All About Eggs: Our Second Explorer "Post" Experience

The theme was all about eggs and learning about the art and science of cooking methodology. Chef Kadko explained to our young enthusiastic students basic methods of cooking eggs. Like boiled, half-boiled, and poached.

Then we learned about a special dish, a one pot meal a family can make for a brunch or that can be made in a college dorm room as breakfast.

This is a dish named "Shakshuka" of Middle Eastern origin. It was one of the kids favorite, it tasted as good as it looks, and it was quite easy to make once Chef showed them how to make the base of the shakshuka and how to poach the egg on it.

They also learned how to make frittata with seasonal vegetables, like squash and zucchini, spring onions, green onions, etc. topped with your favorite cheese. Another one pot meal kids can make, great for a bunch, dorm cooking, and family meals.. 

Finally the kids learned how to make the dessert part, where the kids learned how to make a chocolate souffle from scratch, using the finest chocolate.

At the end of the class, everyone enjoyed the dishes they made and their knowledge of how to use eggs was definitely enhanced for the participants.

Our next session will be on nutrition and smart shopping where we will learn about shopping for food ingredients, focused on quality, labeling, nutrition, and seasonal. Taking place at the Whole Foods market in Madison on March 23rd. 

You still have time to signup, and we have a lot more sessions coming up in our program.

To Register Contact: 
Charlean Mahon
C: 973.524.4459
charlean.mahon@scouting.org 
Or Info@PassionforSpices.com
C: 908.380.0644

We can't wait for the next session and we hope to see you there!

Our First Explorer Culinary Experience With Authentic Mexican Food & Culture

Chef Kadko, our culinary educator, started off with a description of the whole menu.

The kids learned how to make authentic tacos from scratch using Masa Harina flour.

They learned how to roast poblano peppers using an indoor smoke-less infrared grill.

And then learned how to make authentic guacamole using the roasted poblanos..

Like the peppers, the chicken was grilled using the smoke-less indoor infrared grill. The addition of the citrus marinade (made with kerala curry spice and toasted cumin) brought out the and enhanced the flavor of the chicken. 

The Chef demonstrated how make the pippian verde sauce by sautéing chayote, onions, and pumpkin seeds in a tasty green sauce that when poured over the chicken made us feel like we were in Mexico. 

One of the participants was a vegan, and we were able to grill the chayote with the spices and served that instead of the chicken. 

At the end of the class, we enjoyed the spread of Mexican delicacies. We are hoping that this was an inspiration for them to cook at home. These recipes are simple and authentic. The next class starts February 23 at the Summit Elks Lodge.

We can't wait for the next session and we hope to see you there!

Culinary Arts Career Explorer for Boy & Girls

Only a Few Days Left To Register for This Culinary Adventure!

With only a few days left, Passion for Spices is gearing up for our Culinary Arts Explorer program. Working together with the Boy Scouts of America, the Explorer Program offers young men and women, aged 11 to 20, the opportunity to explore their passion for food and learn what it means to pursue a career in the culinary arts. 

With the guidance of local professional chefs and exciting field trips to restaurants, farms, and markets, these culinary up-and-comers will experience what it's like to source their own ingredients, work in a professional kitchen, and craft their very own recipes from scratch. 

Take a Peek at just some of the recipes we'll be learning!

• Tacos with Masa Harina
• Mexican Style Grilled Chicken with Pipian Verde Sauce
• Mexican Style Roasted Chayote
• Roasted Poblano Guacomole
• Salsa Mexicana

Our first meeting will be held Thursday, January 26 at 7:00 pm at the Summit Elks Lodge (40 Maple St. Summit). A full schedule of upcoming meetings is below. Contact Charlean Mahon at Charlean.Mahon@scouting.org for Registration Details.

