Hi everyone,

Last Tuesday was a super exciting day here as all things paused to watch the Oscars - because Lee’s sister-in-law Autumn won the award for cinematography for the movie Sinners. How amazing?!!! Lee is enjoying her ‘winning by association’ feeling! … and if you know Lee or even just read our newsletter or come to ACC I reckon you can also join in the degrees of separation ‘winning by association’ thing!

On Saturday … we had a lovely weekend with the Alphington Show. So many great entries, cute dogs, stalls, and to top it off blue skies….. really it was a recipe for a perfect day. Thanks everyone for coming along and for all your hard work in the lead up and on the day! So many volunteers … amazing.

This week - we’re back to business as usual. Come along on Thursday morning to Garden to Plate for another delicious, seasonal lunch. And in the afternoon we will have this month’s session of Embracing Life and Death where Ann and Andrea etc. will be talking about end-of-life planning.

To find out more about our other programs this week, as always you can visit our website at this link.

Cheers Leanne

We’re thrilled to have Rosie back running community yoga in term 2. The classes will begin on Wednesday 6th of May from 5:30-6:30pm and run for 4 weeks. This time we’re asking participants to join up for the whole series.

Only $20 for 4 weeks - what a bargain. Thanks so much Rosie for volunteering your time! BYO mat. You can book in online.

Hi everyone,

It was nice to have some rain last week. Clare has been working on our front garden and it’s looking great! How lucky we are to have so many awesome community volunteers.

Footy starts on Thursday…. if you haven’t already, join our community tipping competition! You can sign up at this link.

And of course we are very excited to be preparing for the Alphington Show. Please contact us at info@alphington.org.au if you would like to be a participant in the arts and crafts competition. And read on for some tips on what our judges are looking for in each category.

Crunch is back this week from 12.30-2pm on Thursday. Don’t forget to book in online if you would like to attend. Wednesday and Thursday evening book clubs will also be running along with our normal weekly programs, including playgroups, line dancing, choir and more! Check out our bookings site here for more info about getting involved.

ALSO this weekend will be the labour day long weekend so please note we won’t be open next Monday the 9th of March.

Cheers,

Leanne

Hi everyone,

The day of action for neighbourhood houses last week was a big success! Click here to see the photos of follow the link below.

This week we will have the first Embracing Life and Death session on Thursday afternoon. Read on for more information about what it is all about and how to book in. We also have our second session of Garden to Plate on Thursday morning so book in online at this link if you haven’t already.

And our annual Alphington Show is officially less than a month away! On Saturday the 21st of March come along to enjoy community arts and crafts, our Makers Market, a CWA Devonshire tea and the Alphington Dog Show. We can’t wait!

Cheers Leanne

Garden to Plate is back again this Thursday from 11.30am-1pm! As always, we will be cooking and enjoying a meal made together with fresh seasonal vegetables. Book in online to attend here.

And in case you missed our first session two weeks ago, here’s just one of the great recipes we made that you can try for yourself at home whilst tomatoes are cheap and delicious.

Stuffed Tomatoes

Ingredients

• 8 medium-large ripe tomatoes

• 150g (3/4 cup) cooked rice (white or brown)

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 small zucchini, finely chopped

• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (or parsley)

• 50g (1/2 cup) grated Parmesan or mozzarella cheese

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs (optional, for extra crunch)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Tomatoes

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Slice off the tops of the tomatoes and set them aside. Using a spoon, gently scoop out the insides of the tomatoes, leaving a thick shell. Set the tomato flesh aside in a bowl. Season the inside of the tomatoes with a little salt and pepper and place them upside down on a plate to drain any excess liquid.

2. Cook the Filling

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the garlic, zucchini, and red bell pepper, and cook for another 5-6 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Stir in the reserved tomato flesh, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Add the oregano, basil, and cooked rice to the mixture. Cook for a few more minutes until everything is well combined and heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Stuff the Tomatoes

Turn the hollowed tomatoes upright and spoon the rice and vegetable filling into each tomato, packing it in gently. Sprinkle the tops with grated Parmesan or mozzarella and breadcrumbs (if using) for added texture. Put the lids back on top.

4. Bake the Tomatoes

Place the stuffed tomatoes in a baking dish and drizzle them lightly with olive oil. Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, until the tomatoes are tender and the cheese is melted and golden. Alternatively cook on 200 in your air fyer for 20-25 minutes.

5. Serve

Once baked, remove the tomatoes from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before serving. Garnish with extra fresh basil or parsley for a burst of freshness.