Maxine Pancaldi

Hi there, I’m Maxine, but I mostly get called Max or Cookie! I live in a small Sussex village called Mark Cross, not far from Tunbridge Wells. Our house is right next to a farmer’s field, so we are kept company by sheep or cows, depending on where the farmer wants them to nibble.

I am married to Matthew and we have two children, James and Isobella.  We have a few pets: Zeus the dog, Treacle and Dillon the cats, Skipper and Donnie the bunnies, chickens called Margo, Tilly, Lottie Dottie, Pickles and the ducks – 12 of them, Tedwina (thought it was a boy at first) the mum and 11 identical babies, all called Bumble 1, 2, 3 etc!

I was born and brought up in: Liverpool and I support Everton. My mum is the most fantastic person I know – she makes all of our aprons, hats and gift bags.

My favourite place in the world to visit is: Vancouver in Canada (and the bottom of my garden).

My favourite meal is: Sunday Roast, especially with roast parsnips. (And I love cream too – any kind, sour, whipped, single, double and ice-cream).

I hate: coconut and peppers – even though the latter look lovely we just don’t get on very well.

Most unusual food eaten: I’m pretty sure I ate toad in China – I didn’t mean to, honest.

Favourite chef: (Sorry I have two!) Valentine Warner is my modern choice of chef as he enthuses in a way I can relate too and my vintage choice would be Elizabeth David, she worked so hard at researching and experimenting that you just know her methods are trustworthy.

Favourite Cook Book: Sentimentally, it has to be my old copy of the Dairy Book of Home Cookery, which has loose pages and lots of handwritten recipes shoved inside from my mum and Aunties.  I have to confess to having a bit of an obsession with cookbooks, but at least they do all get used.

Favourite things to do: (when I am not experimenting in the kitchen) is when we all work in the garden together as a family, cutting back the brambles and picking the apples, followed by a big bonfire and lots of campfire songs.

Food tip: Grow It. Cook It. Eat It!

Mandy Cohen (Our nutritionist!)

My name is Mandy, I’m married to Peter and we live on a working farm with our faithful black Labrador, Millie.  I live next door to three triplet girls, Rosie, Izzie and Hattie and their brother George who often pop round to help me cook and have fun in the kitchen. 

My favourite recipe is homemade spaghetti bolognaise (whole-wheat pasta) made using leftovers from a lamb joint, onions, tin of tomatoes, chopped mushrooms, grated carrot, and a touch of tomato sauce and some garlic, Mediterranean herbs and red wine and served with parmesan cheese. Yummy!

Favourite drink: Elderflower cordial - (I love picking the flowers from the hedgerow in June and then making the cordial ourselves).

I hate: Rice pudding (oh, Mandy how can you?)

I Love: Roast vegetables - especially sweet potato, squash, parsnip and carrot.

Favourite cookery book: The most used one is my grandmother's old Good Housekeeping Cookery Book. I have also started to use Mary Berry’s book, “Cook Now Eat Later”, which has some great recipes in it.

Most unusual food eaten: Pigeon Pie in Morocco, which included the bones and even the beak too!

Nutrition tip - enjoy creating your food and make time to sit and share the meal with others.  Balance springs to mind - enjoy a range of foods that will give you a variety of nutrients.

Kathy Clark  (Admin Support)

Hi I am Kathy - I live near Groombridge near Tunbridge Wells, in an idyllic spot surrounded by fields with horses.  I live with my two dobermanns Ama and Tye and three cats, Teddy, Toby and new addition Kizi.  I work behind the scenes at Cookies, booking venues and making sure everyone (instructors and children!) knows which class to attend and when, though I have helped out at the occasional class. 

My favourite place in the World: Probably any Greek Island, mostly Corfu, not just for the sun but for the food too!

Favourite recipe: The Cookies Kitchen recipe for Sticky Toffee Pudding has become a firm favourite.

I hate:Turnips, celery, cockles and whelks.  Yuck!

I Love:Greek and Italian food is probably my favourite.  And my home-made lasagne takes some beating.  I like to come home from holiday try and re-create the dishes I've had while away.

Favourite cookery book and Chef: I was given a European Cookbook many years ago which is now very well worn, together with Marguerite Patten's Every Day Cook Book for the classic recipes.  I met James Martin not so long ago but I do love watching John Torode and Greg Wallace on Master Chef.

Cooking Influence: My mum... as a child I always watched her making the gravy, or a custard, or pastry, so I learnt the basics at a young age.