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County Dishes Up Thousands Of Turkey Dinners
Posted on 17/12/2009
IF YOU think cooking Christmas dinner is stressful, spare a thought for Leicestershire dinner ladies who are serving up tens of thousands of the traditional turkey lunches this week.
The county council’s School Food Support Service (SFSS) say their staff will be producing 39,100 Christmas dinners right across the county and numbers are still rising - proving that a good roast and gravy is still as popular as it’s always been.
On the menu is turkey with chipolata sausage wrapped in bacon, stuffing, gravy, roast potatoes and creamed potatoes, brussel sprouts, carrots and peas. For dessert, there is a choice of plum pudding or mandarin jelly and ice cream.
To provide the Christmas dinners, they are using:
2,346 kg roast turkey breast - that’s 39,100 slices
1,094 kg pork chipolatas
440 kg rindless bacon
391 kg savoury stuffing
4,965 kg potatoes
456 kg peas
456 kg carrots
456 kg brussel sprouts
1,795 litres vanilla sauce
19,550 portions of plum pudding
19,550 portions of mandarin jelly and ice cream
The SFSS provides the meals to hundreds of primary and secondary schools in Leicestershire, and say that children love their traditional Christmas dinner.
One school which is devouring the dinner this year is Oakthorpe Primary School in Swadlincote. With 93 children, six governors and 11 staff members having Christmas lunch, the school will be serving up over a 100 lunches on Wednesday 16th December.
Head teacher Donna Moulds loves the atmosphere around Christmas and enjoys seeing the children get really excited about the lunches, she said:“There is a great atmosphere here at Oakthorpe around Christmas. The tables are decorated, there is Christmas music and a tree, the children love it and so do we.
“At the school we value positive relationships with the whole community and so the childrenare eager to see the governors when we invite them in for Christmas Lunch.The governorsenjoy the chance to spend time with the pupils as well. The children get the full trimmings with turkey and then a plum pudding, there is also a vegetarian option available and we notice they love trying new foods, like brussel sprouts.
She adds: “Highly nutritious meals are vitally important to the school for our pupils and we are really pleased with the standard of the food provided.”
County council member for Children and Young People’s Services Coun Ivan Ould said: “That’s a huge amount of dinners to serve up in schools. It’s an amazing achievement.”
“The traditional Christmas roast is part of the new healthy menus which have been devised between the School Food Support Service. We want more children to enjoy healthy school meals from our new healthier menus, rather than take in packed lunches.”
The SFSS aims to encourage all school children in Leicestershire to have a nutritionally balanced diet in the school environment in order to promote healthy development and growth and to give the whole school community support, advice and guidance.
Why not make the Christmas pudding being served in Leicestershire schools this year? Here is the plum pudding which is served by SFSS in Leicestershire schools this winter, the cooks make it for 100 primary children or 80 senior children. This makes two large puddings. Take: 375g of plain flour, 270g margarine, 270g of fresh breadcrumbs, 125 g of golden syrup, 125g of black treacle, 20g of dark soft brown sugar, 10g of bicarbonate of soda, 450 g of dried mixed fruit, 60g of grated carrot, 60g of grated apple, good shake of mixed spice, 225 ml of milk and 200 ml of water. Method: lightly grease pudding bowls. Place all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and combine and beat. Gradually add milk and water until mix becomes a dropping consistency. Put the mixture into the greased tins and place a lid over. If the lid does not fit firmly, use foil or greaseproof paper between the tin and the lid to ensure that steam does not penetrate into the mixture. Steam for three hours. The pudding can be made the day before. Prepare and cook as above and then cool and refrigerate within one and a half hours. Reheat on day for one and a half hours.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Photographers are invited to attend Oakthorpe Primary School in Swadlincote to see the children enjoying a school dinner. The lunch will be served at 12 midday on Wednesday 16th December.
For more information, contact Wendy Philp on 0116 3055770/07798607463 or Kkatherine Simon on 0115 9410 714.
About The School Food Support Service:
The School Food Support is part of Leicestershire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Service. Its aim is to provide meals and support schools on their catering and school food in general.
The School Food Support Service aims to encourage all school children in Leicestershire to have a nutritionally balanced diet in the school environment in order to promote healthy development and growth and to give the whole school community support, advice and guidance in this respect.