Sticky Fingers Cooking of Houston West

☀️ Worried about the summer slide? We’ve got a delicious solution. 👩‍🍳🧪📚

At Sticky Fingers Cooking®, kids don’t just cook — they learn through hands-on fun! From measuring ingredients (math ➕) to kitchen experiments (science 🧪), following recipes (reading 📖), creativity (art 🎨), and problem-solving (engineering ⚙️), cooking is the ultimate STEAM adventure.

Our STEAM summer camps keep kids curious, engaged, and building real-life skills all summer long — without it feeling like school.

Want to learn how cooking helps beat the summer slide? Read our latest blog: What’s the MATTER, Chef? Solid, Liquid, Gas.
https://stickyfingerscooking.com/pages/beat-summer-slide-with-our-s-t-e-a-m-powered-summer-camps

Then, stir up some summer fun and find a Sticky Fingers Cooking® STEAM camp near you! 🍓🌎🍴
https://stickyfingerscooking.com/courses?program_types=in-person&session_types=cooking-camps&theme_id=103

All summer we're highlighting our delicious summer camp recipes! This week we are highlighting a perfect recipe for Pride Month! 🌈

This week from our Kids Cooking Showdown Camp: ☀️ Hawaiian Rainbow Watermelon Poke Bowls + Steamed Rice + Wondrous Watermelon Soda. 🍚

Fun Food Story:
Poke (poh-KAY) is a classic Hawaiian pupu, or snack, and is a centuries-old tradition possibly dating as far back as the arrival of the first Hawaiians in the island chain. Back then, poke was a simple snack for fishermen of scraps of raw reef fish seasoned with sea salt and limu (seaweed) and mixed with roasted and ground kukui nut (candlenut). Historians dispute whether or not the meal was called poke then or if the name only took hold when it became popular on the mainland in the 1970s. One thing is certain—poke, meaning "slice" or "cut into pieces," is a quintessentially Hawaiian dish. Bring Hawaiʻi's favorite snack and "aloha" to your family today!

Recipe Plan Here https://stickyfingerscooking.com/recipes/hawaiian-rainbow-watermelon-poke-bowls-steamed-rice

🎉 15 YEARS OF STICKY FINGERS COOKING! 🎉

What started as one big idea — empowering kids through cooking — has grown into something beyond what we ever imagined.

This year, Sticky Fingers Cooking turns 15 years old, and we’re celebrating some incredible milestones along the way:

👩‍🍳 1 MILLION kids taught
🌎 Growing across 11 states
💚 Powered by 19 amazing franchise owners bringing culinary magic to communities coast to coast

For 15 years, we’ve been helping kids build confidence, try new foods, explore cultures, strengthen life skills, and create joyful memories in the kitchen. From after-school classes and camps to community events and our kid-friendly recipes made at home — every sticky finger, every curious taste, and every proud “I made this!” moment has been part of our story.

None of this would be possible without our incredible franchise owners, chef instructors, families, school partners, and of course — the ONE MILLION kids who have cooked alongside us. You are the heart of everything we do. 💚

Here’s to 15 years of inspiring healthy habits, adventurous eaters, and confident young chefs— and to the next chapter of cooking up something extraordinary together.

✨ Curious to learn more about our 15-year journey, impact, and mission to inspire healthy, confident kids in the kitchen? Visit our website to explore the Sticky Fingers Cooking story!
https://stickyfingerscooking.com/why-we-are-grape

Fresh flavors are officially in season! ☀️🌱

There’s something extra fun about cooking with ingredients at their peak, and June is bringing so many delicious options to the kitchen. We can’t wait to cook with these seasonal ingredients in our summer camps as kids chop, mix, taste, and explore new recipes from around the world. 👩‍🍳🌎

Need a last minute summer camp? Summer camp spots are filling fast, and we’d love to cook up some fun with your kids this season! Sign up now to join us for hands-on cooking adventures, tasty recipes, and a whole lot of kitchen confidence. ✨
https://stickyfingerscooking.com/camps

Most of our classes have wrapped up for the school year! Check out some of our “BEST OF” photos from 2025-2026! (part two!)

🌽 Recipe Review: Empowering Empanadas! 🌽

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes nationwide whipped up an easy, nutritious recipe: Awesome Argentinian Corn Empanadas with Chimichurri Sauce! First, our kid chefs made the empanada dough. Kids measured out dry ingredients, tore parsley into little bits, and mixed it all together until well combined. Then kids cracked an egg, added softened butter, water, and apple cider vinegar or lime juice and stirred. Next, kids kneaded the dough, adding more flour if necessary. Then kids made dough balls, put them in an oiled bowl, drizzled with a little olive oil and covered them and let them rest (naptime). On to the corn filling! Our kid chefs tore more parsley and grated cheese, then measured out and mixed in remaining ingredients. Our kid chefs loved the next step - waking the dough up from its nap! Then kids rolled out the dough, cut out a round flat circle, placed some corn filling in the center, and folded one side over, forming a half-moon shape. Kids pinched the edges, sealing the filling inside the crust. With Chef Instructor help, kids pan fried the empanadas about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Then it was on to the Chimichurri Sauce! Kids added all ingredients into a food processor, blended everything together and drizzled the sauce on the Corn Empanadas! "Buen provecho" (Bwayn proh-VAY-choh) or "Enjoy your meal" in Spanish!

