Remember Lexie who we told you about earlier in the year who loves cooking and is writing her own cookbook? Well, the BBC Good Food Magazine saw her article on our website and contacted her about appearing in the publication. Her recipe has now been seen by the millions of people who read the magazine. What a star! We caught up with Lexie to find out more…
So Lexie, tell us all about your exciting news…
I was featured in BBC Good Food Magazine in October!
It was so exciting to be interviewed by a journalist. The article is about my love of food. I got to share a favourite recipe – I chose my cheesy breakfast flapjacks because I like savoury food best.
How did the opportunity come up?
I have always loved cooking and eating, and I have wanted to write my own cookbook for a long time. When college was closed because of the pandemic my mum and I decided to spend time on the cookbook idea. We started by asking friends and family to share their favourite recipes. They were really excited to help and I had lots of family favourite recipes to work on. I cooked each recipe and then wrote down the instructions into recipes that are easy to understand and follow. We created a website to share the recipes with everyone. And we added some videos of me cooking to my LexieCooks YouTube channel. The Down’s Syndrome Association shared and liked my website and YouTube channel, and someone from BBC Good Food saw them and got in touch with us.
How does it feel seeing your recipe in a magazine read by millions of people?
I feel proud and happy that my recipe is in a magazine. But I am a bit shy so it feels a little bit embarrassing, especially when people say ‘I saw you in that magazine, can I have your autograph?’
How does it feel seeing photos of yourself and reading about yourself in print?
It was really exciting to see the magazine and photos of me and my family. I was proud to share the magazine with my college friends. I got the chance to teach first year students how to make my recipe for breakfast flapjacks and I also made a big batch for my housemates. They are all very proud of me.
What are your plans and hopes for the future?
I want to sign my autograph in my own cookbook!
I want my own café filled with music, family, and friends. The café will serve toasties, nachos, and of course my favourite spaghetti bolognese.
How is your book coming along?
I have been given lots of recipes from family and friends. I am using my website lexiecooks.com to put the recipes online for everyone to enjoy. I am writing my cookbook with help from my mum when I am at home from college in the holidays and we hope to be able to publish it so everyone can enjoy it and learn how to cook. So that cooking can be a fully inclusive activity, whatever challenges you might have.
What do you hope this exposure will mean for you?
I would love my own TV cooking show and my little sister Bertie can help me because she’s a great cook too! I enjoy making videos of my recipes. You can see them on my YouTube channel – LexieCooks. I hope a publisher or a programme maker will see my cooking and help me to write my book or have a TV show.
What would you say to other budding cooks who have Down’s syndrome?
You are amazing. You can go for it. Don’t say no! Have a go!
Try making Malcolm’s Best Ever Carbonara on my website. It is so delicious, rich and creamy and easy to make.
Apart from cooking, what else do you like getting up to?
I love cooking, baking, listening to music, going to the gym, and spending time with my family and friends. I love watching Bake Off! And Strictly Come Dancing.
A huge congratulations to Lexie from everyone at the DSA
