Exciting times in The School Kitchen

Well it's been an exciting few weeks both at work and home! Firstly shortlisted for chef manager of the year award caterer and hotelkeeper food service catey, the company I work for got nominated for educatering innovations award then met up with the lovely Morag Lyall from educatering magazine for an interview on the food we knock out!! To be honest I was a bit nervous as i've never been interviewed for a magazine before and didnt want her to think I was serving up something I wouldnt normally do!

Follow me on twitter for more details on all thats going on and how to read the interview!!

Cardamom and Mango Cake

Right then, if you have read any of my other posts you can probably tell I like to be a bit adventurous when it comes to flavour combinations! So ive got Bangra Burgers on for lunch and wanted to carry on the indian inspired theme, what do you chuck on for dessert? Rice pudding? A traditional indian dessert like kulfi or gulab jamun? Not me! Cardamom and Mango Cake! Very tasty! Heres how I did it.

Made a normal sponge ( see previous recipe )

In a pan on the hob heat equal water to sugar and lob in 5 or 6 cardamom pods. I used green ones.

Bring it to the boil and reduce to a syrup.

Set aside to cool.

Turn out your sponge and make little holes with a cocktail stick all over.

Tip over you syrup.

Arrange on your desired plate and garnish with mango coulis.

At the school its all about getting the students to try new things and flavours. Always handy if you csn make it work in a cake!!

Enjoy!

Back to School!!

Well after the six week break we are finally back into the swing of things! We officially started last thursday but the way it works we only had ten for lunch and dinner! With that in mind and the fact that they are new boys, what better lunch than macaroni cheese with side salad and home made garlic bread! Always a winner with staff and students alike. Last year was a bit of a journey for us all, with the introduction of the vac pack chamber and the more restaurant style plates of food who knows what will happen this year!! Ive got loads of new special days coming up and different techniques for excecuting the dishes we are going to do, so watch this space!!!