Cooking Camp - Day 7

Day of the big "Final Exam".  We kept the day pretty simple - kids were on their own for breakfast, and they just made soups for lunch from leftovers.

Students then had the rest of the day to prepare their chosen dish for the final exam judging.  First course - appetizer.  Robert made Chicken Poppers.  He pounded chicken breast and cut it into strips which he then topped with ground ham and cheese.  All this was then rolled in bacon and cooked in a skillet.  Yes, they were as yummy as they sound.

Second course - entree.  Jack chose a tough dish - manicotti.  His prepared his Meaty Manicotti with care and diligence and managed to stuff his pasta without breaking them.

Second course - side dish.  Kyndall sliced 4 pounds of potatoes and made a creamy sauce for her White Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes.  This was served with the manicotti and some vegetables cooked by the Master Chefs.

Although she is fully clothed, Kyndall's strapless top made us label this photo
"Naked Chef".

Last course - dessert.  Skye worked hard all afternoon on her Classic Red Velvet Cake.  But then she got to relax while the others were putting together their dishes closer to serving time.

The Master Chefs took the judging very seriously and followed pre-determined standards for planning and preparation, following the recipe, cooking techniques, appearance and presentation, and taste, texture, and flavor.  By a narrow margin, Jack won the competition due to his precision, well-prepared recipe notes, and garnish for not only the pan but also for each individual serving.  We were very proud of all of our students for tackling a new recipe by themselves.  It was a delicious competition.

We added up how many different dishes we prepared this week.  Anyone want to guess?
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .

more than 20. . .

. . .
. . .
. . .

getting closer. . .

. . .
. . .

49!
  
After dinner, the students surprised the Master Chefs with a thank you card and gifts.  This was really appreciated and almost made us cry.  The beautiful serving bowls will make a nice addition to our kitchen collection.