By Amanda Guevara, Nov. 22, 2022
On Monday, Nov. 14, ASI held a Cast Iron Cooking workshop for students to learn niche cooking skills that can be used in outdoor settings.
A total of eight students attended the class and joined Adventures Instructors Collin McInerney, and George Mariscal at the poolside barbeque in the BRIC.
“I have a pretty big interest in cooking, and I’ve always wanted to do cast iron cooking more,” said Aaryn Hong, a hospitality student.
ASI’s Adventures program gives students the opportunity to attend in-person events and outdoor adventures at the BRIC. They host a myriad of events like taking trips to Joshua Tree National Park for backpacking and climbing, as well as a trip to Big Bear for stewardship and fishing.
During the class, students learned to make two dishes: peach cobbler and vegetable chili. McInerney started the class by preparing the ingredients for the peach cobbler in a Dutch oven.
They then had to start the coals with a source of heat by using ripped pieces of paper so that they could have a continuous fire to heat up the briquettes. Mariscal said one of the most integral parts of cooking with a Dutch oven is to make sure to keep a certain number of coals on the top and the bottom of the oven.
It would take 45 minutes for the briquettes to warm up the Dutch oven with the peach cobbler in it, so they began to prepare the ingredients for their vegetable chili. Students started to cut onions and measure out spices.
This event that began in 2019 has returned with different recipes, now that they have their regular instruction staff again.
“Things that we feel are good opportunities to help students to learn more, to get them outdoors, get them camping and doing all these things on their own,” said McInerney.
For next semester, ASI wants to push more for campus involvement in outdoor recreation. The classes will mainly focus on climbing, camping, and possibly even snowboarding. With an abundance of more instructors, they will be able to add more classes.
“We basically want to give people the resources and education so they can enjoy themselves when they’re outdoors and know how to take care of themselves and feed themselves,” said Mariscal.
ASI will have another cast iron cooking class next semester depending on student interest. Students enjoyed the class and even suggested other dishes they would like to learn to cook with a cast iron skillet.
Mariscal adds,” If the community isn’t familiar with what adventures does, I would strongly suggest that they come out to get to know the staff, talk to us, everybody is really laid back and we all do some really interesting niche things.”
To find more information on future ASI programs, visit the ASI portal programs webpage.
Feature image courtesy of Aanuoluwapo Akingbemi