Kids in the Kitchen recipe for food, fun

TheSpec.com – burlingtonlife – Kids in the Kitchen recipe for food, fun

Mary K. Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator

They sliced. They diced.

But they didn’t make julienne fries.

There were chicken quesadillas instead, with tangy homemade salsa, beetroot and blueberry salad and apple tarts in puff pastry.

When they were finished preparing their special lunch yesterday, the 25 children in the Kids in the Kitchen program sat down as one, and ate it together.

It’s the second time the Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington has organized the one-day program at the Eva Rothwell Centre in Hamilton’s North End.

“This is where it all begins,” said Chris Haworth, executive chef at Spencer’s at the Waterfront in Burlington. “They’re touching and feeling and tasting.”

Outfitted in chef’s hats, plastic aprons and disposable gloves, the young cooks learned how to roll out pastry dough, peel cucumbers, chop peppers and make impressive carrot curls with Haworth’s Japanese turning mandolin.

Jason Gibson, chief quesadilla maker for the day, and owner of Jason Gibson Personal Chef Services, said the kids were enthusiastic, helpful and surprisingly knowledgeable, which he attributes to the popularity of TV cooking shows.

Ten-year-old Nick Borondy was up to his elbows in the giant salad bowl, tossing the ingredients like a seasoned pro.

“I love making salads. I’m really good at it,” said Nick, who likes making sandwiches too — nothing mundane like peanut butter, but “more complex.”

While the kitchen crowd discovered that their gloves made dandy five-fingered balloons, and wars could be waged with rolling pins, the rest of the kids in the program rotated through other “stations” to learn about healthy eating and lifestyles.

Upstairs, personal trainer Matt Green put them through fitness routines, Karen Burson of Hamilton Eat Local told them about the bounty of foods grown nearby, and Hamilton Emergency Services reps talked about safety in the home and at school.

“This is a neighbourhood where we feel we can benefit kids who may not have the support systems at home,” said Junior League president Rita Lachance.

“It’s a start. The seed has to be planted somewhere.”

mnolan@thespec.com

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The President, the Taoiseach, and the Shamrocks

On this St. Patrick’s Day, the President announced his intention to nominate Dan Rooney, co-founder of the Ireland Fund, as ambassador to Ireland. Later he hosted Taoiseach Brian Cowen and once again used his diverse roots to find humor and common ground:

Now, before I turn it over to the Taoiseach, it turns out that we have something in common. He hails from County Offaly. And it was brought to my attention on the campaign that my great-great-great grandfather on my mother’s side came to America from a small village in County Offaly, as well. We are still speculating on whether we are related. (Laughter.)

I do share, though, a deep appreciation for the remarkable ties between our nations. I am grateful to him for his leadership of Ireland. The bond between our countries could not be stronger. As somebody who comes from Chicago, I know a little bit about Ireland, and the warmth, the good humor, and the fierce passion and intelligence of the Irish people is something that has informed our own culture, as well. And so that’s why this day and this celebration is so important.

(In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Taoiseach of Ireland Brian Cowen laughs with President Barack Obama after giving him a bowl of shamrocks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Tuesday, March 17, 2009. White House Photo /Lawrence Jackson)

After that he also met with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness:

(President Barack Obama meets with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, center and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at the White House Tuesday, March 17, 2009. The White House/Pete Souza)

(The White House North Lawn fountain flows with green water Tuesday, March 17, 2009, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. White House Photo/Lawrence Jackson)