I grew up in a house in Peckham with two kitchens, but unfinished, like a building site, with no doors on cupboards. My parents bought the house to convert into two flats but it was a long project. We rarely ate as a family. The kitchen upstairs was pretty much a write-off and the kitchen downstairs had space for only a small table, so just me and my brother would eat together. His appetite was ridiculous and he'd say: "Katy, look over there, it's the magic squirrel" and I'd look around and say "Where?", and he'd steal some of my food and I'd get really upset.

When I was about five, mum made cod and potatoes and I didn't want it, because it was all boiled. So I was crying over the plate, as Dad mashed the cod into the potatoes to try to encourage me. And I remember how the added salt from my tears made it taste nice. So, a happy ending.

Mum, bless her, made really bad jam tarts – just the slightest squeeze and the jam would pour out. Mum cooked meat until dry as a bone and Dad would say: "Oh, it's tough boots again." Dad always had his own section in the fridge including German sausages. He lived in Germany for a while and represented Germany in the Eurovision song contest, with Sing Sang Song in 1976.

Every Saturday, as a treat and a ritual, Dad took us for pie and mash at Simple Simon's in Peckham Rye station. At 14, me and my first boyfriend used to go to Greenwich Park and walk around holding hands, then go to Goddard's for £3 pie and mash. I loved it and it's still the ultimate comfort food for me.

I got banned from the canteen at the Brit school for singing En Vogue's Don't Let Go standing on the table. This chef with a massive beard ran out with his wooden spoon and shouted: "Get out! You're barred!"

I've written songs at the cooker, like Hot Like Fire. In What Love Is Made Of I sing "What you've got there cookin' up, come give me my dose". But everyone thinks I'm singing "come give me my toast".

On my rider I have spiced rum and ginger beer with lime, which is just heaven to me. This is the only diva thing I'll ever do: if someone provides not-gingery-enough ginger ale instead of ginger beer, I'll start kicking off. But straight rum is best before performing, to avoid acid reflux. If I feel I'm about to belch on mic, I'll turn my back and do the wavy hands. I make it look glamorous.

I was in the middle of moving house but got gazumped, so I'm living back at my parents'. The kitchens are still unfinished. From a very early age Mum trained me up to make teas for her. But now she's spoiling me. And next I'm thinking I want kids, so I can get them to make me tea.

Katy B's new single, Still, and album, Little Red, are out now on Columbia