Hazelwood College students Paul Kirwan, third year, and Bríd Flanagan and Laoise Bennis, both first year, received exciting news recently. They had been one of over one thousand entrants to a new national baking competition called the ‘Homecook Baking Games’ competition and received notification in the last week that they had secured one of the sixty five coveted places in the semi-final. They secured their places after being selected by a panel who judged their recipes on creativity, nutritional content and affordability. Currently each of them must wait to see if they can secure one of the eight places in the final. The eight finalists must earn their position through a public vote. There are three ways of voting. One way is by post to Vote Baking Games, Zahra Media Group, 1st Floor, Zoe House, Church Road, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, by email to votebakinggames@easyfood.ie or on the website www.homecookbakinggames.com. Each person has the chance to vote nine times but with a different email address. If you want to view the students’ recipes, log onto the website and view Paul’s Shortbread Delight, Laoise’s Coffee and Walnut Cake and Bríd’s Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Blondies. Indeed we can all share in their knowledge thanks to the March edition of Easy Food Magazine which goes on sale in newsagents nationwide from 31st January next. This national magazine will carry a 32 page recipe book, which will contain the recipes of all successful 65 semi-finalists. Each of Hazelwood’s talented three bakers wants to secure a position preparing, baking and serving the celebrity panel, but need the public to get behind them. Each vote can help bring the Hazelwood bakers’ dream come true.