Lastly, kids washed it all down with the Melon Agua Fresca! Kids sliced and squeezed a lime, chopped and added cantaloupe (or other melon), sugar, and sparkling or still water to the blender. Kids blended it until smooth and then adjusted the flavors until just right! "Muy bien" or "Very good" in Spanish!

One recipe each week. Coast-to-coast smiles the whole school year! That’s the power of cooking with kids. 🌎✨

4-Day Kids Summer Camp for only $99.

The camp will focus on S.T.E.A.M and Farm to Table cooking. Only a few spots left, so click the following link to sign up: https://stickyfingerscooking.com/courses?session_types=school-programs&locations=16&venue_id=3048

🌽 Recipe of the Week: Awesome Argentinian Corn Empanadas + Chimichurri Sauce + Melon Agua Fresca 🌽

"Hola" or "Hello" in Spanish!

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes nationwide are whipping up an easy, nutritious recipe: Awesome Argentinian Corn Empanadas with Chimichurri Sauce! First, our kid chefs will make the empanada dough. Kids will measure out dry ingredients, tear parsley into little bits, and mix it all together until well combined. Then kids will crack an egg, add softened butter, water, and apple cider vinegar or lime juice and stir. Next, kids will knead the dough, adding more flour if necessary. Then kids will make dough balls, put them in an oiled bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil and cover them and let them rest (naptime). On to the corn filling! Our kid chefs will tear parsley and grate cheese, then measure out and mix in remaining ingredients. Our kid chefs love the next step - waking the dough up from its nap! Then kids will roll out the dough, cut out a round flat circle, place some corn filling in the center, and fold one side over, forming a half-moon shape. Kids will pinch the edges, sealing the filling inside the crust. With Chef Instructor help, kids will pan fry the empanadas about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Then it’s on to the Chimichurri Sauce! Kids will add all ingredients into a food processor, blend everything together and drizzle the sauce on the Corn Empanadas! "Buen provecho" (Bwayn proh-VAY-choh) or "Enjoy your meal" in Spanish!

Lastly, kids will wash it all down with the Melon Agua Fresca! Kids will slice and squeeze a lime, chop and add cantaloupe (or other melon), sugar, and sparkling or still water to the blender. Kids will blend until smooth and then adjust flavors until just right! "Muy bien" or "Very good" in Spanish!

✨ Fun to make, nutritious, and packed with flavor—this meal brings the taste of Argentina right to the kids’ table!

Celebrate Memorial Day with a patriotic picnic, kid-friendly recipes, and reflective conversations ✨

Learn more: https://stickyfingerscooking.com/pages/memorial-day-honoring-heroes-with-a-patriotic-picnic

👨‍🍳 Recipe Review: Fantastic Falafel! 👨‍🍳

Many of our schools had their final classes this week! Check out some of our “BEST OF” photos from the school year! (part one!)

This week, kids in Sticky Fingers Cooking classes across the country whipped up a popular Middle Eastern dish: Falafel! First our kid chefs rinsed, drained and popped the skins off of the chickpeas and combined them with spices in a bowl. Then kids sprinkled flour over the mixture, tossed everything and set it aside. Next, kids minced a garlic clove and fresh parsley, squeezed in the juice of a lemon, and diced up green onions. After mixing to combine everything, kids mashed the mixture using a potato masher or immersion blender, making a thick paste. Kids then rolled the mixture into small slightly flattened balls. With Chef Instructor help, kids then fried up the falafel for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until crispy and golden brown. After letting them cool slightly, kids pierced them with pretzel sticks, toothpicks, or ice pop sticks to serve.

Then it was on to the Cool-as-a-Cucumber Tahini Sauce! Using a cheese grater, our kid chefs grated a cucumber into a bowl, then squeezed out the excess liquid. Kids chopped up an apple into small chunks, then tore up a handful of fresh mint into small bits. Next, kids combined the cucumber, apple, and mint in the bowl and added yogurt and tahini. After whisking the cucumber dip until smooth, kids added salt and pepper to taste and served with the Falafels on a stick!

Finally, for the Minty Cucumber Coolers, kids tore mint leaves into pieces and mixed them with honey and hot water. Then kids peeled a cucumber, sliced it in half lengthwise, scooped out the seeds, and put the cucumber into a blender (or pitcher for use with an immersion blender), along with the honey water and mint. After squeezing the juice of a lemon into the blender and adding ice, kids blended it all up until nice and smooth! Cheers!

✨ Hands-on, full of flavor, and fun – this week’s recipe kept kids active, engaged and discovering new tastes from across the globe!