29 May 2025, 18:04Sharon Platt-McDonald
Adventist Women Positively Impacting Their Communities
Our British Union Conference (BUC) Women’s Ministries Department are acknowledging Adventist women who are positively impacting their communities. We continue our series of spotlighting influential Adventist women with this interview featuring Susanne Kirlew.
SPM – Susanne, you are a TV and radio presenter, published author, vegan expert, recipe creator, and chef, and you were named one of the Top 100 in the Lift Effects Star Awards, which sounds amazing. How has God led over the years in these areas of your career and ministry journey?
SK – It’s truly been a journey, and I can honestly say that God has led every step of the way. From TV presenting to writing and recipe development, each opportunity has felt like a divine appointment. I set out to do all these things, and doors kept opening that allowed me to combine my passion for food, health, and faith.
God has used my career not just professionally but also as a ministry – to inspire healthier living, encourage stewardship, and initiate meaningful conversations about faith. Even through challenges, His guidance has been clear. I’m grateful for how He continues to lead and open new paths.
SPM – What are some of the key challenges individuals have encountered regarding vegan cooking, and how have you helped them to address these hurdles?
SK – One of the main challenges people face with vegan cooking is knowing what to make. I always suggest starting by “veganising” your favourite meals – for example, turning spaghetti bolognese or Jamaican stew peas into a plant-based version.
I also recommend keeping a food diary for a week or two to track what you cook. Save those recipes in a folder to create your go-to library for future inspiration.
Another common concern is that vegan food can be bland. My tip is to use the same herbs and spices you would in meat or fish dishes – seasoning is key to making vegan meals taste just as delicious.
SPM – What are some of your most popular recipes?
SK – My most popular recipes are some of my simplest recipes. The most popular recipe on my Kirly-Sue YouTube channel is ‘How to Make a Vegan Sponge Cake’, which currently has approximately half a million views. Another recipe that I have, which is extremely popular, is ‘How to Cook Bulgur Wheat’. I usually cook it with fresh thyme and tomato puree.
SPM – A key aspect of your work has been around cooking with children. Why is that a particular focus for you?
SK – One of my key focuses is cooking with children. My reason for this is that cooking is a life skill, and it’s an essential skill for children to have, particularly as they grow older, because it contributes to their health and well-being, which is primarily linked to what they eat. Therefore, helping children learn healthy skills from a young age is a skill that will stay with them for life.
SPM – What has been your most successful initiative to date, and do you have any plans to build on those favourable outcomes?
SK – My most successful initiative to date has been a three-part TV series that I produced, entitled Kirly-Sue's Global Kitchen, which is currently available on Amazon Prime. In addition, I have a 12-part series that I co-produced with Hope Channel Southeast Asia, which is also a vegan cooking show and is currently being shown on Hope Channel South Asia.
I will be building on that because I’m currently working on a new TV series that will be with a major channel or streaming platform. Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to say which one it is at the moment, but as soon as I am, I will be happy to share that with you. So, coming soon is some big news by God’s grace.
SPM – What is your vision for our Adventist community relating to healthy lifestyle and diet, and how do you see yourself contributing to that vision?
SK – My vision is that our Health Message is promoted much more in our churches, and we give more advice on what to eat instead of what not to eat. I would be happy to join others in making this happen.
SPM – You have contributed substantially to the area of culinary excellence; what is your next project?
SK – My next project is to create a vegan cooking show on a mainstream, non-Christian channel, and if it is God’s will, this will happen.
SPM – Please share a closing encouragement for our readers.
SK – Eat to live and live to eat good food. Share good recipes with others so they may reap the health benefits.
SPM – Thank you, Susanne, for such an inspirational interview. May God’s favour continue to surround you as He blesses your work abundantly.
Our British Union Conference (BUC) Women’s Ministries Department are acknowledging Adventist women who are positively impacting their communities. We continue our series of spotlighting influential Adventist women with this interview featuring Susanne Kirlew.
SPM – Susanne, you are a TV and radio presenter, published author, vegan expert, recipe creator, and chef, and you were named one of the Top 100 in the Lift Effects Star Awards, which sounds amazing. How has God led over the years in these areas of your career and ministry journey?
SK – It’s truly been a journey, and I can honestly say that God has led every step of the way. From TV presenting to writing and recipe development, each opportunity has felt like a divine appointment. I set out to do all these things, and doors kept opening that allowed me to combine my passion for food, health, and faith.
God has used my career not just professionally but also as a ministry – to inspire healthier living, encourage stewardship, and initiate meaningful conversations about faith. Even through challenges, His guidance has been clear. I’m grateful for how He continues to lead and open new paths.
SPM – What are some of the key challenges individuals have encountered regarding vegan cooking, and how have you helped them to address these hurdles?
SK – One of the main challenges people face with vegan cooking is knowing what to make. I always suggest starting by “veganising” your favourite meals – for example, turning spaghetti bolognese or Jamaican stew peas into a plant-based version.
I also recommend keeping a food diary for a week or two to track what you cook. Save those recipes in a folder to create your go-to library for future inspiration.
Another common concern is that vegan food can be bland. My tip is to use the same herbs and spices you would in meat or fish dishes – seasoning is key to making vegan meals taste just as delicious.
SPM – What are some of your most popular recipes?
SK – My most popular recipes are some of my simplest recipes. The most popular recipe on my Kirly-Sue YouTube channel is ‘How to Make a Vegan Sponge Cake’, which currently has approximately half a million views. Another recipe that I have, which is extremely popular, is ‘How to Cook Bulgur Wheat’. I usually cook it with fresh thyme and tomato puree.
SPM – A key aspect of your work has been around cooking with children. Why is that a particular focus for you?
SK – One of my key focuses is cooking with children. My reason for this is that cooking is a life skill, and it’s an essential skill for children to have, particularly as they grow older, because it contributes to their health and well-being, which is primarily linked to what they eat. Therefore, helping children learn healthy skills from a young age is a skill that will stay with them for life.
SPM – What has been your most successful initiative to date, and do you have any plans to build on those favourable outcomes?
SK – My most successful initiative to date has been a three-part TV series that I produced, entitled Kirly-Sue's Global Kitchen, which is currently available on Amazon Prime. In addition, I have a 12-part series that I co-produced with Hope Channel Southeast Asia, which is also a vegan cooking show and is currently being shown on Hope Channel South Asia.
I will be building on that because I’m currently working on a new TV series that will be with a major channel or streaming platform. Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to say which one it is at the moment, but as soon as I am, I will be happy to share that with you. So, coming soon is some big news by God’s grace.
SPM – What is your vision for our Adventist community relating to healthy lifestyle and diet, and how do you see yourself contributing to that vision?
SK – My vision is that our Health Message is promoted much more in our churches, and we give more advice on what to eat instead of what not to eat. I would be happy to join others in making this happen.
SPM – You have contributed substantially to the area of culinary excellence; what is your next project?
SK – My next project is to create a vegan cooking show on a mainstream, non-Christian channel, and if it is God’s will, this will happen.
SPM – Please share a closing encouragement for our readers.
SK – Eat to live and live to eat good food. Share good recipes with others so they may reap the health benefits.
SPM – Thank you, Susanne, for such an inspirational interview. May God’s favour continue to surround you as He blesses your work abundantly.
