Kids gain culinary confidence

By Molly Hayden, U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr Public Affairs OfficeMay 9, 2011

Cupcake girl
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Ice Kid
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IcePour
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Kitchen
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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Attention parents: don't be surprised if you come home one night and find a three-course meal sitting on your dining room table. With culinary classes offered by School of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills (SKIES) Unlimited, the secret chef could be a pint-sized one.

Leilani Turner, 8, looked at home in the brightly lit kitchen of the Netzaberg School-Age Center, recently. Bits of cupcake batter painted her reindeer-clad apron and her long brown hair was speckled with flour.

"I'm cooking all by myself and I've never done that before," said Turner as she poured the batter into a baking pan while following the recipe for the "Taste the Rainbow" cupcakes. "It can be hard sometimes because I'm making things I never have before."

"But it always tastes yummy," she added with a giggle.

Culinary arts classes for children are a way to encourage aspiring chefs and boost their motivation level, according to Culinary Arts Instructor Marie Crites, Child, Youth and School Services.

"We teach them basic skills like how to use a knife and which pan to use for what recipe, but more importantly we want to get the kids excited about cooking and excited about food," said Crites. "They feel more comfortable in the kitchen and have a desire to experiment more with various recipes."

Additionally, children and young adults who attend culinary arts classes boost their academic knowledge in science, language and math.

"You have to follow the recipe and measure everything precisely," said 10-year-old Gabriel Robson. "It's an exact science."

Cooking may be an exact science, but there is always room for a little creativity, according to 8-year-old Jacob Brown.

"I made this cupcake Army green," he said, showing off his food coloring skills.

As freshly baked cupcakes exited the oven, the already excited kids indulged on the sugary snack, garnering oohs, aahs and mmms.

"I'm a good cook," said Turner. "I'll definitely be a cook when I grow up."

Skies Culinary Arts Classes

Culinary arts classes are held Tuesdays at the Netzaberg School-Age Center, 5:30-7:30 p.m., and Wednesdays at the Rose Barracks Youth Center, 5-7 p.m., for ages 7-11.

Young adults ages 12-18 can attend classes at the Netzaberg Youth Center on Fridays, 5:15-7:15 p.m., and Thursdays at the Rose Barracks Youth Center, 5-7 p.m.

Enrollment in the program is $70 for one month of classes. For more, contact the Rose Barracks Parent Central Services at DSN 476-2760, CIV 09662-83-2760 or Grafenwoehr Parent Central Services at 475-6656, CIV 09641-83-6656.

Additionally, sign-up is available on WebTrac at www.webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/Grafenwoehr

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