In a previous life I was a professional dancer for 9 years. In 2003 I became a full time stay mum to my first son Toby, followed by Charlie in 2008. Many of my friends were still performing, while I found myself in a completely different world. Cooking became my anchor. It gave me a sense of purpose and allowed me to channel my creativity while caring for my family. I realised how important it was to nourish both body and mind through food, especially when balancing the demands of parenthood. In 2017, I took a leap and started sharing my food journey on social media. At first, it was a way to connect with others and offer practical recipes that anyone could follow. The positive response was overwhelming. Families began trying my recipes and sharing their successes, which encouraged me to keep experimenting and sharing new ideas. Social media also taught me a lot about what people wanted from their kitchen. My mission was clear: to show that great food doesn’t have to be complicated. Good ingredients, a little creativity, and a focus on what really matters – flavour and enjoyment – are all you need. Cooking should be a joy, not a chore, and I’m passionate about helping people discover that for themselves. I have dreamt of writing a book for years and finally my debut cookbook Simply Dinners has been published. I could not be more thrilled.