GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP
Saturday, December 6th was my Gingerbread House Workshop at the Academy of Culinary Education in Woodland Hills. There were 11 attendees. Each team made one house and the single attendee made her own house. One team had dough left over so they got to make a smaller version of their house to go along with on their board. Unfortunately, it seems that all the pictures I took did not come out. There were several more houses along with these. Will try to find them and update.
All in All everyone had a very good time and took home a completed house. Decorations that were used ranged from M & M’s to Tootsie Rolls, Candy Canes and Nerds, Peppermint Wheels and Licorice Twists.
Here are pictures of the houses.
Cee’s House – Red, White and Green
Side View
Elliot and Nina with Mother
Solar Star Panels
Tootsie Roll House
Tina and Michelles House
PARENT/CHILD PIZZA CLASS AT LGC
Saturday, June 2nd was the day of our Parent/Chlid Pizza Class at Let’s Get Cookin’. Four Teams of 2 parents each made Piizza Dough, their own indivual pizzas and pizzas to share. Everyone was very involved and had a good time. The class ended with everyone enjoying a lunch of Pizza, Salad, Italian Sodas and Dessert.
The items that were made were:
PIZZA DOUGH: Basic, Gurmet and Thin Crust
Chinese BBQ Chicken Pizza with Bell Peppers, Shitake Mushrooms, etc.
Baked BBQ Chicken Pizza Slice
Hawaiian Pizza with Portuguese Sausage & Pineapple, etc.
Derek & Sabrina with their Hawaiian Pizza
Hawaiian Pizza
Argentine Pizza with Smoked Spanish Chorizo, Red & Green Bell Peppers, etc.
Artisan Greens Salad with Zest Lemon Dressing
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza & Italian Sodas
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza
Making Pizza
Amy & Daughter
Holly & Ryder
Celene with her Pizza
Upside Down Pizza
The Upside Down Pizza shown below was made with a new pan, made especially for making a ‘Deep Dish Pizza’ which is made ‘upside down’. It was fun to do. The pan can be purchased at Let’s Get Cookin’ in Westlake Village, CA.
Enjoying Pizza for Lunch Enjoying Lunch
Enjoying Lunch
Everyone enjoyed making and eating their pizza and also had items to take home as there was just too much to eat all at one time. Our next Parent/Child Class is July 14th and will include various items from Europe such as Arrabbiata Pasta from Italy, Roman Salad, Monte Carlo Tea Cookies and Circus Snow Cones.
Categories: Baking, Beverages, Cooking for Everyone, Cooking for Kids, Dessert Ideas, Dinner Ideas, Italian, Lunch Ideas, Main, Parent Child Classes, Pizza, Salads Tags: baking, Cheese, Chicken, cooking with children, kids cooking, kids recipes, Pizza, Tomatoes
LET’S GET COOKIN’ PARENT/CHILD VALENTINE CLASS
On Saturday, February 11th Let’s Get Cookin’ in Westlake Village, I taught our annual Parent/Child Valentine Class. This year the theme was Decorated Valentine Cakes. Each Parent/Child Team decorated their own cake and cupcakes. In addition, each team made Heart-shaped candy Lollipops to take home. Here are some photos from the classes which were held at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM. Each class took about 21/2 hours and everyone went home with a cake. Everyone had a very good time including the Instructor and Teaching Assistants, namely Elizabeth, Tina, Mia and Mary.
Mother & Daughter with their decorated cake
Cassie & Father Michael with their Cake
Mother & Daughter with their decorated cake
Riley & her Mother
Riley, making roses
Sophia decorating her cake
Sophia's Cake
More Valentine Cakes
Colorful Cake
Colorful Cake
Holding Colorful Cake
Jade and Mother
Contemplating eating a piece of cake
Mother & Daughter with their Cake
Jackie & Jamie with their Cake
Made with Brotherly Love
Avalon's Cake
Mother & Daughter with their cake
Jamie's Lovely Cake
Categories: Cooking for Kids, Holiday Ideas, Main, Parent Child Classes Tags: Cake Decorating, Parent/Child Classes, Valentines
PARENT/CHILD CLASS AT LET’S GET COOKIN’: Chinese New Year – ‘The Year of the Dragon’
Sylvia Rieman - Year of the Dragon Shirt
Saturday, January 14th was the day that my Parent/Child Class was held at Let’s Get Cookin’ in Westlake Village, CA. Chinese New Year 2012 falls on January 23rd. Our class was before that date so that the Parent/Child Teams could prepare what they learned in class at home for their families on or about Chinese New Year’s. We had 9 Parent/Child Teams for a total of 19 people. There were several grandmothers there with their grandchildren and one older teenager with his younger sister. The teenager was taking his father’s place as his father had a cold and did not want to give it to anyone else.
We had about an equal number of boys and girls but except for the teen, all the parents were women. Usually we have at least a couple of fathers with their children.
