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Cooking 4-H Project Area

The 4-H cooking series includes four levels of project manuals. The manuals provide content  information, food science experiments and a variety of classic recipes that are youth-tested and youth-friendly. Each manual successively builds on the skills learned in the previous level. Members complete project activities for each level in three years. Select the book to use based on
the skill level of the youth who will be participating in your club or group.

Five 4-H Cooking Project Manuals from Shop4H
      • Cooking 101. This project is suggested for beginner level groups. Members learn the basic skills of food preparation, selection, safety and science.
      • Cooking 201. This project is suggested for intermediate level groups. Members expand their basic skills with a focus on whole grains, quick breads, handling and preparing meat, food safety, and preparing sauces, cream soups and gravy.
      • Cooking 301. This project is suggested for intermediate to advanced level groups. Members plan and prepare food for a party, learn how to make yeast breads and rolls, bake shortened cakes, cook with slow cookers and prepare food on a grill.
      • Cooking 401. This project is suggested for advanced level groups. Members prepare ethnic foods, bake flatbreads and ethnic breads, make candy, bake pastries, bake foam cakes, use dry- and moist-heat cooking methods, and plan and prepare celebration meals.

      If a member completes the 12 years of project manuals, they can work with their county Extension professionals to determine their learning opportunities for their remaining 4-H years.

      Scoresheets

      For each year, youths will need to:

      • Prepare a minimum of 2 dishes from each of the recipe sections(snacks, side dishes, quick breads, main dishes, desserts) for a total of 10 dishes. Provide information on your completed dishes on a piece of notebook paper.
      • Give a minimum of 3 “How To” demonstrations to your helper, club leader or club and have your leader or helper score, date and initial your demonstration in the appropriate section of the scoresheet.
      • Complete at least one community service project such as baking food for a charity bake sale, planning and hosting a holiday party for children in need, baking cakes or cupcakes for a homeless shelter, planning and hosting a holiday celebration meal for needy families in your community, or preparing an ethnic meal for foreign exchange students from a local high school or university.
      • Complete your project exhibit.
      • Additional requirements are listed at the top of each scoresheet that are specific to the project manual or level.

      Download a copy of the scoresheet to determine what is expected for project completion.

      Exhibit Ideas

      • 4-H Cooking 101
        • Year 1: Six (6) oatmeal drop cookies and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
        • Year 2: Six (6) oatmeal muffins (no muffin liners) and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
        • Year 3: Six (6) cornbread squares and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year
      • 4-H Cooking 201
        • Year 1: Six (6) snicker doodle cookies and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
        • Year 2: Six (6) rolled biscuits and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
        • Year 3: Six (6) scones and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
      • 4-H Cooking 301
        • Year 1: Six (6) basic dinner rolls and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
        • Year 2: Three (3) soft pretzels and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
        • Year 3: One (1) Swedish tea ring AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
      • 4-H Cooking 401
        • Year 1: Three (3) flatbread circles and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
        • Year 2: One (1) rosemary focaccia bread (approximately 15”X10”X1”) or one (1) French bread loaf (approximately 2”X14”) and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.
        • Year 3: Six (6) English muffins and recipe card AND provide a poster which highlights your completed community service project for the year.

      How Do I Sign Up?

      Screenshot of 4-H ZSuite enrollment page to select project
      The first step is to create an enrollment in our ZSuite website.

      Enroll in 4-H ZSuite

      When you get to the CLUBS tab of the enrollment, you will want to ADD PROJECT.

      For Cooking, you should search for:
          • COOKING / YEAR 1 (4-H COOKING 101)
          • COOKING / YEAR 4 (4-H COOKING 201)
          • COOKING / YEAR 7 (4-H COOKING 301)
          • COOKING / YEAR 10 (4-H COOKING 401)
          • COOKING /  I DO NOT KNOW WHAT YEAR

            Project Videos

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            4-H Cooking Project Resources

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