Our theme this week is food, glorious food! There are so many wonderful, tasty, tempting kinds of food in the world. Plan to join us for a program this week as we put on our aprons and chef's hats and take to the kitchen...and maybe play with our food as we learn!
#READ: Let Me Fix You a Plate by Elizabeth Lilly
A girl describes her family's annual visit with Mamaw and Papaw in West Virginia, then Abuela and Abuelo in Florida, especially the foods and cultural elements that make each kitchen unique.
Questions to think about while you read:
- What is one of your family's favorite recipes?
- Have you had the opportunity to try a food from another culture?
- What are some of your memories from visiting family members?
#PLAY: Build a Food Pyramid
Supplies:
- Graham crackers or sheets of wheat crackers
- Optional: assorted whole fruits & veggies, such as apples, oranges, onions, etc.
This game can be played with 2 or more players and is an exercise in engineering and patience! Use the crackers to build a pyramid or tower (like you would with playing cards). Players take turns placing their crackers to add to the building. To make it more challenging, try adding whole fruits and veggies to the structure. When the tower collapses, it's snack time!
#EXPLORE: Make Corn Tortillas
Corn tortillas are believed to have been first developed around 10,000 BCE in what is now Mexico and Central America by the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. They were called "tlaxcalli" in the native language. When the Spanish explorers came to that area in the 1500s, they called them "tortillas" which means "little cakes." This is an easy recipe that kids can make with a little adult help (when it comes to using the stove).
Supplies:
- Gallon zip top bag
- Permanent marker
- Small, 6-inch plate
- Scissors
- 2 cups masa harina
- 1 ½ tsp. salt
- 1 1/3 cups warm water
- 4 tsp. vegetable oil
- Vegetable oil spray
- Medium mixing bowl
- Spatula
- ¼ c. measuring cup
- Pie plate
- 10-inch skillet
- Dish towels
Instructions:
- Use a permanent marker and a small plate to trace a 6-inch circle on the outside of the zip top bag. Use scissors to cut the bag down each side seam, leaving bottom seam attached. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine masa harina (which means "dough flour" in Spanish), salt, warm water, and oil. Stir all ingredients well until they form a dough.
- While the dough is still in the bowl, use your hands to knead it until it's smooth.
- Use the ¼ c. measuring cup to scoop out some dough, roll into a ball.
- Open up the zip top bag on your workspace and spray with vegetable oil spray. Put the dough ball in the center of the circle you drew. Bring the other side of the bag over the dough ball, so it should be between both sides of the plastic bag.
- Use a pie plate to flatten the dough ball. It should flatten to be 6 inches, the size of the circle on the bag.
- Spray skillet with vegetable oil and place over medium-high heat for 2 minutes.
- Put one hand on top of the tortilla on the zip top bag and one hand underneath the bag and flip the tortilla and peel the plastic bag away.
- Put the tortilla in the heated skillet and cook for 1 minute.
- Flip tortilla and cook 45 seconds on the second side.
- Flip one more time to the first side and cook 15 seconds.
- Remove tortilla and put in a dish towel to keep warm.
- Repeat with remaining dough, you should have 10 tortillas. You can fill your tortillas with meats, cheeses, or veggies, or just eat them with butter.
For visual instructions, check out this 5-minute video from America's Test Kitchen Kids.
#JOIN: Attend a program virtually or in person!
View all school-age programs and events offered this week.
For virtual programs, registration is required to receive the Zoom link; use the link in the program information to register.
For in-person programs, registration is required; if space allows, walk-ins will be admitted. Use the link in the program information to register.
