Come to our Free Talk this Thursday 3rd April!

Please come and join us for a  talk by Harley Street Dietition Susan Burry and get professional advice on Weight Management and Emotional Eating absolutely FREE!!!
We will start at 1pm sharp in Artroom 1, CoolTan Arts

Our Love Truffles- made with love for all CoolTan Arts users on Valentine's day by The Cooking Club

Arabian Nights

(Almond, Lemon, cardamom and Rose)

(gluten-free)

3 cups ground almonds

1 cup dried fruits (dessicated coconut/apricots/cranberries/dates)

2 teaspoons ground cardamons

2 tablespoons runny honey

Zest of 2 lemons

dessicated coconut to sprinkle

Pinch of salt

1 tablespoon rose syrup/rose water or 2 drops rose essence

Blend almonds, fruit or coconut, in a food processor until mixed and ground well.

Add into the bowl all the other ingredients, except the dessicated coconut (saved for sprinkling).

Wet your hands (to prevent sticking) and mix together.

Form into small balls and roll in the dessicated coconut.

Refridgerate or freeze to harden and set.

 New Spring Talks by experts coming up! All Cooltan Arts users and staff are very welcome. All Free of charge!

Cooking Club Trip to Maloko, 4^th March 2014

As it was Pancake Tuesday the Cooking Club went to have a demonstration of making Galettes (buckwheat pancakes) at Maloko Restaurant in Camberwell Church Street.

Maloko has nice artistic décor with cosy nooks and easy chairs, and menus are scattered around the place. We studied the options and made our choice. Our hosts, who originate from Cameroun and  Ethiopia, were very welcoming, warm and friendly and were generous in spending time explaining to us how every thing worked. 

The kitchen is open to the restaurant and we were delighted to see the way the chefs there prepare the galettes on an open griddle - the pancake mixture is poured on and cooked for just the right length of time and then fresh ingredients are added like chestnut mushrooms, sweet potatoes, asparagus, Emmental cheese, with lots of other options, including vegan ones. Then when all is ready the pancake is folded over, garnished with balsamic glaze and a tasty side salad is added before serving.

All the galettes are made with buckwheat flour* which gives them a nice taste and texture. There are also sweet options with crêpes, which are made with wheat flour.

Everyone had a great time and we are going to make our own galettes in Cooking Club!

Maloko is a great place and is proving to be very popular (lots of people there when we went) and it is a really exciting new restaurant for Camberwell.

 “Very chilled atmosphere, nice to have vegetarian food, they were very accommodating, they made sure we were comfortable and we enjoyed the food very much” - Victoria.

(images coming soon!)
You can find Maloko on facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/mymaloko‎

*Buckwheat's beneficial effects are due in part to its rich supply of flavonoids, particularly rutin. Flavonoids are phytonutrients that protect against disease by extending the action of vitamin C and acting as antioxidants. Buckwheat's lipid-lowering activity is largely due to rutin and other flavonoid compounds. These compounds help maintain blood flow, keep platelets from clotting excessively (platelets are compounds in blood that, when triggered, clump together, thus preventing excessive blood loss, and protect LDL from free radical oxidation into potentially harmful cholesterol oxides. All these actions help to protect against heart disease.

Buckwheat is also a good source of magnesium. This mineral relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow and nutrient delivery while lowering blood pressure—the perfect combination for a healthy cardiovascular system

* https://www.facebook.com/mymaloko‎

Talks and Masterclass in March

Following on the heels of our French Galette Pancake-making masterclass at the wonderful Maloko, Camberwell Church St.......(more about that coming soon)......we are proud to announce........

On Tuesday 11th March 10.30 - 2pm at CoolTan Arts Community Kitchen our special guest, Mahesh Sharma will be treating us to a lesson in "The 6 tastes of authentic Indian Cuisine" (the secrets to using spices and flavours) and  making delicious Indian food using these. Places have to be limited due to kitchen space but we are offering 3 lucky CoolTan users the chance to join in with The Cooking Club. If you fancy this just let us know.

Then we have 2 talks on nutrition by professional nutritionists/dietitions which are open to ALL CoolTan Arts users and staff and are free to attend. No booking neccessary: Just turn up at the CoolTan Community Kitchen at the time given. Please come!

Tuesday 25th March 1pm-2.30  Steve Desborough, an experienced free-lance nutrition advisor will be telling us about foods which affect our mood, both positively and negatively. We will learn what to eat to support our mental health and nervous systems.

Thursday April 3rd 1pm - 2.30pm , Susan Burry, a qualified Dietition who has a lot of experience helping her clients manage their weight will be talking about healthy weight and emotional eating and providing practical exercises. 

Tuesday April 8th 1pm-2.30pm  Amanda Rew, a local herbalist and educator will be taking us on a Walk and Talk around Walworth Garden farm to look at culinary herbs and their medicinal values. meet at 1pm at CoolTan Community Kitchen.

Cooking Club will be making new truffle variations for CoolTan Arts' International Women's Day Thursday 6th March. We are looking for 2 or 3 people to to help design and make them? Please contact Jill at CoolTan Arts. 0207701 2696 or jillcooltanarts@gmail.com

Our Valentine's Day Love Truffles for all....recipes and nutritional values

Love Truffle No. 9*

Cranberry, Apricot and Chocolate: (makes 48)

(Vegan/Nut-free)

2 cups dried apricots

2 cups dried cranberries

2 teaspoons orange zest

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 large bar of dark chocolate,  or 3 tablespoons raw cacao powder + 1 dessertspoon Xylitol sweetener

Blend everything except chocolate and xylitol in a food processor until it forms a large ball.

Roll into balls and place on parchment paper.

