SRMS Consumer Science
Welcome to Family & Consumer Science!
There is much to be learned working in the kitchen. One of my favorite chefs, Emeril Lagasse points out that when we follow a recipe, we practice reading and organizational skills. Did you know that when we measure ingredients we are also practicing our math and manipulating fractions? Furthermore, the GOOD kitchen habits you practice such as kitchen safety, cleanliness, teamwork, responsibility, and patience are skills that will set you up for success in life.
Baking and cooking are also a science! Chemistry is happening right before our eyes as we prepare food. You can also learn a great deal about nutrition and healthful eating when working in the kitchen.
I hope to share my passion for all things food and nutrition with you.
To access my complete list of Kitchen Safety Rules, the Recipe Library (complete with all of the recipes we use in class), and Demo Videos, please visit my SRMS FACS website HERE.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Are you ready to try a sweet and refreshing summer treat?! These choco PB banana bites are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Plus, they are super simple to make. Are you allergic to nuts? No problem, just leave out the peanut butter and make chocolate banana bites. Find the recipe HERE!
Fruit Pizza
FRUIT PIZZA SEASON IS HERE!
Fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are filling the grocery stores these days. That means fruit pizza season has officially arrived! Memorial Day weekend is coming up, and a fruit pizza can make an excellent festive dessert. The fruit you'll need to achieve a red, white, and blue decor will be some strawberries, banana coins, and blueberries! Put your artistic culinary skills to the test and see if you can design an American Flag with the red, white, and blue fruit. (I personally like to do a classic pinwheel fruit arrangement on top of my pizza.) I highly recommend trying out this fruit pizza recipe. Find it HERE!
Chocolate Avocado Cookies
I am willing to bet that YOU WOULD NOT be able to tell there is avocado in these cookies. My brother still doesn't know... shhh! Why would anyone put avocado in their cookies? That's a great question, I'm glad you asked! First, an avocado is a monounsaturated fat, so it can take the place of another fat in a cookie recipe (such as butter or margarine). Fat helps hold our ingredients together and gives our cookies a desirable texture. The creamy avocado gives this cookie a soft, fudge-like texture. Second, plant-based monounsaturated fats (like avocados) provide us with numerous health benefits. These fats can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in our blood, which may lower our risk of heart disease. Monounsaturated fats also provide us with nutrients that help develop our body's cells.
Have I sold you on these cookies yet? Try for yourself! I think you will find them irresistibly chocolaty and delicious. You can find the recipe HERE.
Have you ever cut an avocado before? Watch this video on how to cut one open SAFELY!
Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
As a kid, I would make peanut butter no-bake cookies all the time... mainly because they were so delicious, but also because we always had the ingredients for these cookies. (No special trips to the store!) These cookies require a short list of common ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen too! Check out the recipe HERE.
Most recipes call for quick cooking oats (coarsely chopped oats), but I found that old-fashioned oats work just as well. These cookies are also considered "whole-grain" because oats (quick cooking, rolled, old-fashioned, etc.) are a whole-grain food!
In the mood for peanut butter or chocolate no-bake cookies? I guarantee you will not regret making these delicious treats! Don't forget to share a picture with Miss Cessar! [email protected]
Mac & Cheese
Homemade Mac & Cheese Challenge
Put that box of Kraft Mac & Cheese away! I challenge you to make your very own, homemade mac & cheese! You can find my recipe HERE. For this recipe I used 4 oz. (1 cup) of New York Sharp Cheddar Cheese and 4 oz. (1 cup) of Velveeta cheese. Feel free to change up the cheeses to your liking or just see what type of cheese you have in your fridge! If you are headed to the store, make sure you buy the block cheese (as opposed to the pre-grated cheese in the bag). Not only will this block of cheese be cheaper, but it will more readily melt into a smoother consistency; making your cheese sauce irresistibly creamy. Most pre-grated cheeses contain a plant fiber called cellulose. This is used to block out moisture and prevents the cheese from clumping in the bag. Not a bad thing, but hinders pre-grated cheeses's ability to melt into a smooth consistency. Also, feel free to swap out the mac noodles for shells (my personal favorite) or if you really want to be an A+ student, opt for the WHOLE GRAIN mac noodles!
If you rise to the homemade mac and cheese challenge, share a picture with Miss Cessar! [email protected]
Banana Ice-Cream
Banana "Ice-Cream" Challenge
Are you ready for some of the best soft serve "ice-cream" you will ever taste? I'm going to make a bold statement here... I like this version of banana ice-cream better than the one you can buy at an ice-cream parlor! Some good news, there is no need for a fancy ice-cream maker and this recipe requires minimal ingredients! Find the recipe HERE! I've also included some ways you can "level up" your banana ice-cream. You can let your creativity take over with additional flavors and toppings! In this video you will watch me prepare chocolate-almond-banana ice-cream topped with coconut flakes and chocolate chips. (Picture biting into a beautiful Almond Joy candy bar.... accept add bananas to that!) Don't knock it until you try it!
If you rise to the challenge, share a picture with Miss Cessar! [email protected]
Cloud Eggs
An EGGcellent Breakfast Challenge
Did you know eggs are one of the cheapest sources of high quality protein? A dozen eggs costs about $1.99 at Giant Eagle. That's just under 17 cents per egg! One large egg provides us with 6 grams of protein. It gets better, eggs are classified as a "complete protein" because they contain the 9 essential amino acids that our body cannot produce on its own. I could go on all day about the countless health benefits of eggs!
How do you like your eggs? Cloud Eggs are my favorite. I love how fluffy the egg whites become when you whip them with an electric mixer. Fold in some of your favorite cheese and you have yourself a savory breakfast. You can find the recipe HERE.
I challenge you to try out these cloud eggs for yourself or prepare an EGGcellent breakfast using another egg recipe. Below is a video from the Tasty Kitchen which may give you some more inspiration!
If you rise to the challenge, share a picture with Miss Cessar! [email protected]
Choco Chip AND/OR Blueberry Muffins
MUFFIN MADNESS CHALLENGE
Watch Miss Cessar and special guest, Mrs. Vermilya prepare blueberry and chocolate chip muffins. They share some great tips for perfecting basic muffins.
Find our Basic Muffin Recipe HERE.
Ready for the challenge?
Do you want to try your very own muffin recipe OR do you have a special family recipe you would like to share?
Please SHARE your favorite muffin recipe and a picture of your muffins with Miss Cessar.
Email submissions to [email protected]
Featured Foodies
Foodie:(noun) a person who expresses an avid interest in baking and cooking
Chloe's beautiful banana muffins! Also, loving her brightly colored silicone baking cups.
Miss Cessar needs to invest in a set of those!
Dougie has breakfast for his family covered with his impressive cloud eggs!
Check out Andy's incredible sourdough bread! Preparing this masterpiece was no easy feat. Making sourdough bread takes approximately one whole week from start to finish. The picture on the far left is Andy's "starter" which is a fermenting mixture of flour and water. Daily "feedings" of flour and water are crucial in order for naturally occurring yeast to grow during this fermentation process. After about 5 days, this starter is ready to be used in your bread dough.