News
Nothing coming up for you yet on the job market?
Well, you can have a gourmet meat at home for what you'd spend on a Happy Meal, and it will be a lot healthier.
That's the great thing about these Cooking Matters classes being presented here in town. Generally, they're held at the Mesa County Health Department, but I've been able to stop in and assist at the one currently being presented in the Primary Care Partners building. (I wrote about this here recently, but I find I have to say more!)
This time Chef Wayne Smith prepared Asian Noodles with Peanut Sauce — in minutes!
Mind you, this is a gathering of parents and kids who want to do a better job of preparing healthy meals. Each preceding week of applying the tips they've learned seems to have generated that much more excitement and enthusiasm for the class ahead.
The kids love the chance to be creative in the kitchen.
“I can't wait to see what I'm going to learn next,” said one young cook, as this week's session was about to start.
All you need is a 16 oz. box of whole wheat pasta, 1/4 cup of peanut butter (crunchy or plain), some soy sauce, cider vinegar, a little sugar and a large bag of frozen veggies. (Most likely, you're only minus one or two items!)
It basically takes all of seven minutes!
That's the length of time of pasta cooks. While that's happening, either microwave the veggies (you'll want to have them thawed first) in a little water for 3-5 minutes, or steam them in a rice cooker.
Then mix your sauce: 1/4 cup of peanut butter with 1/2 cup of warm water in a bowl, and to that, stir in 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce, two tablespoons of cider vinegar, and a few teaspoons of sugar.
Drain the veggies and the pasta and mix everything together!
Round out the meal by adding a tossed salad to the menu. (You can save dollars by finding some simple vinegar and oil recipes online, and bypass those dressings on the grocery shelf that list an arm's length of ingredients!)
Another thing I've learned from the Cooking Matters sessions is that kids love to do things with their parents. Not a few parents got the mistaken message when they were young that “nothing is fun if you're not spending money”!
But you can craft a different belief for your children by just preparing meals with them. I see it with my own eyes over at those classes. The kids are getting so much out of the experience, and so are their parents. Learning to cook is just a part of it!
I also like what's being offered to families because it's empowering. They can be creative, they can have fun, and they can eat well but just managing their food money differently.
That's a good message for all of us, because with some small shifts, you can give yourself a virtual pay raise. And if you're looking for work, this kind of family activity can help you operate more like a team.
Mealtime isn't just about eating; it's about nurturing body and soul. I see these Cooking Matters sessions as serving both.
These classes are so popular that there's a waiting list of families to participate. They need volunteers to assist and set up for these classes, which run for six weeks, from 5-7:30 p.m. on the same night each week.
Join me! I've already signed up!
To volunteer, contact Maran Parry, Cooking Matters coordinator, at 970-248-6904.
Well, you can have a gourmet meat at home for what you'd spend on a Happy Meal, and it will be a lot healthier.
That's the great thing about these Cooking Matters classes being presented here in town. Generally, they're held at the Mesa County Health Department, but I've been able to stop in and assist at the one currently being presented in the Primary Care Partners building. (I wrote about this here recently, but I find I have to say more!)
This time Chef Wayne Smith prepared Asian Noodles with Peanut Sauce — in minutes!
Mind you, this is a gathering of parents and kids who want to do a better job of preparing healthy meals. Each preceding week of applying the tips they've learned seems to have generated that much more excitement and enthusiasm for the class ahead.
The kids love the chance to be creative in the kitchen.
“I can't wait to see what I'm going to learn next,” said one young cook, as this week's session was about to start.
All you need is a 16 oz. box of whole wheat pasta, 1/4 cup of peanut butter (crunchy or plain), some soy sauce, cider vinegar, a little sugar and a large bag of frozen veggies. (Most likely, you're only minus one or two items!)
It basically takes all of seven minutes!
That's the length of time of pasta cooks. While that's happening, either microwave the veggies (you'll want to have them thawed first) in a little water for 3-5 minutes, or steam them in a rice cooker.
Then mix your sauce: 1/4 cup of peanut butter with 1/2 cup of warm water in a bowl, and to that, stir in 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce, two tablespoons of cider vinegar, and a few teaspoons of sugar.
Drain the veggies and the pasta and mix everything together!
Round out the meal by adding a tossed salad to the menu. (You can save dollars by finding some simple vinegar and oil recipes online, and bypass those dressings on the grocery shelf that list an arm's length of ingredients!)
Another thing I've learned from the Cooking Matters sessions is that kids love to do things with their parents. Not a few parents got the mistaken message when they were young that “nothing is fun if you're not spending money”!
But you can craft a different belief for your children by just preparing meals with them. I see it with my own eyes over at those classes. The kids are getting so much out of the experience, and so are their parents. Learning to cook is just a part of it!
I also like what's being offered to families because it's empowering. They can be creative, they can have fun, and they can eat well but just managing their food money differently.
That's a good message for all of us, because with some small shifts, you can give yourself a virtual pay raise. And if you're looking for work, this kind of family activity can help you operate more like a team.
Mealtime isn't just about eating; it's about nurturing body and soul. I see these Cooking Matters sessions as serving both.
These classes are so popular that there's a waiting list of families to participate. They need volunteers to assist and set up for these classes, which run for six weeks, from 5-7:30 p.m. on the same night each week.
Join me! I've already signed up!
To volunteer, contact Maran Parry, Cooking Matters coordinator, at 970-248-6904.
