FREE Sustainable Cooking Lessons offered by EcoCircle

By Elena Vlachopoulos

The EcoCircle club here at KSS has decided to reach out to our community….with a tasty twist!  

Hosting the first of many, EcoCircle has put together a series of FREE cooking classes that feature recipes that are kind to the environment. Not only do you learn to cook delicious, eco-friendly recipes but you’ll also get to take the food home! 

If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, keep an eye out for our upcoming baking activities!

You can sign up with the instructions on the posters around the school and/or by going to see Mrs. Irvine in the library. The workshops are usually after school and last from 3:00-4:00 pm.

Having the opportunity to attend one of these events, I found it to be quite informative on baking with local ingredients, and at the same time, having fun!

As we know, there are many orchards around the Kingston area, and making small choices—like using produce from nearby farms—can make a big difference for the planet.

If you happen to have a couple of tasty apples laying around, you might want to try this recipe!

Here is the simple yet rewarding recipe that the club followed to make delicious Apple Crisp!

Apple Crisp

Ready in: 1 hour Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients:

Crumble:

• 2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 cup salted butter, cut into small pieces

Apple Filling:

• 3–4 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced

• 3 Tablespoons salted butter, melted

• 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

• 3 Tablespoons milk

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/4 cup light brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. In a medium-size bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder.

3. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or fork until well combined. Refrigerate while you prepare the apple filling.

4. In a small bowl, stir together melted butter and flour until smooth.

5. Add lemon juice, milk, and vanilla and stir. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

6. Pour butter mixture over apples and toss to coat. Pour apple mixture into an 8×8-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle crumble topping evenly over the apples.

7. Bake for about 35 minutes or until golden brown and top is set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Pro tip: Use margarine instead of butter