MasterChef 2014 winners and sisters Karena & Kasey Bird last week launched their first cookbook, For the Love of…
For the Love of… has its name because it was indeed a labour of love to create. It is filled with the girls’ favourite recipes, paired with candid photographs of their tight-knit whanau as well as of their small rural home-town of Maketu It is a special cookbook that highlights New Zealand’s unique culture and is a true representation of Karena and Kasey.
“This book has been a labour of love, it is filled with our favourite recipes, candid photographs of our tight-knit whanau as well as lots of shots around our small rural community of Maketu,” Karena and Kasey say. “We had a very clear vision for the book and there were several touchstones we followed when creating the recipes.”
The pair also say the book is about inspiration, not intimidation. “Food should be inspiring not scary. These recipes are achievable and approachable and we want them to inspire cooks and non-cooks alike to have a go in the kitchen.”
The book is divided in to six sections. The initial pages cover breakfast and afternoon snacks, everyday favourites and slow cooked recipes. The heart of the book is For the love of Whanau where the girls share family favourites handed down over generations. Plus, there’s a section for those who want to really impress and another filled with sweet yummy desserts and baking.
“The food is vibrant and each dish has its own personality and style,” the sisters say. “There is such a variety but all of the recipes use easily accessible ingredients, are delicious, always work and have had the same amount of love put into each of them.”
Wanting the book to be special and truly represent their creative ideas and vision, Karena and Kasey decided to write and publish it themselves. They worked closely with Deborah Aspray who captured the beautiful food shots and pictures of Maketu and the family. The design is by Kate Frances.
To celebrate For the Love of… Karena and Kasey are touring New Zealand from 11 April to 11 May 2015. For tour details, check www.karenakasey.com
