The cooking lab was filled with delicious smells Thursday, October 22, as Mrs. Kate Lane’s Independent Living class removed their bubbling pans of mac and cheese from the ovens.

The students experimented with a recipe for Panera Mac and Cheese as part of their lesson on how to cook basic meals for themselves and their future families.

They had to cook pasta, make their own cheese sauce, and combine the two in a casserole pan which they then baked in the oven for 20-30 minutes.

When the mac and cheese was done, the students used red solo cups as bowls (to decrease the amount of dishes they had to wash).

“Ms. Lane found a really great recipe for us to use,” said senior Hannah Laughter.  “It was fun because I felt like I was actually making real Panera mac and cheese, and I love Panera.”

The class has also made breakfast burritos and pancakes as part of their basic culinary training.  We can’t wait to taste what they create next.