Just before break, we had another parent visit the classroom as a guest cook at CHP. Originally from Libya, Sara wanted to cook a traditional and healthy Libyan snack for the children. As a literacy component to our cooking program, the children write the name of the food being cooked for the “What’s cooking” sign, that greets families as they drop their children off at school. They wrote FALAFEL and VEGETABLE BREAD.
The children looked at a map of Africa and found Libya. Sara showed the children where she is from, the Green Mountains by the Mediterranean Sea. One child exclaimed, “I didn’t know Libya was in Africa!”
Sara brought in the batter for falafel and dough for veggie rolls already mixed. She and the children worked in stages to prepare the meal. The dough had to cook the longest, so we made it first. For this part, the children were excited to use the best kitchen tool, their hands!
The children dipped their hands in flour before rolling vegetable roll dough, to keep it from sticking.
Next came the falafel. The children utilized spoons to form the batter into small patties.
While Sara fried the falafel in oil, the children moved to stage three. We made the sauce to complete the meal, a lemon white bean dip with garden fresh parsley. The children followed the recipe and used tools such as can openers, measuring cups and food processor to complete this step.
As always, cooking affords the opportunity for new vocabulary. We used measuring terms like a pinch, splash and crank (for the salt and pepper mills).
After, the children helped clean up by collecting aprons, spraying tables, bussing dishes and putting ingredients away.
Snack time was delicious. The majority of children tried the food and many asked for seconds and thirds. Sara’s two daughters sat proudly, as the children ate and talked about cooking the delicious snack!
Thank you Sara!
Evan said he loved the falafel!