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News from Vassalboro-
Cooking and Learning Together!
This spring, some very fortunate people in Vassalboro learned how to prepare healthy new recipes and, as importantly, delicious ones!
Karen (Hatch) Stankis, while working for the Town of Vassalboro as the Community Program Director, was inspired to create this program after she earned a CHEF grant, funded by Hannaford Bros. The one-time grant enabled her to buy the food, supplies, and some needed equipment.
She partnered with Lisa Fishman, Nutrition Education and Food Safety Professional (who traveled from Fort Kent to help!) from the UMaine Cooperative Extension, to make it happen. The local Vassalboro United Methodist Church provided the kitchen and classroom space needed for the class.
Ten people (9 women and 1 man) participated in the six-week course. Not all were from Vassalboro – some came from China and Palermo, and one even came from Camden. All were looking for new healthy food ideas. The classes were also great opportunities to meet new people and make friends.
Before each class, Lisa spoke to the group regarding the topic of the week and then led the hands-on lessons. Each person was responsible for one aspect of the preparation. Although the class was designed so that each would have a meal to take home, most days, they gave in to temptation and sampled the day’s treat before leaving the building! Obviously, an enjoyable experience for all!
This is what they cooked together:
This is what they cooked together:
Week 1: Focus on vegetables with carrot ginger soup and tomato tart (sodium)
Week 2: Focus on fruits with blueberry spinach salad and baked pears (sugar)
Week 3: Focus on great grains with kamut and chicken casserole and peach crisp in a mug (fiber-folate)
Week 4: Focus on dairy with loaded potato soup and pudding (calcium-vitamin D)
Week 5: Focus on protein with tofu stuffed shells (protein-fat)
Week 6: Focus on summer salads including pasta salad, rice salad and a sweet salad, too. (food safety)
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