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.