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Thursday, December 31, 2015

BSA Resource Links for Each Ranks Cooking Requirements.

The BSA has helpful youtube videos about the various cooking requirements for each rank.  The links on their site seem to be outdated though so I'm working on finding them and making them accessible here. I have 1st Class done.  After that it's just cut and pasted from their site so I know what I have to do still.  

FIRST CLASS REQUIREMENT 4 BSA VIDEOS

BSA Video: 1st Class Requirement 4a  Help plan a patrol menu for one campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner, and that requires cooking at least two of the meals. Tell how the menu includes the foods from the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model and meets nutritional needs. 

BSA Video:  1st Class Requirement 4b "Using the menu planned in requirement 4a, make a list showing the cost and food amounts needed to feed three or more boys and secure the ingredients"

BSA Video: 1st Class Requirement 4c Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals."

BSA Video: 1st Class Requirement 4d "Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish"

BSA Video:  1st Class Requirement 4e "On one campout, serve as your patrol's cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in requirement 4a. Lead your patrol in saying grace at the meals and supervise cleanup."


4a.
Help plan a patrol menu for one campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner, and that requires cooking at least two of the meals. Tell how the menu includes the foods from the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model and meets nutritional needs.  
4b.
Using the menu planned in requirement 4a, make a list showing the cost and food amounts needed to feed three or more boys and secure the ingredients. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MgNaNgLTRs
4c.
Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eeusmo5N_r4
4d.
Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish.
4e.
On one campout, serve as your patrol's cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in requirement 4a. Lead your patrol in saying grace at the meals and supervise cleanup.

Resources

While the Boy Scout Handbook and Cooking Merit Badge Pamphlet are your primary resources, the links below can help you learn Cooking Skills. See the Disclaimers.
  BSA Video: The Skills Lessons are excellent but are large files that require Apple QuickTime.
  This symbol notes many other lesson videos.

Food Pyramid

Shortcut:
Food Pyramid
Also see Meal Planning.

Meal Planning

Shortcut:
Meal Planning
Also see Food Pyramid.

Recipes

Shortcut:
Recipes

Food Handling

Shortcut:
Food Handling

Outdoor Cooking

Shortcut:
Outdoor Cooking

Cooking Gear

Shortcut:
Cooking Gear
  BSA VideoFirst Class Cooking Gear (See notes.)

Dutch Oven Cooking

Shortcut:
Dutch Oven Cooking

Cooking Fish

Shortcut:
Cooking Fish

See also


Related awards

Outdoor Skills Awards
Outdoor-related awards

Disclaimers

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, or formal training. Please note that the only materials recommended by the Boy Scouts of America are those found or listed in official BSA materials such as the current Boy Scout Handbook. Cooking Skills recommendations are constantly being revised. Neither MeritBadge.Org, nor its contributors make any recommendations. See the Guide to Safe Scouting.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Packing for Heat

As the weather is warming up it more important to make sure your cooler is packed properly.

I have more information, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that cold air sinks!
Put ice on the top of your food!  You can put it anywhere else you want, but you must have someon the top.

Here are some handy picnic tips from Virginia Run's newsletter that concisely reviews what you've learned about food safety and CLEAN, SEPARATE, COOK, & CHILL:

ENERGY ZONE KIDS
Picnic Food Safety Preparing, serving, and eating safe food is important whether we are at home, or on a picnic.
We must constantly practice safe food handling to avoid illness.
  • Keep cold foods cold (below 41°F) 
    • Chill all meats, egg products, starchy salads, and custards to below 41° F before packing for the picnic. 
    • Put cold food into a well insulated, lidded cooler with ice around it. 
    • Put the cooler in the passenger area of your car rather than in the hot trunk. 
    • Keep your cooler in the shade and avoid opening and shutting the lid too often. 
  • Don’t spread the bacteria, which may infect the food and ultimately you. 
    • Wash your hands before working with food. 
    • Wash your hands again after working with raw meat or poultry. 
    • Put the cooked meat onto a clean place for service. 
  • Cook meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165° F and serve immediately. 
    • Put leftovers in the refrigerator immediately when you get home if you have not been gone more than 4 hours. 
    • Providing you have practiced all the above safety tips, your food should be safe to keep and eat the next day.
(This is a very quick post I'll try to beef it up later)