A Christmas Cook Off...

On the first day of the advent calendar, we wrote to the kids telling them that 22 days later they would be having a cooking competition against the other two houses. We advised them to spend the days that followed coming up with a menu, talking to the moms and the educators, and learning how to best make the foods they decided on. On the day of the competition they would not be allowed to receive ANY help from ANY adults. We decided this activity would not only be fun but it would help them to learn to better work together as a team AND it would help them to further their cooking skills!



Leading up to the competition the adults that work with the kids every day didn’t really know what to expect. Well, we were SHOCKED. In ALL three houses the kids worked together extremely well. They planned and organized what their menus would be and what each person’s role would be in preparing a successful meal. The atmosphere in the three houses was awesome! At all of the houses, the kids worked together as a team to create the best meal they possibly could. They didn’t just cook, but they also presented their meals beautifully!



They had all day to prepare a salad, a main course, and a dessert and at the end of the day all 3 houses met together for the judging. Each of the kids was able to enjoy the food prepared by all three houses. Casa Nadia made salata de beouf (which is a traditional Romanian salad made with chicken, carrots, pickles, peas, and mayo), spaghetti, and a cake made with orange soda. Casa Ana made grilled pork, potatoes, and fruit salad. Casa Rebeca made a vegetable salad, snitel with French fries and homemade chips, and fruit salad and sauce which tasted like Christmas in a bowl!


All three houses had completely different meals and all of the meals were exceptional. The moms who were working the night of the competition voted on which house had the best meal, and the winner for the Cooking Competition of 2008 was…Casa Rebeca! However, each kid received a little prize because they really all were winners! We look forward to a new tradition of an annual cooking competition!