Date	Location	Meeting Focus
Thursday, January 26 7-9pm	Summit Elks Lodge	Mexican Cuisine and Culture
Thursday, February 23 7-9pm	Summit Elks Lodge	Art and Science of Healthy Cooking
Thursday, March 23 7-9pm	TBD, Summit	Nutrition and Smart Shopping
Thursday, April 17 7-9pm	TBD, Summit	Recipes determined by Explorers
Thursday, May 18 7-9pm	TBD, Summit	Recipes determined by Explorers
TBD, June	Green Village Farm, Chatham	Farm-to-Table Exploration

*We can accommodate food allergies/dietary needs. Please contact us if you need special arrangements.

Learning to cook is an important skill and a critical part of our well-being that lasts a lifetime, please help inspire and encourage your kids desires to learn and cook by signing up today!

Do not let this opportunity pass your children by, Register Today!

Passion for Spices is committed to healthy and sustainable living. 

May to be Featured Speaker at upcoming New Jersey Conference

Passion for Spices, May Fridel, will be one to the featured speakers at the upcoming GNJSHFSA’S Annual Fall Conference in New Jersey.

GNJSHFSA  (Greater New Jersey Society for Healthcare Food Service Administrators) will be having their annual conference this November 17th. May will be taking the stage at 1:30pm giving a presentation on how to Spice Up Your Kitchen. She will conduct an interactive presentation on spices with a focus on health and wellness, and how to practically use spices in our kitchens. 

More information on the organization and event can be found on their website HERE

This event also partners with The Community Food Bank of New Jersey, which fights hunger and poverty by distributing food and groceries, providing education and training, and making new programs to help people with low incomes meet their basic needs. 

Passion for Spices Team is gearing up for our 7th Annual Kids Cooking Camp 2016

Count Down, less than a week away...

Want to obtain the elusive “best summer ever” for your kids? One that they will look back on with fond memories of fun and adventure? One that you know will have taught them key life skills and provided them opportunities for learning while never being boring? Then look no further than Around the World Cooking Camp! 

This is no ordinary camp: no matter the prior cooking experience or enthusiasm your child possesses, baking, rolling, stir frying, and especially eating with a series of esteemed specialists will ignite a passion in even the most unwilling participant. During week one, each budding chef will be taken on a journey of taste and culture, learning special recipes and techniques from a variety of cuisines. By Friday, campers will know how to make Fettuccine from scratch, create a spectacular Taco dish, and pronounce the words Gratin Dauphinois (a French dish loosely translated as cheese-potato gratin) with no trouble at all. Your child will experience amazing foods from different cultures and discover bold new flavors, all while having a blast! 

And that’s only the first five days! Week two is an exploration of the ‘Art and Science of Cooking’, during which campers will participate in activities ranging from the baking of Calzones and Stromboli to Whoopie Pies and ice cream sandwiches. The week will end in an amazing field trip to the Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills, where the kids will get to picnic on a private estate while learning about the magic of beekeeping and Chicken farming. 

Ever been to a Farm to Table restaurant? The campers will get to learn all about sustainable eating and cooking during week three, as they are introduced to the art of pressing herbs, making Baba Ganoush and Eggplant Napoleon from Asian and Italian eggplants, utilizing garden-grown veggies as pizza toppings, and making Sicilian Watermelon Pudding. Over this three week period, your child will be introduced to brand new cuisines and recipes, learning cooking skills that will stay with him or her forever! 

Above you will notice an example of the Mexican Taco Workshop the kids so eagerly enjoyed.  They had the opportunity to produce their own dough and tortillas, while also formulating the proper fillings for their tacos.  The tacos were of many varieties, as they satisfied the needs of the average vegetarian, the meat lover, and even the fish fans.  

If the amazing dishes the campers will be preparing don’t already hook you, there are some other amazing aspects of the camp you should be made aware of. For instance, several professional chefs (including a chef who specializes in Roman cuisine) will be coming to educate the campers and teach them the tricks of the trade. Additionally, they will be cooking with the best ingredients available: campers will be using nothing but local fresh/organic vegetables and all-natural materials. 

To make sure that your child is able to experience all of this amazing culture and cuisine, sign up now! ‘Around the World’ week starts on August 1st, and spots are filling up quickly. In addition, spread the word to others who might be interested, as we want to see tons of new faces this year!