The Rosendale Family Cookbook was successfully launched at Belair House this week.
Here is a little background to the launch:
Here at Rosendale we are so lucky to have such a vibrant, diverse and multicultural community. We wanted a way to capture the sense of togetherness, and culinary skills to reflect this. What better way than to create a community cookbook, for the community, written by that very community.
You see a lot of Cookbooks made for children but you don’t see many made by children. Not only have the children shared their recipes but many have also sent in illustrations and photos that feature throughout the Cookbook.
When the funding provision to run educational programming and maintain the Rosendale School allotment plot came to an end, a small group of parents took it on. During weekly weeding and watering sessions, the idea for a cookbook was born. Next came a campaign to encourage as many families as possible to contribute with their favourite dishes. We received over 80 recipes from teachers, grandparents, children themselves and even the local vicar. These include Blackberry and Apple Crumble, Jollof Rice, Guyanese Pine Tarts, Japanese Carrot Cake, Grannie’s Roasted Ratatouille and Strawberry Jam Cakes.
Over lockdown, as we couldn’t visit the allotment plot in the way we had previously done due to social distancing restrictions, so creating the cookbook became a wonderful way to remain close to the community. And keep the allotment ethos alive. The cookbook contains a short guide to how and what to grow in each season with various recipes of ingredients that can be easily grown. Encouraging even those with limited garden space to attempt to grow/garden at home. One tip is you can transfer your seedlings such as tomatoes and beans to big pots – with care and attention they will thrive.
The books is now available purchase at several local shops; Wigwam Toy shop, The Flower Lady Herne Hill, and Dulwich books.
All proceeds from the Rosendale Family Cookbook go to the Friends of Rosendale Primary School (PTA) (Charity no 1186474)