Kids & Family❯Teens

The Teen Table is a relaxed, hands-on cooking experience for teens who want to feel more comfortable in the kitchen, learn to cook for themselves, and spend time with other teens who enjoy good food.

Whether they’re brand new to cooking or already have some experience, we’ll focus on building practical skills and confidence. Rather than following strict recipes, teens will learn how to think like a home cook—how to make decisions, work with what they have, adjust as they go, and turn simple ingredients into food they’re excited to eat.

We’ll also cover meal planning, kitchen organization, time management, using ingredients thoughtfully, making adjustments, and cleaning up. Most importantly, teens will gain the confidence to cook without needing a recipe to tell them exactly what to do.

Every class ends with everyone sitting down together to enjoy what we’ve made—because cooking is more fun when it’s shared, and learning how to feed yourself well is a pretty great skill to have.

The goal is simple: to help teens feel at home in the kitchen, make food they enjoy, and learn how to take care of themselves through cooking.

November Menu:

• Herb Roasted Chicken

• Seasonal Vegetable Sides

December Menu:

• Veggie Chili

• Cornbread

What to expect:

• Price is per person and includes the class, all ingredients, and dinner.

• Each class is hands-on and centered around preparing a meal together. We’ll cook, talk, experiment, ask questions, make mistakes, and figure things out along the way. There’s no pressure to already know what you’re doing or to be a “chef”— just a welcoming space to learn at your own pace.

• Some food allergies and intolerances can be accommodated, but please note that we may cook with eggs, dairy, nuts, poultry, beef, pork, and fish. If you’re unsure whether the class will be a good fit for your dietary needs, please inquire before registering.

• This series is for kids aged 13-18

About our Instructor:

Chef Leta Merrill is the founder and Pasta Maia, a seasoned culinary instructor, and also a mom of teens. She loves cooking with families and teaching young cooks in a fun, hands-on environment. Inspired by the Cucina Povera philosophy of simple, resourceful cooking made with love, Leta brings old-world Italian warmth and a love of gathering around the table to every class.

Put your taste buds to the test! Come hang out, sample a variety of autumn-themed treats, and give us your honest reviews.

Ages 13–19

Harvest Kitchen: Skills for Life is a hands-on fall cooking program for youth ages 11–18. Students build practical kitchen skills, confidence, cultural curiosity, teamwork, and leadership through two guided classes each week. Each session follows the Feed the Mass teaching model: welcome and safety check, instructor demonstration, team cooking, tasting and reflection, and a complete cleanup and sanitation close. If you want to join and need a scholarship, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Class Schedule and Topics

Knife Skills Bootcamp + Harvest Salsa | Tuesday, Sept 29

Rainbow Vegetable Salad Rolls | Thursday, Oct 1

Fresh Pasta from Scratch | Tuesday, Oct 6

Homemade Meatballs and Marinara | Thursday, Oct 8

Bread Baking Basics | Tuesday, Oct 13

Cinnamon Rolls and Sweet Dough | Thursday, Oct 15

Mac and Cheese Remix Challenge | Tuesday, Oct 20

Soup and Grilled Cheese Lab | Thursday, Oct 22

Asian-Inspired Stir-Fry Night | Tuesday, Oct 27

Homemade Dumplings | Thursday, Oct 29

Street Tacos and Fresh Salsas | Tuesday, Nov 3

Homemade Pizza Workshop | Thursday, Nov 5

Cupcakes and Cookie Decorating | Tuesday, Nov 10

Holiday Dessert Lab | Thursday, Nov 12

Thanksgiving Side Dish Challenge | Tuesday, Nov 17

Meal Prep and Freezer Meals | Thursday, Nov 19

Iron Chef Harvest Competition | Tuesday, Nov 24

Graduation Community Feast | Wednesday, Nov 25

Watch a demonstration and learn how to make French crepes with a sweet filling.

This program is intended for teens; space is limited.

Tweens and teens in 6th, 7th and 8th grade, you are invited to talk about graphic novels, craft and eat snacks! All supplies provided and it’s FREE! A limited number of books are available for pick up at the library.

OUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSON Ronald McDonald House Oregon provides access to medical care, a home away from home, and a community of support for seriously ill or injured children and their families. We are proud to say that we provide this housing, access to medical care, and compassionate hospitality at no cost to the families serve making it possible for them to focus on what matters most – each other. The families that stay at Ronald McDonald House are often far away from family, friends and other support systems that would normally help them through a difficult time. Families often return to the House after a long day at the hospital or traveling and cooking a meal for themselves may be low on their long list of priorities. The chance for these families to sit down to a home-cooked meal is another way that makes the Ronald McDonald House truly a “home away from home” for families whose children are critically ill. To feed our families, we rely on the dedication of hundreds of community members across the state who donate, volunteer, and advocate to ensure that no family goes hungry while in our Houses. FOR THIS PROJECT The group will prepare dinner on-site for the families at Ronald McDonald House. Volunteers will be asked to bring ingredients to contribute to the meal. The volunteer leader will contact each volunteer to instruct you on what ingredients to bring. We're counting on you! It is imperative that if you sign up for this project, you intend to be there and provide the ingredients that are assigned to you. When volunteers don't show up, we're not able to make the meal. If you are unable to attend, please let your Volunteer Leader know ASAP! Please note: No volunteer will be turned away due to lack of resources. If bringing a food item is a hardship for you, please alert the Volunteer Leader. VOLUNTEERING WITH US Volunteers will work together in the kitchen, guided by the Volunteer Leader, to prepare dinner for around 35 of our guests. All ingredients must be prepped on site or brought from a commercial kitchen such as a store, bakery, or local restaurant. The meal will be set out buffet style from 6 – 7pm. Even though dinner is set out buffet style for families to serve themselves, we ask that volunteers package up all the remaining food around 6:45pm in our to-go leftover containers and place them in our leftover fridge. Volunteers are expected to clean up all the dishes and space that they used to prepare the meal. We also encourage volunteers to eat the prepared meal as well after families serve themselves. When You Arrive: Our East House is located on Legacy Emmanuel’s campus. Please help us leave the lot closest to the House open for our guests and families. If you need to unload anything, please pull into the closest lot to unload, and then move your vehicle afterwards. You will receive parking instructions prior to your shift. General Guidelines: You will be unable to volunteer if you’ve had any symptoms of contagious illness within the past 48 hours. Communal spaces are mask-optional. Volunteers will be asked to make a volunteer profile on our VolunteerHub database. The Volunteer Leader will send you these instructions prior to your meal shift. Please do not wear cologne or perfume in the house. Please do not take pictures of families staying at the house. You may take pictures of the house, your group, and any staff/volunteers who agree to be photographed. To assure the protection of the confidentiality and privacy of families, volunteers will hold in strict confidence all information acquired through service at the house, including but not limited to: names, addresses, diagnoses, and personal circumstances. Volunteers may not, under any circumstances, take responsibility for supervising or caring for children in the absence of a parent or guardian. Project Requirements: You will be unable to volunteer if you’ve had any symptoms of contagious illness or have been exposed or diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 48 hours. All volunteers will be asked to make a volunteer profile ahead of time through Ronald McDonald House & VolunteerHub. Please show up on time and bring the assigned ingredients with you. We are relying on you in order to be able to feed our guest families. Hands On volunteers must be 13 years of age or older to attend this project; any volunteer under age 16 must attend with a parent or adult chaperone. All volunteers under 18 are required to bring a Youth Volunteer Release Form signed by their parent or legal guardian. Please download, complete, and bring this waiver with you on the day of the project. If you plan to bring children or guests you MUST reserve slots for them. The best way to do this is to create a Volunteer Team, then sign up your team for this project. IMPORTANT NOTE: You are responsible for ensuring that everyone signed up through your team attends - only sign up team members who have confirmed their availability. Teams that repeatedly sign up, but do not show up or show up with fewer volunteers than they signed up, may be removed. To add or remove team members from a project, click on "My Account" and then "My Teams," above. Click "Sign Up" below to reserve your spot! Need help signing up? Call 503-200-3355.

