New recipe for junior cooking classes

A PROGRAM aimed at teaching kids the basics of cooking is returning over the school holidays.

Run out of the Meredith Community Centre and funded by VicHealth, the free Mini Masterchefs workshops are set to take place on six days this month.

The upcoming sessions will see the program delivered across two separate age groups for the first time, which coordinator Jen Jones said will streamline the events.

“Before this I ran the one group each class, but I’m finding there’s a lot of littlies that really want to help in the kitchen,” she said.

“I’ve simplified the recipes and skillsets for them. It really streamlines it for me at least and also allows a better quality for both groups.

“It’s easier to split them and I get to spend a lot more time with each, and it means more kids can sign up for this.

“One group is the eight to 10-year-olds and the other is the 11 to 16-year-olds.”

Throughout the six days, the senior sessions will run from 10.30am to 12.30am after which the junior classes will run from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

This term will see participants making pork and vegetable dumplings, zucchini fritters and apple strudel.

Having also taught art classes at the Meredith Community Centre, Ms Jones said she felt she was able to expand her teaching.

“I love cooking and I usually cook with my grandchildren and saw a need for this sort of thing,” she said. “It’s what I’m passionate about and it comes through in my teaching.

“I get a lot of repeat kids and they bring their siblings or friends, so it’s amazing how much this has grown from word-of-mouth.

“This will teach them basic cooking skills and safety. I try to teach a range of different skills. The classes will be about steaming then frying then baking.”

The first week’s sessions will run from Wednesday, 12 to Friday, 14 April followed by the following week’s sessions from Wednesday, 19 to Friday, 21 April.

To book, call Ms Jones on 0408 461 559 or email [email protected].