Cooking for Winter Wellness at Rose Hill Community Larder

Our recent Winter Wellness Cooking pop-up at Rose Hill Community Larder was a vibrant and welcoming community event, celebrating the power of warm, nutritious food during the colder months. Members enjoyed tastings of a comforting chicken or chickpea paprikash, inspired by a traditional Hungarian recipe, with just under 100 taster pots served alongside fresh bread. The event showcased how affordable, wholesome meals can be simple to prepare and easy to make at home.

Thanks to grant funding and the support of the MCS community, each member was also able to take home a cooking pack containing a recipe and the ingredients needed to recreate the paprikash, helping to extend the impact of the day beyond the event itself. Behind the scenes, a brilliant team of helpers kept everything running smoothly — from chopping mountains of onions and managing wind-resistant gazebos, to serving, tasting, and fine-tuning the seasoning to perfection. Their energy, good humour, and teamwork were felt throughout the day.

The event was made possible by the dedication of our volunteers and our hard-working Sixth Form pupils completing their Community Service Organisation placements, alongside the continued support of Rose Hill Community Centre and South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA). It was a wonderful example of the community coming together to share food, skills and warmth on a winter’s day.