BURLINGTON – Surrounded by kids, she stirred the mixture in a bowl, a combination of eggs, milk, and mustard.
Little eyes followed her hand as she poured the yellow liquid into a measuring cup. At her elbow was a piece of paper showing the recipe: Strata, a casserole.
But this was just a demonstration. Soon the kids would prepare the dish by themselves, with just a bit of help.
It was the second morning of a three-day class known as "Baking with Kids." The program is offered every summer by the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service.
"It's mainly to get children to learn how to cook, and for adults to realize that children can participate in cooking," explained the instructor, Diane Mason. "And the more children cook, the better they're going to eat. Research shows that."
Christy Wells of Hebron brought her 7-year-old daughter Sophie. "It helps her with her skills, reading the recipes and following the instructions," she said.
"It helps her be confident to do things on her own," added Chelsea Moore of Hebron, who was there with her 6-year-old niece Brianna.
"My mom and us, we do cooking together," 7-year-old Josie Bozeman of Fort Thomas shared. She took the class last year, too. Her favorite part so far? Making cookies.
Mason pointed out that including different family members in the class teaches children teamwork. "They have to learn about how to divide up the responsibility."
The kids prepared the strata in small aluminum dishes, then slid them into the oven. While waiting for their creations to bake, they walked to a nearby farmer's market to buy vegetables for tomorrow's recipe: Pizza.
"They're going to make the bread for the pizza crust," Mason said. "Totally from scratch."
When the students returned they found the classroom filled with a rich aroma. Golden cheese could be seen bubbling on the surface of each dish.
It was time for the taste test. And smiles all around.
Mason's aim is to show kids that it's not so hard to prepare your own food. "You don't have to buy everything already made. You can do it at home, and the recipes really are simple and easy."
To learn more about programs at the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service, visit www.ca.uky.edu/boone.