Kids' classes cook up fun

Cooking isn't merely a way to keep kids busy during the summer; it's a survival skill.

Kids who can put together a meal won't grow up having to rely on fast food or frozen dinners. Also, they have a better appreciation of what goes into home cooking. And the immediate payoff comes when they can give Mom a hand with dinner.

Cooking skills can be taught in your own home, but it's fun to go to a class and let someone else do the teaching. And kids get to eat their homework, too.

The Viking Cooking School at 2233 S. 300 East is new this year. In addition to its wealth of year-round classes, it offers summer camps and workshops for children and teens. For instance, "Hot Cooking Trends Camp" forkids focuses on five trendy concepts: "small plates," Latin American and Asian cuisines, "mood food" and "going green" with earth-friendly ingredients. Some of the dishes they will make include trifecta turkey burgers, grilled Turkish chicken kebabs, lemon shrimp bruschetta, tortilla soup, fish tacos, dulce de leche ice cream, spring rolls, Korean barbecue in lettuce cups, and mixed berry muffins. Although the menus for both kids' and teens' camps are identical, they are designed to teach age-appropriate cooking skills in a suitable time frame, according to culinary director Cathy Mooers.

The five-day camp runs each day from 10 a.m.-noon, and the cost is $175 for kids and $188 for teens.

Here's a rundown of class venues around the state:

Viking Cooking School, 1122 S. 300 East, offers:

"Teens: One-Day Culinary Camp," June 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and again July 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., $49; "Teens: Italian Cuisine," June 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., $49; "Kids Italian Pasta Party," June 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and again Aug. 5, 10 a.m.-noon, $30; "Teens: Cake Decorating," June 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., $45; ""Kids: Pizza Party," June 18, 6-8 p.m., $30; "Kids Camp: Hot Cooking Trends," June 22-26, 10 a.m.-noon, and again July 6-10, 10 a.m.- noon, $175; "Teens Camp: Hot New Cooking Trends," June 22-26, 2-4:30 p.m., and again July 6-10, 2-4:30 p.m., $188; "Kids Camp: American Summer Tour" June 29-July 3, 10 a.m.-noon, $175; "Teens Camp: Summer Essentials," June 29-July 3, 2:30-5 p.m., and again July 20-24, 2-4:30 p.m., $175; "Teens: Cookie Workshop, Fun With Fondant," July 2, 6-9 p.m., $30; "Kids: Cooking for Any Occasion," July 20-24, 10 a.m.-noon, $175; "Kids: Kansas City Steak House," Aug. 1, 10 a.m.-noon; "Teens: Chocolate Workshop," Aug. 5, 6-9 p.m., $35

Register at 801-464-0113 or vikingcookingschool.com

Blue Lemon, 11073 N. Alpine Highway, in Highland, offers kids' classes during June and July on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Classes are $12 each or $60 for the whole block of six classes.