I live in a village on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border in England. In 2020 I started to learn more about foraging as a means to keep sane during lockdown, and soon this became a weekly activity to gather delicious and nutritious local food. In 2022, I started growing my own fruit and vegetables which was an incredible success as usually I struggle to keep a cactus alive!
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Both foraging and growing food has brought me closer to nature and allowed me to have a deeper respect for food and the process of growing, both in the wild and in gardens.
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Speaking to friends who farm, I also learnt to appreciate so much more about farmers and their process, and why shopping local and seasonal when it comes to food is especially beneficial for communities and our health.
About Lana
Welcome to Figs & Milk, a space on the internet to create a sense of warmth and comfort with recipes perfect for the home cook, stories of moments filled with joy, adventure trips, and cosy habits. My name is Lana, and I have always wanted to write a cookbook. For me food is so much more than simply fuel for our bodies - it's a way to bring communities together, learn new skills, have mindful moments, encourage laughter the most special moments really do happen when food is around!
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Figs & Milk immediately brings comfort to me - I remember the times my mother or grandmother would bring me a hot cup of milk with fig jam at bedtime whenever I was feeling a little under the weather. The comforting warm sweet milk was so soothing and instantly made me feel better. Figs & Milk to me is pure comfort, cosiness, love. I hope to bring those feelings to you through my website, my recipes, and eventually my cookbook.
Following my love for growing food in the garden, I embarked on a herbalist course and armed with stacks of old books I am passing my way through exams looking at ways of living and feeling better with the help of Mother Nature.
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I love experimenting in the kitchen - I have never been one for measures (which is probably why baking is currently my biggest challenge!) or sticking directly to recipes. I love reading recipe books in the evenings with a cup of lemon and honey tea or a cheeky glass of wine, finding inspiration, and translating that into dishes. I'm personally drawn to rustic, comfort cooking during the cooler seasons; and fresh zesty meals in the summer.
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Having lived in different countries growing up, I'm drawn to international cuisines and enjoy mixing styles. I'm very excited to introduce Abkhazian cuisine to you - a warming mix of spice, salt, zest, and umami flavour which so far has blown away everyone who has tried it at my dining table. And of course ultimately I want you to learn different ways of cooking, try new recipes, and build kitchen love stories of your own!