A Well Connected Kitchen

All of us at Well Connected enjoy good food; whether its baking flapjacks, making carrot cake or creating delicious vegetarian dishes. There is something about food that connects us, it brings people together encouraging conversations and discussions. So many important decisions are taken over a cuppa and a piece of cake!

Family mealtimes have always been important to me; preparing food and cooking together was a big part of my childhood. We helped to peel potatoes, chop veggies, lay the table and of course did the washing and drying up at the end of it all. There was always lots of us sat around the kitchen table; so meal times were busy, noisy and slightly chaotic!

Some of my most precious possessions are the recipe books which belonged to my Mum and Grandma’s. They are handwritten, with notes in the margins, information about quantities and baking times, there are even shopping lists and messages to family members. Many of the recipes are accredited to different people; Auntie Bee’s Christmas cake, Mrs Booths Scotch pancakes and Dorothy’s shortbread, its lovely keeping memories alive by making and baking. The books are part of my social history, linking the past to the present.

One of the things which makes these books so special is that they are hand written, recipes scribbled on the back of an envelope or cut out of a magazine and it makes me think about the women who wrote them, how they helped and supported each other during difficult and challenging times.

Somehow seeing their handwriting brings them alive in my mind and makes me consider how we share information with each other now.

We rely on text messages, emails, Instagram, Facebook and rarely do we actually write anything down. This would have been unthinkable for my Mum and Grandmothers who exchanged information via notes, letters and simply talking to each other.

Nowadays we can find out anything, at any time of the day or night; we rely on the internet to investigate and explore, to help and advise us. There are podcasts, websites, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, on every subject and topic. Its overwhelming and perhaps confusing and I wonder what previous generations would think.

This week is nutrition and hydration week https://nutritionandhydrationweek.co.uk/ which promotes eating well and encourages us to enjoy a range of foods; there is even a Global Tea Party planned! Check it out and get involved, maybe swap a recipe with a friend, take a photo of your meal and post online, or make your favourite bake and take it to a neighbour.

We would like to combine the past with present by sharing some recipes from our team, via a blog no less: now what would my Grandmothers say about that!

I recommend these yummy, sticky flapjacks for a quick easy bake, perfect to share with friends. I add a few extras, handful of pumpkin seeds, sprinkle of mixed spice and a couple of tablespoons of honey. https://kamariaskitchen.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/lorraine-pascales-flapjacks/

Holly enjoys making this delicious vegetarian pasta dish, super easy and quick - perfect for busy Mums who are short on time but want to make an impact!

Baked Feta Pasta Tik Tok - How To Make Baked Feta Pasta (delish.com)

Try Claire’s favourite porridge made with oat milk, frozen raspberries and sprinkled with toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

How to make porridge and the health benefits of oats | BBC Good Food

Andrew suggests this decadent desert for dinner parties with friends and family.

Ultimate lemon meringue pie recipe | BBC Good Food

 

Wendy Smith MBE

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