What better way to interest children wake in the kitchen with pizza and mango smoothies. A cooking class for children with a recent chef Pilar Cabrera Casa de los Sabores, Oaxaca, Mexico, taught the basics of kitchen safety and sanitation, composting and recycling, and food, all within three hours of a meeting. And infused at the same time lead instructors Ninfa Raigosa in the morning, with advice on food preparation and learn from adults is not soon enough, ourculinary life. But it is the best there was in preparation for the recipes that kids do have fun --- with lettuce feared crawling at the end.
Genesis offers cooking classes for children in Oaxaca
The idea of cooking classes for boys and girls for their produce as a result of two phenomena. First, often during fielding requests for cooking classes for tourists from Oaxaca with their families, would be the chief Pilarasked if the children could participate. Of course, age has always been a factor, but often necessary to ensure requests are rejected so that classes took place in an orderly manner, without undue interference, especially for the benefit of adult fans of Oaxacan cuisine.
Second, many of Oaxaca in a loss for what they do with their children when school is out for the summer holidays. While certainly a great variety of activities in Oaxaca, compared to what is in large urban centers,are limited. Why not in summer school?
Summer, Christmas, Easter and March school break - Tourists traveling with children, should be perfect timing. And more families traveling together at any time of year, this could be just what your child's doctor ordered.
Of course, Pilar Cabrera reputation as a national figure in the Mexican restaurant scene is set for a long period of time with their "House of Flavors Cooking School 'and the city of Oaxaca Restaurant La Olla,and more recently by their raids on the international scene (festivals in Toronto and San Antonio, with upcoming dates in Austin and Stratford). If you have hand-picked head of Ninfa Cecilia Paras Raigosa of cooking classes for children for two reasons. First, head nymph a variety of experiences, including educational training (at the Centro de Estudios Culinarios Rocatti), catering and banquet facilities, restaurants and bakeries in the specialty (for example, Deli and CupcakesNectar Dulce). Secondly, and perhaps key is uncanny ability to relate to Head Nymph children with his charming personality and warm smile - and as Pilar, is bilingual.
The bonus for Canadians and Americans is that children with a mixed class of Mexican and foreign visitors and bilingual education, children are required to some ingredient in the kitchen and basic words in Spanish, if they do not learn direct teaching, certainly by osmosis.
On May 1, 2010, cookingA class for children in the Casa de los Sabores, Oaxaca
For May 1, 2010 class were the chef Pilar and Ninfa, both at the top. Ten children of different ages participated. Most parents are stranded now to take photos and get a first hand knowledge that her children would probably be in a class of mostly unknown faces.
With this type of learning environment, the ice must be broken first. E 'was here that he obtained under the name of each child and promoteThe interaction between the children themselves, and Ninfa, and Pilar. The ingredients for each recipe were contained in a basket of different colored large roundabout. "Who knows why we use the yeast?" And then to calm the parents, "if you cut mangoes for making smoothies, we will not use sharp knives, but you should always be careful when using knives, and never turn up, never a knife to clear my head Can somebody. Tell me why? "
Recipe sheets are distributed. Head Nymph through eachRecipe, indicating the ingredients in each basket and briefly explain how they are used.
For the segment of the pizza is the group into two teams, learning, making pasta from scratch and the other cross-section of kneading and rolling. "Again the dry ingredients first, and with his hands" and for the benefit of those watching abuelitas makes their tortillas were grown: "Making pizza dough is similar to tortillas, when to attack, use more flour begins."Hands-on classes tend to work better, especially for children.
"Okay, someone a cookie?" Three times during the lesson, short breaks not to support the recording information of congestion or danger of boredom setting in, "There are plastic bottles of water is here, and some markers, so that each of you can write your name so as not to this are mixed. "
Children are making a choice crust medium or large, represented by the same design or pastaChoose from several small shapes that are provided; hearts, mushrooms, trees, squares, triangles, circles. The sauce was pre-mixed, but children are encouraged to express their choice of condiments, vegetables, meats and even select fresh basil. "Did you know that a mushroom is a fungus?"
"Now we all wash our hands again. But let us not forget the first well from our work areas clean and put the waste in this bin, and the rest there. YourDistrict are recycling programs? "
"Attention all;. Now, as the pizza oven, there are mango smoothies teach you how to peel your mango, of course, carefully cut four strips through the skin ... just like a banana peel." Children are encouraged to use each piece of dough to the pit.
"Here, the bowl cut with a mango, and now there are some pineapple, a little 'orange juice, yogurt and add some' ....know that flaxseed and why you add something to the mixer as well? "It provides a brief discussion of omega fatty acids and energy.
Smoothies are prepared and poured into plastic cups with straws and little umbrellas drinks and decorative. "The taste is sweet. And you know, we did not add any sugar, you can create your own smoothies with other fruits such as melon and and taste, are as fresh, spicy and sweet, without added sugar. L 'By the way, there is a cup of strawberries over there, if someone wants a snack. "
The children are then invited to check their printed recipes for the salad. Some had actually put the check mark next to pizza and the ingredients used as smoothies. A lesson on different types of lettuce, its general lack of taste, hence the reason to use doctor: "We have always with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, and today we are with balsamic vinegar and olive oil all.attempted this type of vinegar? Okay, so we will try them all. There will be a bit 'sweet. "
"It 's soy sauce," someone asks. "It 's delicious," another pipes, while one third said emphatically that he does not like.
"Vinegar and oil have become really blended well together, see the oil on top, watch a game .."
The plates are passed, and every child is encouraged to create their own salad with the addition of pre-cut vegetables and grated cheese to organic lettuce. The recipe printed green saladNo more: "The flavor, taste and serve immediately."
The pizzas are then removed from the oven and allowed to cool, each child is encouraged to take what he has done, and sample the pizza bigger. The group sits around a large rectangular table, enjoy the fruits of their work, chatting and joking with friends.
Cooking classes for children in Oaxaca, a commitment to international justice
Cooking Lessons Chidlrenoffered at select times throughout the year at Casa de los Sabores, participants have the opportunity to learn how to prepare menus from different parts of the world, each day represented by the kitchen in another country. Groups interested in private lessons any time of year to choose from a selection of international dishes, but with restrictions on the fields require cooking preparation, by an abundance of caution. According to the head Pilar, "the safety of children must beremains the first consideration. "
