*Customer provided Lego Characters 
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Lego Cake
Lesson Plan #9
I tried to offer and give the kids examples of alternative methods and items they could use for most of the recipes we made. For example, always bake instead of frying. It is a healthier choice and less calories as well as unhealthy fats.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Orangesicle Creme Cupcakes-Let them EAT CaKe
This is our last week of cooking class. Please make sure if you haven't made a payment that you do so this week, I have to advise our elective coordinator who hasn't paid this week. Checks or cash are accepted. Please make checks payable to Esmeralda Williams. Please let me know if you are going through a financial hardship and can not make the payment. I do offer scholarships and want to make sure every student has an opportunity to participate in my elective. All information is kept confidential.
The kids have been asking and asking and asking, if we can make cake! So, I thought about it and decided it would be fun to make their dreams come true and make cupcakes this week...after all it is our last week together. Farewell, so long...
Orangesicle Crème Cupcakes
1 Box of white cake mix
1 can of orange soda-We are using orange crème soda
Cupcake liners
Combine the above ingredients together, mix until incorporated. Bake according to the cake box directions. DO NOT add any other ingredients like eggs, oil etc.
Orange Buttercream Frosting
1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks)
3 1/2 cups of sifted powdered sugar
pinch of sea salt
1 tbl Crème Bouquet (May be found in specialty stores)
1-2 tsp of fresh orange juice (if your icing is to thick, add more juice)
The kids have been asking and asking and asking, if we can make cake! So, I thought about it and decided it would be fun to make their dreams come true and make cupcakes this week...after all it is our last week together. Farewell, so long...
Orangesicle Crème Cupcakes
1 Box of white cake mix
1 can of orange soda-We are using orange crème soda
Cupcake liners
Combine the above ingredients together, mix until incorporated. Bake according to the cake box directions. DO NOT add any other ingredients like eggs, oil etc.
Orange Buttercream Frosting
1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks)
3 1/2 cups of sifted powdered sugar
pinch of sea salt
1 tbl Crème Bouquet (May be found in specialty stores)
1-2 tsp of fresh orange juice (if your icing is to thick, add more juice)
Lesson Plan #8
Caramel Popcorn
One word for the last recipe...AMAZING!!!
We made our own caramel sauce, we popped popcorn kernels in a pot on the stove-top. We combined all of our yummy ingredients and baked our caramel popcorn. We stirred every 15 minutes making sure we coated the remaining pieces of popcorn. It smelled like Disneyland's kitchen in OUR kitchen.
Cooks Tip: I found that for my liking the caramel recipe should be doubled. This ensures every piece of popcorn is completely coated in yummy goodness. Whether you choose to double the caramel sauce or not, it is still a delicious fall treat, that should only be consumed during special occasions. ;)
One word for the last recipe...AMAZING!!!
We made our own caramel sauce, we popped popcorn kernels in a pot on the stove-top. We combined all of our yummy ingredients and baked our caramel popcorn. We stirred every 15 minutes making sure we coated the remaining pieces of popcorn. It smelled like Disneyland's kitchen in OUR kitchen.
Cooks Tip: I found that for my liking the caramel recipe should be doubled. This ensures every piece of popcorn is completely coated in yummy goodness. Whether you choose to double the caramel sauce or not, it is still a delicious fall treat, that should only be consumed during special occasions. ;)
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Lesson Plan #7
What a fun week!! I enjoyed teaching the kids how to make taquitos all week long. The kids loved them! Yes, we used green onions, fresh garlic, cilantro, salsa etc. No complaints!!! Everyone couldn't stop saying how good they were.
We also BAKED them instead of FRYING! Less calories/Less Fat!
The kids had a chance to use a garlic press, food/salad kitchen shear choppers and a hand press onion and cilantro chopper from pampered chef. They loved using all of the kitchen utensils.
The kids were taught how to properly handle chicken, how to dispose of anything that has touched chicken as well as washing everything chicken comes in contact with. We used disposable gloves to handle the raw chicken. They were also told to rinse the cilantro before using and pick out any dirt filled or brown cilantro. Lastly, cut the stems and simply use the leaves. We used organic cilantro that is rinsed and ready to use.
The kids were taught that the chicken goes on the end of the tortilla and they should start rolling from there and roll it tight as they go. Place the end side/opening of the tortilla facing down on a pre-sprayed cookie sheet to avoid taquito from unrolling. No toothpicks are needed.
Cooking Tip: Make sure that you check a tortilla after microwaving them. If it cracks in the center, you will need to heat them longer in the microwave. Otherwise, they will not be pliable to roll.
