This class is great for the younger middle schooler or for a child whose current culinary specialty is toast. All the classes provide extensive kitchen safety and nutrition/health information in addition to hands-on cooking lessons with recipes that are easily duplicated at home using ingredients most homes already have on hand. All of the recipes in the course utilize low or reduced-fat ingredients, in an effort to demonstrate to kids that healthy cooking doesn’t have to mean tofu and sprouts – food that’s good for you can actually taste good too!

In addition to learning about healthy cooking and eating, students will also learn the science of cooking and nutrition, including facts like how much sugar and fat is in commonly-enjoyed foods such as hamburgers, ice cream, and breakfast cereal. The food pyramid and appropriate portion sizes will be taught, as well as how to make smart food choices, even at fast food restaurants! We will also reinforce the importance of daily physical activity by introducing kids to pedometers and having them track how many "steps" they take in an average day and perform experiments to illustrate what exactly a calorie is using a calorimeter.

The curriculum was developed by certified teachers with backgrounds in science, nutrition and home economics who know how to make learning interesting and appetizing for the middle-school mind.

Beginner recipes include:

• Yogurt-berry parfaits
• Sausage kolaches
• Tortilla pizzas & quesadillas
• Basic marinara sauce
• Vanilla ice cream

Activities include:

SPICE LAB
In this hands-on activity, kids try and identify a variety of spices and seasonings based on smell, appearance, and if they’re brave enough, taste. We also discuss what spices and seasonings are traditionally used to enhance particular food flavors.

UTENSIL LAB
Perfect for the kid who doesn’t know a grater from a garlic press. Yet another hands-on activity where kids try to identify the right tool for each job in the kitchen.

Our advanced classes definitely kick it up a notch. Similar to the Beginner sessions, the Advanced classes provide extensive kitchen safety and nutrition/health information in addition to hands-on cooking lessons with recipes that are easily duplicated at home using ingredients most homes already have on hand. And, all of the recipes in this course utilize low or reduced-fat ingredients in an effort to demonstrate to kids that healthy cooking doesn’t have to mean tofu and sprouts – food that’s good for you can actually taste good too!

And if learning about healthy cooking and eating is not enough, students will also learn the science of cooking and nutrition, including facts like how much sugar and fat is in commonly-enjoyed foods such as hamburgers, ice cream, and breakfast cereal. The food pyramid and appropriate portion sizes will be taught, as well as how to make smart food choices, even at fast food restaurants. We will also reinforce the importance of daily physical activity by introducing kids to pedometers and having them track how many "steps" they take in an average day and perform experiments to illustrate what exactly a calorie is using a calorimeter.

The curriculum was developed by certified teachers with backgrounds in science, nutrition and home economics who know how to make learning interesting and appetizing for the middle-school mind.

Advanced class recipes include:

• Quiche
• Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas
• Lasagna
• Cookies

Activities include:

SPICE LAB
This activity exposes kids to more sophisticated spices and seasonings, from allspice to zest. Kids try and identify a variety of spices and seasonings based on smell, appearance, and if they’re brave enough, taste. We also discuss what spices and seasonings are traditionally used to enhance particular food flavors. Many of the spices in the lab are incorporated into the recipes for the advanced classes as well.

UTENSIL LAB
Fun and educational for the aspiring chef who already knows a spatula from a slotted spoon. We will explore more exciting and specialized equipment such as the mandolin, meat tenderizer and caramelizing torch.

A “Boys-Only” Cooking Class for Ages 11 - 15

Have you heard the news? Guys can cook too! Encourage your son (or nephew or grandson) to unleash his inner Emeril in our new class, Smart Cookies: Men at Work! Participants will learn basic kitchen safety and cooking techniques, as well as nutrition tips. Best of all, we will be cooking (and eating!) Tex-Mex favorites: quesadillas and homemade salsa! Participants get to take a recipe booklet (and leftovers!) home with them, and no prior cooking experience is necessary.

Cooking for Teens and ‘Tweens Ages 11 - 15

Join us for another culinary adventure: Lasagnarama! Participants in this class will be making (and eating!) an Italian classic: homemade lasagna along with a tasty green salad! Each class includes instruction on food preparation and cooking techniques and safety as well as nutrition information. Participants get to take a recipe booklet (and leftovers!) home with them too. No prior cooking experience necessary.