Home cook wants to pass on knowledge
Reba Rolfe knows what it was like not being able to cook but is now on a mission to help others. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE HOME BAKER HERE >>
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Reba Rolfe knows what it was like not being able to cook but is now on a mission to help others after what she learned transformed her daughter into a master baker.
The Kirwan resident was one of hundreds who submitted photos of their creations as the Townsville Bulletin looks to find the region’s best home baker.
Ms Rolfe turned to cooking after she was taught how by her mother-in-law, but a health condition has since turned it into a necessity.
She has an allergy to sulfates, which she says is used in many food preservatives.
“By baking from the raw products they don’t have the preservatives,” she said. “My things in life are gardening and baking.”
Brought up in the “bush” Ms Rolfe said there were no dishes her mother made which she fondly remembered.
“My mum did not have much of an idea of cooking. There was always just this stew and mum’s idea of bread was a teeth-breaker,” she joked.
After attempting to bake a cake in a plastic bowl Ms Rolfe said her mother-in-law took her in and helped teach her how to cook.
She has since learned to master an array of breads and puddings, passing her knowledge to her daughter Maree who went on to run the Townsville cake shop Sweeter Than Sugar.
“I can make yummy cakes, but her way of making decorative cakes is amazing,” Ms Rolfe said.
Unfortunately Maree had to stop her baking because of a medical condition.
Now Ms Rolfe wants to help Townsville’s “young ones” learn some tasty cooking.
“There’s so many young ones out there, they have all the prepacked pizzas and cakes,” she said.
“They think it’s quicker, but it’s certainly not cheaper … it’s certainly more expensive.”
She wants to first start a Facebook group to allow members to get to know one another before hosting monthly catch-ups once the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
Originally published as Home cook wants to pass on knowledge