Spice It Up!

We made class extra fun by planning a spice challenge!  We chose five common spices they’ve used in different recipes at home and in class.  Then, we asked students to smell and taste each one.   Not only were they able to identify most of them, but they were able to describe the elements of the spice and what it reminded them of!  It’s obvious their palates are maturing as they discussed the flavors and smells associated with each spice.

We then dug a little deeper, discussing how flavors and smells can evoke memories. Students were skeptical at first, but quickly understood as certain spices began reminding them of their grandmother’s chicken,

 medicinal teas, and soup on a cold day. It was really amazing to see them talk about the flavors and smells they associated with each spice.  They really got into the spice challenge activity!

 

The recipes were a fun fusion of sweet and savory, which again raised a few skeptics on how it would actually taste. But after the first bite, they really liked the combination!  

 

Making spice blends was really fun for everyone as they got to see how one flavor requires many different elements to come together. As we move forward onto more complex flavor profiles and adding meat to the recipes, students continue to get more and more excited about the recipes and seeing how a balanced meal gets put together.  

 

I can’t want to see what comes next!