SCHOOL TOPPLES CHAMPION IN COOKERY COMPETITION

Pupils at Peterhead Academy celebrated culinary success at the Taste of Grampian and prevented a rival school from becoming cooking champions for the fifth time.

First-year pupils James Hall and Alan Will used local produce to secure first place at the annual school cookery competition on Saturday ahead of Oldmeldrum, Inverurie and Gordon Schools. It is the first time in five years that Oldmeldrum Academy has not won the prize.

The Peterhead pupils caught judges’ attention on Saturday with lamb kebabs on a bed of couscous. Home economics teacher Margaret Gordon said it was “absolutely lovely” to topple the four-time winners.

She said: "It is the end of a lot of hard work for the boys. They have been working towards this since before Easter. I am very proud of the boys, they have represented the school well."

The primary school competition was dominated by Foveran pupils, who took first and second prize for their packed lunches. The school also won the prize for best research.

Later in the day a school cook proved that nutritious meals can be made for less than a pound. Jenny Croucher, from Tyrie Primary School, near Fraserburgh, was crowned school cook of the year after she produced a two-course meal costing 80p.

The oriental pork burgers with stir-fry vegetables and rhubarb and ginger crumble used mostly local produce.

Mrs Croucher, who is responsible for ensuring that the school’s 38 children receive cheap and nutritious meals every day, said: “It’s about creating good school meals and good food for people in the home to show mums on a budget that you can produce good meals.”

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