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Summer 2008 Cooking Classes

Thank goodness spring has sprung!  Let's get outside and get ready to enjoy good, fresh and local produce and lighten up our meals!  Check out this great list of classes for summertime entertaining and enjoyment!
**To register, please call 608.877.9403.  We cannot accept e-mail registration requests.
**Class fees must be paid at time of registration. We accept Mastercard, Visa and personal checks.
**All classes start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and run approximately 2 to  2.5 hours. Please allow flexibility to accomodate classes running over the scheduled time.
**Waiting lists are taken when a class is full. Waiting lists are  typically used if students drop out.
**Students of legal age will be offered a sampling of wine if desired during most classes.  You cannot bring in wine for class.
**Please note that food sample sizes will vary from class to class;  some instructors serve prepared dishes throughout the class; others at the end. Eating before coming to class is at your discretion.
**Students receive a 15% discount the evening of the class on any merchandise, 10% on food and wine! So shop till you drop!
**If you need to cancel a class, we require 72 hours notice for a refund. No exceptions. You may send someone in your place; please let us know.

***Last update:   June 10 2008    10:00am

If a class is full, leave your name on the waiting list!
Summer Salads
Date:  Monday, June 2
Instructor:  Andy Watson
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Andy Watson, our local chef/farmer, will teach you how to get the most out of your produce with great summer salads.  Expect to learn how to produce a delicious vinaigrette and dressings to enjoy super salads all summer long.
Strawberries!
Date:  Tuesday, June 3
Instructor:  Susie Feest
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Just in time for strawberry season, Susie joins us to show just how to use all those berries you have to grab up when they are fresh!  Susie's plans include Strawberry Cheesecake, Mini Cheesecake Tarts, Strawberry Scones with Vanilla Glaze and Hand-Dipped Chocolate Strawberries.  What a treat! 
Evening in Provence
Date:  Wednesday, June 11
Instructor:  Betsy Piper
Fee:  $42.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Let's go to France!  Betsy leads our culinary trip to Provence with a delicious summer menu of regional specialties.  Planned dishes include:  Tian Provencal (zucchini and tomato bake); Tomates a la Provencal (stuffed baked tomato with garlic); Chicken with Mustard Sauce; Potato and Artichoke Salad with Saffron Vinaigrette; and finish with a Carmelized Apple Tart.  Bon appetit!
Greek Island Getaway
Date:  Thursday June 12
Instructor:  Betsy Piper
Fee:  $42.00
Seats available:  sold out!
The Greek Islands beckon for a summertime feast, and tonight Betsy leads our cruise with a menu of Greek cuisine.  Enjoy these planned dishes:  Meze Cheese Platter; Chickpea and Sesame Dip; Chicken with Walnut Pomegranate Sauce; Baked Shrimp with Tomato and Feta; Orange-Cinnamon Rice Pilaf; and a light dessert of Melon with Ouzo. 
Don't Cry for Me, Argentina
Date:  Tuesday, June 17
Instructor:  Betsy Piper
Fee:  $42.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Join Betsy for another tour, this time to explore South American delights.  If you are going to Argentina, you have to have the beef!  Betsy will prepare Beef Fillets with Chimichurri Sauce accompanied by:  Humitas (seasoned corn puree); Black Beans; Arroz blanco (rice with onion and green peppers); and complete the meal with Warm Bananas with Dulce de Leche Sauce.
Let's Have a Picnic!
Date:  Wednesday, June 18
Instructor:  Laurie Conrad
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  2
It's a great time for a picnic, and Laurie will help you prepare great portable foods for your favorite destination.  Whether an intimate evening for two or a family outing, everyone will love this delicious menu:  Panzanella (an Italian bread salad);  Ciabatta Roast Beef Sandwiches with Gorgonzola; easy homemade Sangria and a delicious finale, Mojito Bars.
Concerts on the Square Supper
Date:  Monday, June 23
Instructor:  Nancy Lynch
Class fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
By request!  Nancy's students have requested she return with a Concerts on the Square supper menu, so we must oblige!  With the concerts on the way, you will want to be armed with this simple dinner menu and a great bottle of wine to enjoy the evening.  Nancy's plans include Beef Tenderloin Sandwiches; Orzo Salad; and top it off with chocolate, Jana's Brownies!
Salads:  Quick and Easy!
