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Healthy Cookery Community Sessions at Social adVentures for 6 weeks

July 26, 2011 in Community cooking

Social adVentures is an exciting social enterprise jointly owned by service users, employees and local Salford people. Social adVentures aims to support all local people to lead happier and healthier lives; we define happiness as enjoyment of a full and meaningful life and health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Social adVentures has 3 centres to support it to meet this vision, The Angel Centre, The Creative Media Centre and Garden Needs. All centres provide a massive range of activities, courses and events all year round.

Cracking Good Food are collaborating with Social adVentures who are preparing to run a social prescribing scheme.  The idea of this is to get people into activities to support individuals to improve their health and happiness.

People attending would be referred from there GP, Social Prescribing Navigator or by self referral. Our healthy cookery sessions aim to bring positive change to the local community.

From 16th August Cracking Cook Kim from Islington Mill will be running these 6 week, weekly courses with members of the local community.
For more information please contact: simone@socialadventures.org.uk  and / or  kim@islingtonmill.com

Social adventures logo

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Please vote for Cracking Good Food via freepost coupon in MEN this Friday 22nd July!

July 20, 2011 in Our cooking sessons

We’ve been shortlisted for the People Powered Change Lottery funding, and we’re down to the last 3 in Manchester, the winner to be decided by public vote!! If we win, it would fund us to run a vital 3 month pilot project working with a Sure Start centre in Burnage for special needs children, cooking with the parents and carers to create a healthy lunch for us all to eat together, 5 days a week.

Please vote for us!

It will be published in the MEN on Friday 22nd July.

Voting is via a freepost coupon.

We can only run this project if we get the funding.

 Big lottery fund 758x400

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Summer on the allotment with Cracking Good Food – Sat 6th August 2011 at Manchester Museum

July 20, 2011 in allotments, Community cooking

Big Saturday: Summer on the allotment
Sat 6th August at 11am to 4pm at Manchester Museum Allotment (outside front entrance)

Come along to Manchester Museum’s newly created allotment and learn what veg you can grow, get top tips about composting. Join Cracking Good Food for a food workshop, where Nicola will be cooking seasonal tortilla and salad from 2pm. Also learn all about sun safety, visit the RSPB stall and find out how you can attract different birds to your garden.

See one of the family friendly films, The Four Seasons or Bugs and Insects. Get crafty making windmills and garden bugs.

Make planters from found materials in our crafty workshop.

See and touch some objects from our allotment handling box, which includes a 17th century watering can, medals from Manchester Agriculture shows, dried pea plants found on the banks of the River Mersey, ancient Egyptian farming tools and a wide range of garden insects.

Price: Most activities are free and drop-in. Some activities may need to be booked on the day and may cost up to £1.50. All ages. The Museum Allotment

manchester museum allotment

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Summertime Foraging at Chorlton Water Park – Thu 4th August

July 8, 2011 in Our cooking sessons, Public Cooking Events

Summertime foraging is some of the most diverse and rewarding. With berries, nuts, roots, seeds, edible greens and mushrooms in mind, we will spend the best part of three hours taking in a loop of Chorlton Water Park, making a collection of our best finds as we go. And what doesn’t get nibbled straight away can be used at the end of the walk to make a variety of savoury and sweet seasonal wild food treats.

Meet at the car park entrance to Chorlton Water Park 15 mins before session starts.

Unfortunately this session was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances

Example of feedback from previous sessions:
“It was fascinating seeing what plants and food grow and learning what we could eat! I will definely be trying this myself!” – David Roberts
“Loved the medicinal info, cooking tips and the ideatification/tasting of plants! Really informative, great introduction to foraging” – Zophie Begolo
“Very enjoyable, informative – very inspiring” – Katie Corbes-Hill
“It was interesting identifying the different edible plants, in particularly comfrey – I have only used it on the allotment previously” – Antonia Dunn

Idenifying mushrooms

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Mezze with Deanna – Tue 22nd Nov

July 8, 2011 in Christmas, classes, cookery classes, cooking sessions, Deanna, Our cooking sessons, Public Cooking Events

Back again – due to popular demand – Cracking cook Deanna Thomas from North Star Deli will show you how to make a selection of small tasty dishes inspired by the Middle East – meat and veggie delights include baba ghanoush, stuffed vine leaves & middle-eastern spiced lamb koftas.

Great little dishes that will come in handy if you need to knock up some delicious starters, a tasty lunch, or a party buffet for Christmas.

Example of feedback from previous session:
“I really enjoyed the session – really friendly + interesting + clear that the aim is for us to enjoy the session. Loved the eating together at the end – a really excellent session” – Chloe Brew
“Lovely food!” – Clare Llewellyn

£30/£25 – Book online

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Mid-winter foray – Sat 14th Jan 2012

July 8, 2011 in classes, cooking sessions, foraging, Jesper, Our cooking sessons, Public Cooking Events

For those hardy foragers prepared to brace the bitterness of a cold winter day. You’d be forgiven for expecting to find nothing on this forage but while itmay not be the easiest hunting, there are some excellent, and easy-to-identify winter-time wild foods. This walk is a great excuse to get outdoors on a cold day. Meet at the main park entrance on Wilmslow Road next to the Didsbury Pub 15 minutes before.

