Name: The Culinary Playground
Address: 16 Manning St, Derry, NH, 03038
Telephone: 603-339-1664
Price range: $

3-5 year old Cooking Class Schedule

Cooking Classes for Kids Preschoolers - Age 3 - 6, Children at this age are curious and eager to get into the action, making this an ideal age to get kids involved in the kitchen. Although we consider these classes to be "parent-assisted", we ask parents for minimal assistance, if any, instead encouraging even the youngest kids to take initiative as we introduce concepts like kitchen safety, basic measurement and teamwork. We also stress academic skills of counting, color, shapes and following directions. Specifically, we aim to teach important cooking skills such as mixing, pouring, wrapping, shaking, spreading, peeling, rolling and mashing, although measuring, cutting, grinding and grating can all be part of the curriculum. Once a month we offer a one hour class for budding chefs in the 3-6 year old age group. We prepare a single recipe, usually with 2-3 servings, and do a craft or read a book while we wait for it to cook. Classes are limited to 6 students. We also schedule private classes for Mom's Groups and Preschools who have at least 6 children. Classes are 1 hour in length and $16/child.

Butternut Squash Lasagna Roll Ups

Friday January 16th (10am and 1pm), Saturday January 17th (10am and 11:30am). Sweet butternut squash and gooey cheese paired with pasta makes a comforting mid-winter's meal that little taste buds will enjoy!

Valentine Cookie Decorating

Friday February 13th (10am and 1pm), Saturday February 14th (10am and 11:30am), Sunday February 22nd (11am-12pm) - PRIVATE Class for Jennifer & Friends. Kids will LOVE making their own icing and decorating Valentine sugar cookies!

Maple Syrup Granola

Friday March 13th (10am and 1pm), Saturday March 14th (10am and 11:30am). It's maple syrup season in NH! We will put this local delicacy to good use in our simply tasty homemade granola...perfect to have with milk, yogurt or all by itself.

Carrot Patch Pudding Cups

Friday April 3rd (10am and 1pm), Saturday April 4th (10am and 11:30pm). A sweet treat even the Easter Bunny will love! Rich chocolate pudding, crushed oreos and baby "carrots" poking through the ground!

Cooking Classes for Elementary School Age Kids

It is natural for kids at this age to become intrigued by foods they've never tasted.

In our kids' cooking classes, we give kids a number of reasons why we use a particular ingredient, often times teasing their curiosity. Don't be surprised to see them eating things that you've never fed them, or trying things they have previously disliked!

We focus on recipes that are simple and sensible.

Rather than throwing ourselves into losing battles, we want to set your child up for success, giving them recipes that they can accomplish and relate to. The idea here is to encourage confidence in the kitchen using ingredients they are familiar with. Positive reinforcement comes when they eat something they cook AND it tastes good.

We will stress kitchen safety, discuss eating habits with an assumption that we cook to eat healthy, and build on their previous kitchen experiences.

Participation to encourage counting, following directions and estimating, as well as telling time, applying simple math skill and some reading will also be stressed.

Cooking skills that we will focus on are measuring (weight and volume), cutting, grinding, grating, peeling and separating eggs.

Some kitchen tools we will use are the electric mixer, safety can opener, thermometer, measuring devices.

Cooking Series

Homemade Breads

Wednesdays 5:30 - 7pm - January 14th - February 18th. Bread is a staple in many of our diets and the possibilities in bread variations are endless! This course will highlight a host of breads from sweet to savory as well as experiment with some tasty bread accompaniments! Age 8+ - 6 Week Series - $205.

1/14 - Cinnamon Swirl Bread

1/21 - Brazilian Cheese Bread

1/28 - Naan Bread with Hummus

2/4 - Bagels

2/11 - Sweet Potato Biscuits

with Ham Spread.

2/18 - Scones

Pies

Wednesdays 5:30 - 7pm - November 19th - December 10th. From sweet to savory, we will experiment with a variety of delicious "pies" in this cooking and baking class. Age 8+ , Individual Class - $38, 4 Week Series - $150.

11/19 - Chicken Pot Pie

11/26 - Pumpkin Pie

with Graham Cracker Crust (just in time for Thanksgiving!!).

12/3 - Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Pie

12/10 - Whoopie Pies

Workshops

Sweet Saturday

for kids 6 - 10 years old. Sweet Saturday Individual Classes - $40/each, Sweet Saturday 4 Course Series (Jan - April) - $150.