Date:  Wednesday, June 25
Instructor:  Lydia Critchley
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  3
Lydia will lead this 'hands-on' class in preparing great main dish salad options for summertime simplicity!  Learn by doing in this class as you and the class work together to put out a delicious meal of salads.  Planned dishes will include:  Spinach Salad in Tomato Tulips;  Garden Fresh Tuna Salad; Superb Ambrosia Salad.  Bring an apron if you have one!
Dining Sicilian Style
Date:  Thursday, June 26
Instructor:  Betsy Piper
Fee:  $42.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Another European journey with your taste buds!  Betsy takes you to the Italian island of Sicily to enjoy some of the special summery dishes native to their land.  Join Betsy for a menu including:  Spicy Fried Chickpeas; Caponata; Chicken Marsala with Sage; Potato Salad with Olives, Tomatoes and Capers; Fennel and Orange Salad; and a light dessert of Mixed Fresh Fruit with Cannoli Cream.
Vegetarian Grill
Date:  Wednesday, July 9
Instructor:  Rafe Montello
Fee: $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Grill with Rafe this evening focusing on vegetarian dishes.  If you are vegetarian, or just interested in grilling something other than beef and chicken, this may be the class for you.  Plan on trying Grilled Pizza, Carrots Escoveitch, Potatoes with Pesto and Pineapple Upside Down Cake--all on the grill! We are planning an outdoor class for this grilling.
Summer Tarts
Date:  Thursday, July 10
Instructor:  Susie Feest
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Fresh fruit is readily available for creative use in easy to bake tarts, and Susie is here to teach you how to make them elegant.  Susie will show you how to bake traditional tarts and tartlets that are perfect for all those gatherings during the summer.  Susie plans on creating:  Chocolate Cherry Truffle Tart; Mom's Butterscotch Caramel Peach Tart; and Glazed Berries and Cream Tart.  Yum!
Pakistani Summer Dinner
Date:  Tuesday, July 15
Instructor:  Huma Siddiqui
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Enjoy an evening of grilling, Pakistani style!  Huma will teach us all about using spices on the grill.  Planned dishes will include Grilled Chicken Breasts with Tandoori Masala; Grilled Chicken Kebob with Sanjji Masala, a new spice blend of chipotle, honey and BBQ flavors; served with Mango salsa and Raita, a yogurt sauce with mint; and Huma's terrific Pulao, basmati rice with cardamoms, cloves and cinnamon.
Dim Sum
Date:  Wednesday, July 16
Instructor:  Kum Ng
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  1 seat now available!
By request!  Chef Ng's students asked for a class to learn Dim Sum techniques and cooking, so he was happy to oblige.  There are many types of dim sum, a truly ancient food, some of which date back to 5 BC in China. Dim Sum can be used as a snack or a meal, and Chef Ng will teach you about different types of dim sum and show us the techniques of how to prepare them.  Enjoy learning this unique cuisine!
Bastille Day Dinner
Date:  Thursday, July 17
Instructor:  Betsy Piper
Fee:  $42.00
Seats available: sold out!
We celebrate Bastille Day, that is France's Independence Day, a little late (it really is July 14), but never too late to celebrate French cuisine!  Join Betsy's feast of:  Tricolor Crudites Platter; Tomates Farcie d'Oeuf (egg stuffed tomatoes); Chicken with Lemon and Herbs; Rice Pilaf; and a patriotic Strawberry and Blueberry Tart with Whipped Cream.
Cooking with the Seasons:  Summer
Date:  Monday, July 21
Instructor:  Andy Watson
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available: sold out!
Andy returns with another of what is turning into a series of classes of cooking in season.  Andy, our chef/farmer, knows what is currently available and how to best use it for great tasting dishes.  Since it is a class centered around what is available, dishes will be decided close to class time.  If you are interested in finding out how to best use your CSA box, join us in this class!
Breakfast...in Bed!
Date:  Wednesday, July 23
Instructor:  Laurie Conrad
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Create an intimate brunch for two...or use Laurie's recipes for a summer weekend gathering.  Either way, Laurie will show you some great recipes for an indulgent weekend starter!  Planned recipes include Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausages; Frittata filled with spinach, feta and sun dried tomatoes; Fresh Mixed Melon Salad with Mint and Agave; and a perfect sweet finish of Rum-infused Banana Danish.
