What's Cooking...a look at food events and news from around the region...

Fab food from Orton...

FUND-raising at Orton C of E Primary School has taken on a yummy twist with the publication of a nifty little cookbook called Fab Food & Delicious Dinners.

What's more, all the recipes have been tried and tested by the children themselves. For this cookbook is the exciting next stage of an innovative project which has transformed school meals at Orton.

In 2004 long before Jamie Oliver kicked up a rumpus on the school meals front - Orton opted out of the county-wide school meals service and, with funding from the Cumbria Fells and Dales Leader+ programme, appointed a part-time local food procurement officer Deborah Potter to work with the school kitchen team lead by cook Kathleen Boynton. The aim was to create new menus based on fresh foods and local produce.

"We have been delighted to see how the new dinner arrangements have developed," said Rosemary Spence, head teacher at Orton, which also now boasts a Healthy School Award.

"The children were a little taken aback at first, they were used to a choice of menu and frequent processed foods, but it didn't take long before most of them were tucking into pasta bakes and traditional puddings with great gusto."

Fab food is packed full of lots of traditional dishes such as spaghetti bolognaise and beef casserole with dumplings. But there are some delicious innovations too such as sausagemeat moussaka', lamb and apricot casserole', and potato, courgette and tomato bake'.

There's also a dessert, puddings and tray bakes section too which includes such lip-smackers as jam roly-poly and butterscotch meringue pie'.

The book is available from Orton Farmers' Market (2nd Sat in the month), via the school (tel 015396-24268), or from Sally Seed at Stoneleigh Communications on 015396-24732. The book costs £5 with £3.50 from each book going to Orton school funds.

Harvest for justice...

Children from Wilson's Endowed CE School at Over Kellet who were featured in Food & Drink's coverage of British Food Fortnight celebrations raised £178 for Harvest for Justice with their home-made cakes and chutneys, afternoon teas and tray bakes.

World Vegan Day...

Kendal's Quaker Tapestry Tearooms, off Stramongate, will be celebrating World Vegan Day on November 1 with a special menu including Mushroom Wellington' and Winter Vegetable & Walnut Pie'. A selection of cakes suitable for vegans as well as a special pudding (Westmorland toffee & apple tart) will also be on offer.

Labelling laws...

New EU food labelling laws will make life easier for those who must avoid gluten, a protein in everyday food that is toxic for people with coeliac condition.

That was the message given at the autumn meeting of the North Lancashire and South Cumbria Coeliac Group held in Kendal, when members travelled from as far as Barrow and Ingleton to hear guest speaker Norma McGough, of Coeliac UK.

Thanks to the new EU Allergen Labelling Directive, which takes effect from November 25, it will now be obligatory for gluten to be listed in the Contains' box as one of 12 major allergens. For the first time this also applies to alcoholic drinks.

For more information contact Coeliac UK, PO Box 220, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 2HY, tel 01494-43727, or look on www.coeliac.co.uk The West Cumbria group of the Coeliac UK is holding a Gluten Free Food Fayre at the Ullswater Community College, in Penrith, on Saturday, November 19, from 10.30am to 3pm. Manufacturers from all over the country as well as several local producers are expected to attend the event, admission for which will be £1. For more information about the event, call 09100-810440 or visit the website (see above) and follow the links to the West Cumbria page.

Tasting day...

Gluten free will also be on the menu in Ambleside on Sunday, November 27, when local food specialists A Taste of Lakeland stage a tasting day.

Representatives of The Gluten Free Kitchen will join several other producers including Elizabeth Robinson, from the Coniston Country Kitchen Larder; John Lloyd, from Barngates Brewery; and Jim Hadwin, from Mansergh Hall, at Kirkby Lonsdale. There will also be yummy chocolates to taste from Jane Burrow, of Kendal.

"We have tried to choose producers whose products complement each other and to offer a good variety," said organiser Hilary Roberts. "We are decorating like a German Market, offering mulled wine and mince pies. Our aim is to create a festive atmosphere, get everyone's taste buds working and encouraging locals and tourists to shop locally for Christmas."

The event, which runs from 11am to 4pm, will be under cover - Distinctly Cumbrian has provided funding for an awning for A Taste of Lakeland to hold events such as this tasting.

Turkey award...

Cranstons butchers have awarded their latest Focus on Quality Award to Peter Smith, from Highgate Turkeys, at Troutbeck, near Penrith.

The awards are made two or three times a year to local producers and suppliers who have consistently reached the highest standards in their food production methods, product quality and flavour.