Too many cooks spoil the broth? No such thing between local sisters Lucy and Claire who pen the popular foodie blog Crumbs, and now also host their own online bite size cooking show featuring great and easy family recipes.
WLM recently caught up with the sisters to find out who’s the master chef and who gets dish duty…
Tell me a little about yourselves…
Lucy: Tall, ginger, eat a lot.
Claire: greedy omnivore, with kids.
What inspired you both to start a cooking blog?
Lucy: I was fed up with an empty fridge/ordering too many takeaways or simply eating the same thing night after night.
Claire: Cooking one handed, and (it felt like) one brain-celled, while babies bit my ankles, was really stressful. I wanted meals that I could throw together easily, without thinking, at the same time as being delicious and satisfying my inner greed.
How would you describe your cooking style?
Lucy: Style? I am not sure I have one. I like simple and easy food, with short ingredient lists. I love to bake cakes, but am some way off the GBBO.
Claire: Fast. Furious? Anything with half a garlic clove and whatever else I’ve got left in the fridge is a winner.
Do you both share the cooking or does one end up on dish duty?
Lucy: We share completely and it is great because we learn a lot from each other’s cooking techniques and influences. With our blog you get two for the price of one!
Claire: yup, we share. And it’s been really interesting. Lucy has opened my eyes to lots of shortcuts I had no clue about. Tinned caramelised onions in olive oil, anyone?
Who is your favourite chef?
Lucy: Mitch Tonks, whose restaurant The Sea Horse in Devon is one of my very favourites. I just wish I didn’t live so far away. I also love the people at Riverford for opening my eyes to the wonderful world of vegetables.
Claire: hmmm, that’s tricky. But Nigel Slater is a God (I say that a lot), so I think probably him. No-one is better at knocking up great meals with everyday ingredients.
What is your favourite restaurant in west London?
Lucy: Le Veteran for snails and steak, Franco Manca for pizza and sourdough bread, Outsider Tart for cakes and Thursday night chilli and La Trompette for fancy pants celebrations.
Claire: I live in south east London, where there is a very vibrant restaurant scene (particularly Brixton where we have our own Franco Manca) so it’s rare I venture further a field to eat out. But if I do eat west, it’s in Chiswick and lunch at my sis’s. Not really a restaurant, but probably one of my favourite places to eat.
Who would you love to invite over for dinner?
Lucy: My husband, James, Claire and her husband, Liam. Children, work and life get in the way of us socialising properly as a four, but whenever we do, nothing else compares.
Claire: That’s very sweet, thank you Lucy. Although, no offence, I’d invite Darwin, Einstein and Elvis.
What would be your last supper?
Lucy: Cottage pie with leeks and cheese on the top – made by my husband. Chocolate fudge pudding with vanilla ice cream – made by my mum.
Claire: I’d vouch for James’ cottage pie, which is definitely up there. My husband, Liam, does a mean pork belly. And yes, mum’s chocolate fudge pudding would definitely be on the menu.
What dish terrifies you to make?
I used to be a bit scared of cooking fish, as I’ve only just started eating it. After finding a good fishmonger, I’ve realised the key is undercooking it slightly, as it continues to cook when off the heat.
Claire: I find spending money on a decent steak a bit scary, because success (and a tasty meal) is in the cooking, so if you get it wrong it’s a bit of a disaster. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don’t…
What is your GO TO easy recipe? Care to share a link?
Lucy: There are too many to mention, but Breakfast bars and Shake and Bake are two of my favourites.
Claire: So many! Broccoli pasta gets made at least once a week in our house.
As does these eggy crumpets. And my sister’s roasted cauliflower has become a firm family favourite in the last few weeks.
To read all about their yummy recipes, please visit:
crumbsfeedyourfamily.blogspot.co.uk
