Meghan Markle thanks women of the Hubb Community Kitchen FREE now and never miss the top Royal stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top Royal stories again. When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. One youngster could barely contain his excitement as the Duchess of Sussex greeted guests to the event which marked the launch of a charity cookbook aimed at raising money for survivors of the 2017 blaze. Meghan helped prepare an impressive spread for the outdoor lunch which featured dishes from the book entitled Together: Our Community Cookbook. The Duchess championed the publication after first suggesting the idea to a group of women who came together to cook at a Muslim cultural centre in North Kensington in the aftermath of the Grenfell fire which killed 72. The cookbook is Meghan’s first solo project since marrying Prince Harry in May. Addressing guests at the lunch in Perk's Field, close to Kensington Palace, she said: "Working on this project for the past nine months has been a tremendous labour of love.” Meghan was joined by Prince Harry and her mother Doria Ragland, who made a surprise appearance. The pair looked on proudly as Meghan delivered her first public speech as a member of the Royal Family. Proceeds from sales of Together will be used to pay for the expansion of a community kitchen used by women affected by the Grenfell fire. Meghan Markle news: The Duchess greeted children of women affected by the Grenfell fire Meghan hosted a lunch to mark the launch of a charity cookbook The facility is currently open for just two days a week but extra funding will allow it to open full time. Meghan has been making secret visits to the Hubb Community Kitchen at the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre to cook with the women. The finished book features 50 recipes from the diverse backgrounds of the women who make use of the kitchen. Speaking at today’s lunch, the Duchess said: "I had just recently moved to London and I felt so immediately embraced by the women in the kitchen - your warmth, your kindness, and also to be able to be in this city and to see in this one small room how multi-cultural it was." Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, made her first speech as a member of the Royal Family Prince Harry and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, looked on while the Duchess made her speech Addressing the family chefs, she added: "On a personal level I feel so proud to live in a city that can have so much diversity - 12 countries represented in this one group of women." Meghan got stuck in and helped prepare the lunch menu which included coconut chicken curry, aubergine masala and a range of chapatis and sharing dips. She dished out green rice, flipped chapatis and kept an eye on the kofta kebabs to make sure they browned evenly. Meghan Markle helps serve food at Kensington Palace Proceeds from the sale of the new cookbook will go towards funding a community kitchen The 'Together' cookbook features recipes from women Meghan met at the community kitchen<doc-sep>Get our daily royal round-up direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Meghan Markle has lent her support to a new cookbook with women affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The Duchess of Sussex cooked with women from the Hubb Community Kitchen, who were affected and collaborated with them to create the book, Together. Meghan grew close to the team at the kitchen in the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in west London. She also wrote an emotional three-page foreword for the book, recalling how she heard about the fire while working in Canada, and how she wanted to help. Here are three of the book's recipes.. (Image: AFP) Vegetable samosas by Munira Mahmud (Image: Ebury Press) Ingredients (makes 12) 1 potato, about 150g; 3 tbsp vegetable oil, extra for brushing; 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1⁄4 tsp fenugreek seeds; 1⁄2 tsp cumin seeds; 1 onion, finely sliced; 1⁄2 tsp ground turmeric; 1⁄2 tsp ground cinnamon; 120g white cabbage, finely sliced; 1 large carrot, 120g, peeled and grated; 100g mixed red and green peppers, cored, de-seeded and finely chopped; 50g frozen peas; 1⁄2 tsp granulated sugar; 12 spring roll pastry wrappers, 25 x 25cm; 1 egg, lightly beaten; salt Method Boil the potato in salted water for 30 minutes until soft. Drain and leave to cool, then peel and dice. Heat the oil in a large frying pan on a medium heat. Add spice seeds and fry for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add onion, salt and cook for 2 minutes. Add turmeric and cinnamon and stir for a few seconds until the onion is coated. Add the