By: Kristen Hearn

Thanks to our partnership with Dierbergs Markets, the Pujols Family Foundation was able to offer the Batter Up! Cooking Experience for the fifth consecutive summer. With the support of our co-sponsor, the Riverbend Down Syndrome Association, we were once again were able to offer classes not only in St. Louis, Missouri, but also in Illinois. Our families traveled near and far to be able to take advantage of the yummy offerings that Dierbergs had in store for them. During the last cooking class of 2012, which was held in Edwardsville, we had local attendees as well as, from Florissant, MO and Bloomington, IL. To celebrate summer, the menu offered the perfect midwestern fare: BBQ chicken legs, corn on the cob, broccoli summertime salad, and deviled eggs! For dessert, there were recipes for scrumptious strawberry streusel shortcake and even peach smoothies. This was truly an event where there was something for everyone!

Once the teams received their assignments and instructions, they were then quickly off to work! Each pair was tasked with one recipe apiece, and they took a lot of pride in their part of the meal. One child was careful to tell her mother that the group was counting on them, and the parents knew that this was serious business! While talking to the families about preparing the meals, they were in agreement that eating and enjoying the finished product was the easiest! I agreed, especially with the strawberry streusel.The challenge was to not sample ingredients before the recipe was completed. One mom did fess up to sampling a bite or two, however there were plenty of watchful eyes making sure there would be enough for everyone.

Once the meal was done, everyone got to taste the ‘fruit’ of their labors, somewhat literally. Everything was delicious. It allowed plenty of time for everyone to make new friends, catch up with familiar faces, and share with one another. One of the moms said that her favorite thing about the classes was spending one-on-one quality time with her son, to which he exclaimed playfully, “No, mom; it was the strawberry cake!” And by the looks of it, or ‘tastes’ of it, many of his fellow chefs agreed. I think that the recipes learned at the cooking classes will become a regular staple in more than a few households.