PJ and I discussed a variety of possible meals and and talked about the importance of being able to feed yourself. We reviewed some of the meals we've already made and talked through some of the techniques/methods we used and then discussed what we have not yet made. PJ expressed interest in learning about pastries so we did a bit of research and eventually settled on cinnamon rolls. We looked at a couple of recipes and watched a few videos to get an idea of how to put them together. After feeling confident PJ shared a few more ideas of cartoon foods that he's interested in and told me about one of his favorite shows, Ben 10, and some of the meals featured in that show.

Lucas really seemed to enjoy this meal. He did an excellent job balancing the numerous components of the dish and crafting the different flavor profiles of each element. He shared some stories from his families trip to Japan and we discussed other popular Japanese dishes and ingredients.

Teddy, having seen Libby making her cupcakes, was so excited to make his own that he at first had a hard time being patient and following the recipe, but once we got some of the ingredients in the bowl and he started to see things come together he was engaged and very precise with his measurements. Teddy also very much enjoyed the decorating process, even going as far as garnishing each plate with swirls of frosting and patterns of marshmallows and sprinkles surrounding the cupcakes.

Libby did a great job measuring ingredients and following the recipe. She very much enjoyed getting creative with the decorations using different kinds of frosting, sprinkles, mini marshmallows and fresh strawberries to customize each cupcake.

PJ did an excellent job chopping the vegetables and balancing the various components of this dish. He particularly seemed to enjoy making the hashbrowns and did a great job seasoning them, tasting and adjusting as he went. The veggie scramble provided a chance to review some of the fundamental concepts we've been discussing such as evaporation, timing, flavor, and seasoning. The dish came out delicious and PJ was excited to bring leftovers home to his father.

The sandwich came out delicious! Lucas did a great job using the techniques and methods we've discussed thus far to craft the various elements of the sandwich and create a balanced and flavorful dish. We discussed our options when designing the sandwich and Lucas made several wise choices (such as choosing a vinaigrette based slaw instead of a mayonnaise based slaw to balance the richness of the bacon, chicken, and cheese) that led to a delicious sandwich full of complimentary flavors and textures. He said that it was the best sandwich he's ever made and he's excited to recreate it at home!

*actual date 3/7* Richard did a great job! He paid close attention to my demonstration of "butterflying," a chicken breast and did an excellent job himself on his own piece of chicken. He had some experience already with the classic breading station, but this dish was a great opportunity to go over each component in detail and discuss its use and function. Richard has a very intuitive understanding of flavor and ingredients and he did an excellent job seasoning the asparagus and the chicken. Through a discussion about flavor and texture he used a variety of ingredients to nicely balance the flavors of this dish.

*actual date 3/6* Lucas did a fantastic job recalling the techniques and methods used last class and really seemed to enjoy applying them to these new ingredients. He was excited by the idea that you can apply the same techniques to different ingredients and get a completely new dish with its own unique flavor profile. We spent some time talking about different combinations of ingredients and how he could adapt these techniques to make countless other dishes.