COOKING AND BAKING CLASSES FOR CHILDREN (APRIL 2003)

                                            By: Geeta Jayabalan

Cooking is great fun whether you do it  together with friends or with the help of an adult .Children enjoy helping in the preparation of  a meal because it is one of the few activities where they do the same things that adults do.When they play with dolls or blocks they are just pretending to be grown ups. However when they help in the kitchen, they are preparing food that the family will actually eat so this gives them a sense of importance  that what they are doing matters.

  Apart from this cooking & baking is very much an all round  educational activity. How is this so ?. As the children add milk to flour, break an egg or bake bread in the oven, children learn about transformations, a scientific concept As they measure a cup of water for a cake mix, they learn about measurement and volume, a basic mathematical concept. Following a recipie from beginning to end improves sequencing and language skills. And as they chop, stir peel and knead, they develop physical skills. Therefore this one pursuit teaches planning skills, decision making skills, measuring skills, reading and direction following skills and timing skills.It also builds confidence, creativity and self esteem and as such is a great way to develop independence in young children.

  These classes are for children aged 6 to 12 years . Basically the general aim of these classes are to teach children some basic skills in the kitchen  In every class 3 recipies will be taught.   

 The basic skills I hope to be able to impart to the children include :-

            Being able to prepare a simple meal for themselves;

            Being able to use simple kitchen implements safely;

            Being able to recognize some basic ingredients and cooking procedures &

            Being able to develop hygienic practices in cleaning up in the kitchen.

Costs

 The costs of each lesson varies depending on how many lessons are taken. Costs become cheaper if more lessons are taken.

  The costs structure is as follows:-

                  Up to 2 lessons              - MR 45 per lesson (full rate )

                   3 lessons                        - MR 40 per lesson

                   4 lessons & above         - MR 35 per lesson

Schedule of Classes, Timings & Menus for the coming holidays

Lesson 1

Date & time    :  Monday 7^th April 2003 at 10 am

Menu               :   Simple Spaghetti Bolognaise

                         :   Sausage rolls

                         :   Chewy Chunky Fudge Brownie

Lesson 2

Date & time     :  Wednesday 9^th April 2003 at 10 am

Menu                :   Crustless Savoury Chicken Tart

                          :   Cheese Garlic Buns

                          :    Chewy Orange Cookies

Lesson 3 

Date & time      :  Friday 11^th April 2003 at 10 am

Menu                 :   Pizza with assorted Toppings

                           :    Jelly Boats

                           :    Chocolate Chip cookies

Lesson 4

Date & Time      :   Saturday 12^th April 2003 at 10 am

 Menu                  :   Lamb Patties Chinese Style

                             :   Easy Fried Rice                                 

                             :   Lemon Nutmeg Stars ( Biscuits )

Lesson  5             

Date & time         :  Monday 14^th April 2003 at 10 am

Menu                    :  Egg Pinwheels

                              :  Cheesy Potato Bake

                              :   Chocolate Shortbread

Lesson 6

Date & Time        :  Wednesday 16^th April 2003 at 10 am

Menu                     :   Roasted Tomato & garlic Soup

                               :   Chilli garlic Ring ( Bread )

                               :   Fun Trifle

Lesson 7

Date & Time       :  Thursday 17^th April 2003 at 10 am

Menu                    :  Rosemary Chicken Kebabs

                              :  Vegetable Noodle Soup

                              :  Apple Crepes

Lesson 8

Date & Time        :  Saturday 19^th April 2003 at 10 am

Menu                     :  Grilled Chicken Wings

                               :   Mashed Potato

                               :   Banana & chocolate Chip Muffins