cooking up a storm

Three times this summer I have helped with day camps at my church - that's First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Wayne in case your church shopping. The day camps are our version of
VBS and have been a lot of fun. The first one had a science theme, second was the 'build it' day and today was a cooking camp.  We adult volunteers acted as the sous chefs, arriving early to make sure all ingredients were set out and generally organized.  I assisted two girls who put together one pan full of enchilada pie.  it was a layered concoction, put togther like lasagna but with Mexican flavoring.  Other campers worked on more enchilada pie, taco salad, cookies and homemade ice cream. At 5:30 the parents arrived to be served dinner by their children who were given instructions on setting tables, carrying the plated food out, and generally presenting the food in a very attractive way.  We behind the scenes helpers took hot pans of the casserole and cookies out of the ovens, plated the meals and generally kept thing moving smoothly.  The pastor in charge had everything very well organized.  Everyone liked the enchilada pie and salad and the chips and salsa which were put on the tables.  But, without a doubt, the hit of the evening was dessert. The oatmeal cookies were chewy and delicious and the homemade (or in this case church-made) vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce was so good.  It brought back sweet memories of one of my aunts making ice cream on hot summer nights.  The kids baked 120 cookies and those not eaten today will be served at the coffee hour after church this Sunday. Yumm.
I don't want to think that I'm getting too old to help with projects like this but I will admit I got home this evening and collapsed on the couch for an hour long nap.  Ah well, it was worth it.