MIDVALE, UT — The Baking and Pastry class at Hillcrest High School is a great opportunity for students to learn hands-on baking skills used in the food industry. The class is taught by Ms. Woodland, who is in her fourth year of teaching at Hillcrest and her third year teaching Baking and Pastry. The class focuses on baked goods and desserts. Students are required to complete Intro to Foods and Culinary 1 as a prerequisite to be prepared with the right knowledge.
The course begins with a safety and sanitation unit, which is required before students start baking. Students also take the food handler’s permit test, which is important for anyone who is interested in working in the food industry since it helps students prepare for college-level classes and jobs in the food industry. Students learn how to make breads, cookies, cakes, pastries, and different fillings throughout the semester.
Even though the class is very enjoyable, it also comes with many challenges. Ms. Woodland said time management is one of the biggest things students struggle with. “Trying to work together with group and manage time well so everything gets finished on time and students get to their next class is the most difficult part.” One advice Ms. Woodland gives to students who are interested in a culinary career is “Practice, practice, practice,” she said. Cook at home and test things out until you perfect the recipe.
I talked to a few students in the class, and they said they enjoy the fun environment of the class and how they have met such great people through their cooking interest. One student, Alexis, mentioned that not every recipe turns out to be perfect. “We did something wrong with our macaroons, and it was a mess,” she said. “We tried it two different times, but it still didn’t work, which kind of sucked, but it helped us learn.”
Despite the challenges, Alexis said that the class has taught her very valuable skills like safety procedures and, in general, handling things in the kitchen safely. It is a great class if you enjoy cooking or just want to improve your kitchen skills and want to meet new people who share the same interests as you.