Annemarie and Wayne Carpendale: When it comes to cooking, she calls the shots

Who swings the wooden spoon at Carpendale? “The question is, who cooks at all. My husband definitely doesn’t,” laughs Annemarie Carpendale (44) about the cooking skills of her husband Wayne (45). The presenter and mother of a three-year-old son supports HelloFresh’s family campaign. In an interview, the 44-year-old gives insights into her everyday family life and her special dishes.

Dear Annemarie, who cooks better, you or your husband?

Annemarie Carpendale: The question is who cooks anyway… my husband definitely doesn’t. So the answer to the question is indirect. (laughs)

Can he cook?

Carpendale: Hm, now I really have to think about it. He does well with poached eggs if I add the avocado bread. And everything that is precisely portioned and explained step by step, something like HelloFresh. Even he can do that. (laughs)

And what’s your special dish?

Carpendale: Chili sin Carne, fish fingers with homemade mashed potatoes and applesauce, pasta à la Carpendale: with paprika cream sauce and lots of fresh tomatoes.

Vegan, low carb, keto, clean – is there a specific nutritional concept that you follow to keep in shape?

Carpendale: I wouldn’t put it that fancy, but I make sure that we always have something fresh or vegetables. That’s how Mads grew up and that’s why he eats almost everything. The only thing he struggles with is eating animals. What I find kind of great is that he developed an awareness of it so early on. So when I buy meat, I try to pay attention to where it comes from.

Do you cook strictly according to a recipe or according to your feelings?

Carpendale: Definitely by feel. Sometimes I feel like the tomato sauce is a little sweeter, hotter or creamier. Then you can season accordingly from the gut – that’s fun for me.

Do you let your son help out a bit in the kitchen?

Carpendale: Definitely, he loves to get involved and “help” mom with it. He is always busy pushing his stool through the kitchen so that he can see everything from the right perspective and be present everywhere.

What is your son’s favorite food?

Carpendale: Like every child, he likes to eat pizza and pasta and sweet things, but I’m pretty proud that I did it with vegetables and co. right from the start and that he actually likes everything. He remains curious about new things and tries out a lot of things.

You and Wayne both have successful careers, do you even manage to eat together regularly as a family?

Carpendale: The term “regularly” is flexible, of course there is no real regularity in our jobs. But when we’re all at home, we always eat together. During the day we don’t manage to do it that well, but in the evening we are almost always all together at one table – we celebrate that as a family.

What advice can you give to families who are struggling to balance work and time at family dinners?

Carpendale: Not putting the greatest ambition into the perfect meal. The pasta does not have to be homemade. I often let it go, you can order something easily or cook something quick and simple, or get help and inspiration from the HelloFresh cooking boxes. The whole family can then easily help out. Even Wayne likes to be there when there are clear instructions and Mads can also really participate with the simple instructions with pictures. For me, preparing food together is part of a nice family evening together.