Clever Cooking – Where Confidence Meets the Kitchen
- LIVEfree Project Team
- Aug 27
- 2 min read
At LIVEfree, we’ve seen first-hand how something as simple as a $10 meal can turn into something far bigger.
It’s not just about the food. It's about the confidence. The “I did that.”
The proud faces around a table when someone serves up a meal they made themselves.
The joy of doing something practical that nourishes others.
That’s why Clever Cooking isn’t just a program—it’s a life skill.
It’s community.
It’s dignity on a plate.
Why cooking matters
When people are living week-to-week, facing financial strain or food insecurity, cooking can feel like just another thing to get through. But when you show someone that a nutritious, filling, family-sized meal is doable on a budget, something shifts.
People feel empowered.
They see their own strength in a new way.
Clever Cooking teaches:
Meal planning on a budget
Using pantry staples creatively
How to make food that’s quick, tasty and filling
Food safety, portioning, and family-friendly tweaks
And the best part? Every meal made in Clever Cooking is more than just practice — it’s purpose.
This is community cooking, for community. The meals prepared also support our local crisis relief program, helping families in need right here in Newcastle. It’s one way we turn learning into giving — and remind each other that every pot stirred and recipe shared makes a difference.
Our latest hit: 🌯 Mexican Lasagne
This recipe is a firm favourite — made with everyday ingredients, it feeds 6 people for under $10 and gets rave reviews from kids and adults alike.
INGREDIENTS:
4 x 20cm Corn Tortillas
400g Can Mexican Beans or Kidney Beans
300g Jar of Salsa
½ Cup Grated 3 Mix Cheese
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Line a 20cm cake tin or tray with baking paper and place one tortilla on the base.
In a bowl, mix together the beans and salsa.
Spoon ¼ of the mixture over the tortilla, sprinkle with cheese.
Repeat layers, ending with a tortilla topped with the rest of the mix and more cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
Cool for 10 mins, cut into wedges, and enjoy!
Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful.
It just has to be possible — and shared.
We’ve seen this simple act help parents cook with their kids, teenagers feel proud of what they’ve made, and struggling families realise that good food is within reach.
This isn’t just a meal. It’s hope served hot.
Want to support Clever Cooking?
There are so many ways to be part of it. Whether you can volunteer your time, donate pantry items, sponsor a session, or simply help spread the word, your support helps us keep bringing confidence, connection and good food to our community.
Every shared meal starts with someone saying yes. To get involved, reach out to our team — we’d love to welcome you to the kitchen.
Want to get involved? You can support Clever Cooking by donating pantry items, sponsoring a session, volunteering your time—or simply helping us spread the word.
Because every meal prepared in this program feeds more than just a stomach—it feeds hope, skills and community.
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