Home-school Parents Using Step Up for Students
Step 1 – Book your class on our website
- Pick your class and go to checkout.
- In the discount/promo code box, type PEP.
- That code will make your balance go to $0.
This code is ONLY for families who are funded through Step Up. If you are not funded, do not use
the code.
Step 2 – Reserve your funds in Step Up
- Go to n https://www.stepupforstudents.org/
- In the search bar, type( Chefs )
- Scroll until you find our program.
Step 3 – Match the payment amount
- Our classes are either $45 or $55.
- Double-check the class you booked and make sure you request the correct dollar amount in Step Up.
Step 4 – Reserve funds immediately
- You must log in to Step Up and reserve funds right after booking your class.
- Do not wait — this step is required to hold your spot.
If you follow these steps exactly, your class will be booked correctly.
WINTER CULINARY WORKSHOPS
🍲 Main Dish – Wok-Fired Favorites: Chicken & Veggie Noodle Stir-Fry
📅 Date:January 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:30–3:00 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55 per student
📍 Location: Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral, FL
✨ Young chefs learn the excitement of wok-style cooking with our
Chicken & Vegetable Noodle Stir-Fry
—a flavorful, colorful dish packed with fresh veggies, tender chicken, and bouncy noodles. Students will learn heat control, sautéing, sauce building, and the art of stir-fry sequencing.
Students may take this class on its own or complete all four sessions for a full China Culinary Experience.
Skills Learned
- Mise en place & stir-fry timing
- Knife cuts: julienne carrots, batonnet peppers, thin slicing chicken
- Sauce building (soy, ginger, garlic, sesame)
- Tossing techniques + pan safety
- Noodle texture control
- Understanding regional Chinese stir-fry styles
👉 We always aim to complete every recipe, but because we work with children, some classes may finish slightly differently—
no chef is ever left behind!
❄️ Desserts– Sweet Snow Finale: Homemade Boba Tea + Snow Crisps
📅 Date: January 26, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:30–3:00 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55 per student
📍 Location: Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral, FL
✨ Our China series ends with a hands-on dessert adventure featuring two sweet treats:
- Build-Your-Own Boba Tea – Students make everything from scratch: chewy tapioca pearls, flavored syrups, shaking technique, and custom colors.
- Snow Crisps – Crunchy, airy, lightly sweet Chinese treats folded with marshmallow and crispy rice, finished with powdered “snow.”
Students may take this class on its own or complete all four sessions for a full China Culinary Experience.
Deep Dive: Build-Your-Own Boba Tea
Kids will:
- Make tapioca dough from scratch, roll it, and cut pearls
- Cook pearls to chewy perfection
- Color pearls (matcha green, butterfly pea blue, strawberry pink, cocoa brown, and more
- Create their own flavor syrups: brown sugar, strawberry, honey-vanilla, mango, etc
- Mix teas (black tea, jasmine, or caffeine-free alternatives
- Shake and layer drinks like a real bubble tea shop
- Customize the final drink with milk, fruit add-ins, or separate layers
Skills Learned
- Tapioca pearl dough handling
- Rolling and shaping pearls
- Sugar syrup making
- Steeping & flavor extraction
- Layering and shaking technique
- Measuring liquids and using drink-making tools
- Snow Crisp folding & controlled melt technique
👉 We always aim to complete every recipe, but because we work with children, some classes may finish slightly differently—no chef is ever left behind!
Class 1 of 4: 🍣 CLASS 1 of 4 — Roll With It!: Veggie Maki Sushi Starter
⏰ Class time: 12:30–3:00 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
📅 Date: February 2, 2026
💵 Cost: $55 per student
📍 Location: Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral, FL
This month, our homeschool chefs begin a journey through Japan’s vibrant food culture with a hands-on lesson in Veggie Maki Sushi Rolls. Students will learn how to prepare sushi rice, layer fillings, roll using a bamboo mat, and slice clean, beautiful pieces—just like a real sushi chef.
⭐ Skills They Will Learn
- Washing & seasoning sushi rice
- Knife safety: cutting cucumbers, carrots & fillings
- How to use a bamboo sushi ma
- Clean slicing technique
- Understanding Japanese food culture & presentation
👉 Students may complete all 4 classes for the full Japanese Culinary Experience, or grab their single favorite session!
🎓 Step Up for Students
Use code PEP at checkout.
Funds must be reserved immediately after booking to secure your spot.
Search us in the EMA under “CHEF” — Chef’s In Progress will appear in the list.
💘🧁 XOXO Hidden Heart Cupcake Workshop 🧁💘 Patch Members earn your Heart Oven Mitt Patch
📅 Date: February 7
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $45 per student
📍 Location: Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral, FL
Valentine’s Day just got WAY sweeter! In this fun, love-themed baking workshop, young chefs will create Hidden Heart Cupcakes—cupcakes that look ordinary on the outside but hide a colorful heart right in the center. Slice them open and surprise! It’s a cupcake love note.
