10/23/2025
Orchard Cove resident Ellie Deaner knows a thing or two about cooking! Her lengthy culinary career includes producing and hosting the television program "Ellie's Foodline," writing two cookbooks, "From Ellie's Kitchen to Yours" and "So Easy, So Delicious: More From Ellie's Kitchen," and leading cooking classes and culinary demonstrations.
"I walk down the corridor here and quite often someone will tell me that they have my cookbook," Ellie said.
"From Ellie's Kitchen to Yours" features more than 300 recipes, while "So Easy, So Delicious" includes more than 375 hints and recipes for making a variety of breads, muffins, and scones, Passover meals, sweet desserts, and more.
"Most of my recipes are pretty quick and easy, and yet, they are all from scratch," she said.
These recipes include shortcut spinach lasagna, spaghetti with artichoke, cider-baked French toast, berries with balsamic vinegar, sliced butter cookies, and a wide variety of soups.
Deaner was also the consumer affairs consultant for Roche Bros. and Sudbury Farms Supermarkets for more than 15 years.
"I would be in their stores occasionally to promote new recipes, host events, and do demonstrations." she said. "I also gave presentations on their behalf at churches, schools, and synagogues."
After working at Roche Bros., Deaner led culinary team-building events for local companies and organizations. Often working with groups of 15 to 25 people, participants were split into smaller groups, each responsible for preparing a portion of the meal. The finished meal, including the efforts of each team, was eaten together.
"It was something new and exciting, and people liked it," she said. "I also hosted classes and events in people's homes. They would invite their friends over, and we'd host a cooking lesson right in their kitchen."
Noting people of all ages can cook, Deaner said she even hosted children's birthday parties. The kids wore aprons and toques, and they'd cook together.
Cooking is also a part of her new home's décor. When you enter, you'll notice antique cooking supplies from her and her husband Dennis's parents' and grandparents' kitchens hanging from the walls. Cooking runs in the family. Ellie is the daughter of Herbert and Ilse Rose, who was known locally as "The Cake Lady" for baking and creating decorated cakes for various special events. The "CAKES" license plate on their wall is from her mother's business.
Ellie admits she has done less cooking since moving into Orchard Cove, something the Deaners attribute to the quality of the culinary team.
"[Orchard Cove Culinary Director] John [Ralston] is amazing. You can say that about a lot of people here, but John is really incredible," Dennis said.
Ellie said, "[Ralston] features such a wide variety of meals, and a lot of healthy options. I like how they have such a variety of cuisines."
Ellie and Dennis said joining Ralston on a tour of the Orchard Cove kitchen was a treat, and praised the programs and amenities here as "top-notch." Since moving to Orchard Cove in July, they've attended various exercise classes, chatted with others in the Newcomers Group, and used the swimming pool. Ellie has also attended the painting and jewelry-making classes in the art studio.
"We're really loving it here," Ellie said.
