This week I had the pleasure of helping plan a menu and facilitating an interactive workshop for the Tsya:ta nihati tehotinonnyahkwenh (Star Dancers) Summer Camp. This camp brings together Onkwehon:we and non-Onkwehon:we youth to learn and play, with each day guided by a different Haudenosaunee story.
The focus was on the Three Sisters on the day I helped out. The programming for the day was carried out at the Our Sustenance greenhouse on Fourth Line. The morning snack prepared for the participants was a yogurt cup with homemade granola and peaches in maple syrup. After their snack, I had the pleasure of guiding the youth through an interactive workshop covering what I know about cooking a three sisters soup and bannock.
All of the ingredients were sourced locally or from the greenhouse. This seemingly simple meal is more than the sum of its ingredients. Because of its freshness, very little needed to be done other than treat the ingredients with respect and let them speak for themselves.
For some of the youth there was a familiarity with what we were doing, to others it was new.
The smiles on their faces showed the joy and interest they had in working with food. Many kept asking for more tasks once their first or second one was done. I feel it was a true collective cooking experience that everyone, including myself, left feeling like they had learned something. I gained a deeper understanding of how to communicate cooking skills to youth and will carry that knowledge forward to the next opportunity I have to do the same. After the workshop we shared the same joy in eating the food we had just prepared.
Seasonal, local peaches make a great snack anytime, on their own or however you choose to enjoy them.
Peaches with Granola and Yogurt
Ingredients
- Local Peaches
- Granola (homemade preferably)
- Maple Syrup
- Yogurt
Directions
- If you wish to take the skin off the peaches boil water and submerge them in the water until the skin loosens.
- Their ripeness will dictate how long they are in the water for.
- For a ripe peach, no more than 10 seconds, for an under-ripe one it may take as long as 30 seconds.
- Use your best judgement. Shock in cold or ice water to stop the peach from cooking.
- Cut them up to whatever size you want and if they’re not as sweet as you like toss in a bowl with a little maple syrup.
To make granola, coat rolled oats with oil, a pinch of salt and maple syrup (or brown sugar) to the level of sweetness you like. Heat your oven to 300F or lower if you have the time. Lay the mixture on a baking sheet and bake in oven until golden brown. Mix regularly to achieve an even colour. Let cool.
Layer, yogurt, granola and peaches in a cup or bowl however you like. Enjoy!
