Hi, I’m Petra.

I’m really pleased that you’ve found your way here, and I hope that you’ll be able to get some inspiration from the recipes I post.

As you might have guessed from the blog’s name, and at least some of my posts, I’m an academic. I have a PhD in Politics and International Studies, and for over the past six years, I have been working towards a career in academia.

But times are tough for academics — the higher education industry is not doing well. Stress is running high and so is precarity. Pottering around the kitchen, cooking and baking for my husband and me, has become my way of navigating the many ups and downs of this industry.

As an academic, I can spend years working on research before seeing any results, let alone career pay-offs. In many ways, academia feels like running a marathon — not that I have ever run one! 😅 You are in it for the long run (pun not intended), but there are no guarantees that you will get to see the finish line. And there is definitely a lot of blood, sweat, and tears along the way. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise! 😉

Cooking and baking, on the other hand, offer much quicker wins and an effective way to unwind, which is why I have enjoyed them so much. They provide a healthy counterbalance to academia.

Speaking of healthy, over the years, I couldn’t help but notice that many of my academic colleagues, who are otherwise on top of their game, are actually quite bad at eating healthy. They see food as a fuel rather than an opportunity for nourishing their bodies and brains.

I’m not a certified nutritionist, but healthy eating has become a bit of an obsession. Over the past six years, I must have read and listened to as many books and podcasts on this subject as I did for my own research. 🤓

I have found it really satisfying to try ‘healthifying’ the meals my husband and I like. I also like the challenge of re-creating meals I have had on the go, whilst eating out with colleagues, or on my travels, throughout the UK and beyond.

Oh, and have I mentioned my fascination with Thailand? I speak the language, love the food, and have spent more than a decade studying this amazing country. So, there will be the odd Thai-inspired recipe too... 😋

Most of the recipes that you’ll find on this blog will be vegetarian, with some pescetarian ones thrown in for good measure. I have been following a pescetarian diet for more than twelve years, but even before that I wasn’t the biggest meat eater.

I stopped eating red meat when I was 15 years old — I cannot claim a higher environmental awareness, I just really didn’t like the taste. After that, I gradually phased out all the poultry as well and never looked back.

I consider home-cooked meals, made from as many whole ingredients as possible, to be one of the key pillars of healthy eating, but I also understand that time can be an issue. Because of that, I will also cater for those who are time-pressed or maybe not as keen to spend as many hours in the kitchen as I sometimes do.

I hope you like the blog and that you’ll find some inspiration among the recipes.