「這是我們第一次自己從頭到尾準備午餐!」在睦祥服務近七年的我們,驚訝地聽到孩子們第一次這麼說。以前的課程我們曾經帶孩子們做過杯子蛋糕、薑餅人、披薩、壽司,但這是第一次孩子們從前菜、主餐、到甜點都自己一手包辦。

“This is the first time we’ve prepared and cooked our own lunch” – this line coming from the kids after having been at MuHsiang for close to seven years surprised us. English below!

通常孩子們假日的時間都是有安排活動的,但令人吃驚的是,孩子們從沒機會學習如何烹調自己的食物。準備食物是生活中不可或缺的一部分,學會如何準備食材與簡單地烹飪更是孩子們未來要獨立生活必需具備的技能之一。

對我們來說,每次回到睦祥都像是回到家一樣地親切,尤其今年即將邁入第七年。今天我們準備了聖派翠克節的文化菜餚課程,孩子們做了一系列又綠又讓人迫不及待想開動的蔬食饗宴。雖然準備的過程中有一些小插曲,但是我們有信心孩子們一定可以克服所有困難的,我們相信孩子們的潛能。

每個孩子都專注在自己分配到的部分,大家一起合力完成今天的午餐。在Paula’s Brownies and Pinatas的帶領下,我們分組做了綠色的椰子糖霜杯子蛋糕、愛爾蘭青醬烤馬鈴薯、腰果泥通心粉和用鳳梨「金塊」點綴的綠色水果盤。

在我們的「曠世巨作們」還在烤箱準備的同時,孩子們認真地學了有關聖派翠克節的歷史,在哪國家有慶祝、是怎麼慶祝的、為什麼要這樣慶祝。然後,本著聖派翠克節幸運黃金的精神,孩子們使用每天會用到的餐具,比賽將100個一元硬幣們一次一次從豆腐盒做的環保寶箱中傳送到每組的小碗。從分組製作餐點到分組玩闖關遊戲,孩子們都能夠體驗到團隊合作。 活動進入尾聲,最後等著他們的是尋找幸運草的遊戲。循著線索,找到最多片葉子的那組就是今天最幸運的大贏家。

一連串的體能遊戲讓孩子們超級開心,也讓他們的胃口大開。在今天活動的問卷中,有些孩子對自己有點沒信心,但大家都說很想再參加嚮光舉辦的工作坊。孩子們寫道今天不只學了如何做菜還學到了團隊合作的重要性。感謝每個今天來陪伴孩子的人!對孩子們有信心,給他們需要的舞台去做想做的事,改變世界,不是難事!

老師 Teacher:Paula Perry | Jessica Yang
攝影師 Photographer: 鄭又綺
大朋友 Big Friends:Yu An Ma | Sarah Perry | Marco Grishaber
廚師 Chef:睦祥育幼院孩子們

攝影師 Photo特別感謝 Special Thanks: 桃園睦祥育幼院 | 劉緣玉 | 小白 | Paula’s Brownies and Pinatas

大朋友 Big Friends:Yu An Ma | Sarah Perry | Marco Grishaber

贊助者 Sponsors:
陳杰妤 | Ishi Lin | Angela Lin | Sarah Milne | Yueh-Chin Ho | 捷式股份有限公司 | 筵恩課後照顧服務中心 | 賴曉沛 | 蘇建丞 | 鍾采蓁 | Jed Chen | Kelly Lin | 雨華浮雲 | Julie Shih | 陳金陵| 楊淨雯 | 葉盈蘭 | Ishi Lin | Angela Lin | 王耀漢 | Josephine Cheng | 陳韻如 | MJGPublishing OU | 李靖棠 | 無名60967 玉山 | 楊涵淇 | 王淑貞

特別感謝 Special Thanks: 桃園睦祥育幼院 | 劉緣玉 | 小白 | Paula’s Brownies and Pinatas
贊助者 Sponsors:
陳杰妤 | Ishi Lin | Angela Lin | Sarah Milne | Yueh-Chin Ho | 捷式股份有限公司 | 筵恩課後照顧服務中心 | 賴曉沛 | 蘇建丞 | 鍾采蓁 | Jed Chen | Kelly Lin | 雨華浮雲 | Julie Shih | 陳金陵| 楊淨雯 | 葉盈蘭 | Ishi Lin | Angela Lin | 王耀漢 | Josephine Cheng | 陳韻如 | MJGPublishing OU | 李靖棠 | 無名60967 玉山 | 楊涵淇 | 王淑貞

“This is the first time we’ve prepared and cooked our own lunch” – this line coming from the kids after having been at MuHsiang for close to seven years surprised us. We realized that although we had made food with kids it was always just a small supplement; from cupcakes, gingerbread cookies, pizzas, some sushi; but never once did we let children actually take control of an entire meal including the main course to the dessert.

With their weekend schedules always packed, it was also amazing that no other group that visited them never empowered the kids to cook their own meal. Food is an essential; being able to actually prepare food prepares us for independence and our future.

For us, returning to MuHsiang has been like coming home more than anything especially this being our seventh year. Today we designed a St. Patrick’s cultural cuisine class so kids could make a very green and mouth watering plant-based feast. There were a lot of concerns on safety and the rundown but we were confident the kids could pull it off. We trust them.

Everyone participated in scooping, cutting, cleaning, and being responsible for their team’s meal that was part of our lunch.

We split into groups with Paula’s Brownies and Pinatas taking lead  on the “know hows” to create green hued cupcakes with coconut whip cream, twiced baked “irish” potatoes with pesto mash, cashew based creamy mac and cheese, and a pot of green fruit salad with pineapple “gold nuggets.”

While our masterpieces baked, we introduced the history behind the holiday and how it was celebrated in different countries as well as why. In the spirit of the lucky gold of St. Patricks, we had 100 coins per group they had to transfer from our upcycled homemade “treasure” (tofu) chests using everyday utensils; based on who answered the right questions from the presentation. They worked in teams from making the meals to playing the games. The rest of the day turned into scenes from the Amazing Race as a shamrock scavenger hunt bundled with clues to solve awaited them.

The kids had so much fun and the physical activity helped them work up their appetite. In our post workshop surveys while some wavered on their confidence levels, all indicated that they would love to join our workshops again, indicating they learned not only how to cook but how to work in teams. Thank you everyone who supported the kids today! Having trust in kids and believing they can achieve, giving them the platform to do so, makes a change in the world!