Kids will bake fluffy vanilla cupcakes from scratch, tint batter Valentine colors, craft the hidden heart, and top everything with silky cream cheese frosting swirls. Cute, creative, and perfect for gifting (or keeping!).
💗 On the Menu
- Soft vanilla cupcakes
- Cream cheese frosting swirls
- A secret Valentine heart hidden inside each cupcake
⭐ Skills Young Chefs Will Learn
- Measuring & mixing: proper baking techniques for soft, even cupcakes
- Color magic: tinting batter Valentine pinks and reds
- Hidden heart technique: baking, cutting, and “hiding” a heart in the center
- Frosting skills: piping smooth cream cheese swirls
- Baking smarts: checking doneness using visual and touch cues
- Presentation: slicing to reveal the heart and decorating like a pastry chef
- Kitchen confidence: safety, cleanliness, and recipe sequencing
🎓 Step Up for Students
Use code PEP at checkout.
Funds must be reserved immediately after booking to keep your spot.
Search us in the EMA under “CHEF” — Chef's In Progress should appear in the list.
- Measuring liquids and using drink-making tools
- Snow Crisp folding & controlled melt technique
👉 We always aim to complete every recipe, but because we work with children, some classes may finish slightly differently—no chef is ever left behind!
EXPLORING JAPAN CLASS 2 of 4 — Warm Bowls & Soft Clouds: Miso Soup + Japanese Milk Bread
⏰ Class time: 12:30–3:00 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
📅 Date: February 9, 2026
💵 Cost: $55 per student
📍 Location: Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral, FL
For our second adventure, young chefs will explore comfort foods of Japan:
Traditional Miso Soup and soft, pillowy Japanese Milk Bread (Shokupan) baked from scratch.
This class blends gentle knife skills, broth building, and dough science.
⭐ Skills They Will Learn
- Making dashi-style broth
- Understanding miso paste & umami
- Soft tofu knife safety
- Activating yeast & kneading dough
- Dough shaping for fluffy milk bread
- Timing & proofing
- Cultural understanding of Japanese comfort foods
👉 Complete all 4 classes for the full Japanese Culinary Experience, or choose just your favorite!
🎓 Step Up for StudentsUse code PEP at checkout. Funds must be reserved immediately after booking to secure your spot.
Search us in the EMA under
“CHEF” —
Chef’s In Progress will appear in the list.https://occ.sn/fnBPMV5r
EXPLORING JAPAN: MAIN DISH 🍱🔥 CLASS 3 of 4 — Teriyaki Time!: Chicken Teriyaki & Rice Bowl
⏰ All Classes: 12:30–3:00 PM
📅 Date: February 16, 2026
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55 per student
📍 Location: Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral, FL
In this flavorful main dish class, students will make
Chicken Teriyaki completely from scratch—mastering the balance of salty, sweet, and savory. We’ll sear chicken, build a glossy teriyaki sauce, and prepare rice to create a delicious Japanese-style rice bowl.
⭐ Skills They Will Learn
- Knife cuts: slicing chicken safely
- Searing & browning meat
- Building teriyaki sauce: soy, mirin-style sweetness, ginger, garlic
- Heat control & simmering
- Rice cooking fundamentals
- Traditional plating & bowl-building
👉 Students may join all 4 classes for the complete Japanese Culinary Experience, or take only their favorite class!
🎓 Step Up for StudentsUse code PEP at checkout. Funds must be reserved immediately after booking to secure your spot.
Search us in the EMA under
“CHEF” —
Chef’s In Progress will appear in the list.
🍓✨ Berry Bliss Shortcake Showdown ✨🍓 Classic Strawberry Shortcake + Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake 🧁💘
🍓✨ Berry Bliss Shortcake Showdown ✨🍓
Classic Strawberry Shortcake + Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake
🍓✨ Berry Bliss Shortcake Showdown ✨🍓
Classic Strawberry Shortcake + Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake
📅 Date: February 21
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55 per student
📍 Location: Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral, FL
Strawberry lovers, this one’s for you! In this decadent baking workshop, young chefs will create
two dreamy desserts
: a Classic Strawberry Shortcake and a Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake that’s rich, indulgent, and absolutely irresistible.
Students will work in teams to bake one of each, then share, taste, and compare both versions to decide who wins the Berry Bliss Shortcake Showdown
!
