By Staff Reports
(Kaua’i)– Every time Rose Warken Ceballos teaches a cooking or baking class for youngsters, she comes up with a new idea to delight the senses.
“I always have so much fun with the keiki. They’re so joyful and really get into the projects so I try to make things exciting for them,” said Ceballos.
Ceballos taught a baking class at the Kalâheo Neighborhood Center as part of the county’s Winter Fun Program.
About 40 youngsters participated in the class, where they learned how to prepare “Rose’s Healthy Banana Cookies”, a recipe created especially for them by Auntie Rose.
Every element was carefully selected so that even those with food allergies could also eat the cookies.
“We used ingredients such as ripe apple bananas instead of sugar, steel cut oats as a substitute for flour, along with apple sauce in place of vegetable oil,” said Ceballos.
She also noted that although walnuts or other types of nuts might have added a nice flavor and texture to the recipe, this ingredient was not included since some youngsters are allergic to nuts.
While the cookies were in the oven, the young bakers played a game where they had to write down all of the ingredients plus the non-food items that were used to make the cookies.
Prizes were awarded to children in two age groups, five to seven and eight to 11, who listed the most items.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the youngsters become famous pastry chefs some day,”said Ceballos.
The county’s Winter Fun Program provides youngsters the opportunity to have fun in a safe environment during their winter break.
Among the other activities offered in the program are: arts and crafts; dancing; board games; exercise; and weather permitting, outdoor games.
Rose‘s Healthy Banana Cookies
6 to 7 ripe apple bananas (instead of sugar)
6 cups steel cut oats/Quaker Oats is totally fine to use (instead of flour)
2 to 3 cups apple sauce (instead of vegetable oil)
1 to 2 tbsp cinnamon
3 to 4 cups dried cranberries
2 to 3 cups dark chocolate
1cup fresh grated carrots
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in the rest of ingredients. Mix well and allow cookies to sit for a couple of minutes while placing aluminum foil on the cookie baking. Drop by teaspoonfuls or roll into semi-flat balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly brown.