Bridges Over Howard County Academic Enrichment
Mystery Recipe Laboratory Experience
Area of Study
Math concepts of division and ratios
Concept
Students will:
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adjust a recipe to yield fewer servings in order to make a quality food product.
Materials
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Mystery Recipe Laboratory Experience handout
Standard Measuring Equivalents Handout
measuring spoons
liquid measuring cup
dry measuring cups
baking pan
mixing bowl
straight edged spatula
knife
mixing spoons
Procedures
Look over the Mystery Recipe and discuss with students what steps will be needed for recipe
conversions. Many recipes can be not only doubled, but halved, tripled, and so on. The same
process is used for both increasing and decreasing. To adjust the yield of a recipe you need to
decide how many servings you need. Then, divide the servings you need by the servings one
recipe yields. The answer you get is the number you will adjust your recipe. This is the formula
to use. Servings You Need ÷ Servings One Recipe Yields = Recipe Adjustment Number
Once students have completed the exercise, proceed to the laboratory experience.
1. Today, you are going to make a mystery recipe without you knowing what you are making. It is
your responsibility as a unit to read and follow the instructions very carefully so the final product
will turn out properly. ONE person will bring a tray to gather supplies at the supply table; bring
your own measuring spoons, cups, etc. to measure in. NO supplies in their own containers will
leave the supply table.
2. Teacher walks around and reminds the students of the time schedule and answers questions
throughout the lab.
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3. Students clean up the unit and have checked before leaving. All utensils and equipment
must be clean and dried and placed in their proper place.
Assessment
1. Student products:
→ completion of Mystery Recipe
2. Observation of Students
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Bridges Over Howard County Academic Enrichment
Mystery Recipe Laboratory Experience
Directions: Today you are going to make a mystery recipe without knowing what you are
making. It your responsibility as a unit to read and follow the instructions/recipe very carefully
so the final product will turn out properly.
This recipe yields 24 servings; you will cut the recipe in half to make 12 servings. Do your
calculations to the left for each ingredient.
Ingredients
_________________________ 2 cups rolled oats
_________________________ ¾ cup brown sugar
_________________________ ½ cup wheat germ
_________________________ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
_________________________ 1 cup all-purpose flour
_________________________ ¾ cup raisins
_________________________ ½ teaspoon salt
_________________________ ½ cup honey
_________________________ 1 egg, beaten
_________________________ ½ cup vegetable oil
_________________________ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175° C). Generously grease a 9 ͯ 9 inch baking pan.
2. In large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins,
and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil, and vanilla. Mix well
using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until light golden brown around the
edges. Cool 5 minutes, then cut into squares.
Name of food prepared: _______________________________________
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Bridges Over Howard County Academic Enrichment
Solutions
Mystery Recipe Laboratory Experience
Directions: Today you are going to make a mystery recipe without knowing what you are
making. It your responsibility as a unit to read and follow the instructions/recipe very carefully
so the final product will turn out properly.
This recipe yields 24 servings; you will cut the recipe in half to make 12 servings. Do your
calculations to the left for each ingredient.
Ingredients
_______1 cup______________ 2 cups rolled oats
___ ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons
¾ cup brown sugar
_______ ¼ cup_____________ ½ cup wheat germ
_______ ¼ teaspoon_________ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
_______ ½
cup_____________ 1 cup all-purpose flour
___ ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons____ ¾ cup raisins
_______ ¼ teaspoon_________ ½ teaspoon salt
_______ ¼ cup______________ ½ cup honey
_______ ½ egg, beaten________ 1 egg, beaten
______ ¼ cup
_______ ½ cup vegetable oil
_______ 1 teaspoon __________ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175° C). Generously grease a 9 ͯ 9 inch baking pan.
2. In large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins,
and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil, and vanilla. Mix well
using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until light golden brown around the
edges. Cool 5 minutes, then cut into squares.
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Name of food prepared: ______________Granola
Bars__________________
Standard Measurement Equivalents
You will need to use some of these equivalents to help with your calculations.
Unit:
Equals:
Also equals:
1 teaspoon
1/6 fluid ounce
1/3 tablespoon
1 tablespoon
½ fluid ounce
3 teaspoons
1/8 cup
1 fluid ounce
2 tablespoons
¼ cup
2 fluid ounces
4 tablespoons
1/3 cup
2 ¾ fluid ounces
¼ cup + 4 teaspoons
½ cup
4 fluid ounces
8 tablespoons
1 cup
8 fluid ounces
½ pint
1 pint
16 fluid ounces
2 cups
1 quart
32 fluid ounces
2 pints
1 gallon
128 fluid ounces
4 quarts
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