"The Republican"
East Longmeadow children learn how to prepare and eat proper meals
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
By STAASI HEROPOULOS
EAST LONGMEADOW - Across Western Massachusetts this fall, parents and their children carved out and cut up pumpkins to make them fearful, fun, gruesome and gorgeous.
But that wasn't the way it went in a small classroom in East Longmeadow.
From pumpkin pancakes to tasty treats like spooky spider snacks, children learned how make nutritious meals and snacks out of pumpkins. It was a fall breakfast where children made their own well-balanced meal.
"We're teaching them how to cook for yourself, the importance of cooking for yourself and also using fresh, local, seasonal ingredients," said Jennifer Mathews, owner of What's Cooking, Kids?
What's Cooking, Kids? is a new business in East Longmeadow. The company is celebrating its first year in business. Mathews and her staff teach children how to cook and eat healthy - and that includes portion control.
"With child obesity such a problem, portion control is a huge issue," Mathews said.
But as so many teachers know, children get the message best when there's a fun and creative way to learn. That's why Mathews worked pumpkin decorating into her autumn program.
There were no knives to carve up the pumpkins - besides being dangerous, that wasn't the point. The children used magic markers, wigs, jewelry and other items to create and "accessorize" everything from scary witches to ghoulish gourds.
Ten-year-old Gabe Awad of Longmeadow really put the screws to his pumpkin, tightening bolts into the stem and head of his creation.
"I'm making a Frankenstein pumpkin because he's cool and scary and Halloween is all about scaring people," said Awad.
What's Cooking, Kids? hosts about 70 children during each of its sessions. The business has classes for children ages 3 to 18 years old. The courses last seven weeks and are run after school.
During each session, the children and young adults create and take home recipes. Sessions are based on seasonal themes like foods for "Election Day Coverage," "Cozy Comfort," "Give Thanks" and "Brr ... It's Cold Outside."
What's Cooking looks to its expand business hours
Reminder Publications photo by Natasha Clark
Story By Courtney Llewellyn Reminder Assistant Editor, December 2007
EAST LONGMEADOW: What's Cooking, Kids? opened in October with a goal of providing culinary experiences for young chefs. Those experiences have been so positive, parents have been clamoring for an opportunity to attend classes as well.
At the Dec. 4 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Jennifer Mathews and Jodie Foster, founders of What's Cooking, Kids? asked for permission to host adult cooking classes once a month past regular business hours and for those attending to be able to bring their own beer or wine for refreshment.
Town Counsel James Donahue said that as long as having the alcohol was permissible in the zoning codes, the expansion of classes would not be an issue.
"As long as the operators aren't charging for the beer or wine, I have no objections to the allowance," Donahue added.
Board of Selectmen chair Jack Villamaino said the board had no issue with the classes either.
"We wanted to get involved in a Ladies' Night early in the new year," Mathews said, "but the desire for adult classes has been so great, we decided to hold one this month."
What's Cooking, Kids? offers cooking classes for children aged three to 18 years old, hosting three classes a day, five days a week, as well as special Saturday classes and birthday parties. Each week, the classes have a different theme, both in cuisine and in technique.
During the week of Dec. 3, children attending classes cooked with a Hannukah theme, making matzo ball soup, braiding and baking challah and frying latkes. Last week, there was a focus on baking, specifically on cookies.
"The kids' classes are doing great," Mathews said. "Our afterschool classes are all full." The afterschool classes are for children aged five and up and host 12 to 16 students each.
The first Ladies' Night is scheduled for Dec. 18 from 7 to 10 p.m. with Chef Pengyew Chin instructing. Chin is a chef with PY Catering, based in Amherst. He specializes in regional southeast Asian cuisine and teaching Asian cooking techniques. Chin also creates contemporary Asian fusion dishes as well as certain Western classics.
Mathews said Chin would be teaching the first adult class a total of five Asian recipes.
"We're still in the process of developing different programs for the months ahead," Mathews stated. The tentative program for January will be Italian cuisine. The classes will be capped at 25 participants so they stay intimate, according to Mathews.
"If it's successful we may expand it to more frequent classes," she said. "Open it up to all parents, not just mothers."
The beer and wine the budding adult chefs are allowed to bring along will not be used for cooking purposes, however.
"We're allowing them to sip on a glass of wine while someone else cooks for them," Mathews explained. "It's a little bonus."
What's Cooking, Kids? is open for children from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a teen class taking place until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.
For more information on child and adult classes, call What's Cooking, Kids? at 224-1208.