Quote from Kate S, mother of girls at LEH and Putney High School

I love cooking but, as a working mother, hadn’t managed to carve out time  consistently enough to teach my children this life skill I learned from my own mother.  Enter Margaret and the excuse of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, which required my twins to be signed off for their Skill section by a 3rd party. The perfect moment to get the girls motivated and engaged in the art of cooking. Margaret’s Sunday sessions became a highlight, which my daughters looked forward to as they were always filled with fun, laughter and joy - as well as the creation of delicacies from sushi to steak with pepper sauce.  We relished the tasty leftovers when there were any!  I can’t recommend Margaret’s courses highly enough for anyone looking for an original, enjoyable and life-enhancing way to fulfil the DofE requirements at any level.

And from Felicity B, mother of a boy at Hampton

Thank you Margaret and thank you for hosting Ed to complete this course. He loved it and it’s given him some great life skills which I hope he will continue with!

Cooking Course for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver
  
How it works 
  
Children for the “Life Skill” section of the Bronze and Silver  are expected to do one hour a week or two hours every two weeks.  We do three hours every three or so weeks, which allows for rugby matches, swimming galas etc.  Each session actually lasts between 2 ¾ hours and 3 ¼ hours and is quite demanding.   Children must take photos as evidence and also show me evidence of cooking at home for me to be able to sign off their assessment at the end.
  
The children are actively involved in all the cooking, but they are not necessarily responsible for the whole of every dish.  They eat what they produce and are expected to practice something at home.   Parents are invited to the end of the last session so that the children can serve them what they have cooked.  
  

This activity should count towards your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Skills section, but please check with your DofE Leader for applicability before booking.
  
Cost per head is £265.  Each group will ideally have 6 teenagers in total. 
  
Timings: 
  
We find that Saturday and Sunday afternoons have worked best because it suits the children’s activities best.  I am open to other suggestions.  Saturday mornings could work as well….. 
  
  
Beef 
  
A discussion on different cuts of meat and what they mean to the cook 
How to cook a steak 
How to make lovely herb butters 
Mashed and Smashed Beef stew 
Bolognese: how not to taste like school mince and what to do with it 
(Cannelloni / lasagne / shepherds pie) 
  
One egg dish each (scramble, boil, fry, omelette) 
  
Chicken 
  
The difference between the labels when buying a chicken 
Roasting a chicken 
Chicken wings 
Chicken chorizo casserole 
Chicken stock and what to do with i  
  
One egg dish and a pudding  (crumble and custard?) 
  
Fish 
  
A discussion about the principles of cooking fish. 
Fish Pie 
Fish Cakes 
Moules Marinieres 
Steamed cod / seabass with ginger and spring onions 
  
One egg dish /  pudding (meringues?) 
  
Basic Italian 
  
Compare / contrast different types of pasta and talk about why you use one type or another for various sauces. 
Pesto 
Amatriciana sauce 
Classic Carbonara 
The children can make their own bolognese (proving that they can) 
Risotto 
  
Crème brulee (with a flame thrower)