Jarrow care home residents share their culinary secrets with their own Christmas recipe book

If they weren’t sweet enough already, these adorable care home residents have published their own recipe book for Christmas.
Palmersdene care home chef Alan Bulmer with his handmade Christmas cake.Palmersdene care home chef Alan Bulmer with his handmade Christmas cake.
Palmersdene care home chef Alan Bulmer with his handmade Christmas cake.

Palmersdene Care Home residents in Jarrow have been cooking up a storm after winning a national Christmas cake competition.

The Anchor home, based on Grange Road West, entered the Anchor group-wide competition for the best festive cake – going up against other residents from homes across the country.

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Palmersdene care home residents' recipe book.Palmersdene care home residents' recipe book.
Palmersdene care home residents' recipe book.

As part of their entry they were asked to demonstrate evidence to show and explain how they made the cake – but these Jarrow residents went one step further.

With the help of Alan they decided to make their own recipe book including the method, ingredients and some festive photos of them in action.

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And it was double success for the home, as chef Alan Bulmer also placed second in an Anchor-wide cooking competition for home staff.

Care home chef Alan Bulmer, residents Vincent Ray and Beryl Overton recipe bookCare home chef Alan Bulmer, residents Vincent Ray and Beryl Overton recipe book
Care home chef Alan Bulmer, residents Vincent Ray and Beryl Overton recipe book

Home manager, Maureen McCulloch, said: “We take part in the competition every year and a part of it asks the residents produce a portfolio to show how they made the cake – but no one has done it the way Alan has done it with them.

“In all my years as a manager I had never seen anything like this before.”

“They have had an absolute ball.

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“They have all made the book with him and done little bits of writing and illustrations.

“As a result the residents won their competition and Alan has arranged for them to be printed to make proper books to be given out to the residents and their families.

“For someone who has never worked in a care home before he is absolutely amazing.”

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