School Fete Ideas?

[Sonan]

So, the annual school fete isn't that far away! I am wondering what I can make in the Thermomix that is
easy and cheap (so I can do bulk) and would sell well? Anyone else had successful sales with a particular item at school fetes?
Thank you

[cookie1]

I guess the usual would be good, muffins, cup cakes etc. How about dips would they be ok. Maybe even some pesto. Scones, cakes, biscuits and slices.

[virgo9]

Some of the things that went down well at my kids' school fete last year were the cake stall, lolly stall and fairy room. For the cake stall, each year level was given a different type of cake to make (cupcakes, slices, whole cakes and jams etc) ands this turned out to be good, with most families contributing.

Actually it was the year before, gee time really does fly...

[Suesthermy]

The last school fete I attended they were making sorbet and it was selling as fast as they could make it.  Easy and cheap to make too.  Good luck with it

[Suesthermy]

The last school fete I attended they were making sorbet and it was selling as fast as they could make it.  Easy and cheap to make too.  Good luck with it

[Caroline J]

If I didn't have a TMX, I would pay for the Tikka Paste!

[Rara1]

Hi sonan
This might give you a few recipe ideas for your school fête. 
http://fetesandfestivals.com.au/recipes.htm
Other suggestions
Gingerbread men
Fruit kebabs
Choc coated strawberries
Popcorn
Hope this helps
Rara x

[timfulford]

Did you know that to sell food at a school fete or cake bake you should have your food hygiene certificate and the food should be prepared in the same conditions as you would find in a commercial food outlet? Most schools and parents are unaware of this requirement.
I am sure that you are all very careful, but should someone get food poisoning or there  be food contamination then the school would find itself liable.

[Nik2WIN]

We actually had a PTA member last year suggest that all cakes on the cake stand be shop bought as "we know what goes into them" (HA!)

I appreciate the legislation but there is NO WAY I would buy shop bought cakes at a school fete - I can get them at Tesco's

My oldest son was in yr 3 before I realised that you COULD send shop bought cakes in

I also wouldn't dream of suing the school if I did contract food poisoning from a donated item there but I'm probably not usual in that ...  To my mind, you buy a home made cake at a school/church fete and you take your chances and I'm happy to do that but then I have the constitution of an ox.  I do know, however, people that have contracted salmonella from a canteen and never fully recovered ...

As a child, when we dropped food on the floor, my mum always said, "eat it, the floor's freshly dirty ..."

Nik

[Caroline J]

People send store bought cakes to school fetes? 

[timfulford]

We actually had a PTA member last year suggest that all cakes on the cake stand be shop bought as "we know what goes into them" (HA!)

I appreciate the legislation but there is NO WAY I would buy shop bought cakes at a school fete - I can get them at Tesco's

My oldest son was in yr 3 before I realised that you COULD send shop bought cakes in

I also wouldn't dream of suing the school if I did contract food poisoning from a donated item there but I'm probably not usual in that ...  To my mind, you buy a home made cake at a school/church fete and you take your chances and I'm happy to do that but then I have the constitution of an ox.  I do know, however, people that have contracted salmonella from a canteen and never fully recovered ...

As a child, when we dropped food on the floor, my mum always said, "eat it, the floor's freshly dirty ..."

Nik

While I understand all of your points and I too would not sue the school or a parent if I purchased something from a fete, equally I expect standards to have been met.
However if a person became sick, was hospitalised or saw their GP and it was found to have been caused by contaminated food that they had purchased, then it would be environmental health that came after the seller not the injured party. This would be something that you could do nothing about. The school and then the parent would be liable to prosecution.

I also know of people who have become sick because of food served in canteens and restaurants. I wonder if you knew the you were being served food that had been on the floor of a 'posh eatery' would you accept it or not? My guess is no you wouldn't. Standards are there to protect not to trip up.

As a person with H&S and environmental health qualifications I just pass on my professional advice which is beware, your food prep, storage and cleanliness might be excellent, but not everyones is. The school has a duty to act in a responsible way and to comply with the law which states quite clearly that FHC is required.

[Nik2WIN]

[quote author=mindmapper1 link=topic=5621.msg72381#msg72381 date=1297420810

While I understand all of your points and I too would not sue the school or a parent if I purchased something from a fete, equally I expect standards to have been met.
However if a person became sick, was hospitalised or saw their GP and it was found to have been caused by contaminated food that they had purchased, then it would be environmental health that came after the seller not the injured party. This would be something that you could do nothing about. The school and then the parent would be liable to prosecution.

I also know of people who have become sick because of food served in canteens and restaurants. I wonder if you knew the you were being served food that had been on the floor of a 'posh eatery' would you accept it or not? My guess is no you wouldn't. Standards are there to protect not to trip up.

As a person with H&S and environmental health qualifications I just pass on my professional advice which is beware, your food prep, storage and cleanliness might be excellent, but not everyones is. The school has a duty to act in a responsible way and to comply with the law which states quite clearly that FHC is required.
[/quote]

I'm sorry, I really didn't mean my comments to be critical of health and safety standards or regulations and I do understand that standards at home can be different than in a restaurant.  I've worked in eateries though (admittedly not posh) and dh worked in a milk processing plant when he was a student and I can promise you that what goes on when the health inspector isn't there would stop you eating out EVER.  I've also seen people drop like flies with food poisoning in a restaurant (health inspectors closed it down - I'm just glad I didn't have the rice!)

