Pictured here, left to right, are Home Economics teacher Pauline Gallagher, winning student Elaine Brogan, and Orla Kinsella, Uncle Ben's Product Group Manager. 17-year old Elaine Brogan from Loreto Secondary School in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, was this year's winner of Uncle Ben's Schools Cookery Competition. Elaine's delicious Indian dish, Curried Bananas on an Indian style Vegetable Rice Base, was sampled by special guest, RTE Presenter Laura Woods. The winner's prize included a day's work experience at top restaurant L'Ecrivain, working alongside Michelin star Irish Chef Derry Clarke; a holiday for four people to Barcelona; and Uncle Ben's perpetual trophy. In addition, Elaine's teacher Pauline Gallagher was presented with a cheque for €1,300 to be spent on cookery equipment for the school's Home Economics department. Pauline also won a weekend away to Dundrody Country House and Restaurant, Arthurstown, Wexford. All teachers with 10 or more entries in the competition were put into a draw to also win a weekend away in Dunbrody Country House. The winners were Ms Claire Sexton, Scoil Mhuire, Greenhill, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary and Ms Jenny Cooney, Ballinamore Vocational School, Ballinamore, County Leitrim. Runners up in the competition were Marianne King from Loreto College, St Stephen's Green and Rebecca Bury from East Glendalough School, Co. Wicklow. They were each presented with €200 worth of shopping vouchers plus €150 worth of cookery equipment for the Home Economics department at their schools. Three 'Special Commendation' prizes were awarded to Alacoque McGovern from Salerno Secondary School, in Salthill, Co. Galway, Amy Collins from ColA(?iste Eoin in Youghal, Co. Cork and Michelle O'Sullivan from Beaufort High School, in Rathfarnham, Dublin. All three students each received €150 worth of shopping vouchers. They also received €150 worth of cookery equipment for their Home Economics department. A panel of food and nutritional experts judged the annual Uncle Ben's Schools Cookery Competition, which marked its 17th year. The adjudicating panel included Louise Reynolds, Nutritionist, Honor Moore, Food Writer and Journalist, Derry Clarke, Master Chef and owner of the Michelin Star restaurant L'Ecrivain, Paddy Brady, Masterfoods Executive Chef, and Brian Dooley, last year's winning Home Economics Teacher. The judges asked each student about the nutritional value and the inspiration behind their recipe and each meal was sampled before the final decision was made.