Bean Keeper baking lesson plan By Jane Hayes for Evergreen

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Bean Keeper Baking Lesson Plan By Jane Hayes, Evergreen Food Garden Consultant

Grade level Grades 9-12 Subjects Social Sciences and Humanities – Family Studies: Food and Nutrition (Gr 9

and 10); Individual and Family Living (Gr.9 and 10); Managing Personal and Family Resources (Gr 11); Food and Nutrition Sciences (12)

Keywords Food, nutrition, local, diversity, food security Description Students take a look at how to prepare bean treats through baking. Curriculum framework

Food and Nutrition: Food Needs of Individuals and Families, Food Choices, Nutritional Health and Well-Being, Consumer Awareness, Canadian Food Supply and Production, Global Food Issues (Gr 9-10); Factors Affecting Food Choices, Nutritional Status of Canadians, Nutrition and Health, Factors Affecting Food Production and Supply, Food Security and Hunger (Gr 12) Individual and Family Living: Resource Management, Consumer Awareness (Gr 9-10)

Preparation Preparation Time: 1 hour

Length of Lesson: 45 – 60 min Introduction Food may seem like a very personal choice, but food is also a reflection of

cultural choices and how society is organized. When we look into our cupboards and fridges, there’s a lot we can understand by asking a few questions about the food and raw ingredients for making food. How did the ingredients / food get there? Where was it grown? Who grew it and for whom? Is it whole food or processed? Will the food nourish the body? If it isn’t nourishing, why is it there? How many steps were involved in making it what it is? What were the social and environmental relationships like along the way? What is the cultural significance of the food?

About bean treats: See below* for how these recipes were selected and by

whom.

Bean Keeper baking lesson plan By Jane Hayes for Evergreen

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Activity: Baking bean cookies Objectives To bake bean treats using locally grown beans. To stimulate learning and

discussion about baking, where food comes from, how different people make food, and nutrition.

Preparation Select the recipe/recipes that your class will use. The three recipes below have been tested by youth groups and are very tasty. Determine the number of groups that will be baking (groups of 4 work well). Obtain ingredients and baking supplies for each group as well as access to an oven. For each group you’ll need:

Recipe sheets Ingredients - try to find ingredients that are local if possible. For

example, beans may come from a school garden or a grocery store. Baking pans, 1-2 mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, stirring

spoons, spoons for dropping cookies onto baking sheet, plates or racks to cool cookies, tins or tupperware for cookies

Access to an oven Optional: nutritional information on ingredients being used

Activity directions

1. Break students into groups and give them the supplies they need. 2. Invite students to follow the recipes. 3. Eat a few cookies and save a few to eat later. 4. Possible discussions to have while enjoying the cookies: the nutritional

value of the cookies; where the ingredients came from; why we might want to have a recipe for bean cookies.

Bean Keeper treat recipes

*Recipes were researched and tested by the Garden Jane nutrition team with the help of Parkdale youth. We aimed to find yummy (and ideally healthy) treats to share with fellow bean lovers and Bean Keepers. The chocolate chip cookie recipes are relatively healthy options and quite tasty. The chocolate brownie recipe won the youth taste test, undoubtedly due to its decadence. Thanks to Rachel Masters, Leslie Cauchi, Emma Rooney, Marsha Ostrovsky, Jane Hayes as well as Greenest City and the Growing the Future youth. For more info on joining the Bean Keeper program, see www.evergreen.ca. The program, geared for community garden groups and schools, includes free beans, tips on planting beans, a song, lesson plans for teachers, events ideas, etc. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 cup brown sugar

1 cup well-cooked white pea beans (or great northern beans or white navy beans)

Bean Keeper baking lesson plan By Jane Hayes for Evergreen

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1 tsp vanilla 2 eggs

1 1/2 cups soft whole wheat flour (or whole spelt) 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats

1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 cup chocolate chips (or raisins)

