Celebrating Home, Heritage, and the Cookies That Connect Us

Reunited, and it feels so good 🎵🎶🎼🤗

We hadn’t seen some of these incredible women in so long, and gathering together again felt like coming home. There was something especially moving about celebrating in this setting- at One of A Kind’s 50th anniversary- scheduled on the brand-new Flavours Demo stage, a space built for sharing food, culture, and creativity.

Yes, I have been quietly working behind the scenes rebuilding and reimagining a new future at Newcomer Kitchen after a break, and it has not been anything short of exciting with the great little team we have- small but mighty 💪 and our leader who is a masterful storyteller and exudes passion from her heart 💗. Such honour to be part of this together!

Today, we offered something simple yet profoundly meaningful: cookies that carry our stories. Each alumna from Newcomer Kitchen brought forward a favourite cookie- one that reminded her of home, of the people she loves, and of the path that brought her to Canada.

These aren’t just recipes. They are memories held in dough, courage passed down through generations, and community formed one bite at a time. As each woman spoke, the room filled with nostalgia, laughter, and that unmistakable feeling of belonging. Their stories- of arrival, resilience, and renewal- reminded us why food is such a powerful connector.

Our storytellers were extraordinary. They shared their journeys with honesty and heart, and we were honoured to witness how Newcomer Kitchen has woven into their new beginnings.

The cookie map began as a playful idea and quickly became a beautiful way to show how far our flavours travel. We invited guests to share their favourite cookie and where it originated on the map (what a fun "science project" it was for me piecing it together with a panel for cookie hashtags on one side #bakeabetterworld #cookieconversations #thepowerofcookies, and Cookie Wishes on the other- May your cookies bring you connections! 

With Cookie Monster as our mascot 🍪🤗

Together, the map shows a world of traditions, memories, and journeys that now meet here in Canada. It is a reminder that a simple cookie can carry home with it, and when we share these treats, we also share pieces of who we are.

Now we invite you to be part of the Great Canadian Cookie Exchange. Share your cookie stories, your family favourites, and the treats that bring you comfort. Let’s keep these cookie conversations going and pass a little sweetness forward. 🍪🍪🍪

 Stay tuned for more exciting news from Newcomer Kitchen as we break for the holidays and emerge new and improved in 2026 🥳🎊!

A Kitchen Party Wrap Up At Newcomer Kitchen...

 

It has been a rollercoaster of emotions the last few weeks. Newcomer Kitchen did not get renewed IRCC government funding to continue program operations and our last day is the end of this month. In the midst, we were in full throttle organizing a Kitchen Party event that was part reunion for our alumni (inviting past students all the way since inception 2016) and a big heart thank you to our loyal customers and community partners over the years. 

In addition, we also launched THE GREAT CANADIAN COOKIE EXCHANGE which both promotes the spirit, generosity, variety and flavours of our Canadian communities.

Top left clockwise: With Cheryl Appleton, founder Canadian Women In Food, mother and daugter duo students and friends (the love here is real!), sisters and students, and Lola, one of the first graduates who runs a very successful Nigerian catering business Flawless Cuisine.

To top it all off, we had two graduations for the women completing the winter food business 'Willing To Work' programs and were ensuring we carved time to properly celebrate by handing their certificates, discussing their payouts and taking photos. 

Program Trainer Mary Freij and Hope Flavour

Program Trainer Rachel Adjei and Queens Cravings

At the Party we had:

Great food made by the talented graduating women in our entrepreneurship program...

Topping Rice Biryani Arancini Balls- A Hit!

Samples from our emerging entrepreneurs in our XP food incubator program...

XP Program Women Who've Started Their Own Businesses

Our #GreatCanadianCookieExchange concept- Bring a dozen cookies, take a dozen cookies!

And ended the night with a gorgeous and delicious slab Ukrainian honey cake (part grad, part party) prepared by my past lovely and talented Ukrainian student Liza.

It has been an incredible journey for me over the 3-1/2 years- I have been so honoured to work with such AmaZing and Inspirational women both in the organization and those I've trained in the programs and community partners I met along the way. It has been life-changing by broadening my perspectives and understandings around culture, food and different ways of doing things. I am forever grateful for each and every one who has crossed my path. Your impact will always remain. In the meantime, Newcomer Kitchen is looking forward to build relationships with potential funders and partners, and taking a big break to rejuvenate and reset. If I get the chance to come back, my arms and heart will be wide open once more. So long... for now.

Until then, looking forward and beyond... 

Adventures abound in my travels with my beloved brother to Asia ✈ and ExCited 

for my Chinese community project launch when I return 🤗... Yay! Stay Tuned.