I told the kids to use small mini taco tortillas for appetizer size taquitos. You can use either flour or corn tortillas :)
Happy Taquito making!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Lesson Plan #6
Week 6 of our Elective has come and gone.
The Pazookie or Pizookie style Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies were a big hit. We had fun making these little tasty bites.
This week the kids learned the importance of reading the recipe first. We used two separate bowls for our ingredients. The kids were taught to use the bigger bowl for the wet ingredients since we would be combining the dry ingredients into the wet ingredient bowl. They learned how easy it is to create a chocolate lava. Melt chocolate chips in a Ziploc bag in the microwave, snip the corner of the baggie and use it like a piping bag. Everyone had the opportunity to help make the cookies, spoon them into the mini muffin tins, create a well, pipe in the melted chocolate and flatten out an additional piece of dough to cover the top of the cookie.
I explained to the kids that they can make these in any size muffin tin. The baking time would need to be adjusted accordingly. Get creative and add some pumpkin spices to the cookie dough. Instead of adding chocolate chips, add white chocolate chips and melt Hershey's pumpkin candy kisses in a Ziploc baggie and pipe that into the center, this will give it a nice Fall(ish) taste. :)
The Pazookie or Pizookie style Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies were a big hit. We had fun making these little tasty bites.
This week the kids learned the importance of reading the recipe first. We used two separate bowls for our ingredients. The kids were taught to use the bigger bowl for the wet ingredients since we would be combining the dry ingredients into the wet ingredient bowl. They learned how easy it is to create a chocolate lava. Melt chocolate chips in a Ziploc bag in the microwave, snip the corner of the baggie and use it like a piping bag. Everyone had the opportunity to help make the cookies, spoon them into the mini muffin tins, create a well, pipe in the melted chocolate and flatten out an additional piece of dough to cover the top of the cookie.
I explained to the kids that they can make these in any size muffin tin. The baking time would need to be adjusted accordingly. Get creative and add some pumpkin spices to the cookie dough. Instead of adding chocolate chips, add white chocolate chips and melt Hershey's pumpkin candy kisses in a Ziploc baggie and pipe that into the center, this will give it a nice Fall(ish) taste. :)
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Lesson Plan #5
Boy was this week a hit! The kids loved every bite. These special little treats were simple and simply Devine.
I introduced the kids to a pastry cutter. I told them if they don't have this gadget at home, they could use two knives. I explained the importance of using cold butter. Butter melts fast and we wanted to "cut" the butter into the flour and not "mash" the butter into the flour. Using our pastry cutter, we cut the butter until the flour resembled coarse crumbs. We created mini bites and created a well in the center for our whipped fruit dip.
The dip is an amazing dip that compliments your favorite fruit. I told the kids they could add pineapple and coconut to the dip and add an almond flavoring to the crust. These are a perfect dessert for the upcoming Holiday parties. We placed the filling in a pastry bag and piped it onto the mini shortbread bite. We topped it with a sliced strawberry. I taught the kids a simple trick, we used an egg slicer to cut our whole berries. Everyone had a turn making their mini bites, piping the filling, slicing a strawberry and garnishing it.
Bakers Tip: I told the kids if they don't have a mini cupcake pan at home, they can use a pizza stone and create a round shortbread cookie resembling a round pizza. I let them know they could make it into a dessert pizza. I also told them a regular baking sheet works just fine.
I introduced the kids to a pastry cutter. I told them if they don't have this gadget at home, they could use two knives. I explained the importance of using cold butter. Butter melts fast and we wanted to "cut" the butter into the flour and not "mash" the butter into the flour. Using our pastry cutter, we cut the butter until the flour resembled coarse crumbs. We created mini bites and created a well in the center for our whipped fruit dip.
The dip is an amazing dip that compliments your favorite fruit. I told the kids they could add pineapple and coconut to the dip and add an almond flavoring to the crust. These are a perfect dessert for the upcoming Holiday parties. We placed the filling in a pastry bag and piped it onto the mini shortbread bite. We topped it with a sliced strawberry. I taught the kids a simple trick, we used an egg slicer to cut our whole berries. Everyone had a turn making their mini bites, piping the filling, slicing a strawberry and garnishing it.
Bakers Tip: I told the kids if they don't have a mini cupcake pan at home, they can use a pizza stone and create a round shortbread cookie resembling a round pizza. I let them know they could make it into a dessert pizza. I also told them a regular baking sheet works just fine.
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