Sticky Fingers Cooking Of Dallas

Join us for Cooking Summer Camps at Garland Parks and Recreation!

👨‍🍳 Recipe of the Week: Egyptian Farm-tastic Falafel on a Stick with Cool-as-a-Cucumber Tahini Sauce + Minty Cucumber Cooler 👨‍🍳

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes across the country are whipping up a popular Middle Eastern dish: Falafel! First our kid chefs will rinse, drain and pop the skins off of the chickpeas and combine them with spices in a bowl. Then kids will sprinkle flour over the mixture, toss everything and set it aside. Next, kids will mince a garlic clove and fresh parsley, squeeze in the juice of a lemon, and dice up green onions. After mixing to combine everything, kids will mash the mixture using a potato masher or immersion blender, making a thick paste. Kids will then roll the mixture into small slightly flattened balls. With Chef Instructor help, kids will then fry up the falafel for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until crispy and golden brown. After letting them cool slightly, kids will pierce them with pretzel sticks, toothpicks, or ice pop sticks to serve.

Then it’s on to the Cool-as-a-Cucumber Tahini Sauce! Using a cheese grater, our kid chefs will grate a cucumber into a bowl, then squeeze out the excess liquid. Kids will chop up an apple into small chunks, then tear up a handful of fresh mint into small bits. Next, kids will combine the cucumber, apple, and mint in the bowl and measure out and add yogurt and tahini. After whisking the cucumber dip until smooth, kids will add salt and pepper to taste and serve with the Falafels on a stick!

Finally, for the Minty Cucumber Coolers, kids will tear mint leaves into pieces and mix with honey and hot water. Then kids will peel a cucumber, slice it in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and put the cucumber into a blender (or pitcher for use with an immersion blender), along with the honey water and mint. After squeezing the juice of a lemon into the blender and adding ice, kids will blend it all up until nice and smooth! Cheers!

✨ Hands-on, full of flavor, and fun – this week’s recipe keeps kids active, engaged and discovering new tastes from across the globe!

🍅 Recipe Review: Peerless Puttanesca! 🍅

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes nationwide whipped up Ava's Chickpea Puttanesca (pooh-tuh-NEH-skuh), a savory tomato sauce punctuated by olives and capers! First our kid chefs rinsed and drained the chickpeas, then smashed, peeled, and minced the garlic. Next, kids diced roma tomatoes and olives, then tore basil leaves and set them to the side. With Chef Instructor help, kids cooked the minced garlic, capers, sugar and salt until tender (about 2 to 5 minutes). Then kids stirred in the chickpeas, diced tomatoes, and diced olives. After bringing the sauce to a boil, kids then reduced the heat to low, covered, and let simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Our kid chefs then tasted and adjusted as needed. "È squisito" (EH skwee-ZEE-toh) or "It's delicious" in Italian! Isn’t it great to hear a kid say:

💬 “I love polenta!”

Then it was on to the Crispy Polenta Cakes! Kids sliced the polenta into disks, then sprinkled with salt, black pepper, and olive oil. With Chef Instructor help, kids fried the polenta cakes for 3 to 5 minutes on both sides and served with Ava's Puttanesca Sauce and a sprinkle of optional Parmesan cheese! "Buon appetito" (Bwohn ap-peh-TEE-toe) or "Enjoy your meal" in Italian!

Lastly, for the Awesome Basil-Lemon Italian Ice, kids tore a handful of basil leaves and added them to a blender (or pitcher for use with an immersion blender). Then our kid chefs sliced lemons, and grated the lemon zest and squeezed the lemon juice into the blender. After adding sugar, ice and water, kids blended the mixture until thick and smooth! Kids adjusted if needed, then poured into cups. "Salute" (sah-LOO-teh) or "Cheers" in Italian!

✨ Fun to make, quick to prepare, and bursting with flavor—this meal brought the taste of Italy right to the kids’ table!

Food allergies are a part of so many families’ everyday lives—and at Sticky Fingers Cooking, creating an inclusive classroom/camp where every child feels safe, confident, and excited to cook is something we care deeply about. 🧑‍🍳 🥣

During Food Allergy Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the power of teaching kids about food, kitchen safety, ingredient awareness, and empathy around the table. Exploring new foods in a supportive environment, our summer camps are designed to help kids build confidence while having a whole lot of fun!

