A care home in Huntingdon has embarked on a project to preserve residents' beloved family recipes in a new cookbook, launched to mark Dementia Action Week.
At The Chase care home, the initiative was kicked off with head chef, Juliana Martins, cooking a cherished recipe from her grandmother who developed dementia in her late years.
Residents enjoyed the special Brazilian rice pudding, which prompted one to say: "I’ve tasted many rice puddings in my 80 plus years and this must be one of the finest.
"The use of cloves was particularly good.
"Much more interesting than an English rice pudding."
Due to her grandmother's circumstances, most of her recipes were never documented so Juliana is restoring the best of them from memory.
The idea was well received by residents, prompting her to expand it.
Ms Martins is intending to record their favourite family recipes in a cookbook titled 'The Taste of Life Journey', set for publication in September.
Over the following months, Ms Martins and her team are collaborating with residents at The Chase and four other Connaught Group care homes to reimagine their treasured family dishes from memory.
They'll explore the origins and importance of the dishes and the family members who originally prepared them.
Ms Martins said: "I learned so much of what I know about cooking from my grandma, and even now I can almost taste the food we used to make together.
"Unfortunately, growing up in Brazil she never learned to read or write, so her recipes faded with her memories.
"This book is my way of honouring her legacy, and helping others hold onto their cherished memories as well".
Nicola Orwin, general manager at The Chase, said: "We love the idea of using cooking as a way to strike a blow against dementia.
"Preparing food activates deep sensory memories and evokes experiences and sensations you thought had vanished."
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