The menu for the day was: Shrimp & Vegetable Egg Rolls, Shanghai Beef and Noodles, Stir Fried Vegetables with Chinese Long Beans, Chicken Fried Rice and Cashew Cookies and Mango Pudding.
We started out with introductions, review of upcoming classes and explanation of the recipes we were using. I showed the unique ingredients that were using including the Chinese Long Beans which can sometimes be difficult to find. The best place to find them is at a large Asian Market.
After everyone donned their aprons and washed their hands we set out the ingredients and guided the students through the recipes. Since the Pudding had to set and the cookies had to bake, we started out with these two items. Two teams worked together to make the Mango Pudding and two other teams worked together to make the Cashew Nut Cookies.
Mixing the Cookie dough
Cashew Nut Cookies are similar to Chinese Almond Cookies with the main difference being the nuts used. Traditional Chinese Cookies are made with lard but we used butter. There is a difference in the taste between the two. This difference is somewhat difficult to explain, but if you had tasted each one you would see the difference.
Mango Custard
Cashew Nut Cookies
Another team started the Beef and Shanghai noodles. The beef was combined with the ingredients for the marinade and then set aside for cooking.
Next came the Stir-Fried Vegetables and several teams worked on those since there were quite a number of vegetables which all needed to be washed, dried and then cut into various shapes before being cooked. The Brother-Sister Team started on the Chicken Fried Rice.
Making Stir-Fried Vegetables
Chicken Fried Rice
When cooking Chinese food, most of the intensive preparation is in the cutting of the food and the combining of the ingredients for the sauces. After each group had finished their Mise en Place they took a break and wandered around the store looking at or purchasing merchandise. Once everyone had finished their Mise en Place, we set the tables and proceeded to the cooking process.
Filled Egg Rolls waiting to be Fried
The Egg Rolls were fried and then served with a Plum Dipping Sauce. After the Egg Rolls were served the main course was served. Everyone enjoyed their Shanghai Beef and Noodles, Chicken Fried Rice and Stir-Fried Vegetables. The vegetables were beautiful as we had many different kinds of vegetables with a variety of colors.
Cooking the Shanghai Beef with help from Tina
After the Main Course, Dessert in the form of the Mango Pudding and the Cashew Nut Cookies were served. Hot Tea and Ice Water were offered as beverages.
Everyone had a good time, learned some new culinary techniques and took home a packet of recipes so that they could prepare the dishes at home. Many of the Parent/Child Teams signed up for next month’s class which will be decorated Valentine Cakes, Cupcakes and Heart-shaped Chocolate Pops.
GINGERBREAD HOUSES – 2011
Sheila, Morgan & Grayson
Gingerbread House done in a Green Theme
Saturday, Deceber 10th, was our 23rd Annual Gingerbread House Event at Let’s Get Cookin’ in Westlake. The pictures posted here are from that event an also the Houses that I did for the Gingerbread Event at the Wellness Center in Westlake.
House decorated with Sour Belt Squares - a Father & Son Team
The day started at 10:30 AM with introductions of the staff and the students. The students were presented with a demo of the process of making the Gingerbread Dough, Rolling, Cutting and Baking the House parts. After the demo the Parent/Child Teams were each given a tray with House Templates and cutting tools. The Dough was made for the students and each team was given half a batch of dough to start with. The students rolled out the Dough, cut out their parts and then delivered them to the ovens where the staff watched over them. Once the students were finished with their first batch of dough they were given a second batch and proceeded to cut out the rest of their houses and bake them. At this point we broke for lunch.
Cassie & Michael - Candy Cane Fence around their House
After lunch we presented another demo which included how to make the frosting, filling and using the decorating bags and constructing the house. Students were warned not to use too much frosting and to keep the roof decorations light. The students were also told not to put the roofs on until the side and end pieces had dried for at least 20 minutes or more.
Finished House with Pond and Trees
At the end of the day, each Parent/Child team went home with a full size Gingerbread House that they had baked, built and decorated. All in all, everyone had a good time and went home with the knowledge to be able to build their own houses at home in succeeding years.
Out the Door and on their Way Home with their House
Categories: Baking, Holiday Ideas, Main, Parent Child Classes Tags: baking, Children's Cooking, Christmas, family dinner, Gingerbread House Photos, Gingerbread Houses, Holiday Houses
The Chinese Zodiac
This year the Chinese New Year falls on February 3rd. As per the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, 2011 is the ‘Year of the Rabbit’. The Rabbit is said to be one of the most fortunate of the twelve animal signs since it is the symbol of longevity. If you were born in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 the Year of the Rabbit, you possess graciousness, good manners, sound counsel kindness and sensitivity to beauty
Guidelines for Baking and Decorating a Gingerbread House
This is the time of the year when Gingerbread House Construction occurs. Making your own Gingerbread House can be rewarding, but it can also be frustrating unless you have some guidelines to follow. Guidelines are suggested to help with your baking, constructing and decorating endeavors.
