Course stirs new passion for cooking

After 20 years of preparing meals for a large family, all the joy of cooking had evaporated for Wairarapa mum Jackie Holmes.

"My cooking was getting so boring," said Mrs Holmes, of Gladstone.

"It was becoming such a chore. My kids were all turning up their noses. Eventually, I was thinking, 'just cook it yourself'."

Desperate for inspiration, Mrs Holmes signed up for a six-week cooking course through the True Food Programme, the brainchild of Carterton mother and foodie Heidi Hendrikse.

With several new recipes under her belt and a renewed sense of confidence behind the stove, she has never looked back.

The True Food programme was set up for locals who either had no cooking experience or who lacked confidence in the kitchen - primarily for older people living alone, young flatters and busy parents in need of encouragement.

The first course is now in its sixth week and trainer Sunny Martin said she has enjoyed seeing Mrs Holmes and her fellow trainees blossom into more competent, self-assured cooks.

"At first, some of them didn't even know how to read a recipe," said Mrs Martin, a mother of three.

"They'd ask me, 'what do I do next?' and I'd tell them to read the recipe. But, by the third time, they'd be reading the recipe on their own.

"Sometimes they sit there when we demonstrate the recipes, and they're like, 'oh, I don't know about that'. But then they'll get in the kitchen and be absolutely fine.

"Now, we just give them the recipe and off they go."

Over six weeks, the trainees have learned to make a variety of dishes, including soup with croutons, spaghetti bolognese, salads and fish pie.

And for Mrs Holmes, the new material has been a godsend.

"The classes have helped me put excitement and fun back into food," said Mrs Holmes, who has seven children between the ages of 2 and 20.

"It's given me new ideas, and I'm so much more confident. And I think the kids are enjoying their dinner more."

For trainer Rosalie Boutcher, the highlight of the programme has been seeing the three male students grow in confidence.

"It's been a real pleasure to see them progress and open up," she said. "They've been so much fun - they're so genuine and they really want to be here."

Ms Boutcher said she was particularly proud of trainee Ian Shanks, who is learning to cook for the first time since he got married 45 years ago.

"The whole time he's been married, his only contribution to the cooking was fish and chips. Now he's retired, he wants to do the cooking for his wife."

Mrs Martin says the trainees are now are adding their own flourishes to their new recipes.

"They've got the recipes at home now, so they can play around with them," she said.

"Every week they come up with their own ideas.

"So, everyone learns a little bit from each other."

The True Food programme will run a second course, starting August 15. Classes are held at the Reform Church of Masterton on Herbert St, and cost $20 for six weeks.