Meet the Master of Stress-Free Family Mealtimes
Motivated to alleviate stress for parents and guardians, Sunday Times bestselling author Rebecca Wilson has amassed over half a million followers on social media with her parenting tips and children’s recipes suitable for ages six months and up
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Rebecca, 31, living near Carlisle. I grew up in Northumberland and it still holds a dear place in my heart, especially the coastline! I have a four-year-old daughter starting school this year and she has been my biggest inspiration in building this family foodie writing career. I create recipes that are suitable for babies and children from six months of age so families can all enjoy the same food as each other – with the idea that everyone sits around the table eating the same food, together.
When did your love of cooking start?
My love for cooking started much before the writing. My mum, a single parent, cooked every day for us. She’s Hungarian and has a real passion for food. I would help her in the kitchen as a child and I grew up loving food and eating a wide variety of cuisines at home. When I was a teenager my cookbook obsession started, and I quickly amassed a collection to pore over and learn new ways of cooking. It was always a pipe dream of mine to write a cookbook, one of those things you say, never expecting it to even be a possibility. So, when my food channel on social media grew and the possibility to write one of my own became an option, I jumped at it with feet, head, and heart.
What inspired your most recent book?
My motivation is to help people make cooking for their family or their baby weaning journey as easy and enjoyable as possible. I receive hundreds of messages a day, people showing me which recipes they’ve cooked of mine (which I adore to see) or asking me for advice with things they find tricky. Time has always been up there with the biggest hurdle families face when cooking, so I really wanted to help reduce that pressure and produce lots of recipes which require minimal effort and time in the kitchen. That’s where the inspiration for Fast Family Food came from.
Three Easy and Delicious Meals The Whole Family Will Love
With the kids back to school family meal times are even more important, but they don’t have to be boring and bland. From slow cooked stew to an all-in-one pasta bake, Rebecca shares three recipes with us
What will people love most about Fast Family Food?
I reckon it’ll be the slow cooker chapter as people always requested more options from me. I think it’s because it’s super easy, usually uses cheap ingredients and is great for busy family schedules. Don’t worry if you don’t have a slow cooker, I’ve listed instructions on how to cook the recipes without one too.
If you could only cook/eat one recipe for the rest of your life what would it be?
Oh goodness that is really tricky. I almost went for the Cinnamon Apple Toast from Fast Family Comforts because it’s utterly divine, but then I remembered the Fish Pie Gnocchi: cooked in 10 minutes, creamy, healthy and SO delicious!
Read More: Meet the New Head At Britain’s Best Country Prep
What is your favourite thing about the North East?
Bamburgh beach – I go whenever I get the chance. It’s hands down the best beach in the whole world. Stunning views, sandy beach and it’s never too busy – just how I like it. Oh – and the accent. It brings a smile to my face. I’ve lost mine a little now but send me back for a day and I’ll be sounding like a “propa”-ish Geordie in no time!
Hopes for the future?
Oh so many ideas I’d love to fulfil – but wouldn’t it be amazing to be cooking on the telly on my own family food cooking program? That would be the dream. But really, to be able to reach as many people as possible with my recipes and help families take the stress and worry out of feeding the kiddos, that is, and will aways be, my number one goal.
