Hundreds of Preston families whip up hotpot together in community cook-along

Kay Johnson and her team at the Larder, Lancaster Road, hosted the city's first ever community cook-along today, encouraging families to back local food producers to help boost Preston’s economy.
By James Holt
Published 12th Nov 2020, 17:08 BST
Updated 12th Nov 2020, 17:14 BST

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Their cookery skills were put to the test, following a live stream video that teaches families how to make a Lancashire Hot pot using locally sourced ingredients.

Hundreds of free ingredient kits were delivered earlier this week to families across Preston, preparing over 1,000 portions of the favourite Lancashire hotpot.

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All ingredients were sourced from within a 30-mile radius as Kay, who was recently awarded an MBE for her work in the community, and her team at the Larder encourage people to 'lean into local' and support independent food suppliers in the borough.

Kay said: “We managed to deliver the kits to 250 families and households across Preston, it is brilliant.

“People responded so well and were so emotional to us delivering these food kits to encourage families to cook together using local produce.

“We have not been able to keep up with the response to our social media accounts because there have been so many wonderful messages. It is lovely that so many people have embraced this cook-along in such a wonderful way and taken the idea on board.

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“The underlying message is to get families and communities cooking together, but also to give people an understanding and awareness of where their food comes from and how they can support local traders and food producers.”

Kay Johnson organised for 250 ingredient kits to be delivered to families in PrestonKay Johnson organised for 250 ingredient kits to be delivered to families in Preston
Kay Johnson organised for 250 ingredient kits to be delivered to families in Preston

As part of the ingredient kits, the lamb originated from Bowland Farms, the potatoes and pickled beetroot were provided from Worthingtons Farm at Mere Brow, the onions from Golding Farms at Rufford and the butter from Park Head Farm, Inglewhite.

And in a method shared to Youtube, Kay hosted a live tutorial video for viewers to follow at home and create the perfect Lancashire hotpot as a family.

Popular Preston market stall Fresh n' Fruity also donated a giant pumpkin which was used to make 1,000 portions of homemade pumpkin soup to accompany the ingredient kits.

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Final ingredient kits were delivered last night, with 250 boxes dropped off to family households in and around Preston.

The ingredient kits made up a Lancashire hotpot and included locally sourced ingredientsThe ingredient kits made up a Lancashire hotpot and included locally sourced ingredients
The ingredient kits made up a Lancashire hotpot and included locally sourced ingredients

Kay added: “Everyone is entitled to a good meal and we want to see food fairness for all. We want to find ways to work with local people and make food affordable for all."

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Related topics:PrestonLancaster RoadLancashireMBE