Nanaimo Community Kitchens Society

06/19/2026

Garden-Fresh Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 cup grated carrots
• 1 red pepper, finely sliced
• 1 cup shredded red cabbage
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced or 2 garlic scapes, minced
• ¼ cup hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tsp chili paste (optional)
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Garden lettuce leaves for serving

Directions
1. Fully cook the ground turkey in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks.
2. Add the carrots, red pepper, cabbage, green onions, and garlic. Cook for 3–4 minutes until slightly tender.
3. Stir in the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili paste. Simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Spoon the mixture into lettuce leaves and top with fresh cilantro and cilantro lime crema.

Cilantro Lime Crema

Ingredients
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 small garlic clove or 1 garlic scape
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1–2 tbsp water or milk

Directions
1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. Add water or milk as needed to create a smooth, drizzleable consistency.
3. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

06/12/2026

Yesterday marked our final Cooking Out of the Box in Schools workshop of the school year.

We are so grateful for the opportunity to bring hands-on nutrition education into local classrooms. There is something special about watching students learn new cooking skills, try healthy foods, build confidence in the kitchen, and discover that nutritious food can be both fun and delicious.

Thank you to the teachers, schools, volunteers, and students who welcomed us this year. We look forward to returning next school year with more recipes, more learning, and more opportunities to cook together.

06/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Nanaimo Community Kitchens Society AGM at the Five Acre Farm.

We are grateful for the incredible community of volunteers, supporters, staff, board members, and Friends of NCKS who make our work possible. Thank you for your ongoing support and for helping us build a healthier, more connected community through food.

06/10/2026

Here’s some feedback directly from participants in our Growing Healthy Families Cooking Club!

As we wrapped up the program, we asked everyone what their biggest takeaway was. Here’s what they had to say:

• Community and social connection
• Making new friends
• Staying connected through our Facebook group
• Learning that healthy eating is a lifestyle
• Discovering that we can eat healthy with less meat in our diets

While we spent time cooking, learning new skills, and sharing meals together, it was the connections that stood out the most. Participants built friendships, supported one another, and created a sense of community that will continue long after the program has ended.

06/03/2026

Another piece of wonderful feedback from a Growing Healthy Families graduate:

Growing Healthy Families brings parents together to learn practical cooking skills, prepare healthy meals, explore nutrition topics, and build connections with others in the community. Each session focuses on simple, affordable recipes that participants can take home and use with their families.

CookingConfidence

06/03/2026

I spy our Board Treasurer, Kathy Torhjelm!

Kathy is always ready to lend a hand and support work in the community. We are grateful for her leadership, dedication, and commitment to build connection and community throughout Nanaimo.

We are tackling crime’s root causes, taking the proceeds of crime and putting them to work with Nanaimo’s Haven Society and Choose Respect in Relationships Society, preventing domestic violence and helping get people back on the right path.

will benefit from provincial funding for community safety projects led by both Haven Society and Choosing Respect in Relationships Society, with each receiving $40,000 through the Civil Forfeiture Grant Program.

The BC NDP government is providing $8.23 million through the Civil Forfeiture Grant Program, supporting 173 community-led projects across the province with the funding coming from the seized proceeds of unlawful activity, which are redirected back into making our communities safer.


Nina Krieger City of Nanaimo Local Government Zonta Club of Nanaimo

06/02/2026

Today at Cooking Out of the Box, participants gathered in one of our local social housing buildings to prepare these Easy Mediterranean Ground Beef Pita Pockets. This colourful, flavour-packed meal was a great way to build food skills, share a meal, and connect with others.

🥙 Easy Mediterranean Ground Beef Pita Pockets

Ground Beef Filling
• 500 g lean ground beef
• ½ medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp Greek seasoning
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Lemon Herb Yogurt Dressing
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetable Toppings
• 2 cups lettuce, shredded
• ½ English cucumber, diced
• 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
• 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
• ½ cup pickled red onions

To Serve
• 4 large whole wheat pita breads

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until softened, then add garlic.
2. Add ground beef and Greek seasoning. Cook until browned and fully cooked.
3. In a bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, parsley, cilantro, garlic, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
4. Prepare the vegetables.
5. Warm the pita breads.
6. Fill each pita with beef, vegetables, and a generous spoonful of dressing.

These workshops are about more than cooking. They help participants gain confidence in the kitchen, learn practical skills, and enjoy the benefits of sharing good food together.

06/01/2026

New garden signage!

05/28/2026

This quote from one of our Growing Healthy Families participants really captures what this program is all about.

This spring, families came together each week to cook healthy meals, learn new food skills, share ideas, and build connections with one another.

One of the best parts of the program was seeing new friendships and confidence grow around the kitchen table.

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and helped make this program such a welcoming and supportive space.

05/28/2026

Today we had such a wonderful time at Hammond Bay School working with a Grade 3/4 class to make smoothie bowls together. The students did an amazing job chopping fruit, trying new ingredients, and learning about healthy eating in a hands-on way.

A special thank you to Scarlet, our new volunteer, for helping out today and for bringing such great enthusiasm for healthy eating to the classroom. Your positive energy and support made the workshop even more enjoyable for the students.