Holding a spoon handle with her lips, Mary Gidney demonstrates how to cut an onion and not cry.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to breathe through your mouth when you have a spoon in your mouth,B次元官网网址� Gidney said.

Gidney guides a room full of Metchosin seniors through recipes they will be preparing at the Metchosin Community House as part of a new program.

B次元官网网址淐ommunity kitchens are for everyone, not just seniors, itB次元官网网址檚 a good way to get meals without having to do all the work,B次元官网网址� Gidney says. The retired home economics teacher of 27 years, taught at Dunsmuir middle school and Belmont secondary school.

B次元官网网址淚 am retired and that is why I smile a lot,B次元官网网址� Gidney says.

She leads 11 seniors working together to cook vegetarian lasagna, sausage bean soup and turkey pot pie. Participants paid $25 to cover the cost of food and take home four servings of each meal.

After a short demonstration the seniors divide into teams and each tackles a recipe.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes you donB次元官网网址檛 feel bothered to cook a full meal,B次元官网网址� says Metchosin senior Joyce Edwards. B次元官网网址淭he veggie lasagna sounds good and you canB次元官网网址檛 ever tell there isnB次元官网网址檛 meat in it.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a diverse group some with hearing and sight impairments.

Aside from cooking instructions, Gidney also covers food safety guidelines and hand-washing, tying long hair back, wearing aprons and sick people not cooking.

B次元官网网址淢ary is an excellent teacher and she is good at teaching us to make quick nutritious meals,B次元官网网址� says Metchosin senior Wendy Ramsay.

This community kitchen was hosted by the Metchosin Seniors Information Resource Centre. Visit www.metchosincommunityhouse.com for ongoing seniors programs.