Indian Summer!
Date:  Thursday, July 24 
Instructor:  Neeta Saluja
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  6
Take summertime foods and add an Indian flair!  Neeta will teach us recipes for the grill from her Six Spices book.  Planned dishes are:  Tangy Chicken (chicken marinated with fresh herb and spices, then grilled--a simple variation of regular Indian Tandoori chicken);Indian Vegetarian Burger(a simple, tasty vegetarian burger, prepared with mashed potatoes, paneer (Indian homemade cheese), peas, fresh cilantro, ginger and Indian spices);  Cabbage and Tomato Salad(fragrant and healthy, crunchy cabbage and tangy tomatoes are flavored with fresh curry leaves and mustard seeds); and a delicious Mango Shake (a cooling, refreshing drink, prepared with fresh (in season)or canned mango pulp, milk, sugar and lots of ice).  A refreshing summer meal!
Quick Cool Cooking for Summer
Date:  Monday, July 28
Instructor:  Lydia Critchley
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
What's better than a quick dinner in summer?  A cool one in the heat!  Join Lydia as she leads this 'hands-on' class to learn how to enjoy cooking in the summer with cool dishes that are delicious! Planned dishes will include:  Mushroom & Spinach Salad; Summer Time Chicken Salad;  and Veggiewiches.  Bring your apron!
Taste of the Caribbean
Date:  Tuesday, July 29
Instructor:  Betsy Piper
Fee:  $42.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Cruise the Caribbean's variety of tropical flavors with Betsy.  Get ready to hear the ocean as you savor these recipes Betsy has planned:  Coconut Shrimp; Guava-stuffed Chicken with Caramelized Mango; Coconut Rice; Mango, Tomato and Red Onion Salad; and what else but Tropical Lime Mousse Pie!
Catalonia Fare
Date:  Thursday, July 31
Instructor:  Betsy Piper
Fee:  $42.00
Seats available:  sold out!
A final European culinary tour journeys to the Spanish region of Catalan, bordering the Mediterranean Sea.  Betsy will instruct you how to prepare these specialties of the Iberian peninsula:  Pa amb Tomaquet (toast with tomato, olive oil and salt); Romesco de Peix (seafood stew with hazelnut romesco) served with rice; Catalan Spinach with Pine Nuts; and a light dessert of Cava with Strawberry and Orange Sorbet.
Hot Summer-Cool Cooking
Date:  Tuesday, August 5
Instructor:  Betsy Piper
Fee:  $42.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Let's face it--summertime is not most enjoyed in a hot kitchen.  So let Betsy cool you down with some great dishes to enjoy preparing when it is just too hot to cook!  Planned dishes include:  Cajun Shrimp with Corn Salad and Lime Chili Dressing; Pesto Chicken Salad with Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato; Steak and Portobello Mushroom Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette; and a lightened up dessert of Mixed Fresh Fruit, marinated in Cointreau.
Summer Garden Party
Date:  Wednesday, August 6
Instructor:  Laurie Conrad
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Entertain with style this summer, with finger food from the garden.  Enjoy Laurie's fantastic bite-sized menu to include:  Chevre Herb Stuffed Tomatoes; Asparagus and Prosciutto Tarts; Seasonal Vegetable Canapes; and a sweet finish of Strawberry Bruschetta layered with Sweet Marscapone.
Middle Eastern Cuisine
Date:  Wednesday, August 13
Instructor:  Rafe Montello
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  sold out!
Love Mediterranean foods?  Try this class all about the traditional foods of the Middle East and Northern Africa.  Let Rafe teach you how to make fresh Pita Bread; regional specialties like Falafel and Tabouli; and two delicious fresh sauces to add.
Herbalicious!
Date:  Thursday, August 14
Instructor:  Jill McLeod
Fee:  $37.00
Seats available:  3
Now as your herb garden peaks, learn some new ways to use them.  Herb expert Jill McLeod will share her expertise about herbs and different uses in the kitchen.  We will spotlight the use of fresh herbs in Romano Herbed Scones, Coconut Corriander Dressing for Greens with Fruit, a Tenderloin with Herb Paste that is wonderful served chilled, and Orange-Saffron Sauce over Berries.  There will be plenty of dialouge on herb history, lore and cultivation that is sure to be award winning.