Canadian Living food editor Elizabeth Baird has been sharing her love affair with food on Canadian Living Television for the past three years and has appeared regularly on The Dini Show, Canada A.M. and Global News at Noon. Her wit, charm and inimitable food style are key components to the dynamic new show Canadian Living Cooks. Born in Stratford, Ont., Elizabeth graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Modern Languages and Literature. She spent a year in France as Assistante Anglaise at the Lycee des Eaux Claires in Grenoble and three years in London, England, before returning to Toronto to teach for almost 20 years.

Cooking and food, however, remained her passions. And no wonder. She came from a family of outstanding cooks and bakers for whom food was central to any celebration-and a celebration could be as simple as a mid-week family meal.

When Elizabeth met publisher James Lorimer, he encouraged her to combine her skill at teaching with her love of food and, in 1974, she published the best-selling cookbook "Classic Canadian Cooking." Elizabeth began contributing to Canadian Living as a freelancer and, in 1987, joined the magazine as Food Editor. She has authored 25 Canadian Living cookbooks, including the best-selling "Best of" series.

Elizabeth's reputation for showcasing Canadian foods, new food talent and our country's multicultural food heritage is renowned. So, too, is her commitment to the belief that food plays an important role in our social fabric.

"Sure, we have to eat to live," says Elizabeth. "But food-lovingly prepared and lovingly shared-encourages us to connect with each other, and to nurture and sustain our rituals, traditions and heritages.

"Canadian Living Cooks allows us to visit with viewers in their homes -and that's an honour. It's a wonderful chance for me to share my passion for cooking-and eating-and to introduce viewers to my favorite recipes for every day and for special occasions, all of which have been tested until perfect in the Canadian Living test kitchen. So I know they'll work in home kitchens, too."

Elizabeth is a founding board member of Breakfast for Learning, a Canadian Living Magazine Foundation. She was honoured by the Toronto Culinary Guild's first Silver Ladle award, a National Magazine Award for food writing in Canada, and with the Ontario Hostelry Institute's Gold Award in the Media Category.

Elizabeth lives with her husband, George, in Toronto.