Cookery

Homemade Cottage Pie topped with cheddar was Amy Jones’s chosen dish at last week’s cookery session, and it tasted amazing. We used 5% fat lean mince, Worcestershire sauce, tomato puree, garlic, beef stock, and dried mixed herbs. We added onions, carrots, and peas to the mince and topped it off with creamy mash and cheddar. We then popped it in the oven for twenty minutes to finish cooking. We also made a Quorn version that tasted just as nice, for members who don’t eat meat.

We served the cottage pie with cauliflower, green beans carrots peas and gravy. Our members prepared carrots and onions, dicing them into small pieces to add to the mince, then peeled the potatoes for the mash.

Ffion and Amy hosted a quiz and bingo while lunch was cooking – well done ladies for keeping everyone entertained. Thanks so much to everyone who volunteered – you all worked so hard, as usual.

There is no class next week so we will see you all on Friday May 5th when Tracy Tregaskis has chosen to make chicken stir fry.

Cookery Session

Toad in the hole was Paula’s choice in cookery last week, the perfect meal for a cold rainy day. Toad in the hole is traditionally served with onion gravy, but we avoided the onions in ours, as Paula’s not a fan.

Volunteers and members spent the morning preparing green beans, carrots, broccoli, and potatoes for the creamy mash. During the day some members showed us photos of the meals they have recreated at home, and they looked delicious. It’s great to see that people are more confident in the kitchen at home, and are cooking more often since coming to cookery class. What a brilliant achievement, well done to you all.

We ended the afternoon with a quiz, cake, and lots of giggles as always. It’s great to see everyone smiling and having fun with their friends whilst learning new skills. Thanks again to all our volunteers, and we’ll see you next week when Amy has chosen to make cottage pie with vegetables.

Cookery

Lisa’s choice of chicken curry at last week’s cookery session was enjoyed by everyone. Luke, Richard, and Jordan did a fantastic job making the curries, and congratulations to the quiz and raffle winners – it was lovely to see everyone having fun. We’d like to thank all our volunteers, who always do an amazing job.

As it’s good Friday next week, there will be no class, so we will see you all on April 14th when Paula has chosen to make toad in the hole, mash and veg. See you all then, and have a great Easter.

Cookery

At Friday’s cookery session, Gareth chose to make lasagne – sheets of pasta floating in a lean beef bolognaise and cheese sauce, served with vegetables and garlic bread as side dishes. Our members and volunteers helped prep the vegetables, bolognaise and lasagne ready for cooking, and the end results tasted amazing – well done everyone.

Thanks to Amy Jones and Ffion Poole who ran the quiz whilst we waited for the lasagne to cook, and thanks to Tracy Tregaskis, Sam Evans, and Cheryl Smith for volunteering in the kitchen – you all worked so hard. Next week, Lisa has chosen to make chicken curry and rice.

Cookery Session

At last Friday’s cookery session Caerphilly People First members made tuna pasta bake and prepared a fresh salad. Thanks to Sam Evans for the suggestion – it was definitely a thumbs up and tasted delicious. It was great to see everyone coming together, preparing a healthy meal, socialising and, most of all, having fun. Jordan did a great job taking photos and captured some great shots. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, you were amazing as always. Gareth has chosen to make lasagne, veg and garlic bread next week.  See you all then!

Cookery

This week the members made sausage casserole and mashed potatoes, as suggested by Wayne.  The group did a great job preparing the mushrooms, peppers, onions, and potatoes.  It’s wonderful seeing everyone learning new skills and becoming more confident in the kitchen.  Thank you to all our volunteers – you’re amazing.  Next week Sam Evans has chosen to make tuna pasta bake.

Cookery

At this week’s cookery session Caerphilly People First members and volunteers made Easy Hunters Chicken (as suggested by Adrian).

Ready in just 30 mins (if you already have BBQ sauce), it’s full of flavour, and there are loads of different options when it comes to how to serve it.  Each member had a go at wrapping the bacon around the chicken breast and adding the sauce and grated cheese.  They then served their chicken with carrots and broccoli, and white rice.

Great choice Adrian, everyone really enjoyed the food.  Thanks to everyone who volunteered – you all worked so hard.  Wayne has chosen to make sausage casserole and mash next week, so we’ll see you all then.

Cookery Course

Thank you to everyone who attended last week’s cookery session – it was another great success.  The group made beef burgers from scratch, as suggested by Carly.  We made the burgers using 5% fat lean mince, and added fried onions, cheese, and ketchup to our buns, and the results tasted amazing.  Some members chose to have their burgers with salad and onion rings, and some chose chips.

It was lovely to see everyone coming together, learning new skills and sharing tips with each other on how to make the perfect burger.  Thanks again to everyone who volunteered – we couldn’t do it without you.

Moira has chosen to make creamy buttery mashed potato, served with fish fingers and peas next week.  We won’t be making the fish fingers from scratch, so we will also have time to make some chocolate Rice Krispies cakes.

Cookery Course

We had another very successful cookery session last week – attended by over 30 people – during which the group made spaghetti Bolognese. Members made their own sauce using cherry tomatoes, basil, coriander, garlic, tomato puree, and a few oxo cubes. This was added to the 5% fat lean mince and served with spaghetti and fusilli pasta, and cheesy garlic bread.

It’s wonderful to see everyone learning new skills and catching up with friends, old and new. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, and we’ll see you all again on Friday, when Carly has chosen to make beef burgers.

Cookery Course Week 2

What a fantastic turnout we had for our second cookery session – funded by the Comic Relief Community Fund in Wales – which was attended by 24 people! As suggested by Louise last week, we cooked chicken fajitas, which tasted amazing. Massive thanks to everyone who volunteered, and we’ll see you all next week when we’ll be making pizza, as suggested by Amelia.

Here are some of the comments we received from those attending:

Jordan – I enjoyed chopping up the peppers and eating all the biscuits. I had lots of fun.

Louise – It was really positive, and good to feel part of the community.

Amelia – I enjoyed meeting new people and learning to cook. The staff are lovely and helpful.

Adrian – I enjoyed speaking to people and learning new skills.

Audrey – I enjoyed helping to cut the food and having cups of tea. It’s an amazing group.

Mark – I liked getting out and meeting people, and trying something new to eat – I really enjoyed the food.