If you follow our blog, then you know we’ve been partnering up with some phenomenally talented, creative and clever peeps from around the UK and Ireland. They’ve been sharing their collagen journey with their own followers, and (for the foodies among them) generously curating some fantastic collagen based recipes for us.
Here at Edible Health, we don’t like one-off wonders. We really enjoy developing relationships and getting to know our collaborators. So, welcome to this series where we find out a little bit more about some of the talented individuals with whom we’ve been working. We hope you love getting to know Natalie Myskow!
Keen to discover some of Natalie's collagen based recipes? Check out:
Quick-fire questions with Natalie
What for you is the quintessential Italian recipe?
It has to be my family’s go-to dinner, which is fresh tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and chilli. Boil the pasta in seasoned water and the moment it is cooked, get it straight into that sauce. Incredible!
What about the quintessential English recipe?
OK, this is a little controversial. I have such a strong leaning towards multicultural food that I am not sure I can answer that. I am given a hard time because I don’t even like roasts that much. Can I say cinnamon roll? Don’t hate me.
If you could cook for anyone, who would it be?
My family, because it is so gratifying for me and they would appreciate it. What would I cook for them, though? Wow, that is a tough one! I made a new spicy tofu peanut stir fry the other day. I think I’d do that!
What is your favourite recipe?
My mum makes something that I think might have originally come from Turkey or Greece. It is called ‘mant’a. It’s fresh individual pieces of pasta, each one folded over a meatball (cooked in tomato sauce) to form a kind of dumpling. It’s amazing.
What is your favourite cuisine?
Aside from Italian? Thai. I just love all things Thai.
What’s your most memorable dining experience?
In terms of more recently, I went to Vurger in Brighton for the juiciest, most amazing vegan burger. Incredible!
What’s on your must-eat-here list?
Honestly? I have a bucket list on my phone. Where do we start?! Naked Dough in Camden, Crab Shack in Worthing, and basically everywhere in Box Park, Shoreditch. I just want to start up one end and work my way down!
What’s your favourite cooking appliance?
It would be between my garlic crusher - I eat a LOT of garlic - and my hand whisk, which is so versatile and satisfying to use.
What cuisine or dish comes to mind when you hear these words:
- Comfort: Pasta
- Energy: Collagen powder
- Sexy: A burger
- Hang-over: OK for that I would say just keep eating all day long!
Keen to hear more about Natalie? Read on…
Big, ripe, juicy tomatoes.
Anyone who travels to Italy invariably declares it the home of the world’s best tomatoes. Half Italian, half Little Hampton food blogger Natalie Myskow wouldn’t argue. She grew up spending holidays with her father’s family in Roseto, a village on the Adriatic Sea in Abruzzo, southern Italy. Along with tomatoes, she talks of wandering down roads and picking plump figs, free for all (yet so expensive back in the UK!). Lemons, squash, basil… Don’t even get her started on olive oil; she won’t stop. No surprises, therefore, that her side hustle is blogging the most deliciously enticing, original food and drink recipes she can conjure.
Her father’s daughter
It must be said the entire Myskow clan is mad about food.
Nothing happens that isn’t somehow linked with eating. Natalie jokes about organising walks with friends. Sure, she’d love to head out for a stroll. But where will they be eating afterwards? Meals aren’t a hurried affair; they’re considered, inventive, irresistible. A curry never comes from a jar. It’s lovingly prepared from scratch. Everything is homemade. As kids, the Myskow juniors were encouraged to cook family meals. Their parents were terrific and positive role models when it came to eating fresh and eating well. Natalie’s father, most certainly a bon vivant, would encourage everyone to simply enjoy; nothing was out of bounds, as long as everything was in moderation. When he died in 2016, Natalie’s grief led to a lot of introspection, and life changes were made.
Out of her comfort zone
Following her father’s death, Natalie very deliberately wanted to make herself as healthy as possible.
She learned first-hand that illness is the worst thing that can happen to a family, and she didn’t want it to happen again. Cooking, and posting about her cooking, became a distraction. Prior to her dad’s death, it’s not something she would have entertained. But losing him changed her mindset. Life is too short, and you sometimes have to get out of your comfort zone to experience more of what it has to offer.
So, @nataliemyskow quickly started growing. Post after post of luscious recipes styled in all their gooey gorgeousness. Natalie has to balance this growing passion with her career in childcare working with additional needs kids. She finds that side of her life incredibly rewarding. It embraces everything her dad stood for in terms of helping others. She especially likes it when she has to stand in for the chef, although those little nippers can be incredibly bold with their feedback (read: zero filter).
Lockdown pangs
During lockdown, Natalie moved in with her mum and the cooking and posting moved up several notches. She was creating and photographing more recipes than ever before, and her boyfriend (who remained back at the couple’s home) was suffering a serious bout of FOMO. Following her feed daily, he was pining for the food that normally would have come his way after a photo session. Natalie might just be a bit smug about that - he’s definitely not going to be taking her cooking for granted from now on…!
Find out how Dr Doug beat the lockdown blues.
A love of learning
Natalie’s been enjoying the extra time to not only bake, but to delve deeper into learning all she can. She loves to figuratively and literally devour all the latest food fads, and is fascinated by the science and health benefits of eating our way to well-being. Natalie’s a big believer in balance. For her, eating healthy isn’t about dieting, it’s about doing what makes your body feel good. Sure, she tries to limit her sugar intake, but she’s not going to beat herself up about it if she goes over every now and again.
Read about six ways to care for your skin during changing seasons.
Collagen
Natalie first purchased Edible Health collagen about a year ago. She knew collagen was found in cosmetics, but when she realised it was also something that could be ingested, she started to get interested. Originally, she was motivated to try it simply to maintain good skin as she aged. Now, however, she relies on it for maintaining energy as well as other benefits like nail strength (prior, hers were always very brittle). Natalie will take her Bovine Collagen in matcha drinks (her matcha game is especially strong on Instagram). She’s found it takes those drink recipes to a whole new level; not only does it slip in quietly without altering the taste, but it makes the drink extra creamy and frothy. Even Natalie’s mum, 58 years old, is convinced. She started dipping into Natalie’s supply during lockdown, and now has her own stash.
A collagen-loving family, a social media feed full of the most nutritious, delicious recipes, a love for food and a positive attitude towards everything about it; Natalie seems on-track to keeping herself, and her clan, as healthy as possible.
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