COMFORT - Food for sharing

New Zealand Guild of Food Writers

Random House $45

In a similar style to The New Zealand Treasury of Baking this book draws on fabulous recipes from members of the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers who are New Zealand’s leading recipes writers and cooks.

The focus is on family food that you can make and give to people, supporting and sharing with friends when they need it most. It’s the perfect sentiment for Starship.

Interspersed with stunning food and lifestyle photography by Nick Tresidder, a selection of shots appears below, Comfort includes lots of tasty one-pot meals such as casseroles, pasta dishes, pies, quiches, soups, meatloaves, risottos, paella, curries and oven-bakes, as well as slices, cakes and other baking.

Generous contributors include Jo Seagar, Allyson Gofton, Al Brown, Tui Flower, Mark McDonough, Sarah La Touche, Simon Holst, Peta Mathias, Al Brown, Jan Bilton and many others.

Lauraine Jacobs, (pic right), editor of The New Zealand Treasury of Baking, author of The Confident Cook and President of the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers is the editor of this book, and her huge experience and enthusiasm ensure that this is packed full of 145 generous recipes.
She writes in her introduction:


There’s nothing more comforting than home-cooked food, prepared with love. And when that food is freshly made as a gift for a family needing a little help or cheering up it takes on even more meaning. The gift of food brings extraordinary pleasure to both the cook and to the recipient.



Comfort: Food for Sharing is a collection of the favourite recipes from the kitchens of the leading food writers of New Zealand, who all belong to the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers.
The idea for this book — of recipes for sharing and giving — came from Jude Turner, a former chair of the Friends of Starship, a group of tireless volunteers who fundraise for the Starship Children’s Hospital. Jude shared her vision for the book with Janene Draper, founder and owner of the Farro Fresh stores in Mount Wellington and Mairangi Bay.
The Guild was delighted to become involved and the Guild’s executive committee asked members to provide recipes that would make great gifts and were favourites in their own families. When Jude passed the baton to Gretchen Hawkesby to head the Friends of Starship, we were delighted that Gretchen shared Jude’s passion and enthusiasm for this cookbook project.


The array of recipes sent in was amazing and showed that it’s not just the evening meal that can be prepared as a welcome gift for others. They ranged from a favourite jar of muesli or a jar of lemon curd to tins of crunchy biscuits and lovely cakes. The majority of recipes were for meals and puddings, and included many old family favourites that will never date, such as warming casseroles, savoury pies and satisfying baked vegetable and pasta dishes.


We’ve arranged the recipes in sections so it’s easy to find just the right one for the family or occasion you want. New Zealanders love their protein so we have shared plenty of recipes you will love where fish, chicken, pork, lamb, beef and even sausages are the star ingredient. There’s also a wonderful soup section, lovely vegetable dishes, and plenty of heart-warming desserts. And we’ve not forgotten about family favourite cakes, slices and good old-fashioned home baking. In fact, we’re sure you will find plenty to cook at home for your own families, as all cooks know that feeding delicious food to friends or family makes everybody happy, especially the cook.


Beautifully photographed and designed, all royalties go to Starship.

Images show some of the children who appear in the book, plus in descending order the following dishes:

Pot roasted chicken with rice and vegetable stuffing - Lauraine Jacobs
Chicken & rocket meatballs - Catherine Bell
Sausage, spaghetti & herb frittata - Clair Aldous
Warm salad of puy lentils - Sarah La Touche

This is a gem of a cookbook which is going to get a lot of use in my kitchen. My warm thanks to the generous members of the Guild of Foodwriters for making their favourite recipes available free of charge for this great cause. I salute you all.

Footonote:
The New Zealand Guild of Food Writers is the professional body for food journalists and others involved in writing about, presenting, promoting, illustrating, and teaching about the specialist area of food and beverages.
http://www.foodwriters.org.nz/