In 2004, I published Fern’s Food – a cookbook of the recipes my family ate when I was growing up in northern Canada. The motivation was to create a memorial to my mum, who died the previous year. I spoke to my brothers, sister-in-law and dad about the dishes they remembered, and included photographs and anecdotes from those years.
I had fourteen copies printed and bound, and gave the book to family members on the first anniversary of mum’s death. Fortunately, I had a couple of extra copies, as my second daughter was born three years later. I love the thought of giving my girls a copy of Fern’s Food when they leave home and start cooking for themselves.
I cook recipes from Fern’s Food regularly, but we’re also developing our own set of family meals. Occasionally, one of the girls will say something like, “Is the chickpea pasta recipe in the family cookbook?” And if I say no, they ask, “Then how will I know how to cook it when I grow up?”
That’s where I got the idea to build a collection of the meals we eat as a family. Of course, it will include recipes from Fern’s Food. Those dishes form part of the food heritage I am passing on to my girls. But there is lots that is unique to our evolving family as well.
Adam and I both love good food, and are keen to share the pleasures of eating well with our girls. Over the years, I’ve continued to cook a wide range of dishes, and from a pretty young age the girls ate whatever we did. It hasn’t always been easy, but I think it’s worth the effort.
The girls still don’t like everything I make, but are pretty much always willing to give new foods a try. When Lyra was very young, she would sometimes ask, “Do I have to eat all of this?” “Not if you really don’t like it,” I’d say, “Just try a few bites.” “How about ten more bites?” she’d always reply. Good enough for me…
Ten More Bites 
What a wonderful idea and thoughts behind your blog! I love the diversity and simplicity of your selected recipes! You have a wonderful site and I look forward to reading and trying more of your recipes!
All the best, Yana 🙂
Thank you so much, Yana – I really appreciate you taking the time to comment on my site!
What a beautiful site!
Many thanks for sharing your scrumptious looking recipes with us, Andrea!
There’s hope for me in the kitchen yet!
Cheers,
Anna
Thank you, Anna!
Hi Andrea! Love your site! A few years ago I also made a cookbook of all the recipes I’ve enjoyed cooking over my many years of marriage…love your idea of actually have it bound and giving it out to family and friends! I gave some pdf copies to those who asked but didn’t have photos! I also started my blog to start a photo collection!! Thanks for sharing. I look forward to reading your previous posts and enjoying your future posts!
Thank you Linda! There is something special about having an actual book to hold and flip through. I didn’t have many photographs of the food when I made it, so filled it with pictures taken over the years of family, friends and celebrations. I love the doing the blog as well – it’s so visual and immediate. Look forward to checking out your blog further as well!
Thanks Andrea!
Thanks for the follow Andrea . I feel honoured 🙂 I love the variety in your website and the current GBBO signature dishes series is very interesting. Keep them coming !
Thank you for your lovely comment, and sorry I missed it at the time. My dad died a few weeks earlier, and there has been some disarray in my life. I’ve recently picked up on the GBBO baking again, with the chocolate tart, and will finish off with iced buns soon…
I love the idea of having a family cookbook! What a beautiful way to remember a loved one. My gran used to cook all our family meals from scratch and now she has severe dementia. Wish I had interviewed her earlier to collect her recipes.
I’m so grateful that I had the idea to do it, and only wish I’d thought of it earlier when mum was still alive. She would have loved it.
I love your pics and just read your ABOUT page..such a great motivation and love the idea behind your blog. Thanks for the :)s on mine and I am glad that I found your page!
Thanks Kristy! I appreciate you taking the time to share that with me.
Andrea – love the concept and the delivery! Not just the recipes, but the photos, and of course the personal touches. You’ve inspired me. Lawrence x
Thanks Lawrence, I’m so pleased!