Dear readers, I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to food write for this fabulous newspaper as part of the #yourmoneymatters initiative.

Over the coming weeks, I will be keeping you up to date with all things food related in Somerset, sharing easy and affordable recipes, money-saving food tips and up-to-date information about nutrition and wellness.

Sadly, since the pandemic, more than ever people are struggling to afford to put food on the table. Over the last 10 years, the demand on food banks has been rising rapidly year on year – hitting a record high last year with over 2.5 million people in the UK needing to use a food bank for an emergency 3-day supply of food. Alarming and devastating statistics that are only predicted to get worse.

In Frome, I have played a supporting role in various food initiatives. Helping people to provide healthy, affordable and nutritious meals for themselves and their families.

From cooking at community dining events, making healthy children’s lunches in the school holidays and hosting cookery classes for children and adults with additional needs.

These experiences left me with a huge desire to help people further and to find ways to reduce their food costs and cook affordable, healthy and nutritious meals.

I share my recipes on my Facebook page “Katy’s Kitchen” and my audience has grown to over 2,500 followers. I spend a lot of my free time foraging in the local woodlands and share my love and knowledge of foraging for free food on my page as well.

I grew up on a smallholding where we were pretty much self-sufficient. We grew our own fruit and vegetables and made our own jams and chutneys. All our meals were home cooked using either home produced, foraged or locally sourced ingredients. I think this is where my love of food began.

As a teenager, I welcomed the opportunity to work in some amazing local food establishments including the Royal Crescent and Combe Grove Manor hotel in Bath where I worked as part of a busy kitchen brigade.

I learnt lots and I was one of the few University students that actually cooked all my meals from scratch. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 8 years old and I certainly think that helped me to be more creative and inventive in the kitchen, particularly in the 80’s and 90’s when being a vegetarian was less popular with so much less choice than we have today.

Leap of faith

My reconnection with the food industry only came about a few years ago when my children were small and I needed some extra income. I took a part-time job cooking lunches in a little café in Frome.

This café later became a family business. When our family café eventually closed, I worked in various Frome eateries locally and developed a good reputation for cooking good quality, delicious and nutritious food.

I took a leap of faith 3.5 years ago to set up my own vegan and vegetarian food business. I have a weekly food stall at the Frome Saturday Market and I cater for parties and events.

I love to cook and I love to make people happy through food. My business has gone from strength to strength over the last 3 years.

I’ve been lucky enough to participate in food demonstrations alongside TV chefs, appeared in national newspapers and won awards for my food. I have also shared many of my recipes in several local and regional newspapers and magazines.

I have recently qualified as a nutritional therapist and I’m studying to further my training. I am looking forward to my next foodie adventure and sharing it with you too.

 

Katy Harris is a vegan and vegetarian chef from Frome.