cabbage, carrot and peppers and cook over high heat for 4–5 minutes or until soft. Add the diced potato, peas, 1⁄2 teaspoon of salt and the sugar and stir for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Transfer to a large plate and leave to cool. Cut each pastry square in half to make two rectangles. Keep the pastry covered with a clean, damp tea towel to stop it drying out. (Image: AFP) Working with one strip of pastry at a time and with a long edge facing you, fold the bottom right-hand corner of the strip to meet the top edge, forming a triangle, then fold the top right-hand corner over to meet the top left-hand corner of the strip, forming a square. Brush the single layer of pastry (bottom left) with beaten egg and fold over to form a triangular pouch. Open the pouch and fill with 3 tbsp of the samosa filling. Brush wrap with beaten egg and fold over to seal the pouch. Place on a tray and cover while making the rest of the samosas. Preheat the oven to 200°C and put the samosas on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Brush tops with a oil and beaten egg. Bake for 10 minutes, then turn them over, brush the other side with oil and egg and bake for another 10 minutes. Coconut chicken curry by Aysha Bora (Image: Ebury Press) Ingredients (serves 4) 1 large chicken, jointed into 8 pieces, excess skin trimmed away; 1 large ripe tomato, roughly chopped; 1 onion, quartered; 15g fresh root ginger, peeled; 4 garlic cloves, peeled; 6 serrano chillies, stems removed and de-seeded (fewer for a milder curry); 2 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground coriander; 1 tsp ground turmeric; 2 tbsp coconut oil; 2 x 400ml tins coconut milk; 3 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled & halved; Juice of 1⁄2 lemon, salt and pepper; 10g fresh coriander, chopped Rice, chapatis or flatbreads, to serve Method Score each piece of the chicken in two or three places, slicing about 1cm into the meat. Put the tomato, onion, ginger, garlic, chillies, cumin, coriander, turmeric and some salt and pepper into a food processor and blend to a rough paste. Rub one third of the paste over the chicken, into the cuts and under the skin; reserve rest of the mixture. Refrigerate chicken for at least 1 hour, or up to 5 hours. Preheat grill to the highest setting, and line a large baking tin with foil. In a large pan, melt the coconut oil on a medium heat; add the remaining paste and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until all of the moisture evaporates. Increase the heat slightly and cook for 3–5 minutes until the paste is thick and dark. Add coconut milk and simmer for 25–30 minutes until sauce is thick. Meanwhile, put the marinated chicken, skin side up, in the lined baking tin and grill for 15 minutes, until well coloured and charred, then turn the chicken over and grill for another 5 minutes to make sure it is cooked through. Stir the chicken and any juices into the curry pan, bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 5 minutes until the flavours have combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add the boiled eggs and the lemon juice to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped coriander and serve with rice, chapatis or flatatbreads. Caramelised plum upside-down cake by Faiza Hayani Bellili (Image: Ebury Press) Ingredients (serves 8–10) 2tsp sunflower oil, for greasing; 300g sugar; 100g unsalted butter, very soft; 1⁄2tsp vanilla extract; 1⁄4tsp salt; 8 plums, halved and stoned; 40g dark brown soft sugar; 2 eggs, beaten; 25g corn flour; 50g ground almonds; 100g plain flour; 1tsp baking powder Method Preheat the oven to 170°C. Grease a 23cm round springform cake tin with the sunflower oil and place on a baking sheet. For the caramel, put 225g of the granulated sugar into a small, wide, heavy pan on a low heat. Without stirring, let the sugar dissolve. Once liquid, let it gently bubble for 15–20 minutes or until it is a deep golden colour. Add 10g of the butter, half the vanilla extract and the salt, gently swirling the pan to combine the butter as it melts. Once fully incorporated, immediately remove from the heat and pour the caramel into the cake tin.<doc-sep>MEGHAN Markle has spoken of her pride in London as she was joined by mum Doria Ragland for the first time in the UK since the Royal Wedding today. The Duchess of Sussex, 37, beamed as she described the 'multicultural' capital while launching a cookbook written by neighbours of Grenfell Tower disaster victims. 