I wish I were friends with Elise and Nina, the ladies from Chicks Love Food (the name says enough, I think). Cooking healthy, but when we get to eat unhealthy once in a while, we do it well. No apple pie sweetened with dates and coconut sugar, but just a real one, with fresh whipped cream. Recently, the Chicks Love Food 5 or less cookbook has hit the shelves. Very simple: dishes with a maximum of five ingredients, easy explanations, beautiful photos, and delicious food. The second edition has just come from the printer, so they are selling like hotcakes. I spoke to Elise today to ask when and how the weekend will be kicked off.

Tell me, what time will the weekend be celebrated?

“Well, that's almost now. Soon I will move with my friend and child to the harbor of Scheveningen (I live around the corner) and order a glass of white wine and fried cheese sticks.”

Oh that sounds divine. Have you had a busy week?

“Busy, but fun. Since the release of the book our schedules have been packed. Lots of interviews, signing sessions, and workshops. Additionally, I also had a sick husband and child at home, so I was the sick bay. Luckily, I work from home, so that helps.

I have also been busy with our webshop that will be launched on November 1st on the Chicks Love Food site. It’s a webshop where only one item is available and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Then a new item will come online. We kick off with a large shopper for your groceries because the items always have a hook to food.”

What does Saturday look like?

“Tomorrow, Nina and I will be at Tasty, a big food event in Utrecht. We will give a cooking workshop there and then I will drive home again to cook for my family.”

Isn’t your boyfriend already happily behind the pans?

“Most of the time I cook. Oh, when we first met, he made everything from packages, but luckily that’s different now. Often I shove our cookbook under his nose, open a page, and say: “Here darling, you can manage, right?” He can cook well, you know. Really, every man can do it.”

And what do you do on Sunday?

“That’s the only day of the week that I don’t want to do anything at all. Laptop closed, no makeup, preferably in sweatpants and then just enjoy a little walk outside, drink coffee, and then in the evening go out to eat or we get fries. On Sunday, I never feel like cooking.’

Fries? How do you manage to stay so slim? I assume you’re eating all day long.

“I have to be honest, I’m blessed that I don’t gain weight easily. After my delivery 11 months ago, I fit back into my old pants within a week and a half. I eat everything I feel like, but I do think about a good balance. Nina and I can both really binge, but also enjoy a delicious banana pancake without carbohydrates. That’s Chicks Love Food. Healthy, but also sometimes unhealthy, and by that, we mean Snickers, toasties, fries, and pizza. I really don’t have time for sports, but a busy job is already a huge workout.”

What should I really not bring up with you?

“Goat cheese and real French stinky cheese I find extremely disgusting. And Nina loves it so much. Sometimes I get invited for a dinner with a surprise menu. “Oh, here comes another board” sometimes crosses my mind when serving dessert. I can’t get a bite down my throat.”

If time and money were no object, what would your ideal weekend look like?

“In Rome. With nice weather, please. With my friend and child starting at a sunny terrace with a good cappuccino and a sweet roll. The rest of the day we hop from restaurant to restaurant. That’s it, I don’t need more.”

For whom would you still like to cook?

“Herman den Blijker. He is amazing. No talking, just doing.”

Oh now I’m completely sold. I can even share my love for Herman den Blijker with this chick.