Yes, please! Teya Brooks Pribac with Junction 142 manager Stephen Bradley (right) and Joshua Bradley, about to savour the three-ingredient coconut balls.
Story and photos by Linda Moon
Healthier for us and better for the planet and purse, plant based food is trending. A local expert can show you how to turn plant foods into mouth-watering creations.
Key Points:
Statistics show interest in plant based food is booming with Aussies among those leading the charge.
Local author and academic, Teya Brooks Pribac from PlantInspired, is running monthly cooking classes in Katoomba to teach us how to make plant foods fun, creative and delicious.
Leaving animal foods off the plate is associated with a longer life span in many studies. A Seventh Day Adventist study of over 73,000 people, for example, found vegans had a 15 per cent lower risk of dying over the study period compared to those eating meat.
Under the guidance of PlantInspired’s Teya Brooks, we start with caramelising onions. Some of us take turns stirring the onions; another participant washes lettuce leaves at the sink. We learn the caramelising process takes a slow 45 minutes on very low heat and that soaking lentils overnight makes them cook quicker – just some of the tips you don’t normally learn from a cookbook, but take home in a fun, intimate, face-to-face class like this.
Today we’re learning how to make a three-course meal: a lentil and vegetable burrito, a Mexican-inspired sang choy bau stirfry encased in a lettuce leaf, and a coconut sweet. There’s also a free recipe handout to take home.
A class participant and Teya Brooks Pribacget creative in the kitchen.
The secret of great taste: it’s all in the spice and salt
Teya’s goal is to start with simple ideas accessible to people without expensive kitchen tools. The focus of the classes is on cheaper cooking techniques and healthy, plant based ingredients using pantry staples. The menu features inexpensive ingredients anyone has in their cupboard – no sign of almond flour or pomegranate here.
“A lot of people want to eat more vegetables but don’t know to make them taste good,” she says. “They steam them. What I want is to teach people how to make vegetables in a really nice, tasty way.” According to Teya, that magical element of deliciousness is really just about adding salt and spice.
Fresh ingredients for the burrito. Colourful plant foods like these are high in antioxidants, good for you and the environment.
Plant-based passion
Teya, (who is Slovenian-born and has a PhD in animal grief from the University of NSW), is passionate about vegan food: “It’s cheaper, healthier, better for people and the planet and kind for animals”. It was actually her husband (poet, David Brooks) who taught her to cook. “I started to cook with him, then I got better than him,” she reveals with a smile.
She also began experimenting with vegan cheeses. It’s a culinary journey that resulted in a cookbook, the aptly named Not Just Another Vegan Cookbook. It’s been praised by icons in the vegan world, like Lynda Stoner.
The delicious final result: veg and lentil burrito and veg stir-fry in lettuce leaf. Yum.
Teya never expected to end up in community work, but at this stage on her path feels more useful in the community than in the academic world. Along with her community cooking classes, Teya, who has been vegan since 2005, hosts Sip and Savour afternoons at Good Earth Bookshop in Wentworth Falls (a delightful chance to sample plant-based delicies and wine), plus other community cooking events and classes through her community cooking project, PlantInspired.
Teya from PlantInspired serving it up.
The joy of cooking and eating together
There’s something so natural and traditional feeling about cooking and eating together. Bonds form quickly over food. Menu and food ideas are traded along with local news.
By the time we sit down together to feast at the end of the two-hour class, we’re all comfortable with each other, chatty and hungrily tucking in. The three-course meal is restaurant quality, visually attractive and utterly tasty. For the $10 class fee, it’s a bargain. There’s also plenty to go round and Teya shares food with others at the Junction 142 centre.
Plenty to share. Eating together is the spice of life.
Those who fear or loathe baking, or simply don’t have time, will love the coconut dessert. The tasty treat has only three ingredients: coconut, sugar and vanilla. For something so simple, it’s surprisingly delicious and dressed up with some chocolate bits, looks great.
Creative fun with coconut.
Come to the next class
If you missed Teya’s cooking class and want to attend the next one, here’s all you need to know:
When: Teya’s cooking classes will be offered monthly for two hours between 11am and 1pm. Each month will feature a different menu with new, fun plant-based recipes to explore and enjoy.
Where:Junction 142, at 142 Katoomba Street, Katoomba. Go towards the back of the building to the entrance beside the Sweet Charity Op-shop.
