Cooking with Chefs
Season Three
Chef de Cuisine Education Foundation and team are providing educational information only. This information does not replace the advice of your medical doctor. If you have specific healthcare or medical questions, please reach out to your own health care team.
Warning: Knives are inherently dangerous tools and are used at your own risk.
Parent supervision is required when using any knife. If you choose to use a metal knife, you do so at your own risk. Until you have learned cutting skills and develop comfort with knives, parents need to be involved in all cutting exercises.
Welcome!
We will prepare great tasting, nutritious food and have fun learning about new recipes, new cooking techniques, and what chefs do in the kitchen to keep everyone happy and safe.
Clean Hands, Clean Kitchen
It all starts with clean hands, clean clothes, clean hair, clean everything! That is important because the germs that cause illness are everywhere.
We will learn the right way to wash hands, keep prep and cooking areas clean, how to a knife, a stovetop, an oven and more.
Get Organized
Always read the recipes at least twice. Collect and organize all the ingredients and equipment you need from measuring spoons to saucepans and knives before you get started.
Chefs spend time preparing before they make the first cut or start to cook. To make cooking faster and easier, you must have good knife skills. And you can only get good by practicing!
Read the lessons, watch the videos, and practice. You will see your skill, speed and confidence grow. But always respect your knife, keep it sharp and handle it carefully at all times.
Skills Over Recipes
You might see some of the recipes and think, "I don't need a lesson to make that!" But! Remember, the goal is to learn good culinary techniques to sharpen chef skills.
If you do not learn the proper techniques, you will find yourself stuck later when there are more advanced menu items.
Remember, it is not about learning recipes. It is about learning techniques and food combinations that work together create exciting dishes.
About Your Assignments
You will follow up each episode with a little bit of fun homework.
Snap some photos!
Time in the kitchen is about de-stressing, having fun, challenging yourself, and nourishing your mind, body, and soul. Our hope is that you find great pride in your efforts after each lesson. We also want you to learn and grow! Take a photo of your recipes and share them with the group. After each episode, you'll be talking with your group about what went well and where you were challenged.
Want something extra for fun?
Upload your photos or videos to Instagram and tag @sdchefsdecuisine
or email them to cwc@sdchefs.org
Chef's Reflections
Chefs take notes! Each experience in the kitchen will provide you with wins and some fails. Writing down what you liked and where you can improve will expand your chef skills and guide you toward your own culinary creations. Start a chef's journal, You'll continue to use it years from now.
Ask yourself questions like:
What worked well with each recipe?
What would you change next time?
How can you make the recipe your own while still keeping it healthy?
Share your Weekly Wow!
After each episode you’ll be prompted to write about something that struck you in the video. Maybe it was something the chef said or an idea for how you can improve the look, or the texture or the taste of your dish.
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Are you ready to get cooking?
Let's Cook!
Episode 1 (February 28):
In this episode you’ll learn several different styles of cuts with your knife. Be sure to watch the video carefully before attempting your recipe!
We will be preparing Tomato Bruschetta and Mushroom Bruschetta together.
Episode 2 (March 14):
In this episode, you’re getting spicy! We’ve got 10 different herbs and spices that you’ll combine to make a soup inspired by traditional Vietnamese Pho. Be sure to watch the video because you’ll probably be using some strange looking ingredients you’ve never seen before!
Episode 3 (April 11):
In this episode, you’re in the kitchen creating healthy snacks. You’ll learn about a special fiber packed seed and use a heart healthy grain two different ways. We think you’ll love showing off these simple creations to your family and friends.
Episode 4 (April 25):
In this episode, you’ll learn several ways to cut vegetables along with different cooking techniques. Your recipe will give you a Healthy Plate and a customizable creation!
Episode 5: (May 16)
Get ready for your first lesson in bread making! It takes time to prepare the perfect dough, however stick with it and be patient because you’ll end with a special treat. You think mall pretzels are good? Wait until you make your own in this week’s episode!