The Dinner Lady

[Annabel]

I have been riveted by the recent series of programmes Jamie Oliver has done regarding school dinners (well done Jamie!!! :notworthy: :notworthy: )

As the mum of an 8 year old this issue is of paramount importance to me, as you can imagine. :)

So I would like to recommend an excellent book by Jeanette Orrey called 'The Dinner Lady'.

The first part of the book is the story of how she started off working in a school kitchen cooking fresh food for the school's kids every day and the subsequent changes which meant she ended up just opening up packet mixes of slop and dishing them up the children. When legislative changes were made to allow schools to make their own arrangements for school meals provision, her head master jumped at it and now Jeanette is a powerful voice in the campaign to improve the quality fo food served to our children at schools across the country.

The second part of the book is full of the most wonderful recipes...good basic wholesome food that everyone will enjoy. Dishes you think you know how to cook, but actually, you are a bit wobbly on! :blush:

She has devised the recipes that cater for families and for bulk catering and is a truly inspirational book, in my humble opinion!!! :thumbs: :thumbs: :notworthy: :notworthy:

[Little Miss Annabel]

I would just like to say that I hope the school dinners do change cos I hate them!!!!!
Well done Jamie from me too!! :notworthy: :hihi: :thumbs:

[sunny]

Hi,
I've been following this lady too. She was on a phone in on Radio 5 last week and she sounds lovely.
In fact we nearly bought a house in that village!!!!!!!!! So I would have known her wouldn't I????
Anyway, Mail on Sunday did publish a few of her recipes, all yum.
I do need to buy the book, have not got round to it yet though.
sunny

[JJ]

Thanks Annabel!!!! :D

I loved the series on school dinners with Jamie Oliver..........

Will get this 'dinner lady' book next weekend.

I always video programmes that my 9..7 .. and sometimes my little 3 year old would benefit from...my eldest two watced jamies programmes and are revolted by the C**p that is served in school canteens.( I give mine packed lunches so thank goodness)

We as a household can be lazy sometimes and forget that mealtimes are great to get together as a family, so now we have decided that 4out of 7 evenings we all dine together and eat the SAME MEAL.....and the girls are loving it, we eat, chat and chill............


Jamie is a star!!!


JJ

PS..........I am stalking you for your ''gustav''...''kiss''...................NOT...o nly kidding

[Annabel]

Hi JJ .... :D Perhaps I could 'loan' out my picture for a small fee ( I still cant get over how nice it looks :notworthy: ) :lol: :lol: Keep an eye on Ebay, you never know, one might come up!!! :thumbs:

Anyway, back on topic...Jeannette Orrey was on Radio London the other day, she said the worst packed lunch she ever saw was 9 Jaffa Cakes, a Yorkie Bar and a can of coke....

This was a for a four year old!!!! :rant: :rant:

You wonder what some parents can be thinking of.... :sad:

[sunny]

Annabel,
Wouldn't it be interesting to look in the other kids' lunch boxes and see what is in there?

Mine have sandwich, yoghurt, milk drink, or water, bit of fruit, sometimes a packet of cheddars or the like, and a little homemade cake (not all the time!!!).

I once saw one girl with a huge bar of Aero in her lunch box and I was taken aback as the mother grew her own veg and was 'into' village living and then put that in her lunch box, well the choc would go first wouldn't it????????

Interesting..................