Cooking, Learning, and Sweet Treats: Pumpkin Cupcakes & Veggie Pasta with Chef Mario

This week’s EMPWR cooking class was full of creativity, and delicious food as families joined Chef Mario to prepare two new recipes: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Apricot Jam and Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Pasta.

The class began with the savory dish, where students learned how vegetables like butternut squash and cauliflower can be transformed into a comforting and flavorful pasta sauce. Chef Mario guided participants step by step through the cooking process, showing how simple ingredients can create healthy meals that families can easily make at home.

Next came the highlight of the afternoon - pumpkin cupcakes. Instead of traditional frosting, Chef Mario demonstrated how fruit jam can be used as a naturally sweet topping, giving the cupcakes a bright flavor while avoiding the added sugar and heavy ingredients found in many frostings. The kids had a great time spreading apricot jam on their cupcakes.

During the nutrition lesson, we talked about protein and why it is important for growing bodies. Students learned that while many people think of meat when they hear the word protein, there are also many excellent plant-based sources of protein such as beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. These foods not only help our bodies build strong muscles and stay energized, but they are also better for the environment, using fewer natural resources than many animal-based protein sources.

By the end of the class, the tables were full of smiling families enjoying their food together. Moments like these remind us that learning about healthy eating can be fun, hands-on, and deeply connected to community.

We are grateful to Chef Mario for sharing his creativity and knowledge with our students and families.