Farmer's Market Success With Newcomer Kitchen...

 

👋 Summer winds down and I'm back on social... AND a pop up return at Evergreen Brick Works this past Saturday with a new cohort of ladies s&nnn's - from Indian, Afghanistan and India with Newcomer Kitchen🌷. 

We nearly Sold Out their delicious sweets served from cookie jars and mixed in a tasting box 🍪! 

So aromatic and delicious offered with their countries' teas that were on brew 🍵! 

This beautiful capture is of our evening program's group of ladies from Syria, Mexico and India who Sold Out their trio of yummy dips the previous weekend at the market. Congrats To All 💐!

Setting up. Market opens. Customers start coming by. I felt the ladies nerves. But once we had a few interactions and sales, the ladies relaxed and got into a confident groove. How extraordinary it is to witness 🥰. 

As Cara, our fierce and lovely Executive Director says "Watching such special women burst into smiles 

Also knowing how scared they are inside 

To do their best, that "positive stress"

And their transformative experiences no matter how small they seem at the time

Are why we do what we do ..." 

Yes, Beautiful and Powerful... ❤ 

Newcomer Kitchen is a Not-For-Profit social enterprise established in 2016. Our mission is to provide social and economic opportunity for newcomer women interested in starting their own food businesses. Women are offered authentic work experiences and are the recipients of the revenues earned from the events.

A look back on a few behind the cookie production scenes 🤗

Final touches of crushed toasted pistachios on crackle cookies.

Look at the rows ands rows of delicious sweet and savoury toasted cumin shortbread cookies 😋!

Freshly baked Afghan cookies that are big and eats like a bread.

Follow me on Instagram @susanssavourit

Newcomer Kids Cooking Program with CultureLink...

What fantastic fun we had over eight weeks getting newcomer kids cooking and learning about healthy food and recipes 🍎🍌🥭🍇🍈!

I ran an eight-week virtual culinary program for newcomer kids 6 to 12 years old at CultureLink funded by IRCC. CultureLink is a prominent settlement and community organization in the west end with over 30 years’ experience in developing and delivering services to meet the needs of our diverse communities. Recipe ingredients were provided weekly in a grocery kit pick up to cook along with me 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳💞! 

Fruit Kebabs with Honey Yogurt Dip highlighted my first kids' cook along workshop. We talked about the beauty of the rainbow of fruits, skewered or made into a fruit salad with the bounty of colours. I loved the kids' engagement and their eagerness to show off their results before happily gobbling them up 🤗.

Then it was oats prepared three ways cooking with kids! Crunchy homemade baked granola to eat by the handfuls as a snack or topped in a yogurt parfait, plus hand-rolled power balls with PB and oats!

No Bake Power Balls or Energy Bites

The following session was on eggs, and asking the question of all time- which came first? The chicken 🐔 or the egg 🥚??

Infinite. The best answer is infinite, because the question loops on end!! And of course, being a chicken and rooster lover, I had to show off my 🐓 wares.

Egg salad and cheese omelets 🍳!! Always a creative and delicious time! We got egg salad cracker sandwiches, omelets studded with sausages and a whole smorgasbord of egg and beyond goodies fit for a restaurant meal. So proud of these cheflings 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳💞!!

Then it was more colour your plate with the rainbow of veggies 🥕🍅🍄🥬🌶...

Take your pick! Pinwheel veggie wraps or veggie pizza baguettes (ok I snuck some pepperoni in there) with simple green salad and jam jar vinaigrette 🍕🥗.

Veggie Pinwheel Wraps

Veggie Loaded Pizza Baguettes

March Break baking fun was had with my revered oatmeal cookies- crispy on the outside, chewy with all the yummy goodness inside 😋. Lots to share with friends!! 🍪🍪🍪 Click for Susan’s Chewy and Crispy Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

Oodles and oodles of noodles workshop with kids' versions of Chinese veggie lo mein 🥦🥕🍄🍜!

Look at all that fresh colour!!

A Taco Fiesta Contest wraps up my after school culinary program with kids @clink_youth 🌮🌮🌮! Combining cooking and art to introduce families to the new art innovation workshops (also because you eat with your eyes first 👀), kids were put to the challenge of designing their tacos and judged based on creativity, customization and presentation! The last three photos were the 3 winners of 3 cool lunch boxes! Congratulations 👏! But everyone is a winner and got prizes- a tote with safe kid-friendly kitchen tools 🔪🥄! #playwithyourfood

Excellent creativity everyone!!

This says it all... Until next time!

I am waiting to hear back on a similar Spring culinary program with CultureLink-- Stay Tuned!