From Fast Food to Garden Fresh: Carmen Perr's Journey to Seasonal Cooking

Carmen Perr, creator behind the popular "Carmen in the Garden" social media presence, transformed her life by embracing a garden-to-table approach to food. This shift, detailed in her forthcoming cookbook, "Cook What Grows: Seasonal Recipes & Gardening Wisdom for Everyday Eating," marks a significant departure from her childhood, which was characterized by frequent fast food consumption.

Perr, the youngest of six, grew up in a busy household where quick meals were the norm. Her journey into gardening began over a decade ago as a way to manage stress during her real estate acquisitions career. Starting with a few potted herbs, her interest blossomed into a passion as she gained more space and began cultivating a variety of fruits and vegetables.

This expansion led Perr to learn how to cook with ingredients she had never previously encountered, such as artichokes. Her cookbook features approximately 100 recipes designed to highlight fresh produce in accessible and flavorful ways. Perr emphasizes that seasonal eating does not have to be expensive, noting that in-season produce is often more affordable at farmers markets and grocery stores.

She advises home cooks to use their senses when selecting produce, looking for vibrant colors, checking for firmness, and smelling the fragrance of herbs. Perr also encourages experimentation with herbs, explaining that their flavor can vary significantly depending on whether they are fresh, dried, or seeded. She shares examples such as using fresh oregano to infuse oil for feta or creating dill-marinated chicken wings with dill salt and sauce.

Perr also suggests culinary techniques for herbs, like crushing them before adding them to a dish to release their oils and enhance flavor. Her ultimate goal is to foster a deeper connection between people and the food they prepare, inspiring them to both "cook what grows" and, in turn, "grow what they cook."