After spending time learning about kitchen tools and kitchen safety, students in FCS teacher Chelsea Nelson’s class had a chance to put their new knowledge to work by baking cookies. Cookie baking has been one of Nelson’s most popular projects, but since it is the first time in the kitchen for many of the students, it always has a few challenges.  

 “It’s always a struggle introducing the kids to baking and cooking,” Nelson said. “They had to demonstrate correct liquid and dry ingredient measurements, and that can be hard. But they did very well, and I got no complaints from the teacher.” 

 Students did one step a day, starting with mixing the dough and ending with finished chocolate chip cookies that they shared with their friends and teachers. 

 “The cookies turned out really good,” freshman Korbin Rodriguez said. “I’m glad the teachers enjoyed them as well.” 

 The next project will be to deconstruct pumpkins, roast pumpkin seeds and make pumpkin puree from scratch, which they will then use to make pumpkin brownies, according to Nelson, who said the recipe they will use comes from BHS graduate Raena Vaughn’s food blog. Teachers are hoping they get to taste the results again. 

 “It’s always a nice surprise when one of the kids comes in with something they’ve made in Mrs. Nelson’s class,” librarian Melonie Menefee said. “They are always so proud of what they have made, and it is so good to see them learning and growing.”