Linda Peek, who has prepared meals for politicians, rock stars, dignitaries and royalty in her role as a diplomat’s wife, is sharing her stories and recipes back home through her popular Canberra, Australia food blog. There are not many bloggers who can list “Diplomat’s Spouse” as a previous career. Born in the United Kingdom, Linda was working in Switzerland when she met her husband Matthew, a member of the Australian Diplomatic Service. “We’ve been very fortunate to live on five continents with exciting assignments and postings to Tel Aviv, Kuala Lumpur, Pretoria, Santiago, Paris and Copenhagen, with home postings to Canberra in between.”
While living in Chile, she was food editor for an English newspaper, writing a popular weekly column called “The Good Life.” She was a member of the Circle of Gastronomic Writers of Chile and a food judge. She runs her own business, which handles imports and exports of food ingredients. Since 2011 she has been writing about food in her weekly blog Café Cat.
“Some of my recipes have been in my family for generations, others were passed on to me by close friends, writers and chefs around the world. Over the years, many recipes have been adapted to make them healthier or to update their ingredients and presentation. Diplomacy involves a lot of entertaining and socializing. With several events to plan and host each week, from small dinners to large receptions, being an ambassador’s wife is a bit like managing a restaurant. I’ve served my recipes to royalty, PMs and other VIPs, and there have been no complaints.
“This is an adaptation of an Irish Soda Bread recipe. It can be made in the time it takes the oven to heat up. Indeed you can whip this up between morning coffee and Sunday brunch. I often serve it with homemade gravlax and some pickled vegetables (see below), and it is delicious. Spread the bread with butter, cream cheese, or mayonnaise, before topping with the gravlax or smoked salmon.”
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
