Why  is  Eckington  Manor  doing  these  courses?

As school summer holidays start and exam results are awaited, parents will be keen to keep their offspring constructively occupied and entertained in the coming weeks - whether youngsters aged eight and over or gap year students anticipating the start of college or university.

What  are  the  courses?

Eckington Manor Cookery School (near Pershore, Worcestershire) has just the answer, thanks to the introduction of two new types of course specifically devised with younger, budding cooks in mind.

Staged in a converted Dutch barn on a 260-acre working farm, on the banks of the River Avon, are the upcoming 'Student' and 'Parent & Child' cookery courses.

They will tackle essential basics and techniques alongside appealing recipes. With home-reared and grown livestock, fruit and vegetables on the school's doorstep they will also gain a greater appreciation of food's provenance and its seasonality.

With the Student cookery courses having sold out quickly and limited availability, two extra dates have since been added to the schedule as there's clearly demand for college and university students to learn how to fend for themselves in the kitchen.

"I'm keen to show students how they can eat well on a limited budget and entertain their friends also," says Eckington's Head Chef Tutor, Mark Devonshire.

Tell  me  more  about  the  Student  course

Student Cookery: learn about nutrition, cooking methods and techniques and about sensible shopping for those cupboard basics

The 'Student Cookery' one-day courses therefore concentrate on simple, basic recipes that work well as everyday dishes.

Nutrition, cooking methods and techniques along with knife skills, sensible shopping and essential store cupboard basics are all brought into the equation.

Simple meat and fish cookery will be covered via recipes such as Bangers 'n' Mash, Cottage Pie, Fish Pie, curries, Chilli Con Carne, meatballs and fish cakes.

Stews, one pot cooking, pasta dishes and lively sauces are bound to be lapped up by students, while vegetable dishes - from stir fries and risottos to Cheese and Potato Pie to healthy wraps - will show how healthy food can be both cheap and delicious.

Pancakes and fruit crumbles will provide examples of easy and wholesome puddings.

When are the next Student courses?
· Wednesday, August 20
· Thursday, August 21

What  equipment  is  there?

Mini kitchens: equipped with an Aga, fridge and preparation area

The school's 10 fully equipped 'mini kitchens' will provide each student with their own designated work area - featuring a luxury range cooker by Aga, Falcon or Rangemaster, a fully stocked fridge and spacious preparation area - as Mark takes them through their paces.

"Encouraging young cooks to prepare fresh, healthy meals is going to reap rewards in so many ways," says owner Judy Gardner.

She opened Eckington Manor Cookery School last summer as a diversification project for her farm, building on her long-standing career in the food industry and a love of food and hospitality that was nurtured in childhood.

"It's so important for families to cook and experiment with food together, with one generation passing down tips and recipes to the next. Guiding and steering a child in the kitchen is not just a bonding experience but also lays down happy memories and influences for the future."

Tell  me  more  about  the  Parent  &  Child  course

Such thinking is behind the one-day 'Parent & Child Cookery' classes that Eckington will feature.

Each class will be open to 10 parent-and-child (aged between 8-16) pairings, with the courses covering basic kitchen skills and child friendly dishes that are creative, nutritious and can be recreated at home.

Fish dishes, chicken goujons, soups, breads, pastas, pizzas, muffins, cup cakes, flapjacks, smoothies and stir fries are the type of foods that parent and child will work on together, as they develop a good kitchen relationship between them, within a safe and fun environment. There's bound to be lots of stirring and pots and bowls to lick!

When are the Parent & Child courses?
· Friday, August 8
· Wednesday, October 22
· Thursday, October 23

What  do  both  course  days  entail?

Lunch: students sit together to eat what they have made

Each class will start at 9.30am and finish around 4pm with class mates sitting down together for the lunch they've made for themselves as part of that day's course. Certain goodies can be packed up to be taken away afterwards along with the accompanying recipes that will be provided.

Extend  your  stay

Five en-suite bedrooms in Eckington's 700-year-old Lower End hall house - just across the courtyard from the cookery school - allow for day courses to be expanded into an overnight stay and a true rural escape.

More time then becomes available to explore the farm and meet Eckington's Highland and Aberdeen Angus cattle, sheep and hens, as well as wandering around its small orchard and half acre vegetable garden.

Tell  me  about  the  courses  for  men

"Mothers wanting their husbands to become more skilled in the kitchen might also think of enrolling them on one of our 'Exclusively Men' classes," suggests Mark Devonshire.

When are the 'Exclusively Men' courses?
· Saturday, August 9
· Saturday, September 6
· Saturday, November 15

How  much  do  these  cost?

· 'Student' and 'Exclusively Men' - £175 per student
· 'Parent & Child' - £250 per duo.
· Single bedroom, per night - £65
· Double/ twin rooms, per room - £125
All bedroom rates include VAT at 17.5% and an Eckington Manor breakfast.

Eckington Manor Cookery School, Manor Road, Eckington, Worcestershire WR10 3BH

Further  information

For details of other cookery courses and demonstrations scheduled through to the end of the year, further background on Eckington Manor Cookery School and any enquiries, call 01386 751600, email or visit Eckington Manor online.