18 Meghan with mum Doria Ragland Credit: @chrisshipitv Ms Ragland, 62, was heard introducing herself as "Meg's mom" to members of the group. There have been rumours Meghan's mum has been looking to move to the UK to be closer to her daughter in recent weeks. Meghan called the book "a tremendous labour of love" in a speech to volunteers from the kitchen and paid tribute to their community spirit. As Harry and her mother watched on with pride, she described first going to visit the kitchen in January and being overcome by the welcome from the group. 18 Meghan led her mum Doria Ragland and Prince Harry into the event Credit: AFP or licensors 18 Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and mum Doria Ragland at the Hub Community Kitchen launch Credit: @chrisshipitv 18 Prince Harry alongside Doria Ragland at the event Credit: @chrisshipitv Tender moment Prince Harry flattens down Meghan Markle's hair as it blows in the wind 18 Credit: AFP or licensors Prince Harry looked on with love as he joined Meghan and Ms Ragland in meeting volunteers from the kitchen 18 Meghan was left swooning after being greeted by a young fan Credit: AFP or licensors 18 Credit: AFP or licensors Meghan, Harry and Doria Ragland posed with members of the group She said: "I had just recently moved to London and I felt so immediately embraced by the women in the kitchen and their warmth and their kindness. "On a personal level, I feel so proud to live in a city with so much diversity. There are 12 different countries represented just in this room, it's pretty outstanding. "Everyone embraced this so deeply because it's been a passionate project for all of us - and for good reason." Meghan has made a number of secret visits to the kitchen since her first visit as she worked with volunteers on her first solo project as a Royal. 18 Meghan cooked with members of the group Credit: AFP or licensors 18 She praised the diversity of the group and said she had been made to feel welcome Credit: AFP or licensors 18 Meghan has visited the group privately a number of times Credit: AFP or licensors 18 She described the women as 'inspirational' Credit: AFP or licensors 18 Meghan embraces volunteers from the kitchen after her speech Credit: AFP or licensors 18 Prince Harry beamed as he joked with community members outside the marquee 18 Meghan waved goodbye to the group as she departed with her mum and Prince Harry Credit: AFP or licensors The recipes in the book have all been created by cooks from the centre and will support residents affected by the Grenfell fire and others in the West London community. Meghan, 37, helped put the group in touch with a publisher and her Royal Foundation provided assistance with legal and administrative issues. All proceeds will go back to the Hubb and the book is available in stores this week. Hubb means "love" in Arabic. In her foreword in the book, Meghan said the kitchen was a "place for women to laugh, grieve, cry and cook". Meghan Markle tells women of Grenfell Hubb Community Kitchen project, 'I'm so proud of you' 18 Meghan first visited the kitchen in January Credit: PA:Press Association 18 She met members of the Hubb Community Kitchen and has returned a number of times Credit: PA:Press Association 18 She described the production of the book as a 'labour of love' Credit: PA:Press Association 18 A total of 72 people were killed in the Grenfell Tower disaster last June Credit: PA:Press Association most read in news 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' She added: "With the support of dynamic women from all walks of life, we have come together with a united vision to empower other women to share their stories through food." A total of 72 people were killed in the Grenfell Tower disaster in West London in June last year after fire swept through the 24-storey tower block. The 50 dishes in the book are the volunteers' own recipes from across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.#<doc-sep>President Joe Biden stops to talk to the media as he drives a Ford F-150 Lightning truck at Ford Dearborn Development Center, Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in Dearborn, Mich. Barack Obama on UFOs: We don't know exactly what they are (CNN) — In her first solo project as a member of the royal family, the Duchess of Sussex is supporting a new charity cookbook showcasing recipes from women whose community was affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, Kensington Palace said in a statement on Monday. In January 2018, as she was settling into London, Meghan Markle met the group of women who gathered to cook twice a week in a communal kitchen at the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre. The Duchess of Sussex is supporting a new charity cookbook, 'Together: Our Community Cookbook', which celebrates the power of cooking to bring communities together. #CookTogether pic.twitter.com/XEclxgQjR4 — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 17, 2018 “I immediately felt connected to this community kitchen; it is a place for women to laugh, grieve, cry and cook together,” Markle, who has continued to make regular private visits to the kitchen, said in a statement. She championed the cookbook project as a way of ensuring the kitchen could operate more regularly, and it is hoped that profits from the sales will help keep the kitchen open up to seven days a week. The kitchen originally provided a place for the women to cook fresh food for their families and neighbors, who were living out of hotel rooms after the fire, but more than a year later it has also become a support network. The women who gather there call it the Hubb Community Kitchen – in Arabic “hubb” means “love.” Kensington Palace The Duchess of Sussex sits down for a meal with women at the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre. “I immediately felt connected to this community kitchen; it is a place for women to laugh, grieve, cry and cook together,” said the Duchess, who has written the foreword for the book. Supported by The Royal Foundation, “Together: Our Community Cookbook” features over 50 recipes from across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, and celebrates “the power of cooking to bring communities together.” “Melding cultural identities under a shared roof, it creates a space to feel a sense of normalcy – in its simplest form, the universal need to connect, nurture, and commune through food, through crisis or joy – something we can all relate to,” she said. The Duchess, who is quite a foodie herself, would often share recipes from her kitchen on her now defunct lifestyle blog The Tig.<doc-sep>
Meghan Markle is cooking up some comfort food with those who need it most. On Monday, the Duchess of Sussex announced her support of the new charity cookbook, Together: Our Community Cookbook, which features 50 recipes from women whose community was affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. The women got together, along with Meghan, this past summer at the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in West London to cook and spend time together at the Hubb Community Kitchen. Meghan joined the women in private to help with the cooking, learn about their stories and write a forward for the book. Press Association In her opening message, Meghan recalls learning about the Grenfell Tower fire while still in Canada and “sharing the global sentiment of shock and sympathy for what this community was enduring, while also deeply wanting to help.” The 37-year-old former Suits star also reveals that she privately visited the mosque in January 2018, “as I was settling in to my new home of London." “On my first visit, I asked Munira, the resident chef de cuisine (so to speak), how I could help,” she writes. "An apron was quickly wrapped around me, I pushed up my sleeves and found myself washing the rice for lunch.” The Duchess of Sussex is supporting a new charity cookbook, 'Together: Our Community Cookbook', which celebrates the power of cooking to bring communities together. #CookTogetherpic.twitter.com/XEclxgQjR4 — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 17, 2018 Meghan, who ran her own lifestyle blog, The Tig, prior to marrying Prince Harry, continues, "I immediately felt connected to this community kitchen; it is a place for women to laugh, grieve, cry and cook together.” The proceeds of the cookbook will go to supporting the Hubb Community Kitchen. Press Association "Together is more than a cookbook. This is a tale of friendship, and a story of togetherness,” she writes. "It is a homage to the power of cooking as a community, and the recipes that allow us to connect, share and look forward.” The ladies also recorded a moving video about the making of the cookbook, which Kensington Palace released on Monday. Press Association The Grenfell Tower fire took the lives of 72 people and left many more displaced. Since the event in June 2017, the royal family has made several public shows of support to the victims, including visits from Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, and Prince Harry. The Duchess of Sussex is also hosting a celebratory event for the cookbook on Thursday at Kensington Palace. For more information, visit: www.royalfoundation.com/together-cookbook or www.penguin.co.uk/Together. RELATED CONTENT: Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton's Thank You Cards to Well-Wishers Are Incredibly Sweet -- See Their Messages! Meghan Markle's Famous Trench Dress Is Being Re-Released (Exclusive) Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Share Details of Their First Royal Tour