Cost: $10 donation to help offset the costs of the social enterprise project and fund those who can’t afford it to partake. The class is free for concession card holders.
To book or enquire: Call or message Teya on 0434 691 496
Learn from a master of vegan cookery. Teya Brooks Pribac from PlantInspired demonstrating how to make coconut balls.
Take Action:
Book the community cooking class with Teya on 0434 691 496.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Are there native bees and insects in your garden? Today is the first day of Australian Pollinator Week and native bee ecologist and musician @amelie_ecology has just released a new single with Costa Georgiadis @costasworld called ‘Not all Pests’. We’re thrilled that Amelie will be performing her songs and running a free interactive workshop on what we can do to support our native pollinators at the Planetary Health Expo and Family Day on Saturday 22nd November. You can register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
and you can stream ’Not all Pests’ here (link in profile): https://amelieecology.bandcamp.com/track/not-all-pests
There are so many ways to have a greener healthier Christmas! Ever thought of giving a voucher for Tai Chi and Qigong classes? You can try out one of our Qigong classes at the Planetary Health Centre this Saturday at 9am. Tutor Virginia Field is currently introducing Qigong`s 5-Animals Play, an ancient practice which developed from observing animals and mimicking their behaviour. Reserve a spot here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3JlOAXh Find other ideas for a greener Christmas on Council`s website here: www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/greenchristmas
Or come along to our Expo and Family Day on 22 November and try out some other great options like drumming classes, sewing and fashion upcycling! Register to attend here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/disaster-risk-awareness-expo-or-full-cycle-2025
We’ve had some great news! Santa is coming to the free Community BBQ at the Planetary Health Centre Expo in Katoomba on Saturday 22 November. He’s arriving early to help us celebrate Christmas in a way that’s safer and healthier for us and the planet, and he’s let us know that he’ll be giving everyone who comes a free fire-retardant plant for their garden. We’re so thrilled we’re putting on fun family events for the day: from a fabulous free drumming workshop with Emily from Hands, Heart and Feet, to live music and a pollinator hunt with Amelie Ecology, and workshops to create plastic-free Christmas presents. There’ll also be an opportunity to meet the RFS, NSW Fire & Rescue, Red Cross and other emergency services. Come and learn ways to keep the family safe while also having fun, enjoying a coffee, sampling some plant-based sweets and a free BBQ lunch, and taking home lots of useful information about hazardous materials and preparing for extreme weather events! Register here to attend (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/disaster-risk-awareness-expo-or-full-cycle-2025?
Do you feel overwhelmed about preparing your home for bushfire? Come along to the free Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit Workshop at the Disaster Risk Awareness Expo (and pre-Christmas Family Day) at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on Saturday 22 Nov. Meet the team who developed the Toolkit and learn to use it in a free, 2-hour interactive workshop. You will have the opportunity to work on case study properties in small groups and ask the team questions about your own property. Free afternoon tea provided. Bookings essential here (Disaster Risk Awareness Expo link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/disaster-risk-awareness-expo-or-full-cycle-2025/tickets #beprepared #bushfire #retrofit #disasterriskawareness #planetaryhealth #katoomba #bluemountains #bushfireretrofittoolkit...
When we pulled up some old lino we were shocked to learn at the Katoomba Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility that it was made of asbestos. There are so many parts of old homes in the Blue Mountains that contain asbestos, so, to help keep everyone safe, we`ve invited Betty the Asbestos Education House to the Planetary Health Centre on Saturday 22nd November as part of our Disaster Risk Awareness Expo and pre-Christmas Family Day. Betty is a purpose built, mobile model home designed to demonstrate where asbestos might be found in and around any Australian home built or renovated before 1990. Her exterior resembles a typical fibro home but when opened up, she has extensive audio and visual information including a bathroom, kitchen, living room, man shed/garage and a dog house. You can learn more and register to attend this free event here (link in profile): www.fullcycleconference.com.au
Yesterday we launched the Upper Mountains Seed Saving and Gardening Group at the Planetary Health Centre. It`s the perfect time to get planting so we shared locally acclimatised seeds for a variety of beans (they don`t cross-pollinate so you can plant as many varieties as you can fit in!), round yellow zucchinis, Japanese pumpkins and Roi de Carouby peas. Seeds are arguably one of the best return on investments you can make in your life. Plant one tiny celery seed and when that plant goes to seed you can harvest thousands to replant and to sprout and add to your salads. We`ll be meeting on the first Saturday of every month as part of Skill Share Saturdays at the Planetary Health Centre. Our next meeting will be Saturday 6 Dec. Register here if you`d like to attend (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-upper-mountains-seed-saving-and-gardening-group?
