Through a crowd of hunched shoulders, you can just see the flash of a hand mixer as it whips through egg whites, creating heaps of glittering, fluffy foam that is then gently folded into a confection of Italian mascarpone cheese and sugar. This is the beginning of tiramisu, the Baking iPeriod’s first foray into the world of culinary creations.
There were some slip-ups, some spills, and definitely some “whoops!”—but that is the nature of laboring in the kitchen. It is a process that the students are invested in, not owing only to the fact that the tasty end result may be consumed with relish.
There is a clear cause and effect relationship to cooking or baking that these students are learning that is as apparent as a chemical reaction in science classes or the causes of massive warfare in AP World History; Amy Adams said it best in her role as Julie Powell in the award-winning culinary film "Julie & Julia:"
“You know what I love about cooking? I love that after a day when nothing is sure … you can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick. That’s such a comfort.”
Bringing food to life requires a focused mind and a fondness for creation. Creation can be practical, just look at the 50 or so students who now know how to bake individual cakes in their microwaves—as useful for college as time management skills are—and a lot sweeter-tasting. Plus, the minimal cleanup cannot beat. Our group trekked onward towards decadent chocolate truffles this past week and we look to conquering the oven with cookies and cupcakes. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.
Editor's Note: iPeriod is a new addition to the Upper School schedule this year designed tocreate time for student reflection, inquiry, and ownership of learning.. Four days a week, students spend 50 minutes in iPeriod, where they have the opportunity to explore topics, try new activities, and find solutions to problems that interest them. iPeriods are not graded, and students have the opportunity to choose new iPeriods every seven weeks.
