A Quick Bite With Jennifer Podemski

Whether she’s on stage or sitting comfortably in the director’s chair, Jennifer Podemski wears many hats, including mother to her one-year-old daughter, actor, producer and author (she just inked a book deal with Fitzhenry & Whiteside). With a feature film in the works with the Canadian Film Centre, Jennifer is one busy mama. Jennifer can be seen in the current season of Degrassi: The Next Generation and has a supporting role in the upcoming Take This Waltz, starring Michelle Williams and Sarah Silverman (and recently shot in Toronto). We spoke to Jennifer about why she hates oatmeal, intimidating lasagna and sharing pancakes with her daughter.

Q: What’s your earliest food memory?

A: I remember going to my grandparents and eating sweets. Not sure what, I just remember it was yummy.

Q: What was your favourite food as a child?

A: My parents were very health conscious so the things we ate were, well, extremely healthy. I remember loving green peppers a lot! I also loved spaghetti.

Q: Is there a food you loathed as a child and have since learned to enjoy? Or maybe you still can’t stand it? Tell us—what is it?

A: Oatmeal. I hated oatmeal so much that one day my mom forced me to eat it and I made myself throw up. I think I was in grade 3. I do eat some varieties of oatmeal today but I stay away from the gooey ones, I guess it is the consistency.

Q: What’s your default, throw-together-and-wow- everyone meal?

A: Brown rice pasta with veggies and olive oil. Doesn’t really sound as great as it tastes.

Q: What’s the one meal you would love to cook but fear it’s too complicated?

A: Lasagne – even the noodles are intimidating.

Q: What’s your favourite thing to cook or bake with someone else?

A: I usually don’t work well in a team when it comes to cooking. I like doing it at my own pace. Well, on Christmas though, the turkey is always a group effort. I would have to say Christmas Turkey is my favourite group cooking activity.

Q: What do you love most about cooking?

A: It is like meditating.

Q: What’s your favourite food memory with your child?

A: The moment I realized that my baby could eat what I was eating! That was awesome. We could go to breakfast together and share eggs and pancakes! She’s almost one so I am looking forward to many more good food-related memories!