Preheat oven to 375°C (190°F). Puree beans in food processor. Cream together butter, applesauce, sugar and pureed white pea beans. Stir in vanilla and beaten eggs. Combine dry ingredients and stir into bean mixture. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop from spoon onto greased cookie sheets. Bake in 375°F (190°C) oven for 12-14 minutes. Vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies 1/2 cup canola oil 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup well-cooked white pea beans (or great northern beans or white navy beans) 1 tsp vanilla 2 egg replacers (2 tablespoons ground flax + 6 tbsp water)

1 1/2 cups soft whole wheat flour (or whole spelt) 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 cup chocolate chips (or raisins)

Preheat oven to 375°C (190°F). Puree beans in food processor. Cream together oil, applesauce, sugar and pureed white pea beans. Stir in vanilla and beaten egg replacer. Combine dry ingredients and stir into bean mixture. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop from spoon onto greased cookie sheets. Bake in 375°F (190°C) oven for 12-14 minutes. Decadent chocolate coconut brownie cookies

4 squares semi-sweet chocolate 1 cup salted butter ¼ cup coffee substitute 2 cups soft-cooked black beans, drained well (can be tinned) ½ cup tahini (sesame paste) ½ tbsp molasses

¼ cup unsweetened applesauce 0.12 tsp salt (small amount) 4 eggs 2 cups brown sugar ¾ cup all purpose flour 5 cups shredded unsweetened coconut 1 cup semi-sweet (dark) chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil baking sheet. Mash or process black beans until smooth, add a little water if too dry. Set aside. Melt the chocolate and butter (on low heat in a double boiler or in a glass bowl in the microwave for 1 ½ to 2 minutes on high). Stir with a spoon to melt the chocolate completely. Add coffee substitute and salt. Mix in beans, tahini, apple sauce and molasses. In a separate bowl, with an electric mixer beat the eggs until light and creamy, about 1 minute (longer if using a hand beater). Add sugar and beat well. Add to bean mixture. Spoon tablespoons of the mixture onto cookie sheet, space at least an inch apart. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cookies are set. Makes 40-45 cookies.

Bean Keeper baking lesson plan By Jane Hayes for Evergreen

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Where to Go to Learn More Here are some links and resources to help you access fresh, healthy and local food or grow a garden. 100 Mile Diet http://100milediet.org/ Local eating for global change. You can use the site to map the 100 mile zone around you (i.e. your local foodshed). Centre for Food Safety Shopping GMO free http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/guide%208_11%20layout.pdf City Farmer’s Urban Agriculture Notes www.cityfarmer.org Canadian information, research and news about urban agriculture, community gardens, etc. Evergreen www.evergreen.ca Discussion Forum topics include food gardening, recipes and more http://www.evergreen.ca/forum Food gardening tips, recommended heirloom veggies and fruit plants and more http://www.evergreen.ca/en/lg/h-seeds.html Food Secure Canada http://www.foodsecurecanada.org/ Has a database with information, policy and educational resources. Foodland Ontario http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca/english/links.html Promotes local foods. Links to places that promote, sell and distribute and serve Ontario foods. FoodShare www.foodshare.org Programs and resources on community kitchens, community gardens, food security and more. Local Eating http://www.localeating.ca/ Type in your postal code and find farmers, markets and other ways to buy local food in your area. Local Food Plus http://www.localfoodplus.ca/ A non-profit organization that brings farmers and consumers to the table to share in the benefits of environmentally and socially responsible food production. Mother Earth News http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food.aspx How to find fresh, local, sustainable food. Recipes too. Natural Dominion http://naturaldominion.com/index.html To find a Farmers Market, Organic Farm, CSA program or Food Delivery service near you. Focus is on GMO free food sources.

Bean Keeper baking lesson plan By Jane Hayes for Evergreen

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People and Planet http://www.planetfriendly.net/ Local and Organic information covering Food, Gardening, Agriculture, Eating, Learning, Growing, Working in Canada and beyond Seeds of Diversity www.seeds.ca Heirloom and heritage seeds, a database of seed companies, Canadian growers and a living library of seeds. Slow Food Canada www.slowfood.ca Is interested in developing a food culture and supporting those defending food and agricultural biodiversity around the world. Slow Food stresses the need for taste education as the best defense against poor quality and food adulteration.