Students learning more than just cooking skills

We only had three students this week, but it was a great class, regardless. The adjective inserts into the blue books were a tremendous help!

As we read the recipe, Ahdia Young wondered what "dollop" meant. Linda Todorow and I said, simultaneously - and with a flick of our wrists - that it's a little drop of something creamy on top of a dish that adds a nice look, smooth texture, and added flavor.

While witnessing the baking process, Khalise Newton noted: "The pancake was fluffy at first and then it deflated, but the pancake was definitely firm." She then added that it: "tasted sweet and with the Greek yogurt it was awesome."

Danaya Simmons exclaimed, "Who knew it could taste so good?" It's a My Daughter's Kitchen recipe. We knew!

One note: The recipe said 12 minutes in the oven, but it took 18 minutes.

-- Lisa Krader, Linda Todorow

Our new crop of 5th graders were beyond excited to begin cooking class, having heard from their classmates all through the fall season how fun it was going to be. But as Chef Amy taught the basics of Mis en place and knife skills, we kept hearing them criticize one another. She called the class to a halt and firmly reminded them that cooks work together and kindness was a necessary ingredient for that. It made me remember once again that we are teaching more than cooking skills here! The favorite saying of the day? "Don't yuck on my yum!" And all five students promised to try everything at least once. The kids liked the Dutch Baby but thought it would taste better with syrup...so home they went with the recipe to make it again.

-- Rebecca H. Bryan, Amy Falkenstein, Maureen Dodson

Everyone was excited to begin our new cooking adventure. We had to modify our Banana Dutch Baby recipe because our oven wasn't working. Our students decided that making it like pancakes would be the best solution. What great problem solvers! All the students practiced holding and managing a knife with an orange after Ms. Terri Farruggia showed us how. Danielis Urena sliced our bananas into coins and saute them in our skillet. Jeffrey Saldivar sliced our butter for melting and assisted Biendibel Ventura in measuring our ingredients. They both were expert egg crackers. Rachel Soto whisked the mixture together. Jailyn Rosado worked our induction burner and flipped our pancake dutch babies! Everyone helped cleaning dishes as we worked and set the table to eat together. Along with our Banana Dutch Babies, we ate oranges and vanilla Greek yogurt. Biendibel Ventura said "If we had breakfast like this everyday, I would stop skipping breakfast!" Ms. Christina Plover said that she tells her daughters that it takes three bites to try something before you can make an opinion about it. Jailyn Rosado said, "I took four bites and decided I don't like Greek yogurt." We are excited for our class next week! Stay tuned for McClure's cooking adventures!

-- Terri Farruggia, Christina Plover

Although the students at Camden Promise Charter School were enthusiastic chefs, they unanimously agreed that Banana Dutch Baby was not a pleasing recipe. They learned new cooking words such as saute and whisk, discovered that vanilla came from an orchid, and practiced using their food descriptive words. Brianny Nunez called the dish "tasteless", Jose Vivar said it was "doughy", Paola Rodriguez described it as "dry", and Melany Morales thought the pancake was "bland". The meal's highlight was the accompanying vanilla yoghurt and fresh sliced pear. We plan to spice up next week's recipe to accommodate Latino tastes.

-- Jane Elkis Berkowitz and Jessica Petthyng

Students: Jarieliz Felix, Takeem Fisher, Emanuel Gonzalez, Samantha Santiago, Jalen Williams

"Look! I'm cooking breakfast in my pajamas," exclaimed Takeem Fisher. It was Pajama Day at school, adding to the excitement of My Daughter's Kitchen's opening session. The new chefs were eager to get started. After a quick taste test to decide if yellow or blackened bananas tasted better (black won), the students got to whisking, sautéing, measuring, pouring and baking. Everyone gave the Dutch Baby a thumbs up, especially Emanuel Gonzalez who announced his plans to make one for his family on Saturday.

-- Susan Lore, Dawn Wilson, Edith Bobb