Monkey Bread

Saturday January 24th (10am-12pm), A bowl of airy dough, split into doughy nuggets, dredged in butter, rolled in cinnamon sugar and baked to perfection. A great lesson in baking basics!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Saturday February 21st (10am-12pm), Sweet pineapple and bright cherries steal the show in this fun to make classic dessert.

Sugar Cookie Stackers

Saturday March 21st (10am-12pm), We will make a batch of our simply sweet sugar cookies, followed by our not-too-sweet frosting filling, then combine the two for a festive sandwich cookie treat!

Easter Basket Cupcakes

Saturday April 18th (10am-12pm), Our basic cupcake recipe will be delicious when topped with homemade butter-cream frosting and decorated into adorable Easter Baskets. A great combination of baking basics and creativity!

Gingerbread Houses!

Make holiday memories as you bring to life your one-of-a-kind creation.

Some Assembly Required

Sunday, December 14th (3:30-5pm), Kid/Adult teams (of no more than 3) will work together to assemble and decorate their own gingerbread house. For Kids 6+ and parent.

(per Team) $55.00

From Scratch

Saturday, December 20th (2-5pm), Kid/Adult teams (of no more than 3) will work together to make, bake, assemble AND decorate their own gingerbread house. For kids age 8+ and parent.

(per Team) $65.00

Cooking Classes for Middle and High School Age

As our students skills expand, we focus on "why" foods are prepared the way they are

what history may exist behind the food or method of cooking and begin creating associations to which the children may relate. Delving into the science of cooking, we teach why food reacts the way it does it different situations and what the best approach is to obtaining the desired results.

While continuing to stress kitchen safety and healthy choices

we will challenge math skills by measurement (weight and volume), reading and understanding directions. Basic chemistry and biology of food reaction will begin to be introduced, such as what makes bread rise or why we choose different temperatures for different foods or methods of cooking.

Many opportunities for experimentation are offered at this level.

Children are encouraged to experience different flavor and texture combinations and put their own spin on recipes. Advanced cutting (including knives suitable for purpose). Some kitchen tools we will use are the electric mixer, safety can opener, thermometer, measuring and cutting devices.

Cooking Series

Homemade Breads

Wednesdays 5:30 - 7pm - January 14th - February 18th. Bread is a staple in many of our diets and the possibilities in bread variations are endless! This course will highlight a host of breads from sweet to savory as well as experiment with some tasty bread accompaniments! Age 8+ - 6 Week Series - $205.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Sweet Potato Biscuits with Ham Spread.

Brazilian Cheese Bread

Naan Bread with Hummus, Bagels, Scones.

Pies

Wednesday 5:30 - 7pm - November 19th - December 10th. From sweet to savory, we will experiment with a variety of delicious "pies" in this cooking and baking class. Age 8+; Individual Classes - $38, 4 Week Series - $150.

11/19 - Chicken Pot Pie

11/26 - Pumpkin Pie

with Graham Cracker Crust (just in time for Thanksgiving!!).

12/3 - Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Pie

12/10 - Whoopie Pies

Workshops

Gingerbread Houses! Make holiday memories as you bring to life your one-of-a-kind creation.

Some Assembly Required

Sunday, December 14th (3:30-5pm), Kid/Adult teams (of no more than 3) will work together to assemble and decorate their own gingerbread house. For Kids 6+ and parent.

(per Team) $55.00

From Scratch

Saturday, December 20th (2-5pm), Kid/Adult teams (of no more than 3) will work together to make, bake, assemble AND decorate their own gingerbread house. For kids age 8+ and parent.

(per Team) $65.00

Tween/Teen Gingerbread House Building

$45.00

Friday, December 19th (6:30-8pm), Kids 10+ will construct and decorate their own gingerbread masterpieces! A fun night of festive music, hot cocoa, LOTS of candy and FRIENDS. Kids only!

Cooking Classes for Homeschoolers

Our cooking classes for homeschoolers are specifically designed to supplement any educational model! Our classes are hands on and focus on recipe reading and interpretation, kitchen safety, ingredient information and preparation, and kitchen tools. Our goal is to give kids a positive kitchen experience while exposing them to new foods and flavor combinations. Classes are open to kids 5-12 years old. 6 week series - $120.

