Cookbook designed to 'jazz up' meals

Shelley Fischer from Salvation Army foodbank. Photo/Stephen Parker

Locals needing a helping hand from the Salvation Army are not just getting food - but also suggestions on what to do with it.

As part of the 2015 Christmas Appeal the Rotorua Daily Post caught up with "frontliner" Shelley Fischer to hear about the wonderful things she has been doing at the foodbank.

One of those is the foodbank cookbook.

She said this year she had put together some really easy to cook recipes that people could take home with their food parcels.

"They are simple, easy ideas to jazz up cheap meals," she said.

Ms Fischer decided the old cookbook was a little out-dated and boring. Now the book has different suggestions for many things, like lunch box ideas, including cookie cutters being used on sandwiches.

Ms Fischer said it was great to be able to give people the information they needed to make food at the same time as giving them food.

Ms Fischer has been working and volunteering at the food bank for the past five years.

She started as a volunteer when she moved to Rotorua from Auckland.

Not knowing anybody, she had gone to the Salvation Army to enrol her son in its preschool.

From there things grew, she volunteered at the foodbank three days a week for three years before becoming full time manager.

Fun Sandwiches:

Use cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into fun shapes!

Filling ideas:
Mashed egg with mayo
Tuna/salmon mixed with mayo
Cheese and onion/marmite/lettuce/meat/jam
Fried egg
Banana
Meat: luncheon/sausage/patties/ham/chicken
Peanut butter/marmite/jam