Nadiya Hussain on writing a poem a day and cooking with her family

Nadiya Hussain discussed her love of poetry and cooking with her family during a talk at Good Housekeeping Live, in partnership with Dyson.

Nadiya told the audience about her love for writing poems, which started after she won a poetry competition when she was 7 years old. “I write a poem every day…sometimes it’s just one line, sometimes it’s 16 verses,” she revealed, saying when she looks back over her poems she can, “see my life through the years.”

In terms of inspiration, the GH cover star said it can strike at the unlikeliest of times; “I can be in Costco and it will come to me…sometimes I’ve said [the line of poetry] out loud when I’m paying for things!”

Since starring in the Great British Bake Off in 2015, Nadiya has gone on to write 17 cookbooks (her latest is Nadiya’s Everyday Baking) and front multiple television series.

Despite baking now being her day job, Nadiya said she still loves to do it and tests every one of her recipes in her own domestic kitchen, just like readers will do at home.

During the talk, Nadiya revealed that her eldest son is an excellent cook and her daughter has picked up baking, but her husband has still not quite got the hang of the kitchen.

“The last time he boiled eggs he forgot about them, she said. "I walked in...and he was on the island scraping egg off the ceiling. They were splattered - hard boiled eggs. We still have a dent!”

Nadiya also revealed that her own dad used to make a special dish for her when she was ill as a child: mashed potatoes with tomato soup and cheese, cooked under the grill. Nadiya said this would be the one dish she would take to a desert island. “To me, that’s comfort,” she said.

When asked by an audience member for advice on imposter syndrome, Nadiya shared the mantra she repeats to herself as well as to her children.

"Elbows out. Create space for yourself," she said, referring to the physical space created with the movement, which she uses a reminder that she belongs. "I'm also creating space for others," she added.