This week's EMPWR cooking class brought some familiar flavors back to the kitchen, along with new families, new volunteers, and plenty of opportunities to connect.
Familiar Recipes, New Discoveries
Chef Mario guided everyone through a menu we enjoyed at our previous class: blue corn tacos filled with ancho black beans and sweet potatoes, along with a lentil-pumpkin seed “meat.” And, of course, we made mesquite chocolate chip cookies for something sweet!
While the recipes were familiar, there was still something new to discover.
We used sprouted pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, giving us an opportunity to explore how a small change in the way an ingredient is prepared can make a difference.
What's So Special About Sprouted Seeds?
Sprouting is the natural process that begins when a seed starts to germinate and grow into a plant.
Beyond being an interesting part of the plant's life cycle, sprouting can offer nutritional benefits.
Pumpkin and sunflower seeds are already packed with nutrients, including plant-based protein, healthy fats, magnesium, and other important minerals. Sprouting can help break down some of the naturally occurring compounds, such as phytic acid, that make certain minerals harder for our bodies to absorb.
Depending on how they're sprouted and prepared, this process may make some nutrients more available to the body.
It's a wonderful reminder that nutrition isn't just about what we eat, but also how our food is grown and prepared.
And sometimes, the smallest ingredients have some pretty big things to teach us!
New Faces Around the Table
One of the highlights of this week's class had nothing to do with the recipes.
We were delighted to welcome new families and new volunteers into the EMPWR kitchen!
There's something special about seeing people come together around food. Some arrive with years of cooking experience, while others may be trying an ingredient or technique for the very first time. Everyone brings something valuable to the table.
Our volunteers help make these classes possible, and every new family adds something to the community we're building.
With each class, we're reminded that EMPWR is about so much more than preparing a meal. It's about sharing knowledge, building confidence, creating friendships, and making everyone feel welcome.
Just like the seeds we cooked with this week, our community continues to grow.
And we can't wait to see what grows next. 💚