About Us
Welcome
The Three Meals A Day website is the work of a family of cooks who have been serving good food for nearly 70 years. It started in the 1930’s when Jessie Read of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, published a cookbook titled “Three Meals a Day”. It was an everyday cookbook for the average or aspiring cook. Jessie Read (Mrs. Robert Hately) never realized the impact she would have on her daughter Heather Claggett. Cooking is part of everyday life in this family and each generation has carried on the cooking tradition. As our children and extended families grow, so does our website.
Our website includes a recipe database, cooking blog, and other culinary notes. The recipe database includes a historical recipe section with many of the original cookbook recipes. The contrast between cooking then and today is significant when cooking was very basic, with fewer ingredients and simpler tools. Of course those were the years just after the great depression and the early years of Canada’s participation in World War II. Our recipe database includes proven recipes, while our blog is more of a free-for-all on cooking – recipes, tips, cooking experiences, etc.
Three Meals A Day is a virtual cookbook, or what we call the ‘third edition’. We do our best to frequently add new recipes from our many family contributors and friends. The range of cooking expertise varies from beginner to “seasoned”. We will help our young cooks through their experiences while they share what they are learning. Of course no matter how seasoned, we are always learning and our tips section will include new tricks we have learned. We encourage you to visit our contributors section to find out more about their cooking experiences and styles.
Please share in our passion for cooking, which has become a family tradition across generations. We welcome any thoughts and comments on the site.
Bon Appétit!
The Three Meals A Day team.
Comments (19)
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Recent Recipes
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Lady Ross Pickle
A classic historic pickle recipe of Canada the Lady Ross Pickle condiment is perfect for those that love mustard and...
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Warm Taco Salad
This recipe serves 4 [tips]
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Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa
This recipe serves 4 [tips]
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Tomato Soup a la HA...
This is a lighter version and made with fresh tomatoes and herbs. You can change herbs to suit your taste....
posted by Susan J. Matthews on February 24, 2010
To the three meals a day team…….you’ve done a superb job.
I love the web site.
posted by Cathy Blair on March 6, 2010
The new look to the web site is very appealing. Much of the fun of cooking comes from the stories behind the meals and you have created a wonderful blend of delicious recipes and imaginative narrative. Congratulations!
posted by Joanne Notman on January 28, 2011
Hi heather and family…..love the new website! I’m missing
the onion casserole…..is it still on the site?
posted by Heather Claggett on January 30, 2011
Joanne, please refresh my aging memory. Was it an appetizer or a vegetable side? Hope all is well with the family
posted by Joanne Notman on January 30, 2011
Okay Heather! Found it! the 3 Cheese Casserole………..absolutely love it.
Will email you shortly re getting together:)
posted by Cheryl and Adam @ pictureperfectmeals.com on February 22, 2011
Thanks for your comment and kind words on Picture-Perfect Meals. We do our best to answer questions when we get them and as you asked about the cameras and lenses used they are as follows. Nikon D2x with a variety of lenses but primarily 70-20 mm f 2.8 zoom, usually set closer to the 200 mm focal length. Additionally we frequently use a 4×5 with a BetterLight53 megapixel scan back. Love your blog and the family history in cooking.
posted by Dayna Irwin on May 18, 2011
I have an original copy of the cook book with a note in it written by Jessie Read.
posted by Heather Ann Claggett on May 19, 2011
Interesting. You are blessed to have one as they are hard to find even in old book sales. Was the note to one of your family? It was the basic book that helped me learn how to boil water which is what my mother intended. I hope you have found it helpful.
posted by Patricia Edwards on February 8, 2014
Hi, still cooking and enjoying everything as usual, and sharing with friends thought it was time I checked in and borrowed a few recipes
posted by Patricia Edwards on February 8, 2014
Can Jessie’s recipe book be copied would love to have one never did steal recipes from Dorothy’s
posted by admin on February 8, 2014
Dear Pat,
This is Stuart. Do you know of any specific recipes you are looking for?
posted by Patricia Edwards on February 10, 2014
The carrot nibbles with spices she use to do were excellent with drinks, looking for special nibbles for smaller appetites but who,like variety, how are you loved Xmas picture at cottage.
posted by admin on February 11, 2014
The recipe is up. Should be most recent but you can search under carrot
posted by Lisa on February 23, 2014
I love this website and will be using it more and more!
posted by Pat Edwards on April 19, 2014
Heather Ann has already shared her love of cooking and entertainment with me a love of cooking was something we share, I am still cooking and entertaining at 85 you never lose the joy of it this is a great sight to get back to regularly
posted by Georgene on September 8, 2017
Just purchased a first edition at the Kingston Ontario Symphony book sale. Someone has written “Christmas 1939” on the frontspiece, and it is signed “Very best wishes, Jessie M Read”.
I am really looking forward to diving into this book. I wonder if my late mom ever had a copy. She would have been 21 when it was published.
posted by admin on September 10, 2017
Hello Georgene,
Well it appears you were a lucky one to get one that was probably a Christmas gift from our mother/grandmother. It is very interesting to explore the recipes and see the simplicity of ingredients. If you ever see another one we are always in search for some more for family members.
Cheers,
Heather, Stuart, Doug, Jay
posted by Fiona Lucas on August 12, 2019
Hello. On behalf of the Culinary Historians of Canada, I would like to contact Heather Ann Claggett in reference to the cookbooks of her mother Jessie Read. Could Mrs Claggett or a member of her family please email me so I can open a conversation. Thank you!