Author and nutritionist Amy Symington provides some wonderful tips to eating more plant-based foods. At this time of year when the farmers’ markets are bursting with fresh and local produce, this book is a handy companion on how to best utilize these foods into our daily diet. Whether you’re overflowing with an abundance of zucchini or tomatoes, Amy has you covered. https://ameliaeats.com/cookbook There are many reasons to pick up this book and devour its pages. With nods from awards for cookbooks, The Long Table was shortlisted in the Taste Canada’s Health & Special Diet 2020 category and the winner of the 2020 Gourmand Cookbook Awards in the Vegetarian Cookbook, Spring Harvest by Country category.
And that’s not all. Because of my long career in the not-for-profit world, I was inspired that Amy is donating her proceeds from the book to Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto and their Social, Emotional and Nutritional Programming. How did this relationship with Gilda’s begin? “I originally got involved with Gilda’s because my mother passed away from breast cancer when I was 26 and I was one of her primary caretakers. From my experience with her cancer diagnosis, I saw a gap in the cancer care realm that I wanted to fill.” She explains this start, “I would do culinary nutrition workshops and demonstrations for cancer survivors, their family members and/or their caretakers. They later hired me to further develop the culinary nutrition programming and programs like the Not-Just-Supper Club, where myself and a team of volunteers make health promoting meals for the members and we all sit down and eat at long tables together, and our Nutrition Showcases which include evidence-based tips and health promoting recipes for managing the side effects of cancer, were born!”
To learn more about Amy’s nutritional work, go to https://www.gildasclubtoronto.org/a-community-guide-to-cancer-nutrition and then download your very own guide at https://www.gildasclubtoronto.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/A-Community-Guide-to-Cancer-Nutrition.pdf We could all benefit from the great information in Amy’s work for optimum health.
With pears coming into season, I thought the recipe for Caramelized Onion, Pear and Arugula Focaccia would be a delectable way to use this fruit. Great on its own for a lunch or brunch or add it to chicken wings or other meat for a heartier meal. Go to our Recipe section to try it! When I asked Amy for her go-to dish to make for family and friends, her reply was, “It completely depends on the season and the crowd, but because it is currently corn season, I absolutely adore my Creamy Corn Chowder with Tempeh Chorizo recipe. It’s a crowd pleaser!” Check out the video on how to make this comforting soup at https://ameliaeats.com/recipes-1/f/creamy-corn-chowder-with-tempeh-chorizo?blogcategory=Soups
This cookbook adds a small twist on all the recipes: Amy includes a 4-6 serving and 24 serving portion ingredient list in case you want to cook for a larger group. As the title of the book implies, the return to communal eating, whether with family and friends, or an adopted community, larger gatherings around food has stemmed from our post-pandemic need for connection. Meals on our childhood farm always included many people beyond our core family of eight. My parents hosted a wedding shower for me and my-then fiancé where over 60 people showed up and two hay bale wagons were loaded down with food of every kind. Now that was a party! https://ameliaeats.com/
Amy also offers personalized nutritional counseling, product and recipe development, easy at-home classes, and nutritional labeling consulting. Check it out at https://ameliaeats.com/working-with-me And what’s next for Amy and her busy life? “As I’m always up for an adventure it really depends on what fun food and nutrition opportunities arise next! I am currently doing my PhD in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto so that will be taking some of my attention in the next few years. I would also give up my favourite ladle to compile another cookbook, but to be honest, I’ve been really trying to eat and spend time together with the people I love as much as possible. I have missed cooking and eating together with friends and family so I am making up for lost time!” And isn’t that what we all are striving to do, post-pandemic? Set up your own long table and invite family and friends to join you for some good food, a few laughs and reconnect!
Then head to our Giveaway section to win a copy of this book or go to https://www.gildasclubtoronto.org/the-long-table-cookbook and receive the book in lieu of a $35 donation tax receipt. Thanks Amy for your generosity!
Excerpted from The Long Table Cookbook: Plant-based Recipes for Optimal Health – Nourishing food for small and large gatherings, by Amy Symington©. 2019. Photography by Darren Kemper©. Published by Douglas & McIntyre. https://douglas-mcintyre.com/products/9781771622271
