Thank you so much Mairlyn Smith for agreeing to speak with me and congratulations for being a nominee for 2013 Taste Canada!
About Mairlyn Smith
Q: You have quite the mix of talents Mairlyn. From being a a home economist, a teacher, an actor… How has food been a creative outlet for you?
A: I’m an impatient person but I love creating new things, food was instant results, it was either great or it wasn’t. Have an idea, whip it up in the kitchen and it’s either brilliant or it’s in the garbage.
Q: Where does the inspiration to combine jam-packed-flavourful food with nutrients? Did you always believe that healthy food can be delicious?
A: Growing up, my parents had a huge vegetable garden, so I was raised on fresh seasonal veggies. My mom cooked them plain and I loved the flavours of just carrots, beets, broccoli, we never jazzed them up.
As a professional home economist I have a mission – to get as many Canadians to eat healthily as possible. The best way I know how is to make healthy food taste great.
My review of Mairlyn’s Red Lentil Soup
Q. Have you always been a fun health food enthusiast or did you discover this passion later in life?
A: I wanted to be a hippy when I was growing up in Vancouver, they were vegetarian which was just about the opposite of what my mom cooked. I loved the exoticness of vegetarian and so once I was in university and with some big encouragement from our profs I became a vegetarian. I saw the health benefits and the power your diet has on metal and physical health, so I just kept studying that health vein. You really are what you eat. It’s a mind, body, and spirit all working together to produce great health.
About the Event
Q: How did you find out your book The Vegetarian’s Complete Quinoa Cookbook had made it to the shortlist for the single-subject cookbook’s category?
A: I got an email from Taste Canada!
Q: How did you celebrate the good news?
A: Screamed a bit, called the former president of the Ontario Home Economics Association and left her a message. She had really championed this idea of my association and I working together.
My review of Mairlyn’s Triple-Chocolate Brownie Cookies
Q: When is the big celebration? Are you nervous?
A: November 4 2013 in Toronto at the Acadian Court and I’m very nervous! BTW I did buy a new vintage outfit, I guess that’s an old vintage dress for the occasion.
About the Ingredient and Cookbook
A quinoa recipe from The Vegetarian’s Complete Quinoa Cookbook Reg ate and liked!
Q: What is it about quinoa that excites you so much you participated in this book-making effort with the Ontario Home Economics Association?
A: As a former card-carrying vegetarian, I would love to see people eating more plant-based meals for their good health. Quinoa and soy are the only two plant-based foods that are also complete proteins, it just felt lime a perfect match – quinoa for vegetarians or for people who are wanting to add more plant-based meals to their diets. Nothing weird, just regular food that happens to be vegetarian.
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