Review:July Neighborhood Dad’s Classroom
We are very much looking forward to our first field trip with the children, where we will be making peach chung and peach mozzi. The class will be held at a farm classroom, and we are all quite excited. The journey there will be a bit lengthy, with a 40-minute bus ride and a 30-minute walk. Our primary concern is the bus schedule, as there are limited options.
The bus that arrives closest to the stop, within 10 minutes, is scheduled to arrive after the class begins at 10 a.m. Taking an earlier bus would require a walk of over 40 minutes to arrive on time. It will be a special experience to see the countryside. We anticipate seeing various fruits and animals. The most challenging aspect of the journey is avoiding the dogs, which are often present, and occasionally, their leashes are loose on the road we need to pass.
While finding the destination is not easy with maps, there are not many buildings or signs to guide us. However, using GPS and comparing directions makes it much simpler. We are grateful for mobile technology.
The session begins with peach appetizers, which offer a delightful and refreshing taste, and the peaches seem to be sourced from a reputable peach farm. The classroom and the peach farm are conveniently located in the same area.
Various activities are available for children, including bubble sticks, water guns, and a drum. I had not anticipated playing the drum outdoors, and I am curious about how the sound of drumming would resonate in a tranquil natural setting.
Preparing the chung is a straightforward process, involving cutting the peaches into small pieces. Smaller pieces are ideal for the ade drink, while slightly larger pieces provide a desirable chewy texture.
All the sliced peaches are placed in a bowl with a measured amount of sugar, which is mixed until it dissolves. The organizer assists with measuring the sugar using a scale, a formality that I do not find particularly noteworthy.
The final step in making the chung involves placing the mixture, prepared by the children and myself, into the designated jars.
The most crucial aspect is ensuring all the water from the fruit surfaces is collected. The first half of the task has been completed successfully.
The next culinary endeavor involves crafting a mozzi with a soft texture and delightful sweetness, a process that has proven somewhat challenging.
While the recipe calls for specific ingredient combinations and techniques, our attempts have not yielded the desired results. The crucial step involves pounding the mixed ingredients, avoiding finger mixing, but my children’s desire to participate has led to finger mixing.
Consequently, the mixture adheres to everything, including their fingers, the cutting board, the bowl, and even the table. The instructor’s efforts to assist in making mozzi directly resulted in a similar appearance, but once my children touched the dough, it reverted to a sticky mass.
Despite several attempts by the instructor to conduct the mozzi-making class at our table, the process proved unsuccessful, leading to the abandonment of the cooking class at our home. After numerous attempts, everyone has conceded defeat.
We have decided to explore a new area. There are animals in the peach field, roaming freely without restraints. The children, unconcerned with the cooking, are delighted to explore the new surroundings with us.
The most cherished memory of today is not the class itself, but rather the gentle breeze during our walk to the class with the children, the close observation of the peach trees, the stream adjacent to the farm field, and the comfortable conversations we shared.