In a bain-marie*,  melt the chocolate bar in pieces. Or, mix together the cocoa powder + Xylitol.

Using a pair of tongs, dip one side of each fruit truffle into the melted chocolate,  or roll into the cocoa powder + xylitol mix

Allow to cool and place in the fridge to harden.

 Arabian Nights*

(Almond, Lemon, cardamom and Rose)

(gluten-free)

3 cups ground almonds

1 cup dried fruits (dessicated coconut/apricots/cranberries/dates)

2 teaspoons ground cardamons

2 tablespoons runny honey

Zest of 2 lemons

dessicated coconut to sprinkle

Pinch of salt

1 tablespoon rose syrup/rose water or 2 drops rose essence

Blend almonds, fruit or coconut, in a food processor until mixed and ground well.

Add into the bowl all the other ingredients, except the dessicated coconut (saved for sprinkling).

Wet your hands (to prevent sticking) and mix together.

Form into small balls and roll in the dessicated coconut.

Refridgerate or freeze to harden and set.

 Love Action*

Goji, Pumpkinseed, saffron

(vegan, diabetic-friendly and gluten-free)

2 heaped tablespoons raw coconut oil

6 handfuls pumpkinseeds

6 handfuls gojiberries

3 teaspoons maca powder

1 pinch saffron

1 tablespoon Cacao powder

1 pinch spice mix powder

Melt the coconut oil in a bain-marie* adding a pinch of saffron until it is a warm liquid

Then add it to the Goji berries, Pumpkin seeds, Maca, and spice and blend together in a food processor until it forms a large ball.

Roll out into bite-size balls and dust/roll in cacao powder

Allow to set in the fridge. 

* A Bain-Marie is a heat-proof  bowl sat in a pan of hot water. Foods to melt, such as chocolate, butter or coconut oil can be melted in the bowl.

Love Truffles: Nutrional values and benefits.

 Goji Berries…..They are high in vitamins and stimulate the immune system by increasing production of white blood cells.  They contain Germanium which regulates our CD4 cells which play a big role in fighting viruses. They offer an important boost to people with H.I.V infection whose CD4 cells decline.

Pumpkin Seeds…They are very high in zinc, which boosts immunity through white blood cell count. Good for fighting colds and flu’s. Eaten regularly, they will  keep reproductive organs healthy and raise sperm-count. Essential for men’s prostate care.

Maca……A naturally sweet, earthy-tasting Peruvian root powder with aphrodisiac properties. It has many reported benefits, such as: anaemia, hormone imbalance (men and women), menopause, fatigue, depression, osteoporosis. It gives energy and is used o aid weight-loss.

Raw Cacao powder …(Raw chocolate without any additions)  it is dense with Magnesium, a vital mineral that is now lacking in Western societies. Magnesium is needed for good heart rhythm and blood pressure, muscle relaxation and contraction, a strong nervous system. Cacao has a protective antioxidant influence. It also has iron, It acts as an “adaptogen” which balances mood.

Coconut Oil….is a unique type of fat called “medium-chain triglycerides”. These contain NO cholesterol, and help the liver process fats properly, using them for energy rather than storing them – which is relevant for weight-loss. You can use coconut oil for cooking and as a butter / margarine substitute. There have  been studies with -good results, where it has been seen to boost alertness and brain function in people with dementia.

Xylitol…. made from Birch bark. It is made into a natural sweetener that looks like white, granulated sugar but , in contrast, is safe for diabetics and has many health benefits:    It helps prevent tooth cavities and plaque because it is alkaline. It has been shown in research at Oulu University, Finland, to improve bone-density therefore helping prevent osteoporosis. It is used in ear infection remedies and clears out blocked wax. Will prevent candida  yeast infections and bad breathe usually caused by sugar.

 Orange and lemon zest….Both contain Bioflavinoids in the rind/zest which protect blood vessels. They have high traces of Vitamin.C for whole body health. Lemons and Limes have added antibiotic, antifungal and antibacterial properties that are so strong, they can kill 80% of bacteria naturally found in seafoods.

Cranberries ….Are well known for keeping our urinary systems in good working order and treating cystitis. Use unsweetened cranberry juice to cleanse and tone the urinary tract, gastric ulcers and gum disease.

Almonds…They contain good fats that will lower cholesterol, Vitamin. E to regenerate cells, magnesium and Potassium and B- Vitamins. which benefit the nervous system.

Cardamon….Known to Indian Ayurvedic medicine for 100’s of years, Cardamon is an aromatic seed used often in curries and Indian sweets. It has a positive action on the nerves, helping serotonin to flow into the neuro-receptors. This acts as an anti-depressant and reduces anxiety levels. It is also used to much effect on digestive problems, bed-wetting and weak bladder control- especially when linked to nerves.

Saffron…Ayurvedic medicine cites Saffron as amild  antidepressant and nerve tonic. It is now being used more widely in herbal supplements for stress. It is rich in B.Vitaminns.

Honey…Has flavinoids and antioxidants to help combat heart disease and prevent cancers. Antibacterial and antifungal for colds, flu’s and throat infections. Soothes gastric ulcers. Make sure your honey is made by bees able to free-foraging on plant and flowers rather than sugar-fed hives.

Rose…(Culinary rosewater or syrup) Is mood-balancing a mild sedative. Soothing and calming for anxiety and depression. It also contains Vitamins A,C,D,E and B3 and is an antioxidant- helping to fight against pollutions.

Recipes by Jill Newman. Photos courtesy of Amy Bradshaw and Rachel Ball.

*All ingredients can be bought locally at G.Baldwin& co  www.baldwins.co.uk
 and from Hiep Phat Chinese and Vietnamese supermarket. 
Both are on the Walworth Rd, Southwark, SE17