Northern Ireland

Co Tyrone pharmacist cooking up a storm with charity cookbook

Claire McKay (41) from Donaghmore has collated her recipes into the book
Claire McKay (41) from Donaghmore has collated her recipes into the book Claire McKay (41) from Donaghmore has collated her recipes into the book

A CO Tyrone pharmacist has told of how she has been cooking up a storm and created her own cookbook to raise funds for charity.

Claire McKay (41) from Donaghmore has collated her recipes into Nourish With Taste, with the proceeds going to Unicef.

"It's lovely to see my recipes being used by others and even better that the proceeds can go towards helping others across the world hopefully become more well-nourished," she said.

With 400 copies sold already, Ms McKay is making plans for more to be printed.

"I can't believe how crazy it has been, the first 300 copies went in a flash and the next 100 went in two days," she said.

While she has always had a love of cooking, the idea for the recipe book flourished as she began to wean her two daughters, now aged seven and nine.

Nourish With Taste by Claire McKay
Nourish With Taste by Claire McKay Nourish With Taste by Claire McKay

"When I had my girls, I started looking at food more closely as I wanted to make sure they were getting good food and nourishment," she said.

"I started to produce my own stuff, making the food from scratch.

"I also love entertaining and quite often friends were asking for the recipe of what I had cooked them, so I would have written it out for them.

"Then as I became fed up writing out the recipes, I suppose it was from then that the idea of the cookbook came about.

"I wanted to do it and raise money for Unicef, which would be my go to charity. I thought I'm able to create good food for my family, why not help to provide for people across the world who are less nourished.

"Just thinking of some children who don't know where their next meal will come from, if the money from the book can help in any way, it's great."

From summery satay noodles to ricotta and blueberry pancakes, Ms McKay said the recipes are "normal tasty food, but with a healthy twist".

"It's about eating healthy everyday, but enjoying good tasty food that is full of goodness," she said.

"People seem to be really enjoying the recipes so far, it's lovely when someone messages you to say they've cooked a dish from the book and shared a photograph of it with me.

"We had a target of £2,000 and so far we have raised £3,500, which we hope we can continue.

"We've plans to hopefully get the cookbook onto Amazon and Waterstones as we have just been selling it locally so far.

"It's just so great to know people are enjoying it so far and it's raising money for Unicef at the same time."

For further information, please contact Ms McKay on her Instagram page - @bigsis_at_balrath.