When I started cooking with fifth graders more than a dozen years ago, my goal was to teach them how to make some easy, healthy, affordable dinners they could make at home. What I did not expect was that these kids would be teaching me all kinds of things, like that latest dance crazes, the newest kid slang, the preteen music faves, and this week, “internet language.”
Milany Rupert and Angy Reyes were chopping onions for our Turkey and Mushroom Tacos, not always the most popular job. Perhaps because they were wearing goggles, protected from the onion vapors, they both commented on how satisfying it was to chop the onions to a small dice. “This should be a an ASMR video, it’s so calming,” said Milany.
“A what?” I asked, unfamiliar with the term.
“It’s just internet language,” said Angy, as if, of course everyone knows that. “It’s something that you watch that is so satisfying and soothing that is calms you down and helps you fall asleep,” said Milany.
I had to look it up and, sure enough, it stands for an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response videos, which are designed to trigger relaxation and can help with insomnia.
Who knew that chopping onions could be so relaxing and satisfying for a 10-year-old, and that it could inspire a suggestion for a ASMR video?
When the kids realized that we were making tacos on a Tuesday, thus celebrating “Taco Tuesday, that provoked a round of excitement: “That’s crazy, yo!”
Their knife skills are already impressive and each week when we ask about cooking at home, we get lots of enthusiastic responses. Taylor Rodriguez, Enzian Delgado, Angy, and Milany had all helped make Spanish rice and beans, while Laura Ramos helped her Mom prepare empanadas . They are all so proud of their new culinary skills!
They all took turns browning the mushrooms, then cooking the onions and peppers with the ground turkey, with Taylor remembering from last week, that it had to be cooked til it was no longer pink. Then the tomatoes were added, and cooked down.
Finally, the taco shells were ready to be filled, and topped with cheese. Each student filled two taco shells, and then they were popped in the oven, to crisp up the shells and melt the cheese.
Oohs and ahhs rang out when they emerged from the oven. And the reviews came in strong. Even Ezian, who does NOT like vegetables, ate two tacos. He did remove the mushrooms, however. We didn’t remind him he also ate onions and peppers. Laura, who said at the outset that she did not like mushrooms, admitted that she didn’t even taste them, and also polished off two.
I asked the kids what was the most surprising thing about cooking class, and here’s what they wrote:
Ezian was surprised that we made tacos with tomatoes, and it was the first time he ate a taco with tomatoes.
“Tasting the food and trying the food for the first time, the most surprising thing is that the food is very good!” wrote Taylor.
Laura wrote that the most surprising thing was that “we get to learn a new food each Tuesday, and learn new terms that have to do with cooking.”
My favorite response came from Milany, as she pushed herself to try new things: “The most surprising thing was that I loved all the food. Why? Because normally I’m a very picky eater.”
