Newtown Middle School Students Get Cooking

By Laurie Borst

Thanks to a grant that Newtown Youth Services and the Newtown Prevention Council received, students at Newtown Middle School have had the opportunity to learn cooking skills. Thursday afternoons, the students met with health teacher Annmarie Lohan for a couple hours of culinary exploration. Home economics teacher Roseann Beck helped out.

The after-school program began in late January and finished March 8. Each week, a different type of cuisine was introduced. The first week they met, the young people got hands-on with an Asian theme, learning to make steamed dumplings, pork wontons, and fried rice.

The following week, the theme was everybody’s favorite — chocolate. Students baked chocolate cupcakes, frosted them with chocolate icing, and dipped bananas, chocolate, and pretzels in chocolate. Ms Lohan explained the use of a double boiler and stressed the need to keep the chocolate at the correct temperature.

One week focused on baking, another on Mexican cuisine. Two weeks were devoted to Italian cooking.

Italian cooking wrapped up the course. Students prepared lasagna-style baked ziti with turkey meatballs and sauce and garlic bread.

Approximately 15 students attended the class each week. Composed mainly of young women, a few young men came out each week.

“I like cooking,” said eighth grader Mike Reyen, who hopes to study culinary arts at Abbott Tech. “I’ve learned lots of new skills.”

Linnea Pearson would like to own a bakery some day. She says she bakes at home all the time. For Christmas, she received a class at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.

Connor Pineau loves to cook. His parents recently opened Katharine’s Kitchen in Sandy Hook, he reported. He wanted to learn more about cooking so he can help out.

Friends Kaitlyn Kakadeles, Allie Jones, Linnea Pearson, Jane Ellen Anderson, and Taylor Daniels like getting together at each others’ homes to cook. They took the course to improve their skills.

“I’ve learned what’s parsley and what isn’t,” said Jane Ellen.

“The kids were awesome,” said Ms Lohan. “They are so enthusiastic.

“There were no safety issues,” she added. “They’ve had Mrs Beck for two years. They are aware, they watch out for each other.”

All the students heartily endorsed the course, recommending students try it if the program is offered again next year.