The more I think about it the more interesting your point becomes - I knew a lady selling her home made jam through the church and I'm betting that she didn't have a hygiene certificate.  When we got married my dh's mum offered to make our wedding cake - we declined because she's never got a fag out of her mouth and we were convinced she'd drop fag ash in the cake mix ...

Nik

[CreamPuff63]

I LOVE  LOVE LOVE  home made food, and am happier to buy this than commercial food (provided I know that it hasn't come from a packet).  In my kitchen I always wipe down benches, cover food, and wash my hands constantly (probably over zealous on this last thing). I do abide by the 3 second rule if something drops on the floor and would more than likely rinse under the tap if it was possible. I do not like to make my home absolutely free of bacteria tho (not practical in any sense) and will not buy anti-bacterial wipes or sprays of any kind as I just abhor the idea. I love your mums philosphophy N1968 its mine too, however one can imagine that some floors may not be so clean judging by some of the tv shows (yuk)...

I will say that when I am chopping I may flip my board over if I have to chop meat  after vegetables etc probably abit naughty yes! but not quite as bad as chopping on the same side. Another of my bug bears is putting away damp containers with lids in the cupboard, they should be wiped dry and the lids left off to air.
 
In a restaurant, mmn... I would expect high standards in every aspect. My DH stomach could handle just about The Plague, mine would border on slightly above average, but I expect high standards from professionals. Food prepared for fetes is prepared by normal people and we have to accept that standards are probably not quite high - otherwise do not buy, or buy as a donation to the cause as the food is coming from the heart.

When my son was in primary school and cakes were required, they gave each parent about 10 recipes on a double sided piece of paper so they could choose if they didn't have access to a recipe - lol, no excuses! If I saw a BOUGHT / commercial cake, I defintely would not buy it. I cannot understand why someone cannot make a cake as there is a few really basic and cheap chocolate cake recipes to make from scratch that are preferable than a stupid packet cake with lots of nasty additive thrown in to boot, and not an ounce of fibre.

I do not eat bought biscuits or cakes tho as they lack a lot of taste, and made it a rule a few years ago that if it wasn't homemade to not even waste the calories on eating it.

In my life I  have had a few serious bouts of food poisoning from my mum, me, and my MIL all on separate occasions and these have been taced back to food storage after cooking and handling - all by lack of ignorance. You wouldn't want to wish it upon your worst enemies, but having said that I have learnt what my stomach threshold is 

What is the world coming to where everyone complains about minor things and its always a legal issue? I am over people like that.

[timfulford]

I'm sorry, I really didn't mean my comments to be critical of health and safety standards or regulations and I do understand that standards at home can be different than in a restaurant.  I've worked in eateries though (admittedly not posh) and dh worked in a milk processing plant when he was a student and I can promise you that what goes on when the health inspector isn't there would stop you eating out EVER.  I've also seen people drop like flies with food poisoning in a restaurant (health inspectors closed it down - I'm just glad I didn't have the rice!)

The more I think about it the more interesting your point becomes - I knew a lady selling her home made jam through the church and I'm betting that she didn't have a hygiene certificate.  When we got married my dh's mum offered to make our wedding cake - we declined because she's never got a fag out of her mouth and we were convinced she'd drop fag ash in the cake mix ...

Nik

No criticism taken: I never eat from a buffet or salad cart in any chain restaurant because they rarely meet the required standards.
What people seem to forget is you cannot have two levels of standards. If there is an outbreak of food poisoning it us usually down to poor standards of hygiene in prep or storage. What we do at home for ourselves like 'the three second on the floor and run it under the tap' is not acceptable in the commercial world. How many times have you been at friends/relatives and wondered about hygiene? If you have concerns about the people you know, how on earth can you assume that the unknown will cake maker for a school fete will be OK?

Tim

[/quote]

[Nik2WIN]

No criticism taken: I never eat from a buffet or salad cart in any chain restaurant because they rarely meet the required standards.
What people seem to forget is you cannot have two levels of standards. If there is an outbreak of food poisoning it us usually down to poor standards of hygiene in prep or storage. What we do at home for ourselves like 'the three second on the floor and run it under the tap' is not acceptable in the commercial world. How many times have you been at friends/relatives and wondered about hygiene? If you have concerns about the people you know, how on earth can you assume that the unknown will cake maker for a school fete will be OK?

Tim

I'm sorry, but a buffet or salad cart in chain restaurants is my idea of food hell - even if on the off chance that the restaurant does meet the required standard, all the other customers in the restaurant don't.

The three second rule at home is almost sensible, its you're own home, you're own germs.  I know that we walk outside and then on our floors but only the most obsessive amongst us would wash their hands after touching their carpet ... (not that I have carpet in the kitchen you understand eeeww!)

Like CP63 I don't like all this anti bacterial stuff.  Sure I use an antibac hand wash in the kitchen - especially useful after handling meat but blimey - you can now get anti bac washing powder for your clothes!!!  I'm not going to start doing surgery so there is absolutely no reason why my clothes need to be sterile!!!  I'm convinced that in the future the human race will be wiped out due to some petty little germ because we've lost all resistance to bacteria from living in a sterile world!

Any way back to school fetes .... (wow, thread drift!) 

Nik