Culinary success for Kilmihil’s Ciara

THE sweet smell of success wafted through the corridors of St Angela’s College in Sligo for Kilmihil pupil, Ciara Golden.

One of five Clare finalists at the Good4U Smart Chef, Ciara wowed the judges with her culinary skills. For her winning dish, Ciara prepared a homemade pumpkin seed crêpe with a chilli chicken filling and homemade salsa.
A pupil at St Michael’s College, where her home economics teacher is Kate Hehir, Ciara won the junior category in which two of the other finalists were her schoolmates, Tara O’Sullivan and Elaine Greene.
Michaelle Connor from Presentation Secondary School, Galway won the senior title, a category, which featured two pupils from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla, Emily Moses and Bella O’Keeffe.
Michelle prepared a Greek salad with quail eggs and homemade hemp dressing, followed by a shiitake mushroom risotto and marinated chicken.
The runners-up were Holly O’Riordan, County Kildare (junior category) and Rachel Ewing, Donegal (senior category).
Senior finalists were asked to produce a two-course meal for a family of four for €20 incorporating Good4U products, while the junior finalists created a healthy snack incorporating at least one Good4U product. The pupils devised recipes to meet the challenge.
The competition was a joint initiative between Good4U Food and Drink Company Ltd and St Angela’s College, Sligo.
Amanda McCloat, head of home economics at St Angela’s College, Sligo said the finalists showed creativity in their challenge to design and cook healthy recipes. She explained that the aim of this competition was to raise awareness of nutrition, taste and budget when cooking healthy meals.