A previous Times News recipe contest grand prize winner, Jo Lynn Gazo, knew exactly what one of her projects would be when she was called in to cover Lehighton Area High School’s Independent Living/Family Consumer class this year. It became a perfect opportunity to share her love of recipe creation and cooking with her students.

“I knew it would be fun for my students to do the research and create some appetizing recipes that would appeal to everyone,” Gazo said.

Due to COVID-19, students are not allowed to physically cook the recipes, so they decided to pair with the photography class to document the projects. In addition to entering the Times News recipe contest, students are also creating a class cookbook, which they can keep for future reference and share with their families.

With the project being a graded assignment, Gazo suggested students choose and complete recipes from two contest categories.

“Due to the time constraints, not as many students were able to enter as I would have liked, however, the ones that did covered every category from main dish to desserts,” Gazo said. “Many students were excited to share family recipes with me and also to brainstorm new recipes or twists on old favorites. They also found some unique ways to use leftovers, such as using mashed potatoes to create cookies.”

The categories this year are Main Dish, Appetizers & Snacks, Sandwiches, 30 minutes or Less, Dessert, and Cookies.

Gazo said she hopes the students remember that cooking can be fun, quick and easy, as well as a healthy way to eat. The class’s curriculum covers nutrition, as well as budget-stretching recipes.

“Childhood hunger is an issue in our community, and knowing how to stretch your food by creatively using leftovers or shopping for sale items, is an important lesson,” Gazo said.

Family and Consumer Science classes, formerly known as home economics, have come under attack in many school districts when budget and program cuts are discussed. While it’s often considered “low-hanging fruit” when it comes to money savers, the course, Gazo said, is still of utmost importance because such lessons aren’t always happening at home.

“Families no longer have the time to teach cooking skills to their students, and I feel that students should have access to Family Consumer Science because it can teach them how to feed a family in a healthy and economical manner,” she added. “I hope to convince schools and school boards that the class is essential and students learn lessons for years to come.”

Creating recipes and cooking is a family tradition for Gazo. She credits her grandmothers Mary Oleksa and Rose Horowski for teaching her how to feed families on tight budgets.

“It was at the ‘apron strings’ of those women in my family that I learned how to become the cook and educator I am today,” she said. “I often incorporate their stories in my class, and my students realize that we come from very similar backgrounds.”

The 33rd annual cookbook will be included in the Nov. 5 issue of the Times News.