Summer Camps

My wife and I are constantly amazed at the number of summer camps our grandkids are able to attend during one summer (and at the ability of our daughter and her husband to afford these camps). I remember only once growing up that my brother was scheduled to attend a summer camp. He apparently didn't want to go, so he argued with my Mother about going until she finally relented and he didn't have to go. I worked one summer at a camp, as a counselor. This was a camp that families who normally live in New York City, but moved to Spring Valley for the summer, would send their kids. They attended for the entire summer. It was a day camp, and featured games, movies, swimming, baseball, and other harmless activities, freeing the parents for the day (well, freeing the mom's, because the dad's generally had to commute into the city to continue working).
But I digress. Our grandkids attend week-long camps for basketball, soccer, gymnastics, football, and one called "running with scissors", a science camp for 6-8 year olds. This is but a small sample of their camps.
But we just completed one part of a "cooking camp" for our teensome grandson. His idea for the camp is that he wants to learn how to cook (he's a true "foodie"). And he wants his grandma to teach him some of the mysteries of her cooking arts. So, he is now enrolled. The "camp" will be run as a set of cooking classes, each devoted to a specific dinner menu, selected by him. So far, he has selected chicken curry, sour meat, and chicken paprika.
Let the games begin!!. Rev your engines, so to speak, and warm up the stove. The cooking camp has begun.
For his first camp, chicken curry was on the menu. Actually, the whole menu was chicken curry, cheese and pea curry (matar paneer), rice, and some samosas (purchased from the local Gandhi International market) and some tandoori nan.
Michael and his grandma worked for most of an afternoon, with Michael, cutting, chopping, mixing, frying, simmering, and of course tasting as he went, with GM supervising. The best part of this particuar "educational camp" is that it includes the dinner at the end of the day. Michael's siblings were away at their own "camps" in Chapel Hill, so they missed this event.
The final meal was enjoyed by Chef GM, Chef Michael, his parents, and me, the GP. As you can see, a wonderful time was had by all. Next camp may be beamed at chicken paprika. I will report the event fully.

Chef Michael


Chicken Curry


Matar Paneer