Warm shortcakes… silky whipped cream… juicy macerated strawberries…
This is a full-on berry celebration. 🍓✨
🍰 What They’ll Make
⭐ Classic Strawberry Shortcake
- Tender, lightly sweet shortcake biscuits
- Freshly macerated strawberries
- Fluffy homemade vanilla whipped cream
🍫 Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake
- Rich chocolate shortcake biscuits cocoa-infused
- Freshly macerated strawberries
- Fluffy homemade vanilla whipped cream
⭐ Skills Young Chefs Will Learn
- Mixing biscuit dough properly (cold butter, gentle hand technique)
- Cutting and shaping perfect shortcake biscuits
- Macerating strawberries for maximum flavor
- Whipping fresh cream to soft peaks
- Layering + plating desserts for beautiful presentation
- Understanding flavor balance: sweet, tart, creamy, rich
- Kitchen confidence, timing, and workstation cleanliness
🎓 Step Up for Students
Use code PEP at checkout.Funds must be reserved immediately after booking to keep your spot. Search us in the EMA under “CHEF” — Chef’s In Progress will appear in the list.
EXPLORING JAPAN: DESSERTS 🐟✨ CLASS 4 of 4 — Sweet Catch!: Taiyaki (Fish-Shaped Pastry Dessert)
⏰ All Classes: 12:30–3:00 PM
📅 Date: Date: February 23, 2026
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55 per student
📍 Location: Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral, FL
Our journey ends on a sweet note with Taiyaki—Japan’s iconic fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet cream, chocolate, or fruit. Students will mix batter, prepare fillings, and use taiyaki molds to create warm, golden pastries that look like they jumped out of a Tokyo street market.
⭐ Skills They Will Learn
- Mixing taiyaki batter
- Making custard-style or chocolate fillings
- Working with taiyaki molds
- Flipping & cooking evenly
- Decorating and plating
- Understanding Japanese festival foods
👉 Complete all 4 classes to earn the full Japanese Culinary Experience, or pop in for your favorite dessert class!
🎓 Step Up for Students Use code PEP at checkout. Funds must be reserved immediately after booking to secure your spot. Search us in the EMA under
“CHEF” —
Chef’s In Progress will appear in the list.
Bakery Boss
🥟🇧🇷 CLASS 1 OF 4 — STARTER Coxinha: Brazilian Chicken Croquettes
📅 March 2
⏰ 12:30–3:00 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55
📍 Chefs in Progress – 811 SW 44th Street, Suite 3, Cape Coral
Kick off our Brazil Home-school Series with Coxinha, Brazil’s most famous street snack! Students will mix dough, season shredded chicken, shape classic teardrop croquettes, and crisp them until golden.
⭐ Educational Focus
- Where Brazilian street food comes from
- How croquettes traveled through regions of Brazil
- Why coxinha is a national favorite
⭐ Skills Learned
- Dough mixing & shaping
- Seasoning shredded chicken
- Breading techniques
- Crisping without over-frying
- Knife safety & kitchen confidence
Complete 1 class or all 4 for the full Brazilian Culinary Experience!
🎓 Step Up
Use code PEP at checkout. Reserve funds immediately.
Search EMA under “CHEF” — Chef’s In Progress.
FOOD IS ART: SUGAR COOKIE LAB ✨ Create your own edible masterpieces! Patch Members Earn Your Paint Palette Art Patch
📅 March 7, 2026
🕚 11:00–1:30
👧🧑 Ages 6–15
💲 $55
📍 Chefs In Progress Culinary School 811 Sw 44th Street Suite 3,
Cape Coral Fl 33914
🎓 Step Up for Students – Direct Pay Provider
⚠️ ALLERGY / RECIPE POLICY: Recipes cannot be altered or modified for allergies or preferences.
In this hands-on Food Is Art Sugar Cookie Lab, kids will turn desserts into beautiful, edible works of art using creativity, color, and imagination.
🍓 What We’re Making:
Fruit Pizza Sugar Cookies featuring:
- Soft sugar cookie base
- Creamy cream cheese “canvas”
- Bright orange glaze finish
🍍 Design Your Masterpiece
Students will choose from a variety of fresh fruits and design their own unique creations—learning how color, balance, and texture come together to make food both beautiful and delicious
🍓 Fruit becomes paint
🍪 Cookies become canvases
🎨 Imagination becomes art
🎖 PATCH CLASS
Patch Members earn their Paint Palette Art Patch 🖌️🎨
🧀🥣🇧🇷 CLASS 2 OF 4 — SOUPS & BREADS Pão de Queijo + Caldo Verde
📅 March 9
⏰ 12:30–3:00 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55
📍 Chefs in Progress – Cape Coral
A cozy, comforting Brazilian duo! Students will make chewy, cheesy Pão de Queijo(Brazilian Cheese Bread ) and a warm bowl of Caldo Verde, a potato and sausage soup loved across Brazil.
