VOLUNTEERS at Worcester’s Foodbank have launched a range of recipe cards to help cash-strapped clients dish up delicious and affordable meals.
The Lowesmoor charity has published 26 different ideas for main meals and desserts which can be created from the contents of the three-day food parcel that record numbers of people in Worcester are now receiving.
The recipes have been inspired by clients, volunteers and celebrity chef Jack Monroe whose book Tin Can Cook is packed with ideas on how to create healthy, delicious meals from store-cupboard ingredients.
Volunteer Penny Perrett, who initially started the project with her late partner James Erlichman, has been developing the recipe ideas over the past 12 months.
She said: “One of our former volunteers Maggie Whebell began encouraging clients to take away oil, herbs, tomato puree and spices with their food parcel to help them create more interesting meals and the idea grew from there.”
“The recipes are really simple but have all the ingredients to help people and families create cheap and filling meals. That’s something that will benefit them long after they leave us and are able to get back on their feet.”
The recipe cards have been designed by Sue Haslam and feature a wide range of dishes included Tuscan Bean Soup, Salmon Fish Cakes, Moonshine Mash, Easy Lentil Dahl, Chana Masala and Sausage Pasta Bake.
The project is just one of the ways food bank is trying to support the unprecedented number of people that are turning to it for help. Referrals to the charity have risen by a quarter since the full rollout of Universal Credit last autumn, with many clients experiencing lengthy delays in receiving payments.
Food bank is hoping a bumper harvest will help bolster its stock levels so it can keep up with demand and the charity has recently published a new shopping list.
Visit www.worcester.foodbank.org.uk for more.
