Breaking it down--Making hummus with the preschoolers

1. Pour Wheat Thins into a bowl.
2. Juice half a lemon, strain and pour into measuring cup.
3. Juice half a lemon, strain and pour into measuring cup.
4. Juice half a lemon, strain and pour into measuring cup.
5. Juice half a lemon, strain and pour into measuring cup.
6. Pour lemon juice into blender.
7. Crackle the paper layers off of a garlic clove.  Squeeze the clove in a garlic press.  This requires a strong five year old.
8. Use tongs to fish slices of roasted red pepper from the Marzetta jar.
9. Work the can-opener to open the Bush's Reduced Salt garbanzo beans.
10. Spot the 1/4 cup line on the measuring cup while I drain the beans.  Say when.  Pour the 1/4 cup of bean liquid into the blender.
11. Drain the can and dump the garbanzos into the blender.
12. Measure 1/2 teaspoon salt and get some of it into the blender.
13. Hold the tablespoon measure in the left hand while pouring olive oil with the right.
14. Someone really strong needs to stir the tahini with the spatula, then measure 1 1/2 T and add to the blender.
15. Use a spatula to mix the ingredients in the blender.  Fit the lid on which is tricky since the lid was in the recent dishwasher meltdown.
16. Push the buttons on the blender.
17. Scrape the sides of the blender with a spatula.
18. Push the buttons on the blender.
19. Scrape the sides of the blender with a spatula.
20. Pour hummus into a bowl, holding the blender steady while the sides are scraped.

• Begin observation/process sketches of the equipment and ingredients.
• If you squeezed four lemon halves, how many lemons tried to teach some math? 
• Save lemon seeds for the Science Table. Discuss why worms don't like lemon rinds in their vermicomposting bin.
• Sniff the lemon juice.  Chalk up the Fruit Group on the food pyramid.
• Sniff the garlic clove.  Look through the paper layers and say "translucent". 
• Say "Peter Piper picked a piece of roasted red pepper" while cherishing alliteration.  Assign  peppers to the Vegetable Group. 
• Talk about sharp edges and recycling cans. 
• Consider the food pyramid group for chick peas and tahini, and remind kids that protein helps us think. 
• Mention in passing the viscosity of olive oil, and the Oil Group of the latest food pyramid version. 
• Give everybody a Wheat Thin from the Grain Group. 
• Use tongs to select carrots, jicama ("that white thing"), and bell pepper slices.
• Chat about ways to add the Dairy Group to this snack. 
• Hummus is the new Ranch dressing!  What color is it?  What gave it that orange color? 
• Review vocabulary--garlic press, measuring cups and spoons, juicer, strainer, blender, spatula, tongs.  
• Applaud individual contributions to this collaboration. 
• Serve tiny cups of water to all the assistants.  Serve tiny cups holding a teaspoon of delicious hummus made by KIDS!  Collect used cups for the garbage.

© 2011 Nancy L. Ruder