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.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable final Skill Share Saturday for the year yesterday with Qigong, Fashion Upcycling, Seed Saving and Bushcare! We shared seeds from local gardens and harvested carrots, as well as Mizuna, Broad Bean, Daikon and Land Cress seeds from the Planetary Health garden. We then packaged up (and shared) our first Upper Mountains Seed Savers packs for our fledgling Seed Bank. In Bushcare it`s very exciting to see whole new areas of the Planetary Health Precinct open up as we remove invasive weeds. It`s been a year of great progress as we`ve restored habitat for wildlife and given local native plants the opportunity to flourish and re-establish on the site.
Join the Planetary Health Centre this Sat 6 Dec for the last Skill Share Saturday of the year: Qigong at 9am, Seed Saving & Gardening Group at 10am, and Bushcare at 1.30pm. One perfect day with great company, great coffee and food, and great steps for living a healthy balanced life, while also contributing to the health of our planet for present and future generations. All ages welcome!
Registration links in profile and below.
Register for Qigong here: https://bit.ly/48wlHjD Register for Seed Saving & Gardening here: https://bit.ly/4prcRe7 Register for Bushcare here: https://bit.ly/4oAFDrz
We have a rare opportunity to learn about the newest and best possible ways to support family and community members struggling with mental health issues, at a free talk and afternoon tea provided by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 Nov. Hear from Peter Joseph AM, Chair of the Black Dog Institute, and Professor Helen Christensen AO, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and former Executive Director and Chief Scientist at the Black Dog Institute. They`ll be in conversation with journalist Emma Rossi. Dr Christensen is a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
This Saturday Sherlie McMillan from Rotarians 4 Planetary Health will be running a workshop on How to use a sewing machine from 9am at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Learn how to set up a machine, service it, troubleshoot when it`s not sewing correctly, and learn some basic sewing skills.
Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/how-to-use-your-sewing-machine
NB. This class is a prerequisite for our very popular Fashion Upcycling classes held once a month.
We`re thrilled to announce that Professor Helen Christensen, a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression, will be joining the conversation with Peter Joseph AM from the Black Dog Institute and journalist Emma Rossi at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 November. Helen was the Executive Director and Chief Scientist for the Black Dog Institute for 10 years and has now been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. This free event is being co-hosted by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Human composting is increasingly being legalised around the world. Read about it in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/legalising-human-composting/
If you’d like to see this option available in NSW you can now sign a live petition to the NSW Parliament here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/43QIHbz
Thanks to everyone who contributed to deliver a fantastic Disaster Risk Awareness Expo and Family Day yesterday. @mark_greenhill_mayor opened the event at which we celebrated the 13th birthday of Betty the Asbestos Education House; @firecoat_au demonstrated and launched its range of fire retardant products that can help protect homes, gardens and even electricity poles; the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit was launched; Santa arrived and delighted young and old; and @plantinspired99 and Action for Animals fed us all with a delicious plant-based sausage sizzle. The day was filled with talks, workshops, stalls and the sharing of a huge amount of expertise to keep us, and the other species we share our planet with, safe and healthy! @southkatoomba.rfb @nswses @fireandrescuensw @nswrfs @redcrossleura @redcrossau @shelter.building.design @firehalo.au @asbestosawareness @amelie_ecology @bbagsbluemtns @wireswildliferescue @handsheartfeet
Our marquee is up and we`re excited about our Expo and Family Day tomorrow (Sat 22 Nov). There`s something for everyone from a free sausage sizzle, plants from Santa and drumming and pollinator workshops, to sessions on keeping you and our community safe from extreme weather events and hazardous substances like mould and asbestos. Learn how intumescent paints can slow the spread of fire and pick up a sample pot; check out all our emergency service organisations; learn how to dispose of hazardous materials; paint a native orchid, make some seed balls or sew a boomerang bag to give as plastic-free Christmas presents this year; enjoy coffee and locally made sweets; and get tips on how to retrofit your home safely and beautifully to be prepared for future extreme weather events. View the full program and register here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
There are so many new and innovative ways of doing things, like the new cooking techniques being explored by Michael from Good Fat Pastry, and the new fire protection methods being launched at the Planetary Health Centre`s Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 Nov. Check out Michael’s recent presentation at the Food Security Fair in our video here: https://bit.ly/4pnXbIg (link in profile) and come along to taste his delicious carrot cake and pastries at the Expo on Saturday. Check out the program and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
In 2006 Peter Joseph’s son Michael suicided after a 14-year episodic battle with mental illness. Peter is now the Chair of the Black Dog Institute which is working to achieve better outcomes for all those struggling with mental health issues. Journalist Emma Rossi will engage Peter in an intimate and moving conversation about a life of purpose and mental health advocacy. As a Rotary scholar Peter will also reflect on how Rotary helped shape his values and sense of purpose as a young man - and how those early lessons continue to guide his work today. This free event is being hosted by the Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary Club and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative on Saturday 29 November from 2-4pm at the Planetary Health Centre at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Learn about intumescent fire retardant paint and a range of other strategies to prepare for extreme weather events, and to manage hazardous materials, at the upcoming Expo and Family Day at the Planetary Health Centre on Sat 22 Nov. You can register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J We checked out how intumescent paint works in this video.
When temperatures reach a certain point the intumescent paint begins to swell and expand, often up to 50 times its original thickness. It forms a thick, carbonaceous "char" that acts as an insulating barrier. This layer slows the rate at which heat reaches the structural elements and buys valuable time for people to safely exit a building during a fire. It makes the structure safer for firefighters and rescue teams. #intumescentpaint #fireretardant #bushfire @firecoat_au...
Mould, lead paint, asbestos, silica dust from engineered stone bench tops and a wide range of chemicals, are amongst some of the many hazardous substances entering our environment and negatively impacting our health. Asbestos is found in over 3000 products including textured paints, moulded garden pots, brake pads and clutch linings in older cars, floor and ceiling tiles, lino, fibro, roofing, pipes and gutters, hot water systems, backing for switchboards and insulation boards in air-conditioning ducts, insulation, sealants, fillers, caulking and adhesives, gaskets for industrial and lab equipment and more. We’ll have information to take away and Blue Mountains City Council and the Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Consultants Association (AHCA) will be running free workshops on how to identify and manage these hazardous substances at the Planetary Health Centre`s Disaster Risk Awareness Expo in Katoomba on Sat 22 Nov. Find out more and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
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!
In Katoomba, a grassroots litter-picking group tackles rubbish before it reaches our water supply. Their story shows how local environmental action, fueled by community connection, can drive meaningful change for planetary health.
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