Try your own hand at following Maxine’s time plan for her first formal lesson at Maxine’s Junior Chef’s College. Let me know in the comments what changes you would make to improve efficiency!
Maxine’s Junior Chef College – Time Plan Week 1
This time plan will help you organize your cooking process efficiently, ensuring all dishes are ready at the same time while maintaining a clean kitchen.
Equipment
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Peeler
- Mixing bowl
- Baking dish x 2
- Oven
- Air fryer
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Tongs
- Oven gloves
- Timer
- Plates for serving
Ingredients
Pommes Dauphinois
- 2 medium potatoes thinly sliced
- 150 ml heavy cream
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 35 g grated cheese Gruyère, Emmental or Cheddar
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Oil for greasing
Roast Chicken Thighs
- 2 chicken thighs deboned, skin-on
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Salt & pepper to taste
Grilled Mediterranean Vegetables
- 6 baby bell peppers washed & deseeded
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 1 red onion sliced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar optional
Instructions
00:00 – 00:05 → Preparation
- Wash hands and set up the workstation.
- Gather all ingredients and equipment.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
00:05 – 00:25 → Knife Skills & Assemble Dauphinoise
- Slice potatoes evenly (2-3mm thick).
- Mince garlic for Dauphinoise and vegetables.
- Grease the baking dish with oil.
- Layer potatoes, seasoning with salt, pepper, a little cheese and garlic between layers.
- Pour over the cream and top with grated cheese.
- Place in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes.
00:25 – 00:45 → Knife Skills & Vegetable Prep
- Chop bell pepper, zucchini, and onion.
- Toss chopped vegetables with olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano and set aside in the roasting tin.
- Clean
00:45 – 01:15 → Prep & Cook Chicken Thighs
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (390°F).
- Pat chicken dry and season with olive oil, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Place seasoned chicken thighs in the air fryer, skin-side up (10 minutes)
- Clean
- Flip chicken thighs and cook for 10 more minutes
- Check Dauphinoise for doneness (knife should slide through easily).
- Place vegetables in the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes
- Remove chicken thighs and leave to rest (5 minutes)
- Toss vegetables and cook for 6 more minutes.
01:15 – 01:25 → Final Steps
- Clean the workstation and wash any used equipment.
- Set out plates ready for service
01:25 – 01:30 → Plating & Service
- Serve Dauphinoise, roast chicken, and grilled vegetables neatly.
- Slice Dauphinoise and arrange on plates
- Arrange grilled vegetables on plates.
- Top with the grilled chicken thigh
- Garnish with fresh herbs if available.
- Enjoy the meal!