AROMATIC scents wafted to our senses as Victoria Kubiak, our speaker, accompanied by her mother Rita, prepared nutritional food served with herbs, later for us to taste.

Victoria is a very keen advocate for healthy eating, shown through her talks and demonstrations, also on Aromatherapist.

Her zest for life showed us the importance of understanding our food and body "Herbs are a benefit to man," she said.

The body cannot make nutrients, they come from the food we eat.

Everything we do, learning, exercise, feeling, reacting and healing depends on our nutritional food supplied in the right balance.

Victoria began with Spinach and Lettuce Soup, including tarragon, parsley and coconut cream, delicious.

Next was Quinoa and Borlotti Pilaf.

Quinoa is a South American grain, highly praised for its vitamins and minerals, this dish was very tasty.

Pea Pesto Dip contained frozen peas, chopped mint, torn basil leaves, tamari and parsley, very tasty and fresh to the palate.

Sesame, Seaweed and Cumin Pitta Breads, were quickly made and baked in 4-5 minutes, tasted different to normal.

Sweet Potato Treats and Chocolate Beetroot Traybake finished a brilliant demonstration.

But all through her talk Victoria explained how herbs were widely used by Romans and Greeks through the ages.

Mint was antibacterial and rubbed on wooden tables for cleansing and scent.

Tarragon, Latin name (dracunculus) meaning little dragon, the unusual name is thought to derive either from its twisted roots, which resembled a dragon or the ancient belief, as Romans thought, to heal snake bites.

It was also antibacterial and antiviral and used in their footwear against smelly feet.

Cumin was used in livestock feed to stop cattle roaming to the next farm, because it showed devotion, strange but true.

Ginger is anti-inflammatory, and helps against nausea.

Parsley was credited by the herbalist Culpepper for treating liver and kidney complaints.

The ancient Romans wore parsley wreaths at banquets to prevent intoxication.

Greeks wore rosemary in their hair for memory, it was also a symbol of love, friendship and fidelity.

Nutmeg saved people from the plague and seaweed and oysters were widely used in medieval England.

After such an interesting talk a warm round of applause followed.

Josie gave the vote of thanks saying "We learnt lots of little tips on cooking for the future".

Meg James was the competition winner.

Business was brief, our tasting evening was a great success.

Birthday ladies were Diane and Marilyn.

Items for the local show on Saturday, September 13, hand made toys for shoe boxes.

Boxes were given out for members to fill for orphan children.

Bookbinding class, Denham College, Monday, October 20, £13. Depart 10am, 5pm return.

We meet again in Upton St Leonard's Village Hall on Monday, October 16, 7.30pm for a talk on 'Tudor and Victorian Life'.

Competition, a piece of antique jewellery, colour orange.

All ladies very welcome.