⭐ Educational Focus
- The importance of dairy & tapioca in Brazilian cuisine
- Why caldo verde is considered a “home-style” comfort food
⭐ Skills Learned
- Dough mixing & shaping
- Knife cutting potatoes, sausage & greens
- Simmering + seasoning soups
- Understanding textures (chewy bread + creamy soup)
Join one class or the full series!
🎓 Step Up
Use code PEP at checkout. Reserve funds immediately.
Search EMA under “CHEF”.
🍗🍛🇧🇷 CLASS 3 OF 4 — MAIN DISH Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff
📅 March 23
⏰ 12:30–3:00 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55
📍 Chefs in Progress – Cape Coral
Students will create a cozy, creamy Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff, a comforting dish served with rice and crispy potato sticks (batata palha). This class explores Brazil’s blend of European influence and local flavors.
⭐ Educational Focus
- How Brazilian cuisine adapted classic European dishes
- Why stroganoff became a family staple in Brazil
⭐ Skills Learned
- Knife-cutting chicken safely
- Searing + sauté techniques
- Building creamy tomato-cream sauces
- Mushroom prep & flavor balance
- Plating Brazilian-style rice bowls
Take one class or all four!
🎓 Step Up
Use code PEP at checkout. Reserve funds immediately.
Search EMA under “CHEF”.
🍭🧁 Bakery Boss: Candyland Cupcake Battle A decorating challenge where every cupcake is a level! PATCH MEMBERS EARN YOUR CUPCAKE PATCH
Date: March 28, 2026
Time: 11-1:30Pm
Ages: 6–15
Cost: $55
Step into a candy-coated kitchen arena where cupcakes become game boards and creativity is the ultimate power-up. This high-energy, hands-on class blends real pastry skills with playful competition for an unforgettable experience.
🎮 STARTING THE GAME: SKILL DEMO (Training Mode)
Before the battle begins, students enter Training Mode with a live chef demonstration focused on professional piping techniques.
👩🍳 Piping Demo Includes:
- Proper piping bag grip and pressure control
- Frosting consistency for clean designs
- Starting and finishing techniques
- How to pipe:
- Stars & shells
- Rosettes
- Swirls
- Simple borders
- Quick fixes for common piping mistakes
This ensures every student starts the challenge confident and prepared.
🧁 THE CUPCAKE BATTLE (Main Gameplay)
Students decorate cupcakes through fun, progressive “levels,” unlocking new creative options as they go. All students begin with the same cupcake base so creativity and technique shine.
🎮 LEVELS
- Level 1: Base Build – Smooth frosting foundation
- Level 2: Power Piping – Apply piped designs learned in Training Mode
- Level 3: Candy Architecture – Build height, balance, and structure
- Level 4: Final Boss Finish – Details, color balance, storytelling, sparkle
🍬 Candy Stations = Candyland Zones
Students rotate through themed decorating zones:
- 🌲 Gumdrop Forest – gummies, chews, jelly shapes
- 🍭 Lollipop Lane – lollipops, swirls, candy sticks
- 🍫 Chocolate River – chocolate drizzle, chips, cookie crunch
- ✨ Sprinkle Mountain – sprinkles, pearls, shimmer sugar
🏆 JUDGING & CELEBRATION
Cupcakes are celebrated with fun, confidence-boosting categories such as:
- Candyland Champion
- Best Theme Story
- Ultimate Build
- Cleanest Piping
- Most Magical Color Combo
🎖️ PATCH CLASS
All students enrolled in the Patch Program automatically receive their Cupcake Battle Patch as part of their program—no challenges required.
🍬 TAKE-HOME
Students leave with:
- Their finished Candyland cupcakes
- Patch Program patch (if enrolled)
- Big confidence and big smiles
🍬✨🇧🇷 CLASS 4 OF 4 — DESSERT Brigadeiros: Brazilian Chocolate Bonbons
📅 March 30
⏰ 12:30–3:00 PM
👩🍳 Ages: 6–15
💵 Cost: $55
📍 Chefs in Progress – Cape Coral
End the series with Brigadeiros, Brazil’s iconic chocolate truffles! Students cook a fudgy chocolate base, roll warm truffles, and dip them in sprinkles for a festive finish.
⭐ Educational Focus
- Why brigadeiros are the signature sweet of Brazil
- Their connection to celebrations & Brazilian culture
⭐ Skills Learned
- Cooking milk + cocoa into fudge
- Cooling, rolling & coating truffles
- Portioning and shaping
- Decorating with color & texture
Finish the whole set for the complete Brazilian Culinary Experience!
🎓 Step Up
Use code PEP at checkout. Reserve funds immediately.
Search EMA under “CHEF”.