Hi all, I just had to register after reading all the great recipes posted on here, I wonder if you could share any with us as you worked in a school kitchen. Critical thanks so much for the recipes you have shared and I along with the others will buy your book for sure, I wish you every success with it.
Happy cooking all.

Criticalfriend, thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been looking for the recipe for chocolate tart for God knows how long! If it wasn't for the fact that I have no dried milk I'd be making it right now, even though it's a few minutes to 11pm. I guess I'll have to sleep it out and make it first thing tomorrow.

I so hope you get that book going!

Thanks again!

Hello everyone, I have a friend who was a dinner lady, nice to talk to folk behind the scenes! She recalls, that if the butcher had not arrived in time to start cooking, it would have to be 'Spam Fritters' I have asked her for her receipes, she can of course recall them, but sadly had to leave her old cookery book of receipes behind for her replacement. But saids that most of her receipes did come from the 'BE-RO' cookbook.
Congratulations 'Criticalfriend',on your book deal Keep us informed when your book becomes available!! Well done!!!

Hi Criticalfriend found your message board by chance and o boy am I glad I did.

You have made both a 56year old granny and her 31year old daughter happy.

Choclate toothpaste tart I have been searching for a recipe for years we both remeber this particular delight but have nerer been able to find it

Now all we need to do is make a huge batch of it and sit down never more to move

Glad to hear you are releasing a book hope I can get it over here in
Ireland You did say that you had another recipe for chocolate tart any chance that you could post it. Thanks so very much alot of the otheer recipes are gems to.

Criticalfriend you are THE BEST!!! I'll be first in the queue to buy your book

I've been looking for the recipe for the caramel tart type dessert we got at school, with choc shavings, served with chocolate custard. I though I had found it with 'gypsy tart' but Oooh no, that wasnt it! Might it be butterscotch tart?

Any ideas?

Hi all - I am a newbie here but just had to register as my hubbie found this site this morning whilst trying to find a recipe for Chocolate Crunch - all I can say is "you are a star Criticalfriend!" I have already been out a bought my Pearce and Duff blancmange and am making the chocolate crunch right now.

Thank you everyone for the marvellous recipes (and memories).

i was looking for cornflake tart recipes and stumbled across this thread and just had to join up!!! PLease please tell when and where can we get your book Critical Friend ?

I made mini cornflake tarts that were a great success, but I have to say the Butterscotch Tart was FANTASTIC!!! And Sooooo easy to make. It was exactly the same as at school

Hi
So glad I found this thread.
Critical friend you are a star!
Can't wait til your book comes out.

Can you, or anyone else remember a cheesy concoction (I used to call it cheese slop).
It wasn't so much a souffle type dish, more of a 'scoop and slop on the plate'.
It was probably a cheese, potato and onion mix (always light in colour), but I loved it. The consistency wasn't runny, but sat nicely on the plate.

Many thanks

Mmmmm the Recipe for Choclate and toothpaste tart was the best, I did have the recipe given to me by a school dinner lady but it was lost in our house move, diets out the window now (again). I have searched for years for it so thanks Critical Friend for that, I remember it as Chocolate Splodge. My only other memory of school dinners in Leicester was chicken fricassee, does anyone have the recipe for this??? Thanks and whens the book out.

I remember a gorgeous flapjack type bar that was served with semolina, I think it was made of oats but it had a milky binding. It was very soft and delicious. I'm going back to the eighties, they also sold them in our college refectory. I have tried searching for a recipe but not really sure what they were called. I guess my description isn't enough but someone may know what I mean?

Try these
Not a school dinner recipe just a family favourite. I think this may help you with the milky taste you are searching for. School cooks used a lot of dried milk powder in their recipes but this is the closest I have to that. The amount of butter is a bit scary but you do make loads of bite sized flapjacks and their richness does prevent you from eating too many at one time and believe me I’ve tried.
Chewy flapjacks
Butter, 250g
Golden Syrup 4 tbsp
condensed milk, 4 tbsp
Demerera sugar, 250g
Porridge Oats 750g

How to

1. Heat the oven to 160 C
2. Line a baking tin with baking parchment. My tin is 13” by 7” so a biggish tin is needed!
3. Melt the butter in a big saucepan and add in the syrup and the sugar. Keep on a low heat until the sugar is no longer grainy. Be patient!
4. Add in the condensed milk and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and stir in the oats. Make sure the mix is well amalgamated.
5. Tip into the tin and lightly press down but don’t give it a really good squash as this will take away the squidgy texture we are aiming for.
6. Bake for 25 – 30 mins until the edges are just beginning to darken. Don’t panic it will set on cooling. Cut into small squares (think M and S flapjack tub sizes!)
7. Put in a tin otherwise you will eat these far too quickly.

Thank you criticalfriend, these sound yummy, I will definitely give these a try. I have been thinking about those squares we had at school and now I'm not sure if they were made of oat or crushed cornflakes. All I remember that the taste was fantastic.

Thanks once again, cant wait to try these yummy sounding flapjacks.

Ah Well now you mention the cornflakes I do have a recipe for a rice crispie bar that has a milky gooey toffee binding BUT my publisher would be a bit cross if I posted it now.... Wait a while and I can post it. Hope the flapjacks keep you going in the meantime.

criticalfriend you are a joy!

i too have only logged on to give you your deserved accolades. i am 7 weeks pregnant (yay) and awoke dreaming of Cheese Flan.

i've come on here and am now going to make it for my lunch.

congratulations on the book. have found this one listed on amazon, is this you?
[link]

please let me know so that i can show my support further by bying a copy.

you've made a hormonal woman VERY happy!

Hi again CF,

pregnant woman here!
do you have recipes for school pizza?

also, those thick, lovely, delicious schools shortbread type biscuits?

help me... i'm obsessed with food!

Waiting to hear if CF is Becky Thorn, so we can get our order in. Thanks...

Hi I-love-cakes...........CF book was coming out in October this, but if it is out before then, I too would like to know.....Thanks

this is coming out in october

i've just made the cheese flan... OH MY GOODNESS

CF - you're a star!!!!

Ah well you seem to have worked out who I am.... The book listed on Amazon is mine Glad the cheese flan hit the spot. Yes I do have the recipe for school shortbread.

Hi C/F ............what is the book called, and how come it is out now, when we were all waiting for it to be released in October, not complaining though because I want it for a birthday present at the end of August......Good luck with the book..............XXXXXXXXX

obsession will make you find what you want in life CF!

thanks again for the recipe and cant wait to buy the book in august and support you further.

Hi all, Thanks for the kind words and such support.
The book is called "school dinners" and will be published on October 15th. It is listed on Amazon for pre orders and I suppose they will mail it to you for that date. Sorry some of you thought it was out now. Tem1 put a link on her post earlier. Good luck with the pregnancy by the way Tem1.

CF .. Congratulations on the book .. Have pre ordered =) after all your hard work you deserve it Thx again for all your recipes.