howsweet

Before students begin baking, they learn safety guidelines, proper

techniques for measuring and mixing ingredients, and cleaning utensils,

appliances, and kitchens in general.

Students gain their first baking experience with gelatin molds and fudge.

They learn how to thoroughly dissolve sugar, achieve desired shapes,

and store finished products so they stay fresh. Next, students practice

baking and decorating techniques with pastry and cakes. They roll their

own pastry dough and create decorative edges and tops to their

finished pies. The section on cakes explains how ingredients function;

for example, yolks bind ingredients together, and oils provide moisture

and help retain freshness. Students realize how ingredients work

together as they bake cupcakes and add decorative touches.

The final project is baking cookies. In addition to following a recipe,

students learn the history and different types of cookies. They also

reinforce mathematical skills by doubling and reducing a recipe.