Culinary classes lend a hand to Candy Dance

Stir water into cake mix. Pour batter into paper-lined muffin pans. Bake in a conventional oven for 20 to 30 minutes.

Used to cooking from scratch, students of Douglas High School's culinary arts program are well beyond such an easy recipe, yet they spent Tuesday and Wednesday baking more than 700 cake-mix cupcakes for the 88th annual Candy Dance celebration, which is Saturday and Sunday.

Culinary arts teacher Kerry Stack said Brooke Woellner, who helps organize Candy Dance, approached her about providing dessert for Saturday's dinner-dance that gives the festival its name.

"It sounded like a really fun project to kick off the year," Stack said, "but also a good chance for community service."

Students frequently volunteer at events they've catered, everything from school board meetings to community Christmas fairs.

"It's important to give back to the community," she said.

Her students agreed.

"I go to Candy Dance every year," said junior Amanda Soto, as she scooped batter into cupcake holders. "Now we can make a difference. This is more than just a class."

Soto and her two baking partners, junior Lindsey Painter and senior Alyssa Santos, all want to become chefs after graduating, more specifically pastry chefs.

"I want to make wedding cakes for a living," said Santos. "This is what I enjoy. This is my passion."

Although making cupcakes is far below their skill level, the trio said giving to others is an important part of cooking.

"It's pretty cool that our food made in this class goes to different people," said Painter. "It's a big thing."

Even if doesn't inspire career chefs, the high school's culinary arts program, in its third year, provides students with practical knowledge.

"I used to hate cooking," said senior Sara Dunkelberg. "But I decided I needed this class because I'm going to be on my own after high school. I took it last year, and I really learned something."

Senior Casey Want said making cupcakes was nothing compared to the lasagna and other food items he's learned to make from scratch. But whatever the dish, there's always that one direct benefit.

"I think we each get one," he said.

The Candy Dance dinner dance is 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Orchard House in Genoa. Dinner tickets are sold out. Dance-only tickets are $15 and will be sold in advance at the door.