Hooked on cooking!

Two small pieces of advice. If your time is “fluid” in that you can change any plans to suit yourselves then check the weather forecast – if it's going to be a great day, use it – when it's not good - cook! Design your students' cooking sessions for the mornings – if you leave it until the afternoon they'll have lost any enthusiasm and would much prefer to sit with whatever game and/or device is flavour of the month!

Since you've only just embarked on your mission to create the next culinary genius – be smart – let them be creative with their lunch today.

Definitely up there with the pizza and burger culture is the sandwich – in this case a toasted version. Most people (that eat meat that is) like a toasted ham and cheese sandwich, here's my suggestion and if you have non meat eaters omit the ham and by the way, if you are watching the pennies then don't use Gruyére cheese, use a mature cheddar instead.

Croque Monsieur

aka posh toasted sandwich

aka signature sarnie

Serves 2

4 slices of medium sliced wholemeal bread

2 tsp Dijon mustard

75g (3oz) Gruyere cheese (grated)

2 slices of ham – wafer ham works well – as good a quality as you can afford

30g (1½oz) unsalted butter

Use funky cutters!

Preheat oven to 160fan/180c/Gas 4

Spread ½ tsp of mustard over each slice of bread.

Spread half the cheese on two slices of bread followed by the ham, remaining cheese on top. Sandwich together with the other two slices of bread.

Cut out the shapes chosen.

Heat the butter in a frying pan until foaming – fry your croque monsieur on a gentle heat for 1-2 minutes on each side and transfer onto a baking sheet – repeat until all your croques are ready, place the sheet into the oven for 4/5 minutes and then serve.

The benefit of using cutters is that each student can choose their own – easily identifiable when out of the oven and ready to serve – no arguments. If, like me, you've a huge box full of assorted cutters you might even have initials – even better.

So, some supervision is required for the final stage – note to self – don't forget a sandwich for you!