
I got married in July of last year and it was the best day of my life! I decided to make a real effort to cook good, homely food for both of us. I have experimented with new things - I tried making pastry for the first time and now I can't get enough of pies, tarts, whatever! I also like to bake. Homemade cake is so nice to have in the house for when people pop around, so I try and create some new baked goods every week. I have also tried more complex recipes - I made a fab red wine, spinach and mushroom strudel, I have perfected vegetarian toad in the hole and I also made Kolokthyokeftdes - a greek dish we had on honeymoon (it's on my blog - try it) They are basically fried courgette balls, and delicious!
What is your secret weapon in the kitchen?
My grandmother is Swiss so I have discovered a few wonderful Swiss inventions which make cooking a dream! The first is Aromat - it's a type of seasoning, which you can now get in UK supermarkets and it is amazing, it has a really unique flavour and I use it in everything - it is particularly good in soups and stews - I would definitely recommend purchasing some! The second is Victorinox cooking knives and peelers - you wouldn't believe what a difference using a good knife can make, especially for dicing things - it really is a good investment!
What dish or menu could you not live without?
Tricky question! It's got to be soup, there is something so warm and comforting about a great soup on a cold day (we live in Liverpool so it's generally quite cold!). My favourites would probably be broccoli and cashew nut, my Grandma's lentil soup and my Mum's mushroom soup - it's quite a big thing in my family!
It's also nice to have a pot of soup on the hob for when my husband, Sam comes back from work, with some crusty bread and the telly on - bliss.
What is your earliest memory involving food?
My grandparents were missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and my Dad was born in Northern Rhodesia - so in 2000, when I was 7 we were lucky enough to go and visit my grandparents in Africa for 6 weeks in the summer holidays. The food there was amazing, I remember picking grapefruits off trees and eating them for breakfast, eating rice cakes at my Dad's old boarding school, and eating a fantastic gooey chocolatey pudding called 'Sakeji Mud'.
What chefs do you admire most and why?
I love Nigella Lawson and the passion she has for her food.
I think she is one of the chefs who really LOVE food, and her Italian recipes are particularly fabulous. I also think Simon Rimmer has some great vegetarian recipes, which are a high-class chef standard without any meat involved - lovely!
If you could be a contestant or guest on any cooking show, what show would you choose?
I love the 'Great British Bake Off' - the fact the whole nation is discussing custard theft shows how contemporary and interesting baking can be. It has also inspired me to cook things I would normally pick up from Tesco - like crackers and different types of pastry. Who knows, I might even apply one day!
Which Gourmandize recipe would you recommend?
I love hot spicy stews and soups and this recipe for North African Stew is fab.
Out of my recipes, I would recommend my vegetable pie - which is packed full of veggies, flavour and comfort.
http://www.gourmandize.co.uk/recipe-51524-homemade-vegetable-pie.htm.
Any last words or message for our readers?
Check out my blog for some lovely vegetarian recipes, even if you don't want to go the whole way, a couple of veggie dishes a week can add variety, goodness and new flavours to your diet! Love, Mrs Gardom.
Thank you mrsgardom for answering our questions and see you soon!
Published by Laura - 03/03/2014
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