As we look enter spring one needs to look no further than the Department of Parks & Recreation for exciting and affordable programs. The Department has scheduled a number of new programs available in the Recreation Commercial Kitchen that are geared toward various age groups and interests. The Recreation Commercial Kitchen is the newest facility available to Moorestown residents to explore their creative and recreational side.
For children, there are a variety of youth cooking programs scheduled. The Recreation Kitchen is pleased to offer Introduction to Baking (grades 4–6), beginning April 13-May 4. This newest four-week series is geared toward teaching children the finer points and wide variety of baking techniques. The baking program will tackle fun and interesting foods from breads to pizza doughs and more. In addition to her Introduction to Baking, Chef Katie Sklarow will offer Kid-Chef (grades 6–9): Children’s Culinary Cooking. Children can sign up for the whole four-week program or weekly classes individually. The classes will offer an intensive workshop environment on a variety of cooking subjects to include breakfast foods, pizza doughs, kids friendly foods and homemade pastas.
Sklarow is also offering a new series for older students (graes 9–12) called “College Prep Cooking.” Why wait until you are on your own to fudge your way through cooking? This four part series will offer workshops on such subjects as cooking on a budget, first-time entertaining endeavors, comfort foods and nutritious, balanced meals to keep college students healthy and happy. Chef Katie has been cooking and teaching professionally for over 5 years. She worked her way up through local restaurants and graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Culinary Management from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. She loves working with local and sustainable ingredients and sharing her passion with others.
Chef Diane MacFeeters is also filling the Recreation Kitchen with wonderful aromas and foods! From One Day Bread Wonders for adults on April 12, to her Parent and Child Baking Class for grades 2–3, MacFeeters will share her love of wholesome and nutritious breads. Additionally, MacFeeters is offering a four-week bread baking class beginning April 12 for children in grades 4–8. Her extensive knowledge of bread baking and her culinary skills will offer students the opportunity to truly learn the finer points of baking bread. Diane MacFeeters has entered the world of the culinary arts following a distinguished career as an educator. Having retired from the State of NJ, she has continued her own education by becoming Serv Safe Certified. A self-taught baker Diane has mastered yeast breads over 45 years of practice. Diane has a passion for fresh, healthy, whole foods and looks forward to sharing her knowledge with today’s youth.
And finally, the baking duo of Hilton and VanSciver have returned for three more baking workshops called Birthday Sweets and Treats! Each of these one-day workshops will focus on the fun and variety of birthday treats. From cookies and cupcakes to other sweets this dynamic duo will prepare kids to make treats for the whole family. Mr. Hilton and Mr. VanSciver are accomplished bakers having a combined 25 years in restaurant and bakery experience. Their goal is to educate and inspire young bakers to create and enjoy baking on many levels — to learn baking techniques, to understand the science behind successful baking and to gain valuable skills.
So try something new this spring and sign up for one of the many new cooking programs in the Recreation Commercial Kitchen. For more information about these programs and more please visit our website at http://www.moorestown.nj.us/253/Parks-Recreation. What better way to be renewed than with a new set of skills that will be with you forever?
