Schools nowadays offer interesting field trips for students which are in line with the topics of study in school. Though parents often have to pay a subsidised fee for the trip, I will usually let the boys participate in these trips because I believe that it is important that we expose the boys to new environments, actual hands-on instead of picking up knowledge mainly in class and from books.

Since Darren’s project work is on “Cake”, the School organised a trip to Baking Industry Training Centre (BITC) in Singapore today.  BITC is one of Asia’s premier baking academy.

The trip was a fulfilling one as the students were introduced to the followings:

1) the types and function of the ingredients used for making different cakes

2) weighing  the ingredients needed with the guidance of the instructor

3) hands-on demo on the mixing processes

4) moulding and shaping of the dough by the students

5) baking of cookies

6) uses and functions of the baking equipment and utensils

7) a peep at the “big refrigerator”

8) packing of the cookies

Darren came home very excited and with his bag of chocolate chips, baked during the 2-hour workshop on Baking of Chocolate Chips Cookies.

Here’s the recipe on baking  of chocolate chip cookies with courtesy from BITC.

Ingredients

1. brown sugar - 270 g

2. butter - 230 g

3. vanilla essence - +/-

4. eggs (2 nos) - 105 g

5. plain flour - 395 g

6. cocoa powder - 22 g

7. baking soda - 5 g

8. baking powder - 5 g

9. salt - 4 g

10. chocolate chips - 300 g

11. walnuts - 150 g

Preparation

1. Cream the butter, brown sugar and vanilla essence together.

2. Add in the egg.

3. Add in the sifted dry ingredients

4. Add in the chocolate and nuts last.

5. Shape the cookies by hands.

6. Place on a tray and bake at 170 deg celsius for about 20-25 minutes.