Janty Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I am so proud of my little cookery club at school. Every term we meet and decide on what we are going to cook each week. Today they cooked a roast chicken dinner from scratch and sat around the big table and ate their meal together. At lunch time they prepared three organic free range chickens, wrapped up Blythburgh free range chipolata sausages with bacon and they prepared their vegetables - roast potatoes, roasted parsnips, chopped carrots, brocolli, cauliflower, leeky mash. They also made a chicken and vegetable stock to use in their gravy. After school they checked on the potatoes and chickens and they worked out from their time chart when all the various vegetables, etc. had to be switched on. They took it in turns to ladle the stock into the gravy which they had made with the meat juices, flour and gravy salt. Then at 4.20pm 15 happy ten to thirteen year olds sat down to a roast dinner that they had prepared and discussed the tastes of the various items. They also had quite a good discussion about the taste of the free range meats that were on offer with some of the children noticing that the chicken did not taste like the chicken that they had at home. To make matters even better, we agreed that whatever was cooked, everybody should try a little of each even if they thought that they didn't like it. As a result we have two converts to roasted parsnips. I did have to have a word with one little boy who announced that he was a better cook than his Mum after taking a bite of chicken. I told him that unless he was prepared to do all the cooking until he leaves home then he had better not repeat that sentence to his parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 What a great thing to share, Janty I'm most impressed with your club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Brilliant! Good for you Janty, what a fab club to run. Its obvious that the students love it Wise words to the little boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Marvellous. The best way to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Sounds really good Janty What a fantastic thing to do, you are teaching those children skills that will stay with them all their lives You could have the next Jamie in your class Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I have purposefully logged in just to say good on you What a fantastic thing to do. Can you come to my kids school please Chili xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 21, 2008 Author Share Posted February 21, 2008 I teach in a middle school that puts lots of money into food education. Between the deputy head and myself we are always bullying the head for new equipment, etc. and we get an excellent budget. To top this we also have some lovely parents. One of our fellow forum members, Bouncy had a fund raising pampered Chef party to raise money for the cookery club. On a Wednesday night we have 'Cooking Togather' club between 3.20 and 5pm. This is for children and their parents to come along to. These are the younger children aged 9 to 11 years old. On a Thursday night we have the Key Stage 3 cookery club for children aged 11 to 13 years although we have one younger student in with us. This runs from 3.20 to 5pm. The older children are able to tackle more complicated projects. In the past we have made fajitas, chicken curry, chilli con carne and a range of steamed puddings and cakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Well done Janty - sounds great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Sounds great , Well done you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Brilliant - well done Janty feel quite hungry now Shame all schools don't have a cookery club..........at my children's senior school, even food tech is only taught very very briefly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 21, 2008 Author Share Posted February 21, 2008 A third of each year group's Design Technology lessons have been set aside for cookery lessons. Each lesson lasts for two hours and the children spend 12 lessons in Textiles per year, 12 lessons in Food Technology and 12 lessons in Resistant materials working with wood, metal and plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 how wonderful to have that much Design Tech time DD had food tech for 6 weeks in year 7, none in Year 8 as the Design Tech rota didn't allow for her class to have any food tech that year and she had 6 weeks right at the start of year 9 Good job I'm teaching both DD and DS to cook at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Like the sound of that school. Layla's primary school has a cooking room and they all do cooking from reception onwards - with mummy volunteers. Only cakes and biscuits but its a start. Especially for those whose parents don't have time to do it at home. Must admit I was surprised at the domesticity of one little boy who does not normally 'shine' (best 'clearer uppper' in the class) until I realised he came from a big family. Made me realise I don't make Layla do enough . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 21, 2008 Author Share Posted February 21, 2008 Makes me laugh really when you think that Suffolk County Council are closing all middle schools 'cause apparently we're awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 A cookery club . What a fantastic idea - such a valuable skill to be teaching kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Brilliant. I wish more children had this opportunity! The only thing I remember from cookery lessons at school was how to water down cheap jam And a recipe for a pizza with a scone base, which was actually rather good, although completely inauthentic. But it was the 70s, no one knew any better then. Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 How Fab !! - I wish there had been someone like you at my school. I can now make a 'mean' beens-on-taost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 What a brilliant idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 (edited) What a fab idea At Cleos secondary school they are having an inter house Masterchef day next term,which Cleo, as a very keen cook, is entering. They have to cook something healthy, so Cleo is doing - Bruschetta topped with tomatoes,basil & olive oil Spaghetti with pesto,pancetta & courgettes, & parmesan shavings Fresh berries & greek yogurt with honey & toasted oats. Well, that was what she had decided on the last time we chatted about it...she has probably changed her mind again by now Edited February 22, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 That's a brilliant idea Janty, at least they are leaving school with some real life skills. All I remember from 'home ec' was how to iron and starch a shirt and arramge flowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...