Ancestral eating is a fairly modern term and one that I’ve seen confused in many places. In a previous article I defined what ancestral eating is; here, after reading several articles that mis-define ancestral eating, I thought I’d explore what … Read More
Oats have an almost mythological connection with the Scottish. Maybe, as you stand in the kitchen making your breakfast oatmeal – pouring in rolled oats, adding water/milk and stirring – you imagine that you are doing just what your Scottish … Read More
Bringing the wisdom of ancestral food to modern kitchens in a joyful and practical way so that you can learn without overwhelm and make traditional foods part of your own life. I’m Alison – a food writer, teacher and … Read More
I love millet! It’s a tasty, economical, gluten-free and ecologically-sustainable grain which is a wonderful addition to any kitchen. Since having recorded a podcast episode dedicated to this wonderful grain, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making millet … Read More
As conscious eaters, we often think about how the meat on our plate was raised or what condition the chickens who laid our breakfast eggs were kept in. But how often do we stop and consider what happened to the grains that accompany our meals before they got to our kitchens?… Read More
I’ve spent the last week writing up how I make medieval ale in my kitchen. Looking back over what I wrote, I’m astounded: it’s an incredible amount of work! Yet this is a fraction of what women did in the … Read More
This post outlines how I make unhopped ale of the kind my female English ancestors did in their own kitchens until just a few hundred years ago. Because, yes, ale was women’s work. For most of history, the realm of … Read More
Once you’ve made sourdough polenta (learn how in my video here) you can use the leftovers to make this sourdough polenta ‘loaf’. It’s easy, tasty and so handy – you can pop in the fridge (it’ll last at least five … Read More
Polenta doesn’t have to be all about corn, *and* you can ferment it making a tangy, pre-digested, filling dish. Watch the video below to see how easy it is! (Download written instructions here). I have another video that’ll show you … Read More
Fermenting oats into sourdough oatmeal or porridge is easy and has so many benefits: The oats will be softer, cook more quickly and be easier to digest. The resulting oatmeal will be more nutrient-dense thanks to reduction of the mineral-leaching … Read More