One of my favorite things to do is cook. I love taking the time to plan and prepare meals. I try to use all organic ingredients and make everything from scratch.
I eat vegetarian a lot. I buy only fresh ingredients and cook from scratch - that way, when I feel like snacking and look in my fridge, it's: 'Oh, baby carrots or chocolate soy pudding. Take your pick.'
My parents both worked full time. I remember a lot of simple meals. Everything I know about cooking is self-schooled.
There is definitely a sense of pride to it - it's more precious when you cook something up from the beginning and you see it all the way to the end, and you get a little bit more of a say.
One of my favorite dishes is this alfredo I make, and I make the sauce from scratch. I love making everything from scratch.
I'm so thankful that Mum taught me to cook, because not every day is a takeaway day.
Eating ready-made meals is about being very passive, and actively cooking is something that nothing compares to.
When I come home from a shoot, I'd rather reheat food I've made than eat takeout.
I make really good chicken soup, sort of from scratch. I don't make my own stock. I just use a base like a chicken stock, but everything else, all the ingredients, I do on my own.
Home economics - kids in school used to be taught how to shop, how to cook from scratch, how to be in control of their diets. Doesn't happen anymore.
Even when I make pizza, I make it from the scratch and prepare the dough.
I'm a big fan of a great glass of red wine and a delicious bowl of pasta made from scratch.
My mom used to make everything. She had a great garden and composted and made everything from scratch - peanut butter, bread, jelly, everything. I don't know how she did it because all those things take time and love and labour. I only do half the stuff she does - but there's still time.
How many times have you wanted to make a chocolate cake from scratch or prove you can make a flakey crust as good as your grandmother's....but you just don't have the time! A snow day is the perfect day to enlist the kids with no time pressure, or worse, dinner guests to impress.
I don't like eating outside food at all. I do it only if there is absolutely no choice. Whenever I have a party at home, and even if there are 25 people coming, I make it a point to cook everything at home, and I don't get any stuff from outside.
In a world where so much happens through computer screens, making a meal by hand, touching the raw materials, feeling your way through a recipe, tasting, adjusting, engaging all the senses, can be a soothing release.
If I'm a great artisan of the kitchen, it's because I don't buy my sauces.
Eat all the junk food you want - as long as you cook it yourself. That way, it'll be less junky, and you won't eat it every day because it's a lot of work.
To eat well, you either have to invest money or time. If you can put in some time, the raw ingredients are not that expensive. You can eat extremely well on a budget.
Cooking (from scratch) is the single most important thing we could do as a family to improve our health and general well-being.
