Tell us all about your blog
The main aim of my blog, Emily Rose, is to let people know that you can still have delicious foods, even sweets that are low in saturated fats, low in sugars and high in fibre, without lots of preservatives, additives, artificial colors and flavors. There are recipes, from my cookbooks, Have Your Cake and Healthy Home Cooking for Kids, all made with no butter, no white flour and no added sugar, baking tips and tips about healthy eating for your family
What inspired you to begin writing about food?
I set up my website after my first cookbook, Have Your Cake, was published. My journey with food began just over 3 years ago when I began checking the back of bought ingredients to avoid purchasing foods with lots of additives and numbers listed. I found that there wasn’t much available in the sweet department. I then began baking at home some of my mom’s recipes, however I didn’t feel comfortable feeding my children so much sugar. So I decided to see if I could make a healthy choc chip cookie with no butter, no white flour and no added sugar, however my challenge was that I wanted it to still look and taste like a ‘normal’ chocolate chip cookie. We were all surprised when they did. I began experimenting with other recipes and quickly learnt that as honey and whole wheat flour are a lot denser than sugar and white flour, I needed to add other ingredients such as coconut, almond meal or orange juice to lighten the treats and give them more flavour.
When the kids and their friends were loving my new recipes, so much so that my children were taking extra snacks to school for their friends, I decided to write a cookbook so that I could share my recipes with others. This lead to my first cookbook Have Your Cake. Shortly after it was published I received lots of emails requesting meals as well, which led to Healthy Home Cooking for Kids.
Describe your favorite food memory
It would definitely be as a young child when I served myself dinner, licked the plate clean and my mum came in and thought that I hadn’t eaten already and served me another plate of my favourite dinner.
Cook or bake? Which one? Either, both, and why?
I have always loved cooking healthy meals for my family, however I rarely baked. For me, it is the challenge that I love when I am baking. I know that even if it takes 5 or 6 times to perfect, I can concoct a delicious cake, biscuit, tart or dessert that will taste just as good as traditional baked treats.
What's the best thing you've ever eaten? Where did you eat it?
Definitely my mum’s home cooking. She is an amazing cook. She can make fish that just melts in your mouth.
Share a favorite recipe.
These chocolate oat cookies are definitely one of my favourites. They take 5 minutes to prepare, using just a bowl and a spoon. They make a fantastic lunch box treat for the kids. I always pack extras for them to give to their friends.
Printer-friendly version