Top photo: Smiling Diane Barrett cooking.
Middle photo: Diane has an audience. L-R: Diane Barrett, Sinea Runnels, Zachery Diaz (in hat behind), Emily Zollinger, and Xolymar Franco.
Bottom photo: Order Up!
Silver City, New Mexico, June 29, 2015: Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (YSAPC) is giving local youth a chance to hash sling with professionals this summer. Every Thursday a local chef will share a recipe for free with participants at the 10:30 a.m. in The Volunteer Center's Nuevos Comienzos Kitchen, 501 E. 13th St.
The time honored tradition of hash slinging, more mundanely known as cooking, is a new activity to this year's list of 101 Things For Youth To Do In Grant County. The activity was added because youth who cook with their parents are less likely to abuse drugs, according to a study by the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.
Co-owner of Diane's Restaurant and Bakery, Diane Barrett shared an Italian tomato sauce recipe during last Thursday's initial demonstration.
Barrett said, "This is the first recipe I cooked for myself. It's a great base sauce you can use to create several dishes like stuffed zucchini or lasagna."
The crowd of youth learned the secret techniques to create Barrett's famous spaghetti sauce. "The key is to take time for the food to gather its flavor, and caramelizing is the secret to a good sauce," added Barrett as she served up the spaghetti, cheesy garlic bread and a garden salad.
"You can taste the individual flavors," said Sinea Runnels, who attended to complete the activity from the list of 101 Things For Youth To Do In Grant County, a program that offers free activities for youth at over 60 local establishments throughout the summer. The cooking demonstration is activity #11 "become a hash slinger on Thursdays."
Barrett also taught cutting techniques, including safety tips like how to keep mushrooms from rolling around on the cutting board. Hint: Nip one side of the mushroom's top so it can lay flat on the cutting board.
Barrett also praised the equipment at the Nuevos Cominenzos' community commercial kitchen, "Beautiful kettles here at the Volunteer Center!"
This Thursday, July 2, 2015, Priscilla Lucero will teach youth to make home-made flour tortillas. Lucero says, "I don't want our traditions to be lost, and it's important to share our regional recipes with our youth to preserve our community's culture."
The cooking demonstrations are free, and part of the 101 Things For Youth To Do In Grant County Youth. The summer challenge requires youth to complete twenty activities, and at least ten activities must be at local establishments, to be eligible for weekly prize drawings. Entry cards are available during the cooking demonstrations and at all public libraries in the Grant County.
The YSAPC is composed of 25 service providers and invested community members dedicated to creating an environment that cultivates healthy productive lifestyles through policy and advocacy change that promotes resilient and empowered youth.
To RSVP a spot in any of the upcoming cooking demonstrations call the YSAPC at (575) 388-1198 or to learn more visit their website at www.facebook.com/YSAPC.
Hash sling schedule:
- July 2 - Priscilla Lucero, New Mexico Southwest Council of Governments
- July 9 - TBA
- July 16 - Tina Klassen, Millie's Bake House
- July 23 - Rob Connoley, The Curious Kumquat