A high country cook has become an unexpected Instagram sensation for her simple, tasty recipes and no-waste approach to cooking.

Philippa Cameron began her Instagram page ‘What’s For Smoko’ to share and collate recipes. She now has over 34000 followers on her page and a second cookbook that hit the shelves in April.

It had been a completely organic process, she said.

“Everything has just rolled on from the next thing. I haven’t gone looking for any of it, which is probably quite depressing for anyone who wants to be an author or an Instagram star,” she laughed.

Philippa was thrown into the role of cook when she moved to Otematata Station in North Otago, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Covid and the cost of living have meant that her frugal approach to cooking has been popular, not just with farming families but with the urban demographic as well.

“I think the economy has done me a favour.”

Her biggest inspirations were Annabel Langbein and Nadia Lim. Philippa also finds the old-school recipe books a gold mine of basic, simple recipes that can be adapted for the modern cook.

“It’s the old Women’s Division, Plunket and Primary school fundraising books. That’s where the gold is.”

She adapts recipes by changing measurements, creating healthier alternatives and switching old-style measuring systems for modern ones.

“Obviously, half the ingredients don’t exist any longer, or the recipes might be in ounces. Sometimes I think, ‘That’s a lot of golden syrup’, or I just don’t think the recipe needs 12 ounces of lard. I’ve got better at cooking, and I can adapt those a lot easier now. That bit’s fun.”

Philippa’s latest cookbook ‘Winter Warmers’ is a nod to her Mother and Grandmother and the modest way of living that past generations embraced out of necessity.

“They were self-sufficient, and they were happy and content.

“The theme of this book is to re-use and reinvent food.”

Using leftovers creatively or freezing them for another meal is a much more cost-effective way to cook, Philippa said.

“It’s a great time to learn these things if you don’t know them already.

“Because at the moment, there just isn’t enough money even for a middle-income family to be fed.”

Philippa sees food as a way to connect people and generate conversation, a handy tool when forming on-farm relationships and raising morale.

“You want to create a culture, and to create a culture; you need conversation.

“How do you create conversation?

“You bring everyone together, and food is a great way to do that.”

With the high rate of mental illness in farming sectors, connection and conversation are important, Philippa said.

“I’m not saying a cup of tea and a scone is going to fix that. But if you sit down with someone and tell them they are appreciated that day, does that make a difference? I think it does,” Philippa said.

by Claire Inkson.