Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) has launched a Christmas challenge for nursing homes around the country to help spice up the festive season. The competition, launched at the Nursing Homes of Ireland conference, is a search for the best gingerbread house.

To take part, nursing and care homes and their residents must submit a photograph of their team working together to build their gingerbread house, along with their best tip when it comes to baking for elderly residents. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs, including an exclusive baking demonstration at the winning care home with TV chef and author, Catherine Fulvio.

All of the entries received will be posted on Unilever Food Solutions Ireland’s Facebook page and website along with their baking tips. The Top 10 entries will win a signed copy of Catherine’s new book “Bake like an Italian“, which is full of sumptuous sweet and savoury recipes from Italy. UFS will also compile the Top 10 entries in a special recipe booklet.

At the NHI Conference, UFS showcased its own giant gingerbread house along with Christmas recipes and activity packs. The gingerbread house, created by Mark McCarthy, executive chef at UFS, attracted huge interest and buzz with visitors who were also given a little taste of Christmas with a gingerbread man.

Jim Reeves, Customer Director Ireland said: “We want to help nursing and care homes around Ireland give their residents a fantastic Christmas this year. Along with our Christmas gingerbread house challenge, we’ve also created activity packs to help them build their own creation and inspire them with recipes and ideas for activities over the festive season.”

The closing date for entries for the Christmas challenge is the 3rd January, with the top 10 finalists and overall winner announced on 18th January 2016.

To find out more about the Christmas challenge and order an activity pack, visit www.ufs.com.