The KTOWN pickers - Katoombans Taking On Waste Now - are clearing litter from local tracks and streets and stopping it from entering our waterways and eventually our water supply. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/ktown-katoombans-taking-on-waste-now/
This Saturday will be the first meeting of the Upper Mountains Seed Saving and Gardening Group at the Planetary Health Centre, starting at 10am. Register your interest here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3LalNFy
It will be followed by the Planetary Health Bushcare group at 1.30pm. Register your interest here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/49k8PPo
Global poisoning by a tsunami of toxins that are flooding the planet is fast becoming the biggest threat to life on earth. Extreme weather events like fire and flood accelerate this chemical pollution. To address this the Planetary Health Centre`s Full Cycle 2025 conference from 20-22 Nov is bringing together leading experts in managing extreme weather events as well as those who are working on reducing the risk of hazardous materials like asbestos and PFAS. According to keynote speaker Julian Cribb:
"The poisoning of our planet through human chemical emissions is arguably the largest human impact of all upon the Earth. In volume, it is four to five times greater than our climate emissions (which are a part of it), and three times more lethal than the estimated climate death-toll. It is the mega-threat least understood by society, monitored by science or regulated by government. It has mainly occurred over the last 50 years, due to a massive global surge in chemical use and materials extraction.
Scientific assessment has identified more than 350,000 man-made chemicals. The US Department of Health estimates 2000 new chemicals go on the market every year and the Smithsonian says 1000 new compounds are now being synthesised every hour. The UN Environment Program warns about a third of these “are persistent, able to accumulate in humans and animals and are toxic”.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 13.7 million people — one in every four — die each year from diseases caused by “air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change and ultraviolet radiation”, caused by human activity.
Human chemical emissions are thus responsible for the largest mass killing in history.
Learn more and register for the conference here (link in profile): www.fullcycleconference.com.au
There will be a free community expo on Saturday 22 November at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba.
Conference volunteers receive free registration. Email [email protected] if you’d like to volunteer at this critically important event.
T`ai-chi and Qigong routines can increase mobility and strength, improve immunity and help build an inner calm. To get the greatest health impact you need to practice them on a regular basis, so we`re thrilled to now be offering a 6-week block of classes to take you into summer starting 9am this Saturday 1 November and running until Sat 6 December. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4qrw4Nx This Saturday, 1 November, the activity is also the first in a full day of Skill Share activities at the Centre that includes Seed Saving and Gardening from 10am, and Planetary Health Bushcare from 1.30pm. You can book in for Bushcare here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/49k8PPo Contact Lis on 0407 437 553 for more information.
Rotarians 4 Planetary Health will be meeting again at the Planetary Health Centre at 6pm on Monday 27 October. Register at this link if you`d like to attend! (link in profile) https://events.humanitix.com/rotarians-4-planetary-health-l7bb4qhr?
Thank you to everyone who popped by for the @ediblegardentrailbluemountains today! It was a great day discussing gardens, ponds, frogs, seeds, composting seats, wicking beds and how to restore the hydrological cycle! Next Saturday will be our Skill Share Saturday. We`ll be kickstarting a 6-week block of Tai Chi & Qigong at 9am, launching our Seed Saving and Gardening Group at 10am and running our monthly Bushcare Group at 1.30pm. You can book in for Tai Chi here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/tai-chi-and-qigong-six-week-block-spring-2025-qaw2ts2v and to Bushcare here (link also in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-bushcare-spring-summer-2025
Linda Moon has lived in the upper Blue Mountains since childhood and is a freelance writer for Australian media. A qualified naturopath, permaculture designer, mother and former student of social work, her passion is building local community, gardening, mental, emotional, social, housing and environmental health – all of which are linked!
Dave Spees, Katoomba-based carpenter and founder of Against the Grain, has turned the by-product of his craft into a sustainable, sought-after winter fuel. His compressed sawdust briquettes are now helping to heat homes across the Blue Mountains, all while dramatically reducing landfill waste.
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