MENU - Winter Favorites

Mondays 10:30-11:30am, 6 week series - January 26th - March 2nd. Snacks, Meals, Sides and Sweets featuring seasonal favorites.

Adult Cooking Partiesteam Building Events.

Rates are $450 for the first 6 guests and $65 each additional guest up to a maximum of 12. Parties are 2 1/2 hours with ample time to cook and eat. Our reservation system will collect a $100 deposit at the time of booking. A final headcount is needed 5 days prior to party with the balance due on the day of the p arty.

You're never too old to play with your food

Whether you consider yourself the ultimate foodie or are too often the brunt of the "burn water" jokes, we like to think we can help. The Culinary Playground offers all kinds of cooking classes for adults and kids. No matter what your skill level, however, our philosophy remains the same. Cooking should be fun!

These adult cooking parties are just that- FUN!

A team of your friends, a bottle of wine (maybe?), a delicious menu, a knowledgeable instructor and you're cooking, you're eating and you're laughing... We call THAT a party! Choose one of our menus or drop us a note and we'll customize one for you!

Persian Exploration

The region formerly known has Persia offers some light, refreshing flavors that always leave me licking my lips. The Cucumber-Pomegranate Salad starter of this menu is a perfect example. Bright with fresh pomegranate and cucumber, tangy lemon and creamy feta, it is an unusual combination that sings in your mouth. We'll also learn to cook oven-baked Persian Tilapia with specialty spices indigenous to that area. A little Sweet Potato Puree and seasonal vegetables and a divine finish of Black Rice Pudding are the perfect accompaniment and provide a wide variety of cooking skills and geographic conversation. And wait until you taste the quick Naan bread~ the flat bread recipe that should be in every cook's back pocket. A cooking class for everyone- the skills challenge and the iron-chef ready.

Make Mine Moroccan

Is it the vast array of spices in this menu or the bright colors and textures that make our mouths water every time someone asks about it? Not quite sure it matters, but one thing for sure is that this is food you will crave and recipes you will revisit time and time again. Moroccan Spiced Chicken is coated in the famous Ras El Hanout spice blend, which we make ourselves, and roasted over a bed of lemon slices with garlic. We teach you to serve it with a Chickpea puree and a colorful Roasted Vegetable side dish that nearly steals the show. Although desserts aren't common in Morocco, we'll tempt your taste buds with fruit from that region, roasted and served drizzled with honey and sprinkled with chopped nuts and dates. Simply divine! (Thinking of a different kind of bachelorette party? This menu gives us ample material to laugh with. It's amazing how much fun a bunch of women can have with raw meat.- Makes a perfectly suitable menu for the slightly more serious, too.).

Eat, Pray, Love

If you read the popular best-seller with as much interest as we did, you were hanging on every blessed description of...THE FOOD, of course! As the holidays approach, this menu is great for entertaining, as it consists entirely of appetizers from each of the country's in Elizabeth's journey. Of course, who could forget the scene in the movie where Julia Robert's indulges in cheesy- heaven in the form of Neapolitan pizza? We'll borrow the idea in little Pizzettes. Using the same dough, we'll also steal the Asparagus, Egg, Ham and Potato Salad for little Turnovers that with a lovely flavor both from the pure culinary indulgence of Italy. When we pass through India we'll grab a little protein with Indian Spiced Chicken. Tumeric, Cumin, Coriander and Curry are all used to season chicken cubes in a rich sour cream sauce- excellent for serving on picks! Finally, we'll end the show with Shrimp Knots with Balinese Dipping Sauce and Indonesian Pork Satay. Each of these countries offers a huge assortment of vegetarian options, too. Please ask!

Totally Thai

Full of amazing flavor, each element of this menu offers tips and tricks for making amazing dinners mid-week when you are no less hungry, but more hurried. Sweet Thai Green Chili is quick to prepare, but a delectable combination of both sweet and spicy that tantalizes us on the coldest of Winter nights here in New Hampshire. Truly a cooking class full of fun and deliciousness, we'll learn to make Oven-Baked Rice, how to truly enjoy a Thai Green Eggplant (not what you're thinking) and coax a wonderful, rich stock from the shells of shrimp to make Tom Yum Koong- this simple shrimp soup that is beautiful to present, delicious to slurp and surprisingly low in both fat and calories.

