Great British Menu comes to Runcorn (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

TV cameras capture Runcorn's Comic Relief cooking classes

11:20am Wednesday 20th February 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

TOP chefs battling to create dishes that put a smile on your face for Comic Relief visited an inspirational project in Runcorn.

TV cameras captured mums learning to cook at All Saints Parish Church.

Chef Mary-Ellen McTague hoping to win the Great British Menu was testing out one of her recipes and selling her cup cakes to children at All Saints School for Comic Relief.

Marion Hayes, who runs the cookery classes, said: “It was great fun having the TV cameras here Mary-Ellen was lovely.

“They were here for two days filming.”

Her enterprising community project received £5,000 from Comic Relief last year and £10,000 this year.

She has helped mums, teenagers, widowers, heart patients, children and families to master nutritous, tasty dishes that are cheap and simple to prepare.

Marian, a former teacher, said: “I’ve given them confidence in cooking cheaper cuts of meat, like brisket and pork shoulder. I’ve also advised them to buy the best quality mince and shown them how to make lasagne, moussaka and Tunisian meatballs.

“A kilo of meat can make three really big meals.”

Mums pay only £2 a week as everything else is provided.

They can go on to prepare vegetables, meat, bake bread and cakes.

Sixty children, aged four to 12, are learning to cook 12 different recipes this week, including sweetbread rolls, flapjacks, chocolate cake, lemon drizzle cake, sausage rolls and pizza.

They will serve them to their family at a taster party on Friday.

Marion said: “Each child will get a recipe book with their own photograph on the front to take home.”