THE heat was on in the kitchen as the cream of school cooks battled for honours.
Long gone are the days of the stodgy pudding and soggy vegetables, as cooks from Stockton schools proved in the school cook of the year contest.
Barbara Keen, from Durham Lane Primary School in Eaglescliffe, won the contest and the right to compete in the North-East and Scottish School Cook of the Year round, with her handmade sausages followed by apple crumble, all within the budget of 60p per portion.
Entrants were judged on their innovative use of ingredients, technical ability, and the appeal to children of the meals.
Anita Brown, Stockton Borough Council service manager, said: "The major focus of the competition is for Stockton school cooks to show off their flair, imagination and enthusiasm under television's Master Chef-style conditions.''
The competition was run by the Local Authority Catering Association and sponsored by British Meat.
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