Contact: Laurie Hogan (336) 370-8307
Created: 11/6/2009 10:24:19 AM

In preparation for the upcoming holidays, culinary arts students at Weaver Academy shared tips for preparing holiday meals during the superintendent's media briefing on Wednesday. Culinary Arts is just one of the many vocational programs offered through Career and Technical Education at Weaver. Students from across the district can take the specialized classes that are not available at their home high schools.

Avery Miller, a student from Page High, shared directions on how to prepare a turkey or chicken for baking. Ali Mustafa, a student from Ragsdale High, demonstrated his own recipe for pumpkin mousse. Crystal Stanley, a student from Northwest High, shared a pie crust recipe and demonstrated the proper technique for preparing a pie crust for baking and serving pie slices. (Follow the link at the end of the story to watch the media briefing and student cooking demonstrations.)

Pumpkin Mousse Ingredients: 2 cups heavy cream, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 can pumpkin, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, 1 cup vanilla pastry cream or prepared instant vanilla pudding

Pumpkin Mousse Directions: In a cold mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream until slightly thickened. Add the sugar and continue to whip until it forms soft peaks. Divide whipped cream into two equal portions and set aside. Whisk together the pumpkin, spices and pastry cream (or pudding). Fold one portion of the whipping cream into the pumpkin mixture until smooth and even in color. Spoon into serving dishes and top with remaining whipped cream.

Pie Crust Ingredients: 8 ounces vegetable shortening, 16 ounces cake flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 4 ounces cold water

Pie Crust Directions: To make the crust, break shortening into flour to form large nuggets the size of walnuts. Dissolve salt in water. Add cold water to flour and shortening and mix just enough to form a dough. Allow dough to rest one hour. Roll out dough for a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for five to eight minutes in an oven preheated to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.