What do you have for breakfast?
I don’t often have breakfast, but if I do, I’ll have some toast with lime marmalade on. That’s been my go-to for a long time. If I’m away, I’ll have a cooked breakfast, but I couldn’t do the black pudding.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I’ve got two guilty pleasures. The first is egg and chips, and the other is fried tomatoes on toast – that’s my go-to at the weekend.
What would be your last meal on earth?
I’d probably have egg and chips. It would have to be proper chips, none of the frozen stuff. I’d also have to cook it myself, nobody does egg and chips like me.
What’s in your home fridge?
As long as I have some milk for a bowl of cereal for supper, it’s pretty empty in there most of the week. There’s always some butter as well, and pots of creamed rice. There’s also generally some good cheese – a strong cheddar and maybe a bit of Danish Blue, something with a strong taste.
What’s your favourite food book?
I’ve got a big stash which I’ve collected over the years – some which I’ve bought and some I’ve been given. It’s impossible to pick a favourite, though the one I go back to most is probably Farmhouse Kitchen by Dorothy Sleightholme. I go back to it for odd things all the time, including my mincemeat at Christmas.
What’s your most important piece of kitchen kit?
I love my kitchen gadgets and couldn’t be without all of them. I love my inductions, and their timers are really useful, and the Magimix food processor is brilliant. If I could only have one, I’d pick my immersion blender, which I call the robostick.
What’s your most important piece of advice in the food business?
The food business is tough and more complicated now than it has ever been, particularly when it comes to rules and regulations. As you’re developing a product, try and learn as much as you can about the rules and things like allergens before you sell it to other people. From there, never stop learning, I still learn so much every day at 80!
What would you be doing if you weren’t working in food?
I was a nurse, then a dressmaker for more than 20 years, but I love working in food and couldn’t imagine not doing it now. For all its pitfalls, it’s a wonderful industry to be part of.
If you only had £15 to spend on a meal, what would you buy?
I’d probably have a nice cup of coffee and a cheese scone at the Drift Café in Cresswell – a lovely little café near the beach.
Who is your favourite chef?
I should say James Martin as he had me on his TV show last year, but I have to choose Nathan Outlaw and Tommy Banks, both of whom are amazing. They were on James’ show when I got to call in, just by chance, and it was great to be able to chat to them a bit and hear they liked my products.
The Mad Jam Woman, www.madjamwoman.com
