Help with cooking class ideas?

March 19, 2016 7:19 AM

I'm leading a cooking class for college students this coming week. I've already have the menu planned--the theme is budget friendly and quick. Problem is that I noticed that there is going to be dead time for one group and I'm not sure what to have them do. Added notes: smaller group (about 14) and wanting to match the food.

This one group is making roasted potatoes and slaw. Half of the time it's cutting but the rest is waiting for it to roast in the oven. The other group is making the main dish of spinach patties, the other group is making homemade granola bars.

I'm worried that this potato group will be sitting there while the others cook away. It's a small group so I don't want to make TOO much food. I thought about having this group make homemade condiments for the burgers like ketchup and relish or something. Or making salsa. OR we are doing a demo with knives using potatoes and onions. I don't know if I should have them make a simple soup with that?

Any suggestions would be so great, because this is my first time doing this and I don't wanna screw it up.

posted by buttonedup to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

I think that salsa would be a really good way to practice the knife skills from the demo. I think you should go with a condiment that will get them really confident using a knife correctly, because honestly that was the single most important thing that I had to learn to become a confident cook. Cooking goes so much faster when you know how to chop and slice efficiently.

Other ideas: could you have the potato group set the table? What if they brainstormed menu ideas for future meals, maybe with the help of some cookbooks or websites that had easy recipes? Then as a follow-up, you could email all the participants a list of resources, like cookbooks and websites, and some of the menu ideas that they could use for future meals. Could the potato group make a non-alcoholic beverage to go with the meal?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:37 AM on March 19, 2016

If you want practice for knife skills, how about they make a simple vegetable soup. With all the vegetables cut up in neat little squares or fancy julienne.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 7:47 AM on March 19, 2016

The salsa idea is a good one! Fresh-squeezed lemonade or agua fresca could also be nice.
posted by ourobouros at 8:13 AM on March 19, 2016

Condiments is a great idea, and also having them set the table. Maybe they can do something creative with centerpieces. Or garnishes?
posted by Miko at 8:23 AM on March 19, 2016

How about a beer bread? If the idea is to get college kids interested in cooking, this magical recipe combines flour and a can of beer to make a loaf of bread. It's very easy and the alcohol bakes out. Need an hour or more to bake though.
posted by nologo at 8:29 AM on March 19, 2016

Maybe instead of roasted potatoes, could they do fried potatoes and onions, or the soup? More hands-on time.
posted by umwhat at 8:35 AM on March 19, 2016

I would be unimpressed if I were taking a cooking class and two groups are cooking and I get to set the table. Beer bread is good, depending on timing; condiments also work, or the soup.

With a bunch of students, don't worry about too much food -- there's no such thing.
posted by jeather at 9:14 AM on March 19, 2016

Chocolate pudding for dessert?
posted by metasarah at 9:15 AM on March 19, 2016

Thanks for the ideas so far! I like the idea of beer bread, but wouldn't that be more do something quick and sit around? Do you think the beer bread could be used for the buns of the spinach burger patties?
posted by buttonedup at 9:50 AM on March 19, 2016

Sauteed mushrooms would make a great topping for the spinach burgers. Also, sauteed onions.

For knife skills practice, what about a Turkish style salad?
posted by rakaidan at 10:42 AM on March 19, 2016

If you go the condiment route, don't forget mayonnaise, which belongs on all foodburgers.
posted by mattamatic at 10:55 AM on March 19, 2016

You said they'll be roasting potatoes and making a slaw. Can't they make the slaw while the potatoes roast? Or are you having them make a roasted slaw--if so just change the plan to a raw one.
posted by mama casserole at 11:19 AM on March 19, 2016

The beer bread takes a very long time to cook, but biscuits (or cheese/herb-cheese biscuits!) are almost as easy, fast, and at their best fresh out of the oven.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:43 AM on March 19, 2016