By Cassie King

Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers offers a monthly workshop to teach basic cooking skills to children in second through fifth grade.

The Chop Chop Club is led by Lisa Glesil, the youth librarian at HEPL. She started the club in 2016.

“The club meets monthly and is a hands-on program that focuses on learning basic kitchen skills and basic nutrition while creating mostly no-bake recipes,” Glesil said.

The class uses microwaves, toaster ovens, hot plates and electric skillets and features a different cooking focus each month.

“The class of 20 is always full and there’s a waiting list,” Glesil said.

Allison Kartman, youth engagement coordinator at HEPL, said the club is a way for kids to learn basic kitchen techniques in a fun environment. Foods featured in the class include everything from cheeseballs to desserts and breakfast foods.

“One year, we journeyed around the world with cuisines from all over the planet,” Kartman said.

She said they try to stick to foods the kids can recreate easily at home.

“Often, our own kids’ books from our collection are an inspiration,” she said.

Kartman added that the program is a “hot ticket.”

“It fills up right when registration opens, and the kids are always excited to participate,” she said.

The recent Jan. 18 Chop Chop Club led participants through the steps to prepare hot cocoa and spiced tea mixes, and the kids also made a floating snowman using marshmallows, pretzels and candies.

The next Chop Chop Club meets at 5 p.m. Feb. 15 at Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers, in the East Meeting Room.

For more, visit the library website events page at hepl.libnet.info/event/9599374.