Former Masterchef contestant and Pink Ribbon breakfast ambassador Danielle Dixon answers all your questions about dinner parties, cooking with kids and how to get out of that culinary rut.
AWW: What ingredients should every pantry/fridge contain?
Danielle: Tinned tomatoes, fresh herbs, free range eggs, smoked salmon and some great dried or fresh pasta. With those ingredients you have the making of a great breakfast, lunch or dinner! Oh and don't forget chocolate! Everyone needs chocolate!
AWW: How can people get their children interested in cooking?
Danielle: Children are naturally inquisitive so I think getting them interested in cooking is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do with your kids. If you're in the kitchen, get them to do the smaller tasks like breaking apart the lettuce, washing the vegies, stirring the sauce/cake mix, kneading the dough etc. Even something as simple as setting the timer makes them feel helpful, important and really feel like they've helped create a meal. The more kids are interested in cooking and knowing how their food comes to be on their plate, the healthier and more informed they'll be as they grow up. This can only lead to them making more informed and hopefully healthier choices as adults.
AWW: What advice do you have for people who are stuck in a cooking rut, making the same meals every night?
Danielle: It's so easy to get stuck in a cooking rut! I do all the time! The key is to know how to adapt a base recipe. For example if you've been eating beef stir fries for weeks now, mix it up a bit , quickly sear some beef, slice it thinly and mix it together with an assortment of fresh herbs and some cold thin noodles, then top with toasted peanuts to have a Thai-style beef salad. Something as simple as taking time to walk through a farmers market on a Sunday and seeing what's in season is enough to inspire you to try something new.
AWW: What are you tips for cooking for a dinner party?
Danielle: Do as much as possible in advance and do recipes that you know work. The day of the dinner party is not the day to try something new and crazy! I have everything chopped and ready to go hours before my guests arrive. I also create a time plan and shopping list the week before so I don't forget anything at the last minute! My last tip is keep the cooking simple but present it beautifully. Your guests have come to enjoy your food, yes, but more importantly they've come to enjoy your company!
AWW: Why did you decide to get involved in Pink Ribbon breakfasts?
Danielle: I started holding Pink Ribbon breakfasts about five years ago. I'm lucky that I have never been directly affected by breast cancer, but I have friends who have had family members affected and it broke my heart to see what they went through. I felt really useless watching my friends go through such a painful experience and helping to raise money to find a cure was just something I saw as a way of helping out.
AWW: Why should people host their own Pink Ribbon breakfasts?
Danielle: It's a great opportunity to have a fun morning with friends and family while supporting a great cause, and raising awareness. Something as simple as having your friends over for a barbecue breakfast and asking them to donate what they would have spent if they went out is a great way to support the campaign.
Pink Ribbon day is on Monday, October 24 and all proceeds from breakfasts will fund breast cancer research. For more information or to host your own Pink Ribbon breakfast, visit the Breakfast with Benefits site.
Video: Sarah Murdoch joins TODAY for a Pink Ribbon breakfast
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