This week, our Year 10 Food Technology students swapped their recipe books for resourcefulness in a challenge designed to test their creativity, problem-solving, and cooking confidence. 

Armed with a tray of everyday home staples -items you would commonly find in the freezer or pantry, or that can be bought on a budget - the students were tasked with creating a family-style dinner.  The twist?  No recipe, no step-by-step method - just a few helpful tips from their teacher along the way. 

The Ingredients 

The mystery box of flavours included: 

• Chicken breast
• Teriyaki sauce
• Hokkien noodles
• Frozen oriental vegetables (shared between three bays - because, as some students joked, vegetables are the enemy) 

Thinking Like Real Cooks 

Without a set recipe, students had to decide how to prepare, cook, and season their dishes, learning valuable skills like timing, heat control, and flavour balance.  It was all about trusting their instincts and working as a team to bring everything together. 

The Result – Delicious! 

By the end of the lesson, the classroom was filled with the aroma of sizzling chicken, sweet and savoury teriyaki, and freshly cooked noodles.  Despite some playful reluctance over the shared vegetables, the final dishes looked vibrant, smelled amazing, and most importantly - tasted fantastic. 

This activity showed our budding chefs that you don’t always need a formal recipe to create a delicious, budget-friendly family meal.  Sometimes, all it takes is a few simple ingredients, a bit of creativity, and a willingness to give it a go. 

Well done to all our Year 10 Food Tech students - another tasty success! 

Danya Gillard
Hospitality Assistant