The p:ear Kitchen and Food Program was developed to provide homeless young people with the opportunity to eat fresh, sustaining meals in a community setting ensuring kids can participate in p:ear's other programs and other aspects of their lives well-nourished. Join p:ear for a morning / early afternoon in support of this great program and community space. Half of the volunteers will roll their sleeves up to help spruce up the kitchen and common rooms to make them shine. The other half will pop into the kitchen to cook or prep food to freeze, which will prepare our staff for future meals. P:ear will provide the tools, ingredients, and recipes... you provide the expertise and love! Volunteers must wear closed toe shoes and are encouraged to bring an apron (if desired). These opportunities are scheduled for Mondays11am - 3pm for up to 10 volunteers per day. We're on the corner of 6th and Flanders. Please knock our door to be let in! PARKING Street parking available around North Park Blocks for $2.00/hr AND a pay parking lot kitty-corner from the park. $5.00 day rate. TRANSIT Streetcar stops at 10th & Glisan northbound, 11th & Glisan southbound. -MAX stops at Greyhound Depot on 5th & 6th (Yellow, Green and Orange Lines) -Buses: #17 from Downtown or NE, #77 from NE or NW -Or use TriMet’s Trip Planner https://trimet.org/#/planner Questions? Contact Violet at [email protected] or 503-228-6677 MISSION p:ear builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth, ages 15-25, through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful, healthy lives. Each year our programs serve more than 700 homeless and transitional young people. p:ear staff and volunteers serve as mentors, friends, and role models, while p:ear's unique programs create opportunities for young people to grow intellectually, express themselves constructively, communicate in positive ways and engage in meaningful interactions with the larger community of Portland. Project Requirements: Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older to attend this project. All volunteers under 16 are required to bring a Youth Volunteer Release Form and must attend with a parent or legal guardian. Please download, complete, and bring this waiver with you on the day of the project. If you plan to bring guests you MUST reserve slots for them. The best way to do this is to create a Volunteer Team, then sign up your team for this project. Remember to reserve slots for your children, as well as yourself. IMPORTANT NOTE: You are responsible for ensuring that everyone signed up through your team attends - only sign up team members who have confirmed their availability. Teams that repeatedly sign up, but do not show up or show up with fewer volunteers than they signed up, may be removed. To add or remove team members from a project, click on "My Account" and then "My Teams," above. Click "Sign Up" below to reserve your spot! Need help signing up? Call 503-200-3355.

Middle school students are invited to talk about comics and eat snacks! Every meeting includes a short activity related to this month's book. A limited number of books are available for pick up at the library.

Is there a secret to beautiful, luminous skin? Absolutely! Does it come from a magic cream or potion? Not necessarily!

Believe it or not, there is a simpler approach to improving your skin.

Apple Fritter Bread, Apple Turnovers, Vintage Applesauce Cake

• Sun, Nov 8 2026, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Availability: 5 in stock

$50.00

Availability: 5 in stock

Maple Bacon Scones (can be made vegetarian), Pumpkin Pancakes, Autumn Brunch Bake

• Sun, Nov 15 2026, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Availability: 8 in stock

$50.00

Availability: 8 in stock

<p>One-part food and two parts friends are the perfect recipe for a good tasting and a fun evening! Gain confidence and cooperative skills while discovering new recipes and preparing a wonderful meal to share. Relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. <b>NOTES</b>: Please notify us with any food restrictions This class is designed for Teens.</p>

Ages: At least 12 but less than 19

Openings: 3

Tweens and teens in 6th, 7th and 8th grade are invited to talk about graphic novels, craft and eat snacks! All supplies provided and it’s FREE! A limited number of books are available for pick up at the library.

We will make 2 kinds of pasta as well as Marinara and Alfredo sauces. This class is 2.5 hours long.

*this class is vegetarian, but does not work for gluten free or vegan kids

• Mon, Nov 23 2026, 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Availability: 8 in stock

$50.00

Availability: 8 in stock

Cheesy Onion Bread, Mac & Cheese, Cheese Fondue, Broccoli Cheddar Soup

• Sun, Nov 22 2026, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Availability: 7 in stock

$50.00

Availability: 7 in stock