Magical Ravioli

There must be a thousand ways to prepare ravioli. This cooking class will touch the tip of the iceberg as we work in teams to make Fresh Pasta Dough, fillings and sauces for some of our favorite ravioli recipes. Butternut Squash Ravioli is perfect for the Fall, especially with Brown Butter Sage Sauce. Artichoke and Goat Cheese Ravioli with Fresh Tomato Sauce (wait until you see how deliciously easy this is! Your guests won't believe you when you told them you made it from scratch!) We mustn't forget Chicken and Cheese Ravioli with Pesto Cream Sauce in this amazing cooking class, either. Lots of ideas for recipes we won't have time to make, too! Rather have it dairy free? We can do that. Feeling more like a vegetarian? We can do that, too.

Friday Night Dinner Out

Some times it is the comfortable food of a good ole' New England Friday night out, that is the only thing that is going to excite your palate. For those cooking classes, we reach for mom's cookbook and teach you Baked Stuffed Shrimp with a simple bread stuffing; French Onion Soup that is rich and flavorful, and dripping with melted cheese; and Roasted Mixed Vegetables in Vinaigrette that will have you rubbing your stomach in awe at the deliciousness of brussel sprouts? Yup- you heard us! At this time of year we like to take advantage of them and show you how amazing they can actually be. Since we're feeling all warm and comfortable, why not finish with a rich Bread Pudding with a few chopped apples and some raisins and a wonderful Cider Sauce. Can't believe you can cook all this? We'll demystify the recipes one after another. Next Friday night? Your family is going to want to eat in!

Fifty Shades of Grey

The titillating book series inspires a tantalizing menu of "preludes"...We'll keep you and your friends giggling with a complete menu of "firsts"- first courses, that is! A very adult cooking class of delicious appetizers, perfect for serving throughout the holidays. Cuffed Shrimp are securely wrapped in bacon; Vanilla Sweet Potato Bites are anything other than plain and Crisp Asparagus Straws will surely raise an eyebrow or two, as will Master's Nuts. We can't transport you to Seattle via Charlie Tango, but we can certainly transform your average week into a fun food adventure. Bring a bottle of wine and 5 of your friends, or a pitcher of gin and tonics and this will surely be a cooking class you won't forget.

Special Gatherings & Team Building

Special menus for special events! $75/person. Minimum of 6 guests -Maximum of 20.

Italian Small Bites

Mini Manicotti

Crostini-Broccoli Rabe, cannellini beans and creamy ricotta

Caprese Skewers drizzled with a balsamic reduction or pesto sauce

Mini Cannoli's

Asian Small Plates

Beef or Chicken Satay

with peanut dipping sauce.

Baked Crab Rangoon

Baked Spring Rolls

Chocolate Mango Mousse

New England Appetizers

Maple, pecan baked brie

Blue cheese, pear and cranberry tartlets

Spicy pumpkin seeds

Cranberry lemon bars

Winter Party Appetizers

Cinnamon Roll Popcorn

Spicy apple cheese dip

Spicy shrimp and crab ceviche

Mini mushroom and goat cheese tartlets

kids cooking parties

Our kids' cooking birthday party adventures

A cooking party is the perfect way to celebrate the birthday of a young food lover or cook.

Not only does a cooking birthday party provide an unbeatable, hands-on activity to entertain the kids, but the event culminates in a delectably edible ending!

Located just 1 mile off I-93, our Kitchen Studio is the perfect birthday party place to host your child's big day.

Kids turning 5 and up will find age-appropriate skills in cooking classes that will have them licking their lips.

Included in our Birthday Parties

Two hour party in our studio with time to cook, eat and celebrate!

Choose from 8 different menus

Aprons for each guest to wear for cooking

All food and party supplies

Customized party invitations emailed to you

Rates

For up to 10 Kids

$240.00

some menus have an additional $25 fee.

Each additional child

$20.00

Quality Cloth Party Hats

For each guest $6.00

Chef Coat and Pants for the birthday child

(per Set) $40.00

Adult Cooking Parties Team Building Events

Rates are $450 for the first 6 guests and $65 each additional guest up to a maximum of 12.

