Creating a Classroom Community Through a Cookbook

We are going to be working on an exciting activity in our social studies course. Each person in our class had to bring in a family recipe today which included the title, ingredients, directions, and a description of the person who is responsible for it and why we picked that certain one. We had to share what events the food is made for and how it came to be.

Creating a class cookbook isn't just for fun. There are many educational advantages that go along with this activity. In terms of social studies, this project can help create a classroom community and allow students to learn about the differences in families and their culture.

The recipe I provided for our class recipe book was amazing banana pudding which we call "Going Bananas Banana Pudding". I have provided my recipe below.

Going Bananas Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar

6 1/2 tablespoons of flour

Pinch of salt

1 can of evaporated milk and enough water to make 4 cups

1/2 stick of margarine

3 egg yolks-beaten

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Nilla Wafers

Bananas

In a sauce pan mix sugar, flour, and salt. Add the milk and water slowly while stirring until the flour is dissolved. Add margarine and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from the heat and add vanilla. Let it cool about 15 minutes and then layer beginning with Nilla Wafers, bananas, and pudding.

Submitted by: Jenn Fink

Origin of recipe: Jan Fink (my mother)

This dish is made by my mother for every family reunion and sometimes for picnics. She occasionally makes it for other holidays when it is requested. I enjoy this recipe because she has also taught me how to make it so that it will be passed down from generation to generation. Although it is a simpler recipe it sure is yummy! We usually eat this dish as a dessert.

Ms. Bogdanski's blog provides her viewpoint on the implementation of a classroom cookbook into her class. She highlights that it can help students learn about diverse traditions and cultures. To conclude her unit she had the students create the dish and bring it into the class for a celebration. Bogdanski also lists the requirements that are expected to be included in each recipe. Feel free to read her blog entry by clicking on the following link:

http://msbogdanski.blogspot.com/2008/04/classroom-cookbook.html