UPDATES: Check to see if there's anything new since you visited last.

Wondering if there's anything new and helpful?

When I make updates I'll post them here so you can quickly see if there's anything new that would be helpful to you.  You can access this easily with the widget.

24 March 201
Since there will be a time that scouts who have started already will be using 2014 requirements and new scouts will be using 2016 I didn't want to get rid of the old, but wanted to update for the new.  I made an archive of the old ones as I update each post:  Pre-2016 Archive.  Updated posts will say "updated 2016" in the title.

March 2016:  Realized they changed the requirements a bit.  Watch here for updates to the blog.  For starters you can view a list of requirement changes here: UPDATED REQUIREMENTS FOR 2016

January 2016:  
Realized AGAIN, I'd forgotten, that many links were broken.   Really, I'll get started on that.
17 January 2016
New Dietary Guidelines! The USDA updates the dietary guidelines every 5 years. I'm sure you are all excited to know that the time has come! No HUGE changes, just raising the bar a bit, go here to read more.

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 The links on their site seem to be outdated though so I'm working on finding them and making them accessible here.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, you can usually find things by doing a YouTube Search for the title.  
Monday, May 11, 2015
Packing for Heat.  Information about how to properly pack a cooler.

Monday, November 10, 2014
Meal Planning: Requirements 5, 6, 7 Some tips for meal planning.
5 January 2015In anticipation of the Merit Badge Clinic, where I'm not even sure we're going to use the blog outright, I'm trying to get all the links fixed and (apparently MyPlate.gov did a LOT of rearranging) and get the requirement posts more uniform.
30 December 2014
I have updated worksheets 1-4 and finally added in worksheets for 5-8.  I also updated the meal planning packet and divided it into two documents.  There is also a tracking page so you can keep better track of all you do for your Cooking Merit Badge
COOKING MB TRACKER

Meal planning;  BRAINSTORMING --BLANK MyPlate You can put this in a sheet protector or laminate it and use a dry erase marker on it.

MEAL PLANNING-ONE PAGE PER MEAL

REQUIREMENT 1 WORKSHEETS
REQUIREMENT 2 WORKSHEETS
REQUIREMENT 3 WORKSHEETS
REQUIREMENT 4 WORKSHEETS
For worksheets 5-7 there are additional documents that you'll need.  These are mentioned in the appropriate places on the worksheet and you can find those documents in the Document Center, EXCEPT the Cook's Evaluation Sheet has not been created yet.  Using the regular evaluation you'd only need to add in a couple things and I'll get one up as soon as I can.
REQUIREMENT 5 WORKSHEET
REQUIREMENT 6 WORKSHEET
REQUIREMENT 7 WORKSHEET
REQUIREMENT 8 WORKSHEET

10 November 2014

 I finally have a working draft of a comprehensive chart that can include ALL the information you need for each meal.  It isn't required that you use it, but I really think it will be easier for you in the long run, (it’s also easier for me). 

You can download and print that here:  MEAL PLANNING HELPER PACKET. 

New Post: Meal Planning: Requirements 5, 6, 7  If you are working on these requirements please read this and save us both some trouble.  

8 August 2014
After actually attempting to use the "individual meal checklist, evaluation forms and 'stickers'" document and it had some issues.  I've separated all those out into separate documents:
MEAL BY MEAL CHECKLIST REQUIREMENT 5
MEAL BY MEAL CHECKLIST REQUIREMENT 6
MEAL BY MEAL CHECKLIST REQUIREMENT 7
MEAL BY MEAL CHECKLIST REQUIREMENT CAMPING 8
STICKERS/LABELS
MEAL EVALUATION TEMPLATE
COOKING 1-8 AND CAMPING 8c,8d with NO formatting changes.

4 August 2014

• Brother Mark sent out an email explaining Grubmast duties which directly applies to any troop members trying to pass off cooking requirements and/or serving as grubmaster.  You can find those at this link.  
• Troop Grubmaster Duties
• One last thing, I updated the Checklist document below.  See updated docs on 8 August

31 July 2014
So now the documents look fine when you click on them.  I also, figured out that you CAN print without downloading.  (You can't right click and print or it goes crazy).  You click on "file" in the upper left-hand corner and select "print" at the end of that drop-down menu.
Adding more documents:
I don't have new and improved worksheets for 5-8, but I DID put all the requiement information into a chart so it's easier to mentally process.  Have a look:
REQUIREMENT 5
REQUIREMENT 6
REQUIREMENT 7
REQUIREMENT 8
INDIVIDUAL MEAL CHECKLIST, EVALUATION FORMS & 'STICKERS'  (see update on August 8 for a new update of this information)
OLD AND NEW REQUIREMENT COMPARISON
CAMPING REQUIREMENTS

11 July 2014
It's no secret that I love a good chart nor that I think the BSA workbook could be improved. I am working on my own and have 1-4 done.  There's a link you can click at the beginning of the requirement page but I'll post them here too.  Seriously, look at them.  If you haven't done the requirement yet I'd use these.  I gave John Ray the option and he liked mine better which is saying something.
Erg!  So when you click the link the document is all messed up, but if you download it and open it in word it looks lovely again.  If anyone knows how to change it so that it looks right when you first click on it let me know.
For the moment at least, you'll need to download these to make them work. [SEE THE UPDATE above for how to print without downloading.]
REQUIREMENT 1 WORKSHEETS
REQUIREMENT 2 WORKSHEETS
REQUIREMENT 3 WORKSHEETS
REQUIREMENT 4 WORKSHEETS

2 JULY 2014
I am new to this as well and as I was looking over Requirement 3 again, I realized it would be helpful for me to put in a link for the Food & Allergy Research and Education site so you can find that list of allergens.  You have to click on each one and scroll for the list.

28 JUNE 2014

• I added the widget that links to the Food Safety Video Collection just to bring attention to it.  I know a lot of you are pas this one and it's worth taking a look at anyway.  
• The way they word things in Requirement 2a and on MyPlate don't really match up so I've made some clarifications to that.  I also made some formatting changes
• I rearranged the widgets to the right so hopefully things are more user friendly.  
• The blog archive is now at the bottom of the page. 

JUNE 2014 Here's some of what I've added lately (lately meaning since that meeting we had that meeting a few Saturdays ago).

• I added in posts for requirements 5-8 so that you'd have a bit to work with and I have it up and running and can add things easily.  So far it's just the requirements pasted in and usually a few links that might be helpful.  
• Cooking At Home
• Cooking Outdoors
• Cooking on the Trail
• Careers in Cooking
• I added a video page for Food Safety.  People learn in different ways and hopefully being able to watch these videos will help us all remember these 4 steps.  The videos are pretty short and some of them are entertaining as well.