Example of feedback from previous sessions:
“It was fascinating seeing what plants and food grow and learning what we could eat! I will definely be trying this myself!” – David Roberts
“Loved the medicinal info, cooking tips and the ideatification/tasting of plants! Really informative, great introduction to foraging” – Zophie Begolo
“Very enjoyable, informative – very inspiring” – Katie Corbes-Hill

£25/£20 – Book online

mid winter

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An Evening Mushroom Foray – 21st September

July 8, 2011 in Our cooking sessons

This evening foray is an ideal opportunity to learn how to identify some of the tastiest early autumn mushrooms. Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury has an interesting mix of habitats so even if we’re having an Indian summer, there are locations which will still come up trumps. The walk will last a couple of hours and we’ll have a chance to sample some of our best finds at the end.

Meeting at the main park entrance on Wilmslow Road next to The Didsbury Pub 15 minutes before the session starts.

£20/£15 - Book online now

Foraging for mushrooms with Jesper

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Extra session – Asian Vegetarian Cuisine – 27th September

July 8, 2011 in classes, Our cooking sessons, Public Cooking Events

Due to popular demand and the session with Jackie on the 8th of November having sold out quickly, we are now offering an extra session with Jackie on Asian Vegetarian Cuisine. This will be the same menu, a simple repeat session of the 8th of November one, as to not disappoint those who missed out on booking a place for that session.

Jackie Kearney is a top 4 finalist in BBC One’s MasterChef 2011. She is now developing her experience and reputation with pop-up dining events, as a private chef and working with a number of highly regarded chefs in the UK.

Her food passion lies with vegetarian dining and Asian street food, inspired by her extensive travels across Asia with her husband and twin children. You can read more about Jackie’s adventures with her family on her Asia travel blog.

Jackie’s ambition is to raise the bar in vegetarian and street food dining. She aims to bring something to the table that is exciting, delicious and thought provoking.

“I love everything about streetfood. I love the accessibility of it, the array of flavours and spices, the fresh preparation of ingredients and most of all, the opportunities this gives for creating great dishes, regardless of whether it’s vegetarian or not. It’s simply about producing an amazing plate of food for people to enjoy.”

Jackie’s Website

 £30/£25 – Book online now

Jackie Kearney 400x300

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Cracking Good Food Sessions with the Lost Plot

July 8, 2011 in Our cooking sessons

PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday 5 July 2011

They’re back! Due to popular demand, Cracking Good Food has joined forces with The Lost Plot, Chorlton’s original community allotment, and is organising three new cooking sessions, on Saturdays 16 and 30 July and 13 August from 4.00– 5.30pm. 

The workshops are funded by Southway Housing and are FREE to all residents of the Arrowfield and Hough End Estates. Two sessions (16 July and 13 August) will take place down at the Lost Plot allotment and the third session (30 July) will take place at Buckthorn House.

Tina Murphy, Customer Involvement Officerfor Southway Housing said: “The sessions which we ran earlier in the year at Buckthorn House were so successful that we wanted to organise some more. It’s great that Southway Housing can fund a further three sessions. I’d encourage anyone who lives on the estates to come along.  We’ve had some great evenings and the food that we’ve shared has been delicious – these are local chefs who know how to make local produce into something really special”.

Two of the sessions (16 July and 13 August) will be hosted at The Lost Plot, Southern Allotments, off Nell Lane, in Chorlton.

“It’s great that we’ll be able to host another two cooking sessions” said Lost Plot Secretary Rachel Adams.  “Cooking pizzas in our clay oven is always great fun and the Cracking Good Food chefs demonstrate that anyone can have a go at dough and pizza-making”.

Adele Jordan, Director of Cracking Good Food said: “These cooking sessions seem to have really opened people up to cooking and eating together again. There’s always been a lovely buzz about them and our cooks are queuing up to run them.  It’s not expensive to enjoy good food when you know how to cook it, and our recipe sheets are a reminder for what to do when you’re at home. It’s a lovely family event to be a part of, especially when you get to eat all the food at the end!

Anyone interested in attending the cooking sessions should text Sarah in advance on 07930 898935 to reserve a place.

The Lost Plot community allotment was set up in November 05, with assistance from Manchester eco-charity Action For Sustainable Living. Volunteers meet every Sunday down at the Lost Plot from 1 – 6pm.  Food is grown and shared amongst the volunteers and produce this year ranges from cucumbers, aubergines and salad leaves in the polytunnel to squashes, leeks, rocket and rhubarb in a variety of beds and containers dotted around the Lost Plot site. Anyone interested in coming along should contact Clare (07595 873221) Rachel 07739 409449) or Josh (07789 9122055).

Sarah cooking at Buckthorn House

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Jam & Chutney Making Sessions with Trove @ MFDF – 14th October

July 8, 2011 in Our cooking sessons

Trove Foods is a newly established organic and sustainable food business based in Levenshulme. Trove Foods, Cracking Good Food and Feeding Manchester are offering you the chance to make jam and chutney together, using seasonal, organic food sourced locally.

