Join us for our 18th season of Kids Cook at the Market! Enroll your junior chefs ­— ages 7 to 12 — in Kids Cook at the Market classes, where they’ll cultivate culinary skills and experience a cornucopia of farm-fresh foods! At Kids Cook classes, kids learn about the seasonality of food, meet local farmers, and prepare ingredients purchased fresh at the market. Classes include shopping the market for ingredients, hands-on instruction, a shared meal, and recipe cards. In addition to the meal prepared during class, junior chefs will prepare and pack additional ingredients, so that the dish can be cooked and shared again at home. We have a grant supporting the Lents International Farmers Market that allows us to provide these classes to the community for free, though registration is required. Please RSVP below. Build your junior chef's skills, confidence and community at these eight classes this season: July 7: Quick Strawberry Jam on Pancakes Celebrate strawberries by making a quick jam to top pancakes! Junior Chefs will practice knife skills, design their own jam label and bring jam home to share. gluten free *contains dairy and egg July 14: Smiley Face Veggie Omelettes Shop the farmers market to pick out favorite vegetables and try new ones! Junior Chefs will learn about eggs, practice knife skills, gain stove confidence and sign our card to thank chicken farmers (and chicken ladies) for their hard work. gluten free *contains egg July 21: Vegetable Fritters Talk to a farmer about their favorite vegetables and select your own to make fritters! Junior Chefs will practice knife skills, work collaboratively and gain stove confidence. vegan, gluten free *contains egg (can ommit on request) July 28: Hand Pressed Tortillas = Veggie Tacos! Eat your flowers! Junior Chefs will press edible flowers into tortillas, practice knife skills and work collaboratively to assemble tacos. Adults, please join us for a taco or two - we're making enough to give you a taste too! vegan, gluten free August 4: Summer Salad Enjoy the full bounty of summer. Junior Chefs will shop the market to pick out favorite vegetables and try new ones! We'll rinse, peel, slice and dice to prepare fresh salads and explore herbs to make a dressing or two. vegan, gluten free August 11: Caterpillar Kabobs A fun and tasty treat! We'll celebrate all the beautiful fruits and berries in the market as Junior Chefs chat with farmers, try new farm-fresh items and pick out their favorites to create one-of-a-kind snacks. vegan, gluten free August 18: Fruit and Tomato Salsas It's a two salsa day! Junior Chefs will practice knife skills and work collaboratively to make both a fruit salsa and a tomato salsa. Everyone will design their own salsa label and bring salsa home to share. vegan, gluten free August 25: Gazpacho Classic Tomato! Cucumber! We will use the freshest market ingredients to whip up a variety of tasty, refreshing cold soups with fun garnishes that we find in the market. Gluten free, egg free. About the Instructor: Mel Shea loves working with food. She has worked in Portland’s food scene for the past 12 years and has a strong passion for nutrition and healthy eating. For the past three years she has worked with local non-profits, teaching a variety of art and cooking classes. Her specialty is edible sculptures and believes food should be fun and for everyone.  More Info below.