Come Dine with Me!

Families in Walsall proved there was no 'bitchin' in the kitchen' on Saturday mornings this term as they enjoyed top class tips on food preparation, cooking and healthy eating at home.  In fact, it was more like 'Come Dine with Me' as tutor Carol Hall guided them through her inspirational recipe book and proved you are never too old [or too young!] to start cooking.

After seeing the latest group of families graduate through some delicious meals cooked to perfection she said, 'cooking is a core life skill and our aim is to give everyone the opportunity to learn to cook and enjoy good food whatever their age - from the very young through to the moms, dads and grandparents who all took part.'

Gourmet dishes like Sweet and sour pork, chicked biryani, chili con carne and Mexican fajitas were all on the menu as the children and adults cooked side by side and proved they all have the makings of a top chef at home.  Key messages of food hygiene, reading food labels and buying good quality, home grown locally produced food were blended in beautifully with the main course of preparing, cooking and tasting the fabulous food.  And for dessert?  Everyone got to take home the food they had prepared along with a certificate of achievement to show the rest of the family!

Family Learning for FREE!

Family Learning Co-ordinator Terri Fryer said, 'Learning for life is essential and enjoyable; and we are proud of the fine track record we have here at Manor Farm.  These are life skills that people can take from cradle to the grave and as well as inspiring young people to learn, we have proved adults are just as excited to pick up skills they can use and progress with at home.'

The Saturday Kitchen course ran for 5 weeks and was completely free of charge!

As with any new skill, the proof is in the 'pudding' and young Zoe Brown [see photograph below]spoke for everyone involved when she said, 'We have had great fun.  It has been brilliant!  My favourite is the fajitas and with some help I think I could cook this at home.'

Maria Nambio brought both her boys Udei and Umei to the classes and said, 'They have loved the cutting and chopping of vegetables and watching simple ingredients become a delicious meal.  They have been really adventurous and tried new foods they have never heard of - I'm really proud of them.'

So if you think you might have a budding Jamie Oliver or a young Nigella Lawson at home, why not come along to the next round of Saturday Kitchen cookery courses for your family?  It doesn't have to be parents and children either as Terri Fryer pointed out, 'These are intergenerational courses for grandparents, fathers, aunts, children, big brothers or sisters - in fact anyone in the family that wants to learn new skills by working 'together' as a family.'

And it isn't just cooking that's on offer. The Manor Farm Centre are planning Family First Aid, Top Dads Den Building sessions, Exercise as a Family, Beastly Bugs made from recycled scrap items, Storytelling and reading at home, cracking the Parenting Puzzle with top tips for parents and carers of young children, Healthy Lunchboxes for people of all ages and lots more cookery courses planned for families soon.

Anyone interested in learning more about the range of courses on offer [many of which are completely FREE!] should contact Terri at Manor Farm on 01922 614316

Julie Owen and Zoe Brown

Melissa Wilkes and Richard Parr

Stuart Bucknall receiving his certificate on behalf of Kim, Ashley and Tommie Bucknall from tutor Carol Hall