Discover the Joy of Budget Cooking with Anne-Marie's Inspiring Approach

In a cosy Warwick kitchen, a quiet revolution is bubbling away – one that’s putting budget cooking back on the menu and helping people rediscover the joy of making good food from simple ingredients.

Ever felt out of your depth in the kitchen because you didn’t know what a roux was or how to chop an onion properly? Moments like these can make you feel like cooking’s just not for you. If that sounds familiar, keep reading – because we caught up with our Local Legend winner, Anne-Marie, to learn how she’s here to change all that.

Anne-Marie, founder of Get Cooking!, is a teacher, a changemaker, and a self-proclaimed lover of all things simple and flavourful. Over the past 15 years, she’s empowered thousands of people to rediscover their kitchens, cook on a budget, and nourish themselves with pride and confidence.

And she’s just been crowned a Local Legend for her work. Deserved? Absolutely.

“It’s not just about the recipe,” Anne-Marie says. “It’s about giving people the confidence to cook, to eat well, and to feel good doing it — even on a tight budget.”

From food bank cupboards to family kitchens

Anne-Marie’s passion for budget cooking isn’t just about making meals – it’s about making a difference. Rooted in community, compassion, and the lived experiences of those she works with, her approach goes far beyond the kitchen. 

When we sat down with Anne-Marie, we were inspired (and truly moved) by her dedication to not only creating flavourful, budget-friendly dishes but also empowering people from all walks of life. For Anne-Marie, cooking is more than just a skill – it’s her way of lifting others up.

For over a decade, she’s worked with organisations like Barnardo’s and The Gap to run workshops tailored to people receiving food bank parcels – showing them how to transform humble ingredients into nourishing meals.

“I created a booklet of simple recipes using food bank staples. Over 8,000 copies have gone out with parcels – that’s real, practical help people can use straight away.”

She’s partnered with Packmores Community Centre, Fare Share, Brunswick Hub, and many more to run sessions for families, adults, children, and young people — often providing free places or tailored events for those with additional needs.

She even turns up with a camping stove at local allotments, cooking fresh produce with children and families who’ve grown the ingredients themselves.

“Cooking together helps families communicate better. They try new things. It’s amazing what happens when people get involved – even if it’s just chopping onions.”

Affordable cooking tips that are full of heart (and flavour)

At the centre of Get Cooking! is Anne-Marie’s belief that everyone deserves to eat well – and that good food doesn’t need to cost the earth.

Her community cooking classes cover everything from slow cooker meals and store cupboard staples to bold, fresh flavours from around the world. Thai pastes, veggie curries, pasta bakes  – always real, always affordable.

“You don’t need fancy ingredients to eat well. Once you know a few basics – how to season, how to build flavour – you can create something amazing.”

And here’s a little eco-friendly kitchen tip straight from Anne-Marie herself:

“When you go on holiday, let your small herb plants die and dry. When you come back, just crumble the dried leaves and store them — it’s your very own dried herbs, no waste!”

Budget-friendly, planet-friendly, and flavour-packed? That’s the Get Cooking way.

Online cook-alongs and holiday workshops 

Anne-Marie also runs live Zoom cook-alongs, giving families and young adults the skills and confidence to cook independently – perfect for those learning to live on their own, or just starting out in the kitchen.

“They learn how to use their oven, their hob, and how their kitchen works. Parents love it — they get a night off cooking!”

She even runs festive online sessions to raise money for food banks — cooking up a storm while supporting local causes.

And at the Leamington Food Festival, her workshops for kids are a total hit. Over two days, she teaches up to 400 children how to cook — many trying fresh foods for the first time.

“It’s amazing to see kids explore new flavours, and their parents looking amazed as they eat their first tomato or pineapple.”

A Local Legend with a lasting legacy

Get Cookings! award win isn’t just about teaching cookery. It’s about Anne-Marie’s approach to it: with compassion, creativity, and an unshakeable belief that food can change lives.

From her Tuesday lunch clubs with widowers, to allotment cook-ups, to sessions for children with additional needs – her kitchen has become a space of warmth, learning and belonging.

“Cooking brings people together. It’s not just about filling a plate – it’s about building confidence, independence and joy.”

By joining a Get Cooking! class, you're supporting so much more

When you attend a class, you're not just learning how to whip up something tasty on a budget — you're supporting a small local business that pours its heart into the community.

You’re helping fund workshops for families facing hardship, backing inclusive sessions for children with special needs, and keeping practical, empowering food education alive for future generations.

What you’ll learn at one of Anne-Marie’s cooking classes:

• How to make budget-friendly, healthy meals full of flavour
• Creative ways to use store cupboard ingredients
• Life skills for confident, independent cooking
• How cooking can be fun, mindful and therapeutic
• That you absolutely can cook – and enjoy it!

Ready to Get Cooking?

Whether you want to stretch your weekly shop, feed your family better, or just feel more confident in your kitchen – Anne-Marie’s classes are a warm, welcoming place to start.

Real food. Real connection. Real change.

So roll up your sleeves. Let’s get chopping. It’s time to Get Cooking!