Family recipes and travel blend in new Nairn writer's cookbook dream
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A NAIRN woman is set to accomplish a three-decade-long dream with a new cookbook.
Marie Cruickshank (78), who is originally from Belfast and moved to Nairn 33 years ago, announced she will be publishing her first collection of recipes this year.
The book – titled From Belfast to Lyon, Nairn to Nice: Marie’s Culinary Journey – a Passion for Cooking will span from traditional Irish dishes to Scottish, also including a touch of French and other European influences, and even Singapore, where Mrs Cruickshank’s daughter lives.
“I am really excited about this,” she said.
“It’s been over 30 years in the making! I started collecting recipes from my family and also from my travels, thinking that I wanted to pass these to my children and grandchildren.”
Mrs Cruickshank developed a strong passion for French at school, and soon started travelling to various places, starting from Lyon to Provence, where she stayed with local families to improve her language skills – and developed a taste for the fresh produce and local cuisine.
After working as a teacher of home economics in Inverness, she then set up her own business creating bespoke travel in Scotland, and she was eventually writing travel guides on France and Ireland among others. In 2006, she was awarded Highland business woman of the year for her work in travel and tourism.
She said: “A couple of friends told me that I should publish my recipes as a book, and then I started talking to Rebecca, a girl who works at Culloden Battlefield, who introduced me to a publisher she had worked with for her own books.”
This is how Mrs Cruickshank got in touch with Swiss company Federlesen.
She is also a keen gardener, and she grows tomatoes and other vegetables which she uses in her own recipes.
The book, which should be released in September, sees the recipes paired with stories and beautiful illustrations by Inverness artist Gordon Harvey – a former teacher at Inverness Royal Academy.
Mrs Cruickshank also asked Alexander, Brodie clan chief of Brodie Castle, and Mrs Rose, from Kilravock Castle, to contribute with their own recipes, which will be included in the publication.
“It has been a wonderful journey back to memories from home and my travels,” Mrs Cruickshank said. “I really enjoyed working on it.
“I really hope we can make it on time to have the book ready before the Nairn Book and Arts Festival.”