Learn how to make the perfect Christmas present!

With each session lasting an hour and a quarter, in groups of 12 we’ll guide you through the process of making either jam or chutney.

The sessions at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival with Katy or Marcus from Trove Foods, will begin at either 3.00 or 4.30 depending on which type of preserve you chose to make.

Katy – Seasonal Jam 3pm or 4.30pm

Marcus – Seasonal  Chutney 3pm or 4.30pm

We’ll be following on from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall….

Each session costs £10 per person in advance or £12.50 on the day.  Please bring your own medium sized jar to fill and take home with you.

Book online now

trove jam chutney


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Pumpkin Stews, Soups & Seeds – Sat 1st Nov

July 8, 2011 in classes, Jay, Our cooking sessons, Public Cooking Events

A popular re-run with Jay from Hickson & Blacks’ Deli. In this meat and veggie session Jay will be using up the remaining seasonal pumpkins, teaching you to cook up a beef, pumpkin & star anise stew, an exotic pumpkin & coconut soup and show you how you’ll never need to buy pumpkin seeds again because you’ll be able to roast your own. And don’t forget when the pumpkin-season is over you can replace pumpkins by any kind of seasonable squashes in these delicious recipes.

£30/£25 – Book online now

Jay hickson and blacks

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Vegetarian Punjabi Cooking with Harjinder – Sat 5th Nov

July 8, 2011 in Our cooking sessons

Another popular re-run – Cracking Cook Harjinder, who has been cooking Punjabi food for 40 years and has been on TV with the Hairy Bikers on their well known Mum Knows Best series, will share her secrets of this delicious cuisine with some Punjabi vegetarian delights plus a masterclass in chappati making

Harjinder’s Website

Example of feedback from previous sessions:
“As I have never made a curry before I found the whole session was a perfect introduction, clear instructions with a fantastic result!” – Rebecca
“It was interesting learning about the spices that are less well known and new techniques” – Lis Stirling
“Harjinders knowledge and good tips food was excellent – Sarah Baile
“It was interesting to learn about the use of spices & order to add to dishes. Excellent event & lovely food at the end” – Phil Kilburn
“Harjinder was a wonderful teacher” – Zophie

£25/£20 – Book online now

punjabi spices 450

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Asian Vegetarian Cuisine with Masterchef Finalist Jackie Kearney – Tue 8th November 2011

July 8, 2011 in Our cooking sessons

Back again, due to popular demand – Jackie Kearney is a top 4 finalist in BBC One’s MasterChef 2011. She is now developing her experience and reputation with pop-up dining events, as a private chef and working with a number of highly regarded chefs in the UK.

Her food passion lies with vegetarian dining and Asian street food, inspired by her extensive travels across Asia with her husband and twin children. You can read more about Jackie’s adventures with her family on her Asia travel blog.

Jackie’s ambition is to raise the bar in vegetarian and street food dining. She aims to bring something to the table that is exciting, delicious and thought provoking.

“I love everything about streetfood. I love the accessibility of it, the array of flavours and spices, the fresh preparation of ingredients and most of all, the opportunities this gives for creating great dishes, regardless of whether it’s vegetarian or not. It’s simply about producing an amazing plate of food for people to enjoy.”

Jackie’s Website

 £30/£25 – Book online now

Jackie Kearney 400x300

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Festive Bread-making at Chorlton High – Sat 12th November

July 8, 2011 in Christmas, classes, cookery classes, Our cooking sessons, Public Cooking Events, Rob

This special session includes making your own batch of the basic bread recipe with all the usual invaluable help, hints & tips from Rob to make sure you end up with a fabulous loaf and as a nod to the season, this session you will also be baking a Christmassy Bara Brith packed full of cinnamon, nutmeg, rum and candied peel….a merry Christmas indeed!

Example of feedback from previous sessions:
“Very inspiring workshop!” – Sue Nzilaric
“I really enjoyed this event. It was well organised with an inspiring teacher with a passion for bread. I have learned so much and would like to go on an intermediate bread course” – Beverley Jenkinson.
“What a fantastic way to spend a few hours at the weekend. Rob was extremely informative and the co-ordinators always to hand to help – brilliant!” – Hawys Williams
 

£30/£25 –Book online now

bread rob

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Bread-making for beginners – 15th November 2011

July 8, 2011 in Our cooking sessons

This is a rescheduled session for the 13th September and 11th October sessions

Let Rob inspire you to make your own bread easily using 100% organic flour.  Re-run again due to overwhelming popular demand. You’ll each make your own loaf / batch / rolls of wholemeal bread under Rob’s expert tutoring, plus some yummy garlic naan.

Example of feedback from previous sessions:
“Very inspiring workshop!” – Sue Nzilaric
“I really enjoyed this event. It was well organised with an inspiring teacher with a passion for bread. I have learned so much and would like to go on an intermediate bread course” – Beverley Jenkinson.
“What a fantastic way to spend a few hours at the weekend. Rob was extremely informative and the co-ordinators always to hand to help – brilliant!” – Hawys Williams

 £25/£20 – Book online now

6 bread 140511

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