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Message
“Cooking class” for young children
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:07 pm
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:07 pm
So I have been approached to host a cooking class for a medium sized group of children from 1-6 grade. The general thought is as follows. They will come in and spend 15-30 minutes making their apron. They will then proceed to move on to the entree station and spend some time making entrees. Then, on to a dessert station before their parents pick them up. They will then take their creation home to feed their family for the evening.
So here is what I am seeking advice on.
1. Ideas for an entree that is simple and does not require a lot of knifework or high level skill. Even if it is as simple as a casserole that they can put together at the event and take home to bake.
2. Ideas for a dessert that has the same concept.
Keep in mind that there will be some, but not a great deal of adult supervision, so they will not be actively using the stove or knives. Also, I don’t mind doing some prep work prior. Lastly, the dish must be able to travel well, either ready to eat or ready to pop into the oven.
So here is what I am seeking advice on.
1. Ideas for an entree that is simple and does not require a lot of knifework or high level skill. Even if it is as simple as a casserole that they can put together at the event and take home to bake.
2. Ideas for a dessert that has the same concept.
Keep in mind that there will be some, but not a great deal of adult supervision, so they will not be actively using the stove or knives. Also, I don’t mind doing some prep work prior. Lastly, the dish must be able to travel well, either ready to eat or ready to pop into the oven.
6
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:11 pm to Jibbajabba
Maybe you could do a lasagna. Have everything ready and then they basically assemble it in one of those throw away aluminum pans. Travels well and the family can eat or freeze.
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:13 pm to Jibbajabba
Too wide of an age range, in my opinion
Good luck in keeping the attention of kids under 10, especially within a group
Good luck in keeping the attention of kids under 10, especially within a group
This post was edited on 4/8/18 at 1:17 pm
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:20 pm to Jibbajabba
That's a wide age range. I agree that having everything ready for assembly would be the way to go. Not as much fun and really making it yourself, though.
Are you going to know how large each child's family is in order to feed the family?
We've done make your own pizza birthday parties, but the kids eat the pizza at the party.
I agree with HoustonChick that lasagna or some other Italian pasta dish is a good idea. Baked chicken spaghetti or a mac and cheese that has a protein in it are a few other suggestions. You'll have to have everything chopped and cooked before hand for assembly.
Are they going to take the dessert home, as well?
Are you going to know how large each child's family is in order to feed the family?
We've done make your own pizza birthday parties, but the kids eat the pizza at the party.
I agree with HoustonChick that lasagna or some other Italian pasta dish is a good idea. Baked chicken spaghetti or a mac and cheese that has a protein in it are a few other suggestions. You'll have to have everything chopped and cooked before hand for assembly.
Are they going to take the dessert home, as well?
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:25 pm to Gris Gris
quote:
Are they going to take the dessert home, as well?
Yes. The idea is to basically give parents a chance to drop their kids off and have two or three hours to themselves, then pick the kids up and go home and have dinner/dessert.
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:28 pm to Jibbajabba
Also, I hope you are carrying insurance for this little endeavor
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:30 pm to Rouge
quote:
Too wide of an age range, in my opinion
I tend to agree, which is why I need simple ideas.
After thinking about it for a while, the best I have is to make a simple shepherds pie with ground beef.
The kid would get to Brown the beef and season it. I would have a ton of mashed potatoes already cooked. They could put their meat in a disposable aluminum pan, spread a layer of potatoes, then a layer of shredded cheese. Cover it up, pop it in the oven and move on to the dessert station.
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:45 pm to Jibbajabba
Posted on 4/8/18 at 1:50 pm to Jibbajabba
quote:
The kid would get to Brown the beef and season it.
I'm not sure about a 6 year old browning ground meat. Are they going to drain the grease off as well?
What's a "medium size" group of kids?
What kind of facility do you have for this that kids can be browning meat at the same time?
Posted on 4/8/18 at 2:49 pm to Gris Gris
We have an industrial kitchen with a large dining/entertainment area. It will be anywhere from 6-15 kids. My thoughts on this are that we have an industrial kitchen that I can do two or three browning sessions with kids at a time quickly. We will use lean grind so they won’t have to drain and there will be a couple of adults right there on op of them to make sure the kids don’t do anything bad.
Posted on 4/8/18 at 8:07 pm to Jibbajabba
Just say no to the browning and stove work. The younger children cannot see up to the stovetop, so you will need to stand them on a step stool. Fine if you’re one on one, but potentially terrible with a bunch of kids you don’t know. Motor skills will vary widely.....and someone will inevitably get spattered by a little grease, and chaos may ensue.
How about something like rolling meatballs? Everyone gets to mix and touch, then roll. You can bake them on a sheet pan in the oven, then portion out into each kids’ foil pan, along with sauce and pasta. Perhaps buy Italian bread, have the bigger kids slice it up, let them use a garlic press and mix some garlic butter and cheese. Even little kids can smear garlic butter onto bread, stack a few pieces, and wrap in foil to heat up at home.
Dessert suggestion: apple crisp. You slice up the apples beforehand, the kids put the apples into a pan, mix cinnamon, sugar, oats, melted butter and sprinkle over apples. Write baking instructions on pan lid. The parents can pop it into the oven to bake while reheating and eating the entree.
How about something like rolling meatballs? Everyone gets to mix and touch, then roll. You can bake them on a sheet pan in the oven, then portion out into each kids’ foil pan, along with sauce and pasta. Perhaps buy Italian bread, have the bigger kids slice it up, let them use a garlic press and mix some garlic butter and cheese. Even little kids can smear garlic butter onto bread, stack a few pieces, and wrap in foil to heat up at home.
Dessert suggestion: apple crisp. You slice up the apples beforehand, the kids put the apples into a pan, mix cinnamon, sugar, oats, melted butter and sprinkle over apples. Write baking instructions on pan lid. The parents can pop it into the oven to bake while reheating and eating the entree.
Posted on 4/8/18 at 8:10 pm to Jibbajabba
Also consider dividing the group into teams, with each team having older and younger children. Assign specific tasks to each team, then come together for assembly.
Posted on 4/8/18 at 9:39 pm to hungryone
That meatball idea was solid!! I like that!
Posted on 4/8/18 at 11:41 pm to Jibbajabba
Good luck with this, because...kids. We signed my girl up for a cooking class last year. Retail store with a commercial setup in the back of the store.
I've done done business with the owners, and they're standup people who are professional in everything they do.
A couple of the kids in the class were morons with no social skills (l was in the store one day after dropping my girl off when the instructor was trying to reel one of the kids in. It was pointless). Ruined the class for the kids and the instructors. We pulled my daughter before the last day and went to the beach. Great cooking experience, but it was a bad class because of the kids whose parents don't know how to discipline them.
Moral of my story...screen your participants, because it's your time and effort.
I've done done business with the owners, and they're standup people who are professional in everything they do.
A couple of the kids in the class were morons with no social skills (l was in the store one day after dropping my girl off when the instructor was trying to reel one of the kids in. It was pointless). Ruined the class for the kids and the instructors. We pulled my daughter before the last day and went to the beach. Great cooking experience, but it was a bad class because of the kids whose parents don't know how to discipline them.
Moral of my story...screen your participants, because it's your time and effort.
Posted on 4/9/18 at 4:00 am to Jibbajabba
Please take my 61 year old dad. The only thing he knows how to 'make' is a damn spinach salad.
Posted on 4/9/18 at 6:08 am to Jibbajabba
Make sure they all have access to sharp knives and a hot oven. What could possibly go wrong?
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