You're never too old to play with your food

Whether you consider yourself the ultimate foodie or are too often the brunt of the "burn water" jokes, we like to think we can help. The Culinary Playground offers all kinds of cooking classes for adults and kids. No matter what your skill level, however, our philosophy remains the same. Cooking should be fun!

These adult cooking parties are just that- FUN!

A team of your friends, a bottle of wine (maybe?), a delicious menu, a knowledgeable instructor and you're cooking, you're eating and you're laughing... We call THAT a party! Choose one of our menus or drop us a note and we'll customize one for you!

Persian Exploration

The region formerly known has Persia offers some light, refreshing flavors that always leave me licking my lips. The Cucumber-Pomegranate Salad starter of this menu is a perfect example. Bright with fresh pomegranate and cucumber, tangy lemon and creamy feta, it is an unusual combination that sings in your mouth. We'll also learn to cook oven-baked Persian Tilapia with specialty spices indigenous to that area. A little Sweet Potato Puree and seasonal vegetables and a divine finish of Black Rice Pudding are the perfect accompaniment and provide a wide variety of cooking skills and geographic conversation. And wait until you taste the quick Naan bread~ the flat bread recipe that should be in every cook's back pocket. A cooking class for everyone- the skills challenge and the iron-chef ready.

Make Mine Moroccan

Is it the vast array of spices in this menu or the bright colors and textures that make our mouths water every time someone asks about it? Not quite sure it matters, but one thing for sure is that this is food you will crave and recipes you will revisit time and time again. Moroccan Spiced Chicken is coated in the famous Ras El Hanout spice blend, which we make ourselves, and roasted over a bed of lemon slices with garlic. We teach you to serve it with a Chickpea puree and a colorful Roasted Vegetable side dish that nearly steals the show. Although desserts aren't common in Morocco, we'll tempt your taste buds with fruit from that region, roasted and served drizzled with honey and sprinkled with chopped nuts and dates. Simply divine! (Thinking of a different kind of bachelorette party? This menu gives us ample material to laugh with. It's amazing how much fun a bunch of women can have with raw meat.- Makes a perfectly suitable menu for the slightly more serious, too.).

Eat, Pray, Love

If you read the popular best-seller with as much interest as we did, you were hanging on every blessed description of...THE FOOD, of course! As the holidays approach, this menu is great for entertaining, as it consists entirely of appetizers from each of the country's in Elizabeth's journey. Of course, who could forget the scene in the movie where Julia Robert's indulges in cheesy- heaven in the form of Neapolitan pizza? We'll borrow the idea in little Pizzettes. Using the same dough, we'll also steal the Asparagus, Egg, Ham and Potato Salad for little Turnovers that with a lovely flavor both from the pure culinary indulgence of Italy. When we pass through India we'll grab a little protein with Indian Spiced Chicken. Tumeric, Cumin, Coriander and Curry are all used to season chicken cubes in a rich sour cream sauce- excellent for serving on picks! Finally, we'll end the show with Shrimp Knots with Balinese Dipping Sauce and Indonesian Pork Satay. Each of these countries offers a huge assortment of vegetarian options, too. Please ask!

Totally Thai

Full of amazing flavor, each element of this menu offers tips and tricks for making amazing dinners mid-week when you are no less hungry, but more hurried. Sweet Thai Green Chili is quick to prepare, but a delectable combination of both sweet and spicy that tantalizes us on the coldest of Winter nights here in New Hampshire. Truly a cooking class full of fun and deliciousness, we'll learn to make Oven-Baked Rice, how to truly enjoy a Thai Green Eggplant (not what you're thinking) and coax a wonderful, rich stock from the shells of shrimp to make Tom Yum Koong- this simple shrimp soup that is beautiful to present, delicious to slurp and surprisingly low in both fat and calories.

Magical Ravioli

There must be a thousand ways to prepare ravioli. This cooking class will touch the tip of the iceberg as we work in teams to make Fresh Pasta Dough, fillings and sauces for some of our favorite ravioli recipes. Butternut Squash Ravioli is perfect for the Fall, especially with Brown Butter Sage Sauce. Artichoke and Goat Cheese Ravioli with Fresh Tomato Sauce (wait until you see how deliciously easy this is! Your guests won't believe you when you told them you made it from scratch!) We mustn't forget Chicken and Cheese Ravioli with Pesto Cream Sauce in this amazing cooking class, either. Lots of ideas for recipes we won't have time to make, too! Rather have it dairy free? We can do that. Feeling more like a vegetarian? We can do that, too.