Because every child deserves the chance to stir, chop, taste, and create delicious memories 🥕🍓👩‍🍳 Learn more:
https://stickyfingerscooking.com/pages/a-guide-for-parents-food-allergy-substitutions

☀️ Summer Camps are filling fast—come cook with us this summer and give your child a hands-on experience they’ll never forget!
https://stickyfingerscooking.com/camps

🍅 Recipe of the Week: Ava's Chickpea Puttanesca + Crispy Polenta Cakes + Italian Ice 🍅

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes nationwide are whipping up Ava's Chickpea Puttanesca (pooh-tuh-NEH-skuh), a savory tomato sauce punctuated by olives and capers! First our kid chefs will rinse and drain the chickpeas, then smash, peel, and mince the garlic. Next, kids will dice roma tomatoes and olives, then tear basil leaves and set them to the side. With Chef Instructor help, kids will cook the minced garlic, capers, sugar and salt until tender (about 2 to 5 minutes). Then kids will stir in the chickpeas, diced tomatoes, and diced olives. After bringing the sauce to a boil, kids will reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Our kid chefs will then taste and adjust as needed. "È squisito" (EH skwee-ZEE-toh) or "It's delicious" in Italian!

Then it’s on to the Crispy Polenta Cakes! Kids will slice the polenta into disks then sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and olive oil. With Chef Instructor help, kids will fry the polenta cakes for 3 to 5 minutes on both sides and serve with Ava's Puttanesca Sauce and a sprinkle of optional Parmesan cheese! "Buon appetito" (Bwohn ap-peh-TEE-toe) or "Enjoy your meal" in Italian!

Lastly, for the Awesome Basil-Lemon Italian Ice, kids will tear a handful of basil leaves and add them to a blender (or pitcher for use with an immersion blender). Then our kid chefs will slice lemons, and grate the lemon zest and squeeze the lemon juice into the blender. After adding sugar, ice and water, kids will blend until thick and smooth! Kids will adjust if needed, then pour into cups. "Salute" (sah-LOO-teh) or "Cheers" in Italian!

✨ Fun to make, quick to prepare, and bursting with flavor—this meal brings the taste of Italy right to the kids’ table!

🥧 Recipe Review: Marvelous "Mustikkapiirakka" Blueberry Pie!🥧

"Tervetuloa" (TEHR-veh-tuhl-uh) or "Welcome" in Finnish!

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes from coast to coast whipped up a traditional Finnish dish: Mini Finnish "Mustikkapiirakka" Blueberry Pies! Our kid chefs started by making the pie crust - first they combined sugar, butter, and eggs in a large mixing bowl and mixed with a fork. Next, they measured and added flour and baking powder and mixed again until well combined. Then kids pressed about 1 tablespoon of pie crust into each well of the cupcake maker, spreading it out evenly. Then kids baked the crusts for about 5 to 10 minutes until they began to get slightly golden. Next, the kids made the pie custard! In a clean mixing bowl, kids combined yogurt, vanilla extract, eggs, and sugar. After stirring everything up, and gently folding in blueberries, kids spooned the pie custard equally into each mini pie crust, then baked for about 15 minutes.

While the pies baked, kids mixed up our delicious Easy Peasy Lemon Drizzle! First, kids washed and zested a lemon and combined the lemon zest with powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. After adding lemon juice and stirring until the powdered sugar dissolved, kids drizzled the mixture over the pies before serving! "Se on herkullista" (Say ohn HAIR-kul-lees-tuh) or "It's delicious" in Finnish!

Lastly, for the "Mustikkamaito" Finnish Blueberry Milk, kids measured out and added blueberries, milk, sugar, and ice to a blender or pitcher (for use with an immersion blender). Our kid chefs blended until creamy and thick, tasted and adjusted flavors as needed! "Kippis" (KIHP-pihs) or "Cheers" in Finnish!

✨ Fun to make, quick to prepare, and packed with flavor —this week’s recipe reminds us how fun it is to explore world cuisines, one bite at a time!

🥧 Recipe of the Week: Mini Finnish "Mustikkapiirakka" Blueberry Pie + Lemon Drizzle + "Mustikkamaito" Blueberry Milk 🥛

"Tervetuloa" (TEHR-veh-tuhl-uh) or "Welcome" in Finnish!

