Plymouth High School Susan Kuckie, the family and consumer sciences teacher, welcomed the PHS Chinese teacher and her classes into her culinary labs to cook dumplings in honor of the Chinese New Year.
PHS Chinese teacher Mei Guan said dumplings are a popular food in northern China. “Dumplings are the typical food that Chinese people eat during Chinese New Year and in their daily lives. I want the Chinese students to experience making dumplings and to taste them”.
Dumplings are seen as a meaningful symbol as they express aspirations for a better life, and is also believed that the food actually brings good fortune financially.
Students in both Kuckie’s and Guan’s classes listened carefully to the instructions provided by PHS Chinese teacher Ms. Guan and were excited to roll up their sleeves and get started with their own authentic dumplings. Both teachers worked collaboratively with their students and guided them through the processes.
Students first had to gather all ingredients, stuff the dumplings with a mixture of chicken, beef and pork, and shape them into a crescent-moon-shape, and lastly the raw end product was placed into boiling water to cook.
Guan said dumplings are the typical plate served during Chinese New Year and the ultimate goal of this collaborative activity was for the Chinese and culinary students to experience the process and taste of the dumplings.
Throughout the two-day lesson, both teachers were there to provide supervision and guidance to their students. Ms. Kuckie said, “It was great to see collaboration between my culinary students and the Chinese students, to enjoy delicious dumplings and to learn about other cultures, foods, and traditions.”
Photos captured by PHS advanced Career Marketing Yessica Renteria.
