NIGELLA of the north, Betsy Bell, has won the Independent's Cooker Prize, with her first culinary collection.

Distress calls from student sons, Richard and Henry, prompted Betsy, of Langcliffe Hall, to write "Hard up and Hungry" - a cook book of hassle-free budget recipes, ranging from how to boil an egg, to Thai rump steak or vodka jelly.

Now the book has been judged one of the best of 2002.

"Richard and Henry kept ringing up saying they had run out of money and could I give them some ideas, then their friends wanted the recipes," says Betsy, 44, who spent 23 years bringing up three stepchildren plus her own three children.

A friend heard about her recipes and contacted Nigella Lawson's agent who loved "Hard up and Hungry". However, publishers were not so keen.

Undaunted, Betsy, originally from Michigan, decided to publish it herself.

Initially 1,000 books were printed, followed by another 4,000, and now copies are available through Waterstones and Amazon.

"Everyone seems to have fallen in love with the book and the fact that I bucked the system publishing it myself," Betsy said.

Her work has been acclaimed in the columns of The Spectator and the Independent, next to critiques of Jamie Oliver, Delia Smith and Nigella herself.

Without formal culinary training, Betsy picked up experience through a friendship with top chef Marco Pierre White.

A single mum, she met the chef, while playing football with her sons in a London park.

Shadowing him in his kitchen, Betsy established a catering business, providing lunches for city directors, weddings and country weekends.

Fourteen years ago she met husband, Robert, and moved to Langcliffe Hall.

On January 4 Betsy will be demonstrating recipes from the book at a workshop held at Books for Cooks, Portobello Road, London - just across the road from Hugh Grant's bookshop in the film "Notting Hill"! Readers can book a place by contacting Betsy on 01729 822556.

After Christmas Betsy will begin work on her second book, a follow up, titled "Less Hard Up but Still Hungry", aimed at students now in their first job.

Copies of the book are available at Car and Kitchen, Settle, or Langcliffe and Settle post offices, priced £9.99. Alternatively ring Betsy on 01729 822556.