Profile of a Celebrity Food Lover... Mary Berry

Mary Berry

Mary Berry is a famed cookery writer, known for her baking skills and Aga cookery. Mary’s began her career as a cookery magazine editor and has since written over 40 cookery books themed around; real food fast, family dishes, easy entertaining and her beloved Aga.

Her style of cookery is family-focussed and, using the freshest of ingredients, her recipes are accessible to all. Mary has presented numerous television programmes, and makes regular appearances on television and radio programmes.

What’s your favourite leftover meal?

Bubble and squeak shaped and fried like fishcakes, with egg, bacon and Hollandaise sauce.
What’s your signature dish?

Lemon Drizzle Cake.
What’s your favourite cookery book and why?

The Times Cookbook by Katie Stewart. I worked alongside Katie early in my career and enjoyed her recipes.
What’s the best food tip your mum or grandmother gave you?

Before you think what to have for supper, see what there is to be used up in the fridge.
If you were stuck on a desert island and could take one meal with you, what would you choose?

Freshly laid eggs and toast and marmite.
What’s the most unusual food item that you freeze to use later?

Shelled nuts kept in individual poly bags and in one big bag. Freezing them prevents the nuts from going rancid!
If there’s one type off food that you always end up chucking out – what is it and why?

Smelly cheeses.
What’s your best tip for using up food left in the fridge?

I like to use up all the left over vegetables, cut into pieces. Add chopped ham and pour over a mustardy cheese sauce, pop in the oven to heat and brown … a bit like cauliflower cheese.
What’s your strangest food combination – and will anyone else eat it?

Pass!
The average household with kids wastes up to £600 a year on food thrown out. If you were given the money back, how would you spend it?

On plants for my garden. Either for my kitchen garden or water plants for my pond.
What’s the one recipe you would pass onto your children – and why?

My children are grown up but I have passed on the importance of a good Sunday roast because it is tradition and brings the family together.
What kind of food do your grandchildren leave on their plates the most?

My grandchildren do not like aubergines.
How do you encourage your grandchildren to eat everything you serve them?

I encourage my grandchildren to eat by serving things in different ways and in different shapes.