Lancashire Cook Off

So I've been heavily involved with the editing of UCLanPublishing's Lancashire Cooking book.  It's going to be a cracking little book, to be sold in Waterstones, Preston with all proceeds going to the homeless charity, Shelter.  With the Hairy Bikers, Paul Heathcote and Nick Park on board we've also been in touch with local food suppliers, merchants etc for exclusive interviews, recipes and features.  We delve into the history of food with a look at both the shipping and industrial revolution and how those had a great impact on food.  Obviously I cannot divulge any trade secrets-you will have to buy the book when it hits the shelves in Autumn. 

Last week we organised a Cook Off in order to test the recipes that have been contributed and invented.  The recipes were all fun to make and include variations of hotpots, cakes, puddings and other tasty treats.  Spending an entire day rolling out pastry, chopping veg, baking things, cooking things and doing a lot of washing up; we found ourselves hitting exhaustion!  A photographer took photos, her dog liked our chicken so much she ate it when our backs were turned for one second! 

I appreciate what my boyfriend does for a living alot more than I did before.  He cooks for hundreds of people 5 days a week - sometimes 7!  Now I know why he likes a very long lie in at the weekend. 

We took our meals and cakes into the office where they were greatly received.  Everyone loved every morsel and myself, Vic and Fiona are extremely pleased.