A letter to the two beautiful women who taught me to cook…

Dear Mama and Nonna,

You taught me everything I know and I love to cook because of the both of you.

A beautiful synergy of your teachings is the Christmas lasagna I prepare every year whilst thinking of you both. Italian for Christmas…why not? You started that tradition Mama and the recipe came straight from Nonna.

I have fond memories of attempting to make cakes with you, ma, in the kitchen, messing it all up and resigning to just licking the spoon clean from the mixture instead! We could never do cakes. One time I made a cake and it dripped all the way through the oven and the first thing I did was to ring and laugh down the phone with you.

My favourite moments were cutting up vegetables whilst gossiping with you, singing very loudly to the radio and cutting up eggs for the lasagna, remarking how gross it was, …to name a few. These are the moments I will savour. Forever.

Recently, I went to Italy to see you Nonna and made sure I wrote down some of your treasured recipes. It is so important to pass down recipes, tips and tricks and I loved every moment of learning this from you. Peeling the courgette flowers is something I will never forget.

I am writing this ahead of Christmas because I if I could have a moment again like the above I would. Cooking bonds people. Cooking brings tradition. And most of all…cooking brings memories and love.