A little background to this blog, for those interested.....

So who is Irene?

Irene was my much loved mother, sadly taken too soon in December 2008. She was an inspiration to me and the catalyst to my love of food and cookery. Along with my grandma Mabel, I learnt what it was like to cook from scratch in the days before a plethora of  ready meals and takeaways and spent many hours watching and helping them at home.

From this early induction to cookery I toyed with making a career of food at an early age, but went a different route in life though have always enjoyed my cookery when time has permitted. I now class food and cookery as a hobby, something I use to relax away from the pressures of work.

Recently, with growing children beginning to leave the nest and a new chapter in my life personally with my partner pushing me to do things she knows I want to do for myself, I have started this blog as a way of sharing what I love in food and some of my favourite recipes I cook in our family kitchen.

I hope you enjoy

 So what is this blog about?

 I've divided this blog into three areas, that really show my passions about food

The Library 

I am a bit of geek when it comes to cookbooks.....there I've said it ! Having far too many than I probably should in my collection. This comes from the fact I see cookbooks as more than simply a collection of recipes and like to see them as books in their own right as I enjoy "reading" them. By reading them as a whole  I feel that as well as learning what sort of food the writer likes, in the better ones, you also get some sense of the purpose and the origins of the food and what has drawn the author to include them. 

  In this day and age where you can simply type into your web browser or even ask your phone to find you a recipe for something you want and be presented with a multitude of recipes I like to know a little more about the background to them, so here I give my opinion on the book, what I like and don't like about it and also showcase a couple of my favourites from the book.

Recipes

Here, surprisingly, is where I want to share with you some of my favourite recipes that I cook at home whether it is food for the family, dinner with friends or that special occasion but also give you some insight into what I like about them, why I cook them and where they have come from.

 I will share with you why I like them and where they are from. Some will be faithful copies (and these will be acknowledged as such, as if a recipe is a good one I think the originator deserves the credit) and some will be my own creations or adaptations, either way hopefully you will try them and like them as much as I do!

Eats 

I am fortunate enough to be able to eat out in restaurants on a fairly regular basis, whether it is around my beloved North West of England or further afield. Whether this be a full blown tasting menu, something myself and my partner particularly enjoy experiencing, or a simple starter and main course, I will share what I thought not just of the food but also the restaurant itself and service offered, the things in my opinion that make up the whole experience that you pay for when eating out.

Hello, and welcome to my blog "Inspired by Irene"

I'm Chris and this is my personal blog site dedicated to all things food.

Here you will the food that I like to cook for my family and friends, the cook books I use, together with the occasional blog about exceptional food or restaurants I have tried.

I hope you enjoy!