Behind the name Lady Spatula, I am an introverted, shy, quiet woman who loves books, coffee, travel and of course, food.
I started this blog to create space to store all my favorite recipes that have become a staple in my household and cater to the recipe requests and inquiries received from my family, friends and growing social media circle.
Growing up amongst four other sisters (no brothers!), we were a typical Arab family - i.e. loud! We were blessed with a mother whose reputation in the kitchen preceded her, and being from a predominantly female family, we were always teased about our “cooking” skills and asked whether we possessed our mom’s natural talents. Not that this concerned me at the time as most of my trips to the kitchen were for snacks!
When I moved into my own place, I found myself standing in my small kitchen surrounded by all the cooking appliances and utensils with a feeling of dread. I realized I had no idea how to use any of the items I excitedly bought when I went shopping for my new home, but I was determined to learn and put it all to good use!
It began with long calls to my mom, as she talked me through dishes step by step. Some were an immediate success, others took a little longer to perfect, but little by little, one recipe at a time, I found that I actually had a knack for cooking. Not only was I seemingly good at it, but I enjoyed it and I had the patience for its process. I started experimenting with recipes, old and new.
A lot of the recipes I have on here are recipes adapted from incredibly talented people around the world, who have, in one way or another, taught me how to cook through their websites. Other recipes were handed down to me from my mother and grandmother. Then there are those few recipes, in which something magical happens in the kitchen and I create something new and delicious.
As a mom of three, I find I have less and less time to spend in the kitchen, so I’ve had to teach myself to be quick and efficient when necessary. I love cooking hacks, I love shortcuts, and I love making food with minimal ingredients or using store-bought things when needed. But of course, I also need my regular therapeutic sessions in the kitchen, where I disconnect and take all the time required to make the most delicious recipes in the most authentic and traditional way.
And so, Lady Spatula came to be. I’m still learning as I go, I still make mistakes and I still call up my mom for recipes and for kitchen emergencies. I hope I can inspire others like myself to venture into cooking and perhaps even find enjoyment in it, as I did.
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Lady Spatula
Suad Shamma