On Saturday, January 30, nearly 60 Girl Scouts learned their way around the kitchen during a culinary workshop at Stratford University in Newport News led by Chef Dedra Blount and Debra Brabson, owners of Now You’re Cooking Culinary Studio. During each of the two dessert-themed sessions, the kitchen was abuzz with energy as girls had cookies baking, chocolate melting and popcorn popping.
After watching a demonstration from Chef Dedra at the beginning of the workshop, the girls set out on their own to make cake pops. They crumbled a cake, added frosting and formed the mixture into balls that they placed in the freezer to set. Next, the girls made chocolate covered strawberries and learned how to follow a recipe to make chocolate chip cookies from scratch. They also decorated a batch of popcorn with chocolate and sprinkles. Before the end of the class, the girls pulled their cake pops out of the freezer to dip them in chocolate and cover them in frosting. Before the day was over, the girls had the chance to taste test the sweets they had whipped up in the kitchen.
For Chef Dedra, culinary classes are about more than teaching girls how to cook. In her more than 15 years of experience as a culinary instructor, she has seen how hands-on experience in the kitchen helps people develop critical thinking skills and confidence. She recognizes how valuable this can be for young girls as they achieve their cooking goals and gain a sense of accomplishment.
The skills that the girls learned in the kitchen from Chef Dedra will count towards requirements for earning the cooking badge for their age level.
Now You’re Cooking Culinary Studio, led by Chef Dedra and Debra, will be participating in the upcoming
Samoa Soiree, an adult-only tasting event where chefs use Girl Scout Cookies to create unique desserts and appetizers. Samoa Soiree will take place on March 5 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. Tickets are available online
here.
girl scouts of the colonial coast
