Towards the front of the b-wing, there is a room, filled to the brim with stoves and ovens, countertops, pots and pans. In this room students are hard at work creating all sorts of treats and goodies, with the instructions of a stoic John Stowers, where juniors and seniors go for the one-semester Foods and Nutrition course dedicated to teaching them how to make healthy and delicious meals with a few treats on the side.
The course starts with a basic introduction to the fundamentals of cooking: sanitation, knife skills, measurements, etc. It then goes into detailed units on different kinds of foods such as dairy, beans, seeds, fruits, and more. And what’s more? Two to three times a week, students get to bring samples home and share their delicious creations with their families.
The recipes range from sesame noodles to snickerdoodle cookies. They typically take two to three days to create. “Day one we start mixing the ingredients, then place them in the fridge overnight and spend the next day or so baking them,” Stowers said. It is structured that way so that they can better accommodate the steps into 45 minute class periods.
The overall goal is that students will be able to know how to cook for themselves and others. The class also offers cuisines from a diverse range of cultures. However, those looking for a career in the food industry will have to look to CLC’s tech campus.
The most important part is learning to cook and enjoying it. “My favorite recipe,” Stowers shared, “is anything except the desserts. I enjoy many of the healthy meals and regular foods.” However, the most important part is that students leave the class with a repertoire of recipes comprehensive enough to cook and provide themselves with a balanced, healthy lifestyle in the future.
