Totally Local Company – Summer Eating with Kids Creating Great Tasty Recipes – Straight from the School Kitchen!

As the school year winds down and summer stretches ahead, there’s no better time to get kids into the kitchen!

Cooking together isn’t just fun—it’s a great way to build life skills, foster independence, and explore healthy, balanced eating.

As a key provider of School Catering, this summer, we’re sharing four favourite recipes from our current school menu that families can enjoy making, and eating, at home!

Each recipe below serves 10 portions, perfect for family meals, community events, or a fun cooking session with friends.

Celebrating Success in School Food

We’re proud to share that our current school menus were recently recognised with a Bronze Award by ProVeg UK as part of their School Plates Programme. This award celebrates our commitment to offering healthy, sustainable, and appealing meals for children.

We’re also delighted to be working in partnership with ProVeg UK and SUGARWISE to continuously improve the nutritional quality of our menus and reduce sugar consumption, all while promoting environmentally responsible food choices.

Together, we’re shaping a brighter, healthier future for school food—one delicious meal at a time.

Fruity Chicken Curry

This is a mild and naturally sweet curry that’s a hit with kids—thanks to juicy pineapple and creamy korma spices.

Method

• Cook the curry base: Soften onions in a dry pan. Add korma paste, curry powder, tomatoes, water, and lentils. Simmer 20–30 minutes until lentils soften.
• Blend the sauce: Stir in pineapple, then blend to a smooth sauce.
• Cook the chicken: Brown in a separate pan, then simmer in the sauce for 10–15 minutes until cooked through.
• Serve: With fluffy rice and half a warm naan bread.

Smart Mac & Cheese

Comfort food meets clever cooking—this mac and cheese sneaks in a healthy dose of cauliflower.

Method

• Steam cauliflower until soft.
• In a pan, melt butter, then add cauliflower. Stir for 2–3 minutes.
• Add flour, cook to form a roux. Slowly add milk and garlic purée.
• Simmer to thicken, then blend into a smooth sauce.
• Cook pasta separately, drain, and mix with the sauce.

Sunny Spanish Paella

A veggie-packed one-pot wonder that brings sunshine to every spoonful.

Method

• Sauté onions in oil. Add garlic, rice, herbs, paprika, and peppers.
• Stir for 2–3 minutes, then add tomatoes and water.
• Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
• Add peas, cook another 3–4 minutes. Serve warm.

Choc-Beet Brownies

The ultimate sneaky treat—rich, fudgy brownies packed with the natural sweetness of beetroot.

Method

• Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tin.
• Melt margarine, cool slightly. Whisk eggs and sugar until creamy.
• Stir in melted margarine and grated beetroot.
• Sift in flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Mix well.
• Pour into tin, bake 25–30 mins. Cool and slice into 10 pieces.

Why Cooking Together Matters

Getting children involved in preparing meals:

• Builds confidence and basic maths/literacy skills
• Encourages them to try new foods
• Strengthens family bonds
• Helps them understand where food comes from and how to make healthy choices

So, whether you’re a parent, teacher, or school leader, why not encourage some kitchen adventures this summer?

Why not share your creations with us—we’d love to see school-inspired meals at home!  Email your recipe creations to: rebecca.sly@totallylocalcompany.co.uk