Dorothy Henderson, recently retired minister at Caven Presbyterian, Exeter, Ont., and local food – devotee, has written Loving It Local, a cookbook inspired by both her love of fresh, locally grown food and a desire to show others how simple and fun cooking at home can be.
“My main motivation is that I love food and am an incurable experimenter with food,” said Henderson. “My mother used to say I had the recipe for chocolate cake memorized by the time I was eight, so cooking and food have been a lifelong interest.”
Her devotion to local eating was bolstered when she moved to Huron County about five years ago. “We were surprised to find that Huron County has the highest rate of ‘farm gate sales’ in Ontario and one of the highest in all of Canada. So, you can drive up the lane of a farm and buy a product directly from the farmer. I found that fascinating.”
She has seen first – hand how easily skills in the kitchen can be taught, and that a passion can be ignited. “I’ve run a culinary camp for children ages eight to 12 for the last several years. Last year, a boy came into camp never having buttered a piece of toast and, on the last day, he had enough confidence and skill to bake an apple pie. I really wanted to write a cookbook that people of all ages and stages—including kids—could easily follow.”
Henderson also hopes to highlight the multiple benefits of local eating. Not only do consumers benefit from eating healthier, tastier food that’s in – season, farmers—and the economy—are also supported. “In a 2011 study, researchers … calculated that, if every household in Ontario spent just $10 of their grocery budget on local foods each week, there would be a $2.4 billion influx into the Ontario economy each year.”
Henderson’s love of food also led her to develop a program for churches based around the nutritional, social, psychological and spiritual meaning of food. Called Food for Thought, it is, according to Henderson, “interactive, educational and just plain fun.”
Loving It Local is available through the author at dorothybrownhenderson@gmail.com. The cost is $20 per book plus shipping. If churches order five cookbooks, Henderson will enclose a copy of her Food for Thought program.
