YOUNGSTERS at a primary school in Wrexham have been learning how to make an authentic pizza, with a course on making the Italian favourite courtesy of a top chef.
Stephen Griffiths, development chef at food distribution company Harlech Foodservice, called in at Ysgol Maes y Mynydd, in Rhos, to help pupils turn out Italy's answer to Welsh rarebit.
Lilymay Lingard with her pizza. Picture: Mandy Jones Photography
He had prepared a ball of pizza dough for each pupil and staff members to join in, rolling them out and topping them with cheese, tomato, mushroom, sweetcorn, peppers, salami and even pineapple.
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They clearly enjoyed their work under his expert eye and with a few cooking tips thrown in along the way before the school kitchen staff popped them in the ovens and minutes later out came a selection of tasty-looking pizzas to be popped into boxes to be enjoyed at home.
Tarik Ozdemir prepares his pizza. Picture: Mandy Jones Photography
Stephen said: "This is part of the work we are doing with schools across North East Wales this summer as part of the Welsh Local Government Association 12 days of Food and Fun and at a number of school we are providing pizza-making sessions to give the children a taste for cooking.
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"It's about the field to fork initiative and is such a healthy thing to do and helps them learn about the value of good food and the pleasure you can get not just from eating it but from preparing it too.
On goes the tomato, from left, Odin Bowkett-Pullen, Ella Jones and Lilymay Lingard. Picture: Mandy Jones Photography
"It helps them learn about the value of good, healthy food and we have included at least one vegetable in each pizza and ensured they have the right kind of cheese, mozzarella.
"It's also important to learn about the right use of quantities - we don't want too much tomato. No one wants a soggy bottom.
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"It's so important for young people to learn about the value of good food at an early age and to understand and enjoy preparing and cooking healthy and tasty meals and hopefully it encourages the whole family to get involved."
Lloyd Cambridge roll out his dough. Picture: Mandy Jones Photography
The Food and Fun Programme was organised through Wrexham County Borough Council's Healthy Schools Team and ran from Monday to Thursday for the first three weeks of the summer holidays.
It has had a big thumbs-up from pupils and staff according to Ysgol Maes y Mynydd's wellbeing manager Jane Hand, who said: "We have been working with Harlech Foodservice and Wrexham County Borough Council to provide healthy breakfasts, snacks and lunches during the 12 days of Food and Fun.
A good helping of sweetcorn for Gracie Hughes. Picture: Mandy Jones Photography
"We are also supporting families in what is a difficult economic climate and as well a taking home a pizza today the pupils will be taking home a bag of store cupboard essentials funded by WLGA and chosen by Wrexham Council and Harlech Foodservice to be healthy and nutritious as well as tasty.
"What we are teaching them is to have a healthy lifestyle for life and the best time to teach them that is when they are young because they really take it on board."
Finishing touch – Eva Hale. Picture: Mandy Jones Photography
Stephen was impressed with pupils' efforts and they were looking forward to taking home them home, with youngster Ella Jones saying: "I liked rolling the dough out and putting sweetcorn on it and I'm going to take it home to eat."
Odin Bowkett-Pullen said: "I cook pizzas at home and I've really enjoyed choosing the different toppings and putting them on. I'll take it home and share it with my dad."
• Harlech Foodservices has bases at Criccieth, in Gwynedd, Chester and Merthyr Tydfil and between the three locations, the company employs about 200 staff and runs a fleet of vehicles to deliver up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West.
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