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes from coast to coast are whipping up a traditional Finnish dish: Mini Finnish "Mustikkapiirakka" Blueberry Pies! Our kid chefs will start by making the pie crust. First they’ll combine sugar, butter, and eggs in a large mixing bowl and mix with a fork. Next, they will measure and add flour and baking powder and mix again until well combined. Then kids will press about 1 tablespoon of pie crust into each well of the cupcake maker, spreading it out evenly. Then kids will bake the crusts for about 5 to 10 minutes until they begin to get slightly golden. Next, the kids will make the pie custard! In a clean mixing bowl, kids will combine yogurt, vanilla extract, eggs, and sugar. After stirring everything up, and gently folding in blueberries, kids will spoon the pie custard equally into each mini pie crust, then bake for about 15 minutes.

While the pies bake, kids will mix up our delicious Easy Peasy Lemon Drizzle! First, kids will wash and zest a lemon and combine the lemon zest with powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. After adding lemon juice and stirring until the powdered sugar has dissolved, kids will drizzle the mixture over the pies before serving! "Se on herkullista" (Say ohn HAIR-kul-lees-tuh) or "It's delicious" in Finnish!

Lastly, for the "Mustikkamaito" Finnish Blueberry Milk, kids will measure out and add blueberries, milk, sugar, and ice to a blender or pitcher (for use with an immersion blender). Our kid chefs will blend until creamy and thick, taste and adjust flavors as needed! "Kippis" (KIHP-pihs) or "Cheers" in Finnish!

✨ Fun to make, quick to prepare, and packed with flavor —this week’s recipe reminds us how fun it is to explore world cuisines, one bite at a time!

🧀 Recipe Review: Bueno Black Bean Cakes! 🧀

"Bienvenido" (Byehm-beh-NEE-dho) or "Welcome" in Spanish!

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes nationwide whipped up a flavorful favorite: Muy Bueno Black Bean Cakes! First, our kid chefs rinsed and drained black beans and added them to a mixing bowl, smashing them slightly with a potato masher. Then kids shredded and added Colby Jack or another cheese to the beans and mixed. Then our kid chefs sliced green onions and green bell pepper, and tore cilantro leaves into small pieces. After adding the prepared veggies to the mixing bowl with the beans and cheese, kids minced and added garlic cloves. Lastly, kids added spices, cornmeal and 2 cracked eggs. With Chef Instructor help, kids dropped spoonfuls of black bean mixture into the skillet and flattened them with a spatula, frying the cakes for 5 to 6 minutes per side or until golden brown, firm, and crisp. Kids then drained the cakes on paper towels. Love this kid quote from this week!

💬 "I wish there was a Sticky Fingers restaurant!"

While the cakes cooled, kids mixed up our tasty Groovy Green Savory Sauce! First, kids tore cilantro leaves into tiny pieces, then smashed, peeled and minced a garlic clove. Next, kids sliced and squeezed a lime into the mix. Then kids measured and whisked in olive oil, soy sauce, honey, and salt and black pepper. Kids drizzled the sauce over the cakes to top them off! "Es delicioso" (Ehs deh-lee-SYOH-soh) or "It's delicious" in Spanish!

Finally, for the Creamy Coconut Cuban Coolers, kids sliced limes and squeezed them into the blender (or pitcher for use with an immersion blender.) Then kids measured and added coconut milk, honey or sugar, cold water, and ice to the blender. After blending until smooth, kids topped the beverage with sparkling water and stirred before pouring into cups. "Salud" (Sah-lood) or "Cheers" in Spanish!

✨ Hands-on, tasty, and fun – this week’s recipe kept kids active, engaged and discovering new flavors!

🌸 What’s in Season: May 🌸

Cooking with seasonal ingredients makes such a difference. Flavors are more vibrant, colors pop, and it turns every recipe into a hands-on learning experience kids can really connect with. 🌱✨

That’s exactly what we bring into our classes and summer camps—giving kids the chance to work with fresh, in-season ingredients while building real kitchen skills, confidence, and creativity 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

☀️ Summer camps are where it all comes together—fun, learning, and cooking from scratch using what’s freshest right now.

Spots are filling quickly, and we’re getting close to capacity in many locations!

👉 Explore summer camps here and save your spot before they’re sold out
https://stickyfingerscooking.com/camps