A MOUTHWATERING nomination earned teen Burnham chef and volunteer Madeline Francis a winner’s prize in 2014 Pride of Somerset Youth Awards.

Here’s her winning recipe: take one 15-year-old and add in a healthy serving of voluntary work before flavouring with hugely successful involvement in the town’s food and drink festival.

Bring the talent to the boil by single-handedly giving a cooking demonstration at last year’s May festival to a large audience.

Sprinkle in a captivated public, fold in the confidence to answer their many questions and give advice on baking.

For the main course in September last year, this already vintage performer was back by popular demand and whipped up a storm with a big crowd with another engaging demonstration.

The King Alfred’s School student was also on the judging panel for the Great Burnham Bake-Off with high-profile local figures.

Powder all this with a dusting of ideas to support fledgling businesses and mix in a soupcon of true commitment to the educational aims of the festival, and you have the perfect recipe for an admirable ambassador for youth engagement and healthy eating.

On the night Madeline was supported by her family, and Beverley and Sarah Milner Simonds, of the food festival.

The awards are run by the Rotary Club of Taunton, your Somerset County Gazette, Bridgwater Mercury, Chard and Ilminster News, Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News and local radio station BBC Somerset.

A prize fund came from sponsorship from the Rotary Club, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Somerset Cricket Museum and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Certificates were presented at Somerset College’s conference centre in Taunton, which was provided free by the college.

To watch video footage from the ceremony, which took place on March 7, see below.