MUM-of-two Janice Strachan is celebrating after her passion for experimental cooking led to her being named as a finalist in a Scottish Food Awards competition.

Janice, who runs The Spice Witch, began experimenting with flavours when she was on maternity leave with her eldest daughter Annabel, now five, in her Prestonpans kitchen.

Now she is selling a range of condiments from chilli jam to her top seller mango and chilli chutney, at markets, fairs and in specialist delicatessens.

And her business has been named as a finalist in Ambient Food Producer category of the Food Awards Scotland.

The awards, in their third year, recognised the best producers, restaurants and eateries in the country and the winners are voted for by the Scottish public.

Janice, 38, said she was stunned when she received a call to say she had made the final list.

She said: "Having been approached by a representative of Food Awards Scotland at an event, I mentioned it on my Facebook page a couple of months ago then promptly forgot about it. So I couldn't believe when I got a call telling me I was a finalist in the Ambient Food Producer category.

"I'm incredibly delighted to have had so many nominations to make Spice Witch a finalist. I'm very honoured and grateful as a small producer to have such a loyal following to reach that point."

Janice puts her love of trying new flavours down to her dad who she said was experimental one in the family.

Born in Athgarven, County Kildare, Janice moved to Scotland in 2000 and is married to husband David.

The couple live in Prestonpans with daughters Annabel and Penelope, six months old.

Janice said: "I've always had a passion for cooking, and experimental cooking in particular was encouraged at home. My parents are both great cooks, as was my late grandmother. But I think I inherited my Dad's experimental streak.

"While on maternity leave with Annabel I took a notion of making hampers as Christmas gifts for friends and family. After playing around with a few ideas, I had four different condiments, one of which is still my best seller - Mango and Chilli Chutney.

"With some encouragement from friends at local charity Patchwork EH32, I agreed to try selling these products at their Winter Fair in November 2013.

"This proved successful and I was invited to continue the sales at Creative East Lothian's pop-up event in Gullane a few weeks later.

"Seeing the popularity of the products it was decided to start the business the following year. The name was chosen to capture the "magic" combination of spices that go into each product."

The Spice Witch began as a business in April 2014 and Janice, with the support of husband David has been selling at events across the Lothians and Edinburgh.

She is a regular at Haddington Food Assembly which was launched in May in the county and her products are stocked at Merryhatton Garden Centre Foodhall,The Howff, Port Seton, Garden Gate farm shop, East Links, and Archerfield Walled Garden.