The Pop Culture Baking Mix Project was inspired by the Bridgerton Baking Mixes offered from Betty Crocker! I thought it was such a cool idea and thought of a ton of television and movies that teens might be inspired to create baking mixes for that I created this project for use in many classes from foods to marketing. So, have a look and hope you’re inspired as well!
It’s been my experience that most students love desserts! Fancy Dessert Collages is a project where students can learn about many different types of fancy desserts as they create and share information around an assigned or chosen dessert! As the teacher, you can decide, whether you want to run a “Fancy Dessert Challenge” for students to try their hand at preparing different desserts or just offer up a lab or two around a select few desserts. Either way, your students will get to experience fancy desserts in a variety of ways.
After noticing continuous requests for lab suggestions that are doable in 43 minute class periods, I’ve decided to do a recurring series, featuring recipes that can be completed from beginning to end in a 43 minute time frame. In some cases, longer recipes will broken into two day labs. In addition, I will include my pre-lab review questions that pertain specifically to the recipe. This helps to ensure that students are reading the recipe. It also allows me time to show any videos that may demonstrate the product or specific techniques. So, without further ado, I present the 43 Minute Lab Series: Baked French Toast!
I love teaching students how to make desserts that look elegant, but sound difficult! After learning about The History & Science of Cream Puffs, they are always surprised to learn how simple they are to actually make. Read on to learn how to incorporate this into your pastry or dessert unit.
Cookies, Cakes & Pies, Oh My! is a subscription box template project. The original cookie subscription box idea came from Anna Hall, an Ohio FACS teacher. Upon receiving it, my brain immediately thought this project could extend to other desserts or foods and Anna graciously gave me permission to expand the project. So, if you’re looking for an extension project when teaching about desserts or other foods, this may be just what you’re looking for!
If you’ve ever subscribed or read “Cooks Illustrated,” you may be familiar with a recurring feature called “Quick Tips.” In this feature, tips are provided to make food prep easier and more convenient. I have taken this concept and turned it into the “Quick Tips Postcard Project” as a way to add visual interest to classroom bulletin boards or displays!
Biscotti was on my list of foods to try for quite some time! It took a friend giving me a birthday gift of biscotti in a variety of flavors to prompt me to actually learn to make it, which then prompted me to create this “How to Make Biscotti” interactive for both virtual and in class students! It also makes a great holiday treat to serve or gift to friends and family!
My students have been practically begging me to let them bake cookies. They have been relentless! Since they were so excited, I gave in! Because I haven’t taught this in many years, I had to update my cookie unit. I decided it was the perfect time to share my Cookie Baking unit with you because it fits so well sandwiched between the holiday breaks!
There’s a big push in education to incorporate more technology into the classroom! Because of this, Kara Emig of Oxford, PA wanted to develop a project that would be interesting to her students. She also wanted them to be able to add their own element of creativity. The fun and engaging food preparation video project she designed has students creating their own recipe videos just like the ones you see all over social media! Kara’s students created their videos during the cookie unit, but the beauty of this project is that it is versatile enough to use with any food unit!
Students always want to bake cakes! Maybe it’s because the cakes they get at home are typically prepackaged or out of a mix! Don’t get me wrong…those are great once in awhile and have saved me on more than one occasion, when time was at a premium! However, when talking to students, I get the impression that most only get scratch baked cakes in rare instances or on very special celebratory days! I guess I was lucky growing up because my family baked cakes often, as desserts were a delicious way to end the evening meal! Because of this, I was fortunate to be exposed to a variety of different cakes. The funny thing is that while growing up, I thought there were tons of different types of cakes, but in reality there are only a couple! This lesson focuses on a cake overview of history, types, solving cake problems and includes some labs, focusing on the two basic types of cakes!