Friday Night Dinner Out

Some times it is the comfortable food of a good ole' New England Friday night out, that is the only thing that is going to excite your palate. For those cooking classes, we reach for mom's cookbook and teach you Baked Stuffed Shrimp with a simple bread stuffing; French Onion Soup that is rich and flavorful, and dripping with melted cheese; and Roasted Mixed Vegetables in Vinaigrette that will have you rubbing your stomach in awe at the deliciousness of brussel sprouts? Yup- you heard us! At this time of year we like to take advantage of them and show you how amazing they can actually be. Since we're feeling all warm and comfortable, why not finish with a rich Bread Pudding with a few chopped apples and some raisins and a wonderful Cider Sauce. Can't believe you can cook all this? We'll demystify the recipes one after another. Next Friday night? Your family is going to want to eat in!

Fifty Shades of Grey

The titillating book series inspires a tantalizing menu of "preludes"...We'll keep you and your friends giggling with a complete menu of "firsts"- first courses, that is! A very adult cooking class of delicious appetizers, perfect for serving throughout the holidays. Cuffed Shrimp are securely wrapped in bacon; Vanilla Sweet Potato Bites are anything other than plain and Crisp Asparagus Straws will surely raise an eyebrow or two, as will Master's Nuts. We can't transport you to Seattle via Charlie Tango, but we can certainly transform your average week into a fun food adventure. Bring a bottle of wine and 5 of your friends, or a pitcher of gin and tonics and this will surely be a cooking class you won't forget.

Special Gatherings & Team Building

Special menus for special events! $75/person. Minimum of 6 guests - Maximum of 20.

Italian Small Bites

Mini Manicotti

Crostini-Broccoli Rabe, cannellini beans and creamy ricotta

Caprese Skewers drizzled

with a balsamic reduction or pesto sauce.

Mini Cannoli's

Asian Small Plates

Beef or Chicken Satay

with peanut dipping sauce.

Baked Crab Rangoon

Baked Spring Rolls

Chocolate Mango Mousse

New England Appetizers

Maple, pecan baked brie

Blue cheese, pear and cranberry tartlets

Spicy pumpkin seeds

Cranberry lemon bars

Winter Party Appetizers

Cinnamon Roll Popcorn

Spicy apple cheese dip

Spicy shrimp and crab ceviche

Mini mushroom and goat cheese tartlets

Private - Parties

Private Classes for Non-Profit Entities

We have had the pleasure of hosting private classes for all ages of girl and boy scouts, private schools for children with special needs and summer camp programs. Who doesn't love to cook and bake; laugh and learn? Our aim is to have so much fun cooking and learning together that your kids will want to come back often!

Our private classes are scheduled as one and a half hour cooking classes where we cover two recipes.

Each child prepares his own food and the children each leave with 2-4 servings of each recipe.

Choose from the menu suggestions below or drop us a note to ask us to create a menu to meet your specific needs.

Minimum class size is 8, Maximum is 16.

Costs are $24/student for 10 or less students (minimum of 8) and $22/student for 11 or more students (maximum of 16).

Main

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Although our ingredients don't exactly fall from the sky, you are sure to fall in love with the wonderful recipes for Spaghetti and Meatballs in this kids cooking class. We'll learn to cook noodles, create our own meatballs in sauce from scratch and even decorate adorable Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcakes for a sweet ending. Suitable for kids ages 5 and up, fun for kids of all ages.

Twilight

Without stalking the forest, we'll teach you to prepare a thirst quenching meal in your very own domain. A fun kids cooking class inspired by the vampire series that swept the nation, we'll begin by cooking Tasty Tomato Blood Soup* just to whet your appetite. Of course, garlic is a mortal's best defense, so we've built in Garlicky Cheese Focaccia, too. Whether you consider yourself team Edward or not, this cooking class is sure to tempt your taste buds. *A tomato-based noodle soup that is bright with flavor. Best suited for kids ages 9 and up and roughly 10 students, due to the nature of the class.

Hip To Be Square

Brownies are one of our best recipes for teaching weight vs. volume, but they are also one of our favorites because they are so YUMMY! We'll learn to bake Fudgy Brownies, which we cut in squares, of course, but this kids' cooking class is way more than just that. We'll also make Cheesy Lasagna which is deliciousness, squared!

