Andrea Bennett’s Hearty: On Cooking, Eating and Growing Food for Pleasure and Substance is a celebration of food in all its forms—growing, cooking, sharing, and savoring it. Blending personal anecdotes with practical insights, the book is as much a memoir as it is a manual for those seeking a deeper connection with their meals and the earth they come from. https://www.andreabennett.ca/
Bennett’s writing feels like a warm invitation to their kitchen and garden, where food is not just sustenance but a source of joy, creativity, and community. They explore the sensual pleasures of cooking while acknowledging the complexities of food access and sustainability. From learning how to grow your own vegetables to replicating their grandmother’s chutney, Hearty offers approachable advice for anyone curious about incorporating more self-sufficiency into their life.
One of the book’s draw is its conversational tone. Bennett writes with humor and honesty, recounting their successes and failures with equal charm. Their reflections on food are deeply personal yet universally resonant, touching on themes of resilience, cultural traditions, and the ways food connects us to each other and to the planet. We get a glimpse of andrea’s personal journey with family and food that shaped them into the person they are today. You can order the book at https://ecwpress.com/products/hearty or win a copy in our Giveaway section.
The recipes sprinkled throughout Hearty are simple but enticing, encouraging readers to try their hand at making staples like sourdough bread or experimenting with vegan macarons. We thought you’d like to try andrea’s Hearty Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie in our Recipe section. As we embark on a new year, insert more vegan dishes into your repertoire – your health and the environment will thank you!
In a world increasingly disconnected from its food sources, Hearty is a timely reminder of the power of growing, cooking, and eating with intention. It’s not just a book—it’s an invitation to savor life’s simplest yet most profound pleasures. Highly recommended for food lovers and sustainability advocates alike.
Excerpted in part from Hearty: On Cooking, Eating, and Growing Food for Pleasure and Subsistence by andrea bennett. Copyright © by andrea bennett, 2024. Published by ECW Press Ltd. www.ecwpress.com
