About

It’s about feeding people that I love…Cooking is all about instinct and learning to trust yourself, which, can only come with time and practice. — Anna Watson Carl

Hi! If you find yourself here, then you’re probably wondering a little about who I am and why I started writing on Shipshape Eatworthy. My name is Kris and I live in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia with my husband and daughter.  I’ve been writing and posting about cookbooks on this site for the past five years and began with the yearning to share my enthusiasm for home cooking and for cookbooks. It started with a cookbook that I fell in love with – My Darling Lemon Thyme – and it all went from there.

In the beginning I wrote about books I owned and loved cooking from and now I can try newly and not-yet-released cookbooks that publishers and authors send me. My family and I are vegetarian, which is one of the focuses of my reviews. I like to give the books I’m sent an honest try and, I don’t love every book that I’m sent. But I realize that in talking about my experiences (good and bad) with any given cookbook, someone reading along might find a book that sounds interesting to them. There are lots of critics out there and, I never look to write negative things about books. In my mind, it’s all about what the author intended. I aim to try 5-10 recipes, which usually gives me a good idea of how the recipes cook up. My biggest pet peeve are poorly tested recipes. If a person is going to pay for a cookbook, then the recipes should work. Especially if people are new to home cooking how else can they learn? A recipe can either build or break one’s confidence in the kitchen. When I try a recipe, I follow it to the letter – this has helped me become a better cook and baker. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the recipes I’ve cooked from cookbooks – if I’ve posted almost 150 reviews, with 5 – 10 (sometimes more if I’ve fallen in love!) recipes cooked from each book, then that’s a lot of cooking. A number that grows with the recipes I try from the internet or from books I don’t write about (this past spring I wrote about favourite recipes I use from the internet).

In the beginning, I posted a few recipes that I “developed” but, to be honest, if you’re looking for recipes then you’re in the wrong place. If you’re looking for a cookbook recommendation, then pull up a chair!

Aside from what is posted here, I have also had the opportunity to share some personal stories related to food, recipes and photos in Peddler Journal, created by Hetty McKinnon. The stories I’ve shared with Peddler relate to my growing up in Edmonton, Alberta with Ukrainian heritage and roots.

All photos are my own and have been taken with an iPad or iPhone. Thank you for stopping by and enjoy! Feel free to drop me a line at: bristolfashion101(at)gmail.com

** Due to unforeseen circumstances, blogs images prior to 2018 were deleted. Some images were recovered or replaced, some were not. Please accept my apologies if the text refers to an image that is no longer present.**

Also this should go without saying but just in case: I am not a medical or nutrition expert. The information presented showcases my opinion on any given cookbook and personal dietary experiences, and is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide entertainment and to give information on cookbooks that may support your healthy lifestyle practices.

Additionally, there are no affiliated links on my site (ads may appear but that is from WordPress — it’s the result of having them host my site). All links are for informational purposes and I do not make any money from them. I will also indicate which books have been freely given to me for review purposes and which I have purchased. If you have any questions please send me an email!