Forget those celebrity-led New Year cookbooks. Instead, there’s a unique culinary creation which should grace every kitchen bookshelf this January.
Dozens of care home residents across the UK have been working together over recent months to produce a special cookbook, which delves into their childhood memories and offers delicious recipes which every family will love.
The project, which is the brainchild of the Healthcare Homes Group, tasked over 30 of its residences located in the East and South of the UK to collaborate on recalling recipes, which had featured in their early lives and remained firm favourites.
Staff and residents worked together to develop recipes, create photography, produce precise methods for each dish, and to share a special nostalgic story to accompany the contributed meal.
Completed in time for the New Year, the 70-page Cooking Up Memories book has now officially launched, with many homes hosting special events to mark the occasion. Donations are being welcomed for a copy of the book and all money raised is being donated to the Association of Lowland Search and Rescue (ALSAR), which is the group’s nominated charity.
The book covers a wide selection of sweet and savoury dishes, including everything from Slow Baked Hare, to Toffee Apple Bread and Butter Pudding.
Helen Gidlow, Chief Operating Officer from Healthcare Homes, said: “We are absolutely delighted with how our residents and staff have embraced this project across the group.
“There is a lot of evidence to suggest that taste and food experiences can ignite certain nostalgic memories, so we know that cooking is something very dear to a lot of our residents. The book is a true reflection of the lives of those who live at our homes, and is tinged with some really touching recollections about how food was cooked, served and experienced in their earlier years.”
Healthcare Homes has 35 residences throughout East Anglia and the south east and is no stranger to creating projects which inspire and energise its many residents across the group.
Other home activities include collaborations with toddler groups in the local community, running Dementia awareness groups in its properties, and partnering with Pets as Therapy to provide much appreciated animal visits to the various properties on a regular basis.
Helen added: “We’re looking forward to seeing the reaction to the book, and would certainly welcome letters to our residents as feedback about their terrific collaborative effort.”
