Thomasina's approach: food for now

Thomasina's Approach - Food for Now

I'm thinking about the layers of flavour. Food comes first and foremost before flavour. Once you've sorted out the deliciousness, it's all about the ingredients. The key to making the best food is choosing the right ingredients because not only do you get the best flavour, but it's also more healthy. For me, healthy food is about preparing ingredients from scratch.

Where My Approach Comes From

Food for me and my family has been about how we celebrated and gathered together.

Time

I have developed a system where I always have my building blocks of flavour stashed in my fridge. Chipotle adobo is great to make on weekends and store in the fridge. For breakfast, I love marmalade on toast. It's easy to make on a weekend and gets better with age. I never go without chilli oil. My pantry is always stocked with salad dressings. Above all, my way of cooking is flexible, seasonal, and it's all about what fits in your kitchen with the time you have.

The Building Blocks of Healthy Food

Once you've established the building blocks you will be able to whiz through your cooking.

Where I Buy My Food

When it comes to meat I get it from my butcher. We know that grass-fed cows are good for regenerating soil so I have to get grass-fed soil. My chicken or pork has to be free-range and well looked after. On a Sunday I go to my local market and get seasonal vegetables that are grown with love and care. Think about where you shop and how you shop. Where I am in the world I collect and hoard ingredients.

A beautifully, searingly hot nutty chilli oil from Ensenada, Mexico. Arbol chillies can be purchased online from Mexgrocer, one of the best websites for ordering Mexican groceries.