THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 5, 1994 TAG: 9408030119
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 8L EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARLENE FORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
The speed of the spatula propelled the tuna-filled mixing bowl right off the work counter. It flew a good two feet horizontally and plunked onto the floor - right side up.
With the flamboyance of a very young Julia Child (or Wolfgang Puck), 10-year-old Austin Hemmings brandished his utensil and said, ``I'd like to see that again.''
A few things did seem to get away from this particular cooking class at Norfolk Academy's summer program. Apples rolled out of little hands, and those squeeze bottles of mustard were close to dangerous. However, what didn't get away from the novice epicures was the more serious mission behind the fun.
According to summer cooking teacher Patti Watters, each of her five classes of elementary to junior high students learns its share of nifty kitchen techniques, and by the end of their session puts together a taste-tested cookbook. They also learn how to share these new talents and resources as one class per session is spent cooking for the homeless.
``By the end of the day we will have about 120 tuna sandwiches for the Catholic Workers in Norfolk to distribute tomorrow morning. And we also have a freezer full of cookies from last week,'' she said.
Watters, who during the regular school year teaches piano and flute at Norfolk Academy, has taught cooking classes in the program for two summers.
This year she decided to include in each session one day of cooking for the needy. Norfolk Academy's 6- and 7-year-old cooking class, taught by Janice Ford, is making a similar contribution.
In an aside to the class, Watters warned, ``We've been through four of the six weeks without any cuts; please, please be careful with the knives.''
Kara Peelar, 11, looked up briefly from her cutting board. After a half dozen summers in the program Kara was something of a senior chef in the class; she could both wield a knife and explain her feelings about the project.
``We already send cans of food to help the homeless, but when we make sandwiches ourselves we're even more involved. Somehow by doing the work, we're closer,'' Kara said. ``It helps others, but it helps us, too.
``Maybe we could do this more than once a session,'' she added.
Nicole Laderberg, 12, agreed. ``It helps people less fortunate than us. I belong to a temple and we've gone to the Foodbank and helped pack food, too.''
And as Katie West, 8, began laying out rows of whole wheat bread, she explained she's more the pastry chef. At home she bakes cookies, brownies and cakes.
Then Katie said, ``I am getting a little hungry now, but these are for the homeless. These are for people who have hardly anything.''
According to Watters, ``At 6 a.m. tomorrow morning Mrs. Dickon will take it down to Granby Street where it will be distributed.'' Elisa Dickon directs the summer program and also helps contribute food to the homeless.
Although they didn't get to eat what they had made in class that day, no one protested. But 10-year-old Lauren Parker, who had spent a good portion of the class chasing half-peeled apples across the room (and then rewashing them) did manage to get a few licks off the spatula before cleanup. MEMO: If anyone else is interested in contributing sandwiches or foods to the
the Catholic Workers, call Steve Baggerly at 423-5420.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARLENE FORD
Danielle Burnett, 10, makes tuna salad as part of a cooking class at
Norfolk Academy.
Teacher Patti Watters, right, shows Arnold Berger, 11, how to use an
electric can opener in the summer cooking class at Norfolk Academy.
by CNB