Healthier Cooking classes this Fall

Summer is already over and the kids are back to school. So that means that my kid's cooking classes will be starting soon. I like to try new recipes as much as I can, so I have been searching around for ones that are quick, fun and tasty. I've heard that the Beginners 2 class is already full, so I'll wait and see how the other classes do.

I like to teach the kids about nutrition and healthy eating, but we still do our fair share of baking. I have, however, been cutting back on the sugar and butter in the recipes - the kids don't seem to notice. (Martha Stewart recipes have way too much sugar). I've also substituted wholewheat flour in some recipes and they still haven't complained. It's our job as parents to enrich our kid's diets - slip in extra veggies when you can, cut up fruit into fruit salad, reduce your trips to the fast food restaurant and cook with your kids instead. Break out of that rut and search for different recipes for your family. All of my kid's recipes can be made in approximately 3o minutes! That's quicker than having pizza delivered!

We will be celebrating 2 holidays this session - Halloween and Thanksgiving. I love Halloween, I get the chance to do really scary recipes (not really), but I do have a great recipe for "witches fingers" and "eyeball punch". That reminds me, I still have to come up with with some vampire themed recipes for Groton library. I'll probably have to do something with tomato sauce and garlic.... Does anyone have any ideas for me?

Here is a recipe I found on a blog recently that I'm thinking will be great for my cooking class. It's called "Zebra cake"



Zebra Cake
Ingredients:
4 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
2 ½ tbsp. cocoa powder

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 9-inch round cake pan with a circle of parchment paper. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of the pan.
• In a large bowl, mix together the eggs and sugar until mixture is light and creamy and the sugar has been mostly dissolved. Stir in milk, vegetable oil, vanilla and almond extracts.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Pour into wet ingredients and whisk to combine.
• Measure out just over two cups of vanilla batter and put it back into the medium bowl. Sift cocoa powder over the bowl and whisk until fully incorporated.
• Put 3 tablespoons of vanilla batter into the center of the pan and let it spread slightly on its own. Put 3 tablespoons of chocolate batter in the center of the vanilla. It will push out the other and, as it sits for a moment, will also spread itself. Alternating spoonfuls of the two batters, repeat the technique until all the batter has been used up.
• Bake for 38-42 minutes, until the cake is light gold and a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then turn out the cake and remove the parchment paper. Reinvert onto a wire rack and let cool completely. Frost if desired.
  Source: Baking Bites

Cooking tips for Kids

Last year, I had donated a Kid's cooking party to a local school auction. So, this week I got together with 6 teens to teach them how to make themselves dinner. They had chosen 3 recipes from my website and I arrived at the house with all the ingredients and equipment - ready to cook!

The chosen menu was Classic chicken pot pie, Pineapple fried rice and Chocolate lava cakes. They did everything, from poaching the chicken, chopping vegetables, melting chocolate and dinner was on the table in under 2 hours.

Here are some tips to make your next cooking adventure a success.

• Make sure you have the right equipment before you start.
• Print the recipe and place it in a plastic cover, so it doesn't get dirty or wet.
• Read the recipe first to make sure you have all the ingredients necessary, then start prepping the recipe which takes the longest to cook.
• Always, start with your "mise en place" or pre-measuring before you start any recipe. All professional chefs do this and ensures that we don't forget any essential ingredients, e.g., baking powder in a cake?
• Put away all the ingredients after measuring, so excess mess is at a minimum, you will look much more organised and efficient.
• Once, you've checked your list, then you're ready to start cooking!
  

• Don't be in a rush when cooking - follow the directions step by step, reading the recipe carefully.
• Preheat your oven if necessary and grease or prep your pans or cookie sheets ahead of time.
• Ask a grown up to help, especially if you are using sharp knives or using the stovetop or oven.
• Clean your work space as you go - food safety is really important.
• Wash your own dishes - your parents may let you cook again.
• AND most important of all - Have fun and enjoy all your hard work!

Let's all Cook coming to Groton library - Harry Potter recipes

I 've been asked to teach a Teen cooking program called "Books with Bite" for Groton library here in Massachusetts. The scheduled date is thursday, October 16 at 6pm.

I'm thinking of going with the witches/halloween/vampire theme - if you have a teenage girl in your family, you'll know about the "Twilight" book craze. Maybe you have some recipe suggestions for "recipes with bite", I'd love to hear them! So, if you live in the Groton area, visit your local library and ask about the program. Hope to see you there!

It reminded me of the Harry Potter cooking workshop for kids I did a couple of years ago. It was a lot of fun and I even asked the kids to come in fancy dress. Have you heard that the latest HP movie (The Half Blood Prince) is coming out in November? Why not host a party and serve Harry's favorite foods, such as Hagrid's Rock Cakes, Butterbeer and yummy English Treacle tart. Here is a recipe for Rock cakes - this is one of the first recipes I learned to make in Home Economic class!



Hagrid's Rock Cakes
These cakes are really tasty little scones, unlike Hagrid's cakes, which Harry thinks are as hard as rocks. They don't keep well, so eat them the same day or they will taste like rocks!
(Makes 12)

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour (wholewheat flour may be substituted for part of the 2 cups)
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, freshly grated if possible
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
   
2. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl.


3. Add the butter and with your finger tips, rub the butter into the flour mixture until crumbly.
4. Stir in the sugar and raisins.
   
5. Add the egg and just enough milk to make a stiff dough.


6. Grease a large baking sheet and drop tablespoons or 'craggy rocks' of dough 2 inches apart.


7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

More recipes like this....