Cooking with Kitchen Possible
The Relish team recently had the pleasure of volunteering with Kitchen Possible at the Gads Hill Center in Pilsen. Kitchen Possible teaches kids ages 8-12 in underserved neighborhoods how to cook– but the lessons they learn transcend the kitchen. They teach them skills such as: taking responsibility,
following-through, and adapting when things don’t go as planned.
“Research shows, kids in underserved communities are less likely to grow up believing they are in control of what happens in their lives. By teaching kids to set goals, follow a plan, push through when things get tough, and ultimately succeed, we can help shape the way they approach their world.”
– Kitchen Possible
Kitchen Possible relies on the help of volunteers in Chicago to help make these classes happen. We helped prep food for pre-selected recipes, and worked with the kids to make them come to life. However, the volunteers are the sous-chefs in this kitchen, supporting the kids, who are the real cooks.
The day we volunteered, the kids were graduating from their program, and cooking food to serve to all of their parents. The Gads Hill Center basement quickly became a bustling kitchen when the students dashed in enthusiastically, ready to get cooking! We divided into several stations of volunteer-kid teams concocting magical creations to soon share with their hungry and proud parents. Volunteers flew around the room offering teams ingredients and jumping in when help was needed.
Flour, masa, corn, and buttermilk transformed into “Corn Cakes with Hot Honey Shrimp.” Soy sauce, pork, and ginger transformed into “Pork & Caramelized Kimchi.” At one of the stations, students were working on crafting “The Ultimate Grilled Cheese.” Throughout the evening, the room was filled with aromas of flavors and cuisines from around the world.
After all of the magic and chaos in the kitchen happened, the kids eagerly lined up to serve their parents a hot delicious meal – that they had proudly created! There’s almost nothing more satisfying than sharing– and eating– a hot meal you’ve made with someone you love.
The Relishworks team assembled goodie bags for the fresh grads of Kitchen possible which were excitedly received. Each bag contained a book of recipes from their cooking adventures of the summer, tools and an apron to continue cooking throughout the year.
It warms our hearts that we got to share and witness how Kitchen Possible is empowering young minds with an incredible life skill!
-Hannah