Her recipes are little celebrations of fresh, seasonal produce (often from her own backyard); her photos a kaleidoscope of colour and flavour; and her stories beam with positivity.
Living in Berkeley, California, with her husband and two glowing kids, Erin sees her coeliac disease diagnosis (severe gluten intolerance) as a gift, the creative impetus that inspired her to set up her acclaimed gluten-free blog. Clearly not one to pine over lost pasta and bread, there are hearty, meaty meals and delicate raw salads; amazingly creative breakfasts and easy-as condiments; steaming mugs of chai and bowls of perfect punch; and even tales of living in Bali and holidaying in Australia.
Given a Polaroid camera from her father when she was little, and inspired by a mum who was a self-taught, healthy cook and vegetable gardener, Erin developed a love of all things organic, bright and beautiful that have come together in one magical place.
“Simple, seasonal, playful, real food.”
How did you feel when you had to remove gluten from your diet?
“I've always been a passionate eater, so, when I was diagnosed with coeliac disease six years ago, I was devastated. At first, I thought I needed to trade a lifelong love of food for a new reality of deprivation and limitation. It took me about a year of feeling sorry for myself before I saw that giving up gluten wasn't so bad, that, in fact, the world is crowded with delectable ingredients that are naturally gluten-free.”
It’s easy to forget that your recipes are gluten-free because everything is so vibrant and delicious. Is that the idea?
“Yes! For me, food should be about joy, nourishment, beauty and deliciousness. It's essential that my recipes aren't just gluten-free, but delectable enough to please the most committed omnivore.”
What excites you about food?
“I get giddy about all of the ingredients out there that are naturally gluten-free: olives, legumes, fruits, seafood, eggs, vegetables, cheeses and all sorts of ancient grains, from amaranth to millet.”
What's the most popular recipe on your blog?
“I have two recipes that have been extremely popular for years: quinoa and kale patties and bacon candy. I think this says a lot about my readers... yes, they're health conscious, but they also like a bit of decadence once in a while. I'm the same!”
What are you growing at the moment?
“The garden is bursting these days! We've got artichokes, blueberries, four types of basil, nettles, tomatillos, lemon verbena, kale, sorrel, borage, leeks, fennel, kale, thyme, lavender, lemons, kumquats, figs and strawberries.”
Can you tell us about your new book out this August?
“Like my blog, my book – Yummy Supper: 100 Fresh, Luscious, & Honest Recipes from a {Gluten-Free} Omnivore (Rodale Books, $24.99) – is inspired by flavour, bounty, joy and a deep love of food, and its pages are filled with simple, seasonal recipes that happen to be gluten-free as well. The recipes are approachable, family-friendly, and easy enough for any home cook.”
Sounds like great motivation to get cooking. Who inspires you?
“Phyllis Grant of Dash and Bella, Emma Gardner of Poires Au Chocolat, and Emma Galloway of My Darling Lemon Thyme; three amazingly talented women!”
What kitchen gadget can’t you do without?
“My little citrus zester. I like to add lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit zest to just about everything. That fresh hit of citrus brings a special brightness to so many dishes, from beans to seafood, to vegies, sorbet and ice-cream.”
Erin Scott’s top picks
1. Fig tartlets with herbs and honey
2. Slow-cooked salmon with Meyer lemon relish
3. Juicy burgers with Gruyère, avocado and pickled onions
4. Baked eggs on a bed of roasted cherry tomatoes
Source: Erin Scott
Source: Erin Scott
Kitchen Farmacy editor Kris Franken
Kitchen Farmacy is our food lover's blog where good health and great taste come together. Each fortnight we'll feature a health and wellbeing foodie blog, with recipes to nourish the soul and body. Here's to eating well (and satisfying all kinds of cravings). View previous Kitchen Farmacy blog entries.
