Teaching children to cook can be fun yet challenging and messy.
One simple way to ease the burden? Take the kids to someone else’s kitchen.
Aurora Parks and Recreation’s Expo Recreation Center is home to the Kitchen on the Green series of cooking classes, with options designed for even the littlest chefs in the making.
“With the tots, since they aren’t reading yet, we focus less on recipes and more on measuring, mixing and stirring,” says Pam Hueseman Aurora Parks and Recreation. She heads up the cooking programs for Kitchen on the Green.
“We get them truly involved in the process,” says Hueseman, whose 20 years of teaching experience has made her well-versed in planning cooling classes for students of all ages, including kids. “They’re not just watching, they’re learning about the whole experience.”
March offerings also include adult classes such as “Seafood Chinese Style,” (Tuesday) and “Couples Cook: “Italiano Tradizionale” (Friday).
There’s a large selection of family-oriented classes. And teens can sign up for “Stuff It,” (March 13) where participants learn to prepare dumplings and stuffed pastries from various cultures including spinach ravioli, seafood gyoza, potato samosas and pumpkin empanadas.
Later this month, a series of Easter-themed classes open up the cupboards to even the tiniest tots. “Easter Treats” (March 26), for children ages 3 to 6, invites parent-tot teams to create bunny cupcakes, speckled Easter eggs and molded chocolate candies. Meanwhile, “Easter Candy” (March 25) and “Eggstravaganza” (March 30) give 6 to 12 year olds a chance to create seasonal sweets.
The center’s teaching kitchen offers amenities and has room to spare. It goes beyond what many might expect from a neighborhood rec center. Stainless-steel counters and appliances, multiple gas stoves and convection ovens, high-quality knife sets, cherry cabinetry and two 4-by-6 foot islands allow for lots of prep space and easy cleanup. “It’s like a really nice, upgraded home kitchen,” says Hueseman.
The tools are purposely designed to resemble a personal kitchen, rather than a professional space, so parents and kids can more easily transfer their experience to their own home.
“My hope is to show parents that family cooking doesn’t have to be either drudgery or a perfect five-course meal,” Hueseman says. “It’s about finding fun and successful ways to introduce kids to the joy and love of cooking.”
Ongoing family and adult cooking classes are available through Aurora’s Kitchen on the Green. One-day and multiple-day classes range from $31 to $125 (discounted for Aurora residents). To register for upcoming classes, call 303-326-8630 or visit .
