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    Sunday, September 23, 2007

    Cooking Classes Day 1

    Sophia wants to learn how to cook.

    Her Father dropped her off on his way to work and we started on a very busy morning.

    First we made a shopping list based on our menu
    Then lets go shopping.

    Our menu was based on her learning some basic skills.
    Yesterday I made the wonderful Mandarin and Chocolate bread.



    It is very good, so we had 200 mls of juice from the canned mandarins.
    Yes Jelly

    So
    200 mls Mandarin Juice
    3 teaspoons gelatin
    1 tablespoons sugar

    200 mls Berry Juice
    Water
    2 x nectarines
    Handful frozen raspberries.


    Heat the mandarin juice with gelatin and sugar till dissolved
    Add berry juice and water
    Into serving dishes add cut up fruit
    Divide the juice between the dishes and into the fridge till set.


    Skills measuring.

    Joseph our grandson has many allergies
    Egg is one
    This makes life difficult for the cook and adding mayo to salads or sandwiches is a no no.
    I thought let’s make the
    Old Fashioned Salad Dressing

    The Much Maligned Salad Dressing I add
    But actually everyone sneakily likes it.
    So so simple

    1 can Highlander Condensed Milk
    ½ teaspoon salt
    2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
    1 cup white wine vinegar

    Mix together to combine
    Leave to thicken and store in refrigerator.


    Skills can opening and using a whisk.

    Next Macaroni and Cheese.
    This amount made enough for 4 people

    Skills making a roux
    Grating cheese
    Developing palate


    300 gms macaroni
    ¼ cup butter
    ¼ cup of flour
    ¼ cup of white wine
    180 mls of evaporated milk
    1 shallot peeled, freshly ground black pepper, bay leaf
    2 cups of milk
    1 teaspoon of paprika
    2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard
    200 gms of cheddar cheese, grated
    50 gms of Parmesan cheese, grated
    Salt and freshly ground black freshly ground black pepper

    Topping
    Grated cheddar cheese
    Panko breadcrumbs
    1 slice tomato per person
    Freshly ground black pepper

    Infuse milks with shallot, freshly ground black pepper and bay leaf about 4 minutes in the microwave.
    Cook macaroni to manufacturers instructions
    Melt butter and add flour mix to combine
    Cook 3 or so minutes to cook out the flour. Add white wine, whisk quickly till smooth and then
    Add hot milk all at once.
    Add mustard and paprika
    Cook for 2-3 minutes stirring so it doesn’t stick
    Add grated cheese

    Taste and add salt and freshly ground black pepper if needed
    Drain cooked pasta add to sauce and divide into individual dishes
    Cover with grated cheese and breadcrumbs
    Pop a slice of tomato on top
    Bake 190C about 20 minutes.

    We went completely retro and made the salad from iceberg lettuce,
    cucumber, avocado and chives
    Skills Chopping and balance of ingredients.
    We had the salad dressed with the Old Fashioned Salad Dressing as a starter with some French Bread.

    She's a Happy Camper

    Last but not least

    Queen Cakes
    This recipe makes about 9 little cakes just enough to eat in one go.
    Skills basic baking...creaming butter and sugar and measuring ingredients.
    Even spooning mixture into cases

    70 gms sugar
    70 gms room temperature butter
    1 egg well beaten

    115 gms flour
    ½ teaspoon BP
    ¼ cup milk

    55 gms sultanas
    1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

    Cream butter and sugar
    Add egg beat well
    Add rest of ingredients
    Mix well

    Cook in patty cases about 15 minutes in 200C
    They will be golden

    So Sophia had non allergy foods for Joseph Jellies, Macaroni Cheese, ( he reckons he doesnt like Mac and Cheese...so we thought we might call it Cheese and Tomato Savoury)
    Anyhow she will have to eat the cakes by herself!!!
    Shouldn't be too hard I think



    A successful first day.

    3 comments:

    Katie Zeller said...

    What a fun day! A lovely lunch and an eager helper...what more could you ask for?
    I gave our son his first cookbook when he was about 12... and he got to choose and cook one meal a week - the choosing was on his own, I helped with the cooking. We only had a few strange meals at first...

    Jim said...

    Well done! Looks like you had a good time--and a good meal.

    I wish I'd taken cooking lessons at that age. I'm still fumbling in the kitchen at 23 years!

    So So Simple said...

    Kaite don't you love it when they show a real interest in food

    Jim from your blog I guess you are getting by just fine.