Charity cookbook keeps grandmother’s passion alive

Tuesday 18 December 2018

A local chef is aiming to keep her inspirational grandmother’s memory – and passion for flavour – alive through a new cookbook aimed at raising funds for the charity that cared for her when she passed away from cancer.

Rachel de Caen has this week released 1000 copies of ‘Crazy Kitchen’, with all the money from the sales going to Jersey Hospice.

The love story between Rachel and cooking started at a young age, with the islander joking that she could cook before she walked.

“My mum taught me how to cook,” Rachel said. “My nan was involved as well. I then developed the recipes after studying personal nutrition as well as vegetarian and vegan nutrition.”

Rachel worked at Longueville Manor whilst at school before joining their sister restaurant Sumas as part of the opening team. She then went on to work for the family business, while also joining Michelin-starred chef Shaun Rankin as his pastry chef at Bohemia restaurant. 

She then studied Personal Nutrition and Raw Food and launched her own website where she shares her recipes. 

Pictured: Rachel with her mum and George, her precious chihuahua puppy.

She was inspired to write 'Crazy Kitchen' in support of Jersey Hospice in memory of her grandmother. “I lost my nan in 2016 to cancer,” she explained. “Jersey Hospice Care looked after her very well and I wanted to do something to give back.”

For the cookbook, she compiled some of her favourite recipes, using expertise honed from her professional chef experience, and three generations of her foodie family. While she only eats plant-based food, Rachel happily creates all kinds of dishes for her friends and family, continuing her family’s tradition of the ‘crazy kitchen’, which inspired the book’s title.

As such, the recipes in 'Crazy Kitchen' have been created to suit everyone's taste. “The recipes have been composed with everyone in mind, and are both adaptable and not overly complicated,” she explained. “Many of the recipes can be adapted for meat eaters, vegetarians or vegans.”

Pictured: Rachel's book will be available this week from a variety of local shops.

The recipes found in ‘Crazy Kitchen’ include sweet potato pasta bake, Cajun chicken, swede kedgeree as well as sugary treats like raspberry and cacao overnight oats, and cinnamon hot chocolate. They have all been tried in Rachel’s own kitchen and tested by her family at dinner time. While she admits it was impossible to keep them all happy, all recipes in the book have received a seal of approval. 

Now Rachel is hoping that the recipes will become a reality in islanders' kitchens, and help raise funds for a charity Rachel says she is eternally grateful to along the way.

1000 copies of the book have been printed and will be available for £4.99 from Jersey Hospice as well as a number of shops around the island, including Valley Foods, La Robeline Cider, The Chocolate Bar and Donna’s Cake Decorating Supplies.

Pictured: Jersey Hospice, which looked after Rachel's grandmother, will receive 100% of the book's sales.

“The cookbook will make a great gift or stocking filler this Christmas for any devotee of eating well, or for those looking to improve their diet and lifestyle in the forthcoming New Year,” Rachel said.

"With 100% of the book cover price going directly to a local charity, it’s also the perfect Christmas gift for food lovers.”