It all started during Covid lockdown when the world slowed down (stopped for me to be exact) and I finally had time to tackle something I’ld been meaning to do since 2002: document my grandmother’s s recipes before they disappeared into the great culinary abyss of ‘measuring with the eye’
Like many Cypriots, my family doesn’t believe in written measurements. A recipe’s accuracy depends entirely on the tilt of a wrist, a handful of flour (but not too much!), and an unspoken understanding passed down through generations. Converting these instinctive gestures into actual teaspoons, grams, and oven temperatures (yes, I had a list of ingredients and nothing else) has been a journey filled with wild guesses, kitchen disasters, and a newfound appreciation for my grandmothers magical ability to ‘just know’.
Along the way, I’ve learned that cooking with family, especially a Cypriot mother, isn’t just about the food. It’s about dodging unsolicited advice, defending my modern kitchen gadgets, and accepting that I’ll never chop onions as perfectly as she does. It’s about laughter, messes, and the unspoken rule that no matter how well I cook, it will never be quite like hers.
This project is a celebration of food, family, and all the glorious mistakes made in the pursuit of getting it right. It’s part cookbook, part comedy, and 100% a love letter to the flavours and traditions that shaped me. So, grab a spoon (or just measure with your eye) and join me on this deliciously fun adventure.
​
Joanna Constantinou - Food Blogger
