Kitchen is in the mix

By Monique Ebrington
HEALESVILLE Living and Learning Centre (HLLC) is cooking up a storm of ideas with the proposal of a community kitchen for the area.
Hannah Sky from HLLC says that a community kitchen can encourage people to cook at home and in a more cost effective way.
The project is aimed at being both a social activity and a learning experience and Ms Sky said it can be an outlet for people dealing with chronic illness, financial difficulties or social isolation.
“This program offers opportunities to people who are finding themselves a bit isolated or a bit lonely and cut off from others,” Ms Sky said.
“Likewise people can be stuck at home for family reasons or because of health or financial issues that make it hard to connect with others or afford to participate in activities.”
Ms Sky said that, particularly with the current economic situation, the kitchen could benefit people in financial difficulties.
“A community kitchen is something that can not only teach people how to cook nutritious meals for their family but how they can budget and shop for those meals,” Ms Sky said.
Volunteer Yvonne Clarke will teach the class.
Mrs Clarke intends to run one class a week, teaching participants how to prepare basic main meals such as Thai curry, roast chicken and pasta dishes.
Mrs Clarke said she intends for the meals, chosen by the participants, to cost about $2.50 for each person in their family.
She also intends to teach them how to set up a basic pantry at home.
“A well set up pantry can be a key ingredient to planning for low cost and nutritious meals that taste great,” Mrs Clarke said. The community kitchen will use the Healesville Memorial Hall kitchen.
However Ms Sky said there was a shortage of utensils and that donations of cooking equipment for the kitchen would be greatly appreciated.
To donate utensils or to join the community kitchen, classes start in the second week of the school’s Term 1, phone Healesville Living and Learning Centre on 5962 5982.