CREATIVE kids at a Renfrew school cooked up an unusual way to raise funds a decade ago.
Primary seven pupils from Kirklandneuk Primary sold a recipe book containing favourite recipes donated by famous celebrities.

The enterprising youngsters wrote to well-known Scottish celebrities and received recipes from Johnstone-born chef Gordon Ramsay, GMTV’s Lorraine Kelly and Rangers boss Walter Smith.

Teacher Louise O’Brien ran a group of Primary seven pupils who set up a company called Recipe Maniacs to produce the cookbook of celebrity recipes.

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Football legend Walter Smith 

She said at the time: “For my class, as an enterprise topic, I decided to get them to write to Scottish celebrities they really admired. The children asked the celebrities for their favourite recipe.

“We also asked them why it was their favourite recipe, to make the book more personal.

“Gordon Ramsay sent us a recipe for almond shortbread and said it was his favourite because it was popular with his kids.

“And, over Christmas, some of the families who bought the book tried the recipe and told us it was really good.

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Lorraine Kelly offered her take 

“We got a really great response and the children set up their own company, called Recipe Maniacs, to produce the book.”

The pupils even enlisted the help of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who sent a steak pie recipe from the head chef at Chequers that he said was his favourite dish.