COOKING BASICS

NOVEMBER 3, 2012

Hello All,
     It's been yet another fantastic class and we all had a great time. Our dish was simple, and comforting for a Fall Saturday afternoon, yet good. Most of the girls ate the entire dish, but others chose to have the Chili on the side. Mr. Dan thought it was a bit spicy for his taste buds. Overall, he loved it too! Our cooking team today included 5 mini chefs; one being a newby to to scene. I must say, K.C. our guest mini chef proved to have been in the kitchen before. She was eager to take part in our class, she never had to be asked to do much at all. As a team, the girls work hard and quick. They had to prepare, cook and eat all in two hours. Job well done!

           
OCTOBER 6, 2012

Hello All, 
    
     There's very little words for this last weekend session....."AMAZING"! Our class was small, but the results were huge. Everything was just down right delicious! These girls put their every effort into it and Chef Ratliff did an awesome job with her team who was responsible for the Oreo Cheese Cake. The wings were so good, I might have to begin selling them, they were mouth watering. I will use both recipies and make for my own guest very soon. Great job mini chefs! Please pardon our delay on posting the ingredients, but I have been in full run since our cooking session. We will return to the kitchen on November 3rd with Session 5. It's a hush about what's on the menu. Shhhhhh! Hope to see you there.        

SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

Hello All,
     
      Wow! I must say that each class is getting more exciting. This weekend proved to be so with our Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs and Italian Heart Cheese Patries, they were both delicious! I had a younger group this week and a special guest, "Chef Ratliss" who came from Leon High School. Being her first class, we loved her enthusiaum to just "roll with it" and positive support with the mini chefs. This weeks recipie was simple and fun to prepare, it was like we were having a party. The ingredients were colorful and easy to work with. The task of preparation include everyone having to explore their cutting skills and each of our young mini chefs were able to fulfill the job. I am so loving this opportunity to lead our mini chefs in their journey to become "Jr. Chefs". With consistant involvement and eagerness, I am certain to get at least (3) Jr. Chef's out of this seasons classes. - Until, we will just have to see what's cooking at the Dream Cottage.
    
SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

Hello All,

     I must say cooking has been so much fun. When I took on this challenge, I didn't know we'd have this much excitement in the kitchen. Believe it or not, we even got Mr. Dan in the kitchen this week. Well, he did more tasting and sampling than his assigned duty; taking pictures. Our chicken segment is turning out to be very interesting. The girls are all doing so well and they are working very good as a team. In this weeks class, the girls pulled together and prepared a saavory dish of "Chicken Quesadilla's and Blue Cheese & Bacon Lettuce Wedges". Each week we invite a special guest and I am pleased to say that Miss Chinyere - "Chi Chi" joined our class and worked as my partner Chef. The kids all loved her cooking during Summer Camp, so I thought it would be great to invite her out to join us. The girls are all coming along in the cutting efforts and following directions. They are really getting comfortable in the kitchen. As a matter of fact, most all of the girls made the last sessions dish of "Stuffed Herb Chicken" for their families. I got text messages and photo's of them in their own kitchens. Way to go girls! Well, not only did the girls prepare a great dish this week, but I believe their quesadilla's were better than any I've had in a restaurant. I am very proud of these girls! 
           
SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Hello,

     If by chance you are reading my message today, I know you have a love for food just as I do. Saturday was amazing! We had 4  plus 1 teen(s) in our cooking studio, eager and excited to learn the art of cooking. Yes, I did say plus 1. We had a guest amist our studio so we added her as our "photo-grapher". She did a great job! - It was our four mini chefs who pulled off an incredible and delicous meal, with a beautifully prepared "Stuffed Herbed Chicken with an assortment of (4) different cheeses.
 
     I've instructed many youth cooking session over the years, but I must say this was my most exciting one. Never before have I had the pleasure of instructing just teens; normally it's a mixture of younger girls and a couple of teens. I had a huge challenge, getting these teens interested and excited about being in the kitchen. My reward at the end of our session, each teen being proud of their final meal presentaion. Each of them had eagerness and excitement just as that of younger girls while in the kitchen. Me knowing if they caught on, they're passion would exube as mine does whenever I'm in the kitchen.  I think these teens have caught the "cooking bug", a couple of them have rushed home to share the results of their excitement for this fabulous dish with their families. Hopefully, you will take our recipe and enjoy as we did. 

By the way, our cooking segment for the next 7 weeks: "Chicken and Cheese" - You will get to see our cooking team prepare these foods in many unique ways. We will also invite different guest chefs into our studio. - Join Us!
             
AUGUST 1, 2012

Greetings All,

     We are on day (3) of our Summer Camp week of Cooking Basics class and the girls are doing so wonderful. I am really impressed and hope that this won't be the end of what seems to be a hit with our "Mini Chefs". So, let me give you a recap of what you've missed. On Tuesday, team #2 prepared some delicious "Strawberry Short Cake Suprises". They were yummy! We've tried to include pictures from each session with hopes to share each group in action. Team #2 also made some very tasty "Cheesy Southern Cornbread" as well. Watch out Mom's, we have some little cooks on our hands. 

     Today, our team #3 suprised us all with a couple of beautiful Summer salads; "Italian Shrimp and Pasta Salad", served hot or cold and "America's Chef Salad". Both salads gave the "Mini Chefs" the chance to work on their cutting skills. Thank God, no one cut themselves or anyone else. At the completion of the salad session, the girls shared their master works and the studio guest loved them both. They've actually asked to have those salads again before Summer is over. - Great work teams 1, 2, and 3. The judging is going to be hard on Friday after we get to have the long awaited "Pizza Moma Mia" and Peach Cobbler with Homemade Icecream.
 
Team #2: Victoria (Lead Mini Chef), Valencia, Lucy and Hali

Team #3: Laila (Lead Mini Chef), Danielle, Lesley, Sloan, and Hali (Asst. Mini Chef)
                        
JULY 31, 2012

Greetings My Beginner Chefs,

     I am so proud to have been given the opportunity to return to the Dream Cottage and host the "Hints of Summer" camp for girls; Cooking Basics class. Today, was our first class session and we had so much fun learning about chicken. In our cooking studio, we had a team of (4) and a wonderful host of (12) studio guest. To kick off our cooking week, we learned how to cut a whole chicken, clean and prepare it to cook with perfection. Our 1st cooking team (Amani, Keimara, Avion, and Sarah) all had a hands-on experience, by shopping for the chicken, cutting chicken breast and seasoning it for the most delicious chicken tenders ever. Also, team #1 prepared chicken for frying and baking to make the most incredible wings ever; hot, sweet chili and plum. All of the studio guest loved the final tasting.  Hopefully, all of the girls learned something new about chicken. We are all excited about tomorrows menu. Until, bon apetite'!

Team #1: Amani (Lead Mini Chef), Avion, Keimara, Sarah and Hali (Asst. Mini Chef)