Soup and sweet veggies were on the menu at the Paris Public Library recently. Children’s Librarian William Root organized the class, and North Lamar High Culinary Arts students taught kids, ages 7 to 12, to prepare a meal for their families.
“Advanced Culinary Arts students Morgan Hicks and Travis Smith did a fabulous job sharing their skills with this group of kids,” Culinary Instructor Amanda King said. “These students are members of the third and highest level of culinary arts classes we offer in the North Lamar Career and Technology Education program.”
After demonstrating how to use measuring spoons and cups, the NLHS students helped class participants measure all the spices, seasonings and noodles for a Savory Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.
The soup mix was a take-home project for the main dish of a family meal.
Then, with help and supervision by Hicks, Smith, King and Root, the children stirred up batches of Southern Candied Carrots to take home as well. The side dish would add a touch of sweetness to join the savory soup.
The North Lamar CTE program offers three levels of food preparation classes:
Introduction to Culinary Arts, Culinary Arts and Advanced Culinary Arts.
Each level requires one school year to complete.
High school students gain essential hands-on training in kitchen safety, knife skills, cooking techniques, and food preparation.
Students learn to accurately follow recipes, practice proper sanitation, and work with a variety of culinary tools and equipment.
The skills learned are helpful not only at home but in the restaurant industry as well.
Students also learn skills that prepare them for careers in the foodservice industry or continued culinary education.
The Paris Public Library regularly offers a variety of children’s classes. A calendar of programs and special classes for patrons of all ages can be found online at www.ParisTexas.gov/Library.
The library is located at 326 S. Main, across from Bywaters Park.
