Feed A Family For A Fiver

This week's recipe - Tuna Pasta Bake

Serves 4-6

● 200g pasta

● 1 tbsp olive oil

● 1 onion, finely chopped

● 2 cloves garlic, crushed (optional)

● a good pinch dried chilli flakes (optional)

● 400g tin chopped tomatoes

● 200g tin tuna in olive oil, drained

 ● 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

● 1 tsp mixed dried herbs

● 80g cheddar, grated

1. Cook the pasta as per the pack instructions, then drain well.
2. Heat the oven to 190C.
3. Finely chop the onions and then heat olive oil in a large pan. Add the garlic and chilli   flakes and cook for 3 minutes. Add the vinegar. Season with salt & pepper.
4. Add the tomatoes and half a tin of water, add the herbs then simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Stir the tuna into the sauce with drained pasta, and tip into a baking dish. Scatter over the cheese then bake (or grill if you don’t want to use the oven) for 20-25 minutes or until hot and bubbling

Truro Foodbank – the Where, When, What, Who, How, Why!

Where: Truro Foodbank covers TR1 to TR6 postcodes so we are coast to coast mid-Cornwall including Portreath, Porthtowan, Perranporth down to St Mawes. Our stores and distribution centre is on the Threemilestone Industrial Estate TR49LD.

When: food donations can be dropped off 9.30-11.30 Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Customers collect food 3-5pm Monday, 10-12 Wednesday and Friday.

What: we supply food help to customers referred to us. Customers receive core food like pasta, cereal, milk, meat, fish, veg products. Also fresh fruit, veg and bread if we have it. We also offer laundry and hygiene products if needed. We also do ”More than Food” which means we have advisors from Citizens Advice, Community Energy Plus and Christians Against Poverty at some of our distribution sessions.

Who: trustees oversee governance matters, three part time staff work with volunteers to deal with the food in and out. Without the 70 volunteers we could not function.

How: FOOD IN - we collect food from supermarket drop bins that has been purchased by the very generous public, we also get donations from businesses, churches, schools (especially at harvest time). Since the start of this year due to a halving of such donations we have to purchase stock to make sure we have enough to stay open. FOOD OUT – referrals can come to us from schools, social prescribers, some housing bodies, Council teams or Citizens Advice (see our website truro.foodbank.org.uk)

Why: because many people cannot afford basics like housing, utility bills and food. Nationally 20% of households going to foodbanks have one person at least employed, in our area it is 30%. Some are on the lowest legal pay, many are on insecure work contracts and do not know what they will get week to week.