Chelsea Winter: 10 questions

We can’t get enough of Chelsea Winter. As Chelsea says, home-cooked food makes the world a better place, and with her no-fuss, wholesome recipes you’re promised plenty of good times cooking for those you love.

Get to know Chelsea Winter a little better and take a look at our 10 quick questions that she answered about food and cooking.

1. What is the first dish you remember making as a child?
Crappy little desserts called Milo Cakes. Made by microwaving flour, water, sugar and yep, you guessed it – Milo – in bowls. Not appealing, but my family humoured me!

2. What’s the one ingredient you couldn’t live without?
Butter.

3. What is your greatest tip for home cooks?
The more you cook, the better you get. And always use recipes from cooks you trust. There’s nothing worse for your self-esteem than having a fail, and it may not even be your fault if you’re used a random off the internet which hasn’t been tested properly. (I test my recipes religiously, many times!).

4. What would be your last meal?
Roast chicken with all the trimmings and extra skin for me!

5. What is your most memorable meal?
I have very fond memories of devouring freshly caught snapper on Great Barrier Island for breakfasts all summer growing up. Caught that morning, lots of butter and lemon. Unbeatable! Hopefully that will be me this summer, too!

6. Do you own any cookbooks? Which ones?
I have probably fewer cookbooks than you might think! I grew up with the The Best of Alison Holst, I used it so often. I had to get a nice new copy for me, Mum has the old one.

7. What is your greatest fear in life?
I’m not really afraid of much – I’m a very happy and positive person. The thought of being separated from the people I love sometimes makes me a bit fearful – but I am philosophical and I understand life doesn’t always turn out how we plan. Things happen for a reason, I do believe that – and when you think like that, suddenly nothing seems so bad. I’m a little bit afraid of yams though, now that you mention it.

8. What is your favourite place to eat in New Zealand?
At either of my parent’s places – with all my family there.

9. If you could invite five people (alive or dead) to dinner, who would they be and why?
Elvis (massive fan and he’s so sexy), Jim Carrey (absolute genius and my favourite actor), Mike, my husband (cause I love him and he’s great company), my bestie Andrea (ditto), and Jamie Oliver – what an absolute legend he is.

10. What is your favourite book and why?
My three cookbooks of course! They’re like my kids! Took about 9 months to brew, too. Okay aside from them, I must have read The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simon about 20 times, and Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes is another favourite. I am an avid reader and I’m not fussy so just anything I can sink into for a few hours suits me! I’m reading The Martian at the moment and it’s rather funny!