I've been cooking from a very young age, after observing my Mother in the kitchen and being able to join in with some baking sessions from time to time. I used to even sneak into the kitchen after she had gone to sleep in my teenage years to cook, so I had free reign of the kitchen!
I continued to enjoy cooking at home over the years but I've really become much better at it since I started working from home and then soon after, had my son. This meant I had so much more free time to experiment and develop my recipes. In the last two years, it's really become a bit of an obsession, and I see it almost like my hobby. I think about cooking and food constantly, and what delicious meal I'll be having next.
After having my son I wanted to lose some excess weight and just feel healthier in general, so all of my home cooking became focused on nutritional value and calorie content. I wanted to recreate my favourite meals, but as healthier versions that still tasted amazing, so I didn't feel as though I was missing out. These days that's my primary goal, that and developing my cooking skills further.
Cookpad has been a wonderful resource for me. It's amazing to be able to discover other home cooks from all over the globe and see what they are creating in their kitchens. I love how easy it is for me to type up all of my recipes to keep an online record of them, instead of jotting them down on several pieces of paper and not feeling as organised. It's also fantastic to be able to go back and tweak your recipes as you develop them further on down the line.
Discover Natalie's wonderful healthy recipes here!