Just for the Fun of It!

1^st Class Soups for Entertaining

Start your menus with rich, elegant soups. Chef Wardle will lead you in the creation of six luxurious soups that can serve either as first courses or as meals on their own. You’ll make wonderful crackers and breadsticks as well as salad to accompany.

Cost $75 per person, 3 hour hands-on class. Sunday May 4, 2008, 1-4 p.m.

Call (518-785-3417) or e-mail ( chef@cookingtherapy.com) Cooking Therapy for further information about cost and scheduling. Participation is limited to eight individuals per class.

First Impressions—Small Dishes, Big Flavors

Everyone loves a good “starter.” You’ll explore a wide variety of appetizers and hors-d’oeuvres from around the world that make memorable first impressions. As you explore a roster of interesting starters, you will discover how to prepare a host of little delights to wow your friends at your next party without having to work with pastry. Join and discover why hors d’oeuvres from several countries are diverse foods that can be great openers to a meal or can create a simple fete on their own. Before you know it, you will be making dazzling hot and cold appetizers that will leave you time to enjoy the festivities as well!

Cost $75 per person, 3 hour hands-on class. Sunday May 11, 2008, 1-4 p.m.

Call (518-785-3417) or e-mail ( chef@cookingtherapy.com) Cooking Therapy for further information about cost and scheduling. Participation is limited to eight individuals per class.

Decorate Your Own Gingerbread House

Let your creativity loose for the holidays! Come and decorate the house of your dreams — in gingerbread. The perfect class for those of you who don't want to bake, but want a