Copy Cat Diner

Somewhere around age 10, kids start to get very creative in the kitchen. They have enough years of eating behind them to have some experience, and are often imaginative with the foods they make for themselves. We like to frame that creativity by giving them a track to run on and some really cool recipes to play with. This cooking class pairs two recipes that are perfect for capturing that creativity and harnessing it for the betterment of eggs. Cradled Eggs are a little bit toast, a little bit egg, reminiscent of quiche but more playful. We'll pair these little gems with Creative Cheesecake made in little cupcake-sized servings and more suited to the creative genius in us all. Suitable for kids ages 9 and up.

Seasonal Favorites

Menus inspired by the New England's Seasons. Suitable for all ages.

Fall

An apple a day makes great...Thanksgiving Meatloaf (with ground turkey and chopped apple) and Apple Crisp.

Winter

Hearty Chicken Stew and Buttermilk Biscuits teach us a bit about science, a lot about yummy.

Spring

Nothing says "Cinco de Mayo" like Mexican Stuffed Shells (sort of like a taco, only cooler) and Mexican Chocolate Cake.

Summer

Maple Barbecued Chicken and Strawberry Shortcake and you'll be walking on sunshine.

The World is Flat

Suitable for all ages. Gather a group of kids together and ask them what they'd like to cook and guess what they say? You got it. Pizza! Their eyes light up and the world is suddenly more...flat! Whether you aim to spark their imaginations with Pick-Your-Toppings Pizza, or introduce a culinary world they are not yet familiar with with two of our signature pizzas*, The entire kids cooking class will be well-rounded and fun for everyone. Choose two:

Bacon, Apple and Spinach Pizza with Cheddar

Breakfast Pizza

Dessert Pizza

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Choose Your Toppings Pizza

School Vacation Classes

Cooking classes are an excellent choice to add to the repetoire of activities your child will partake in during school vacations. The benefits of kids learning to cook are too numerous to list ~ but here are a few we know to be true.

Gaining confidence in the kitchen will serve your child throughout his/her life.

Many adults shy away from cooking because its outside their comfort zone. They feel they don't have the skills to be successful and they fear disaster. Getting kids in the kitchen early on takes the mystery out of food and its preparation. They are able to experiment in a safe, supportive environment and learn valuable lessons such as "there is no use crying over spilled milk"!

If they make it, they are more likely to try it.

Picky eaters beware! We have deciphered the recipe to expand your palate. No kid can resist the temptation to try a dish he has cultivated and nurtured. Part two of this is if they make it, it will be healthier. There is no denying that food made from scratch with real ingredients is more nutritious and less chemically laden than most anything they will consume out of a box or bag.

Cooking and baking are practical applications of "school".

Whether using comprehension skills to read a recipe, math skills to alter quantities in a recipe or the scientific method to predict outcomes of their culinary endeavors - cooking gives kids a use for that knowledge they think is useless.

February Break Camp Days

MA - Feb 17th-19th (10am - 12pm), NH - Feb 24th-26th (10am - 12pm); Individual Camp Days - $42/day, February Break Camp Series - $120.

Tuesday - Mexican Fiesta

Build Your Own Quesadilla, Fresh Salsa and Mexican Chocolate Cake.

Wednesday - Hawaiian Luau

Fruit Salad with Sweet Dipping Sauce and Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs.

Thursday - Italian Take-Out

Stromboli with Marinara Dipping Sauce and Italian Anise Cookies.

Winter Break Camp Days

Individual Camp Days - $42/day, Winter Break Camp Series - $120.

Monday 12/29 (10am-12pm) - New Year's Sweet Treats

Stained Glass Star Cookies and Oreo Truffles.

Tuesday 12/30 (10am-12pm) - New Year's Eve Appetizers

Chicken Taco Cups & Pepperoni Pizza Dip.

Wednesday 12/31 (10am-12pm) - New Year's Day Breakfast

Overnight Breakfast Casserole & Orange Cranberry Muffins.

"New World" Foods - Columbus Day Cooking

Monday October 13th (9:30am-12:30pm). When Columbus landed in the New World he discovered foods unfamiliar to Europeans. He brought these novelties back to Europe where they became agricultural staples! This fall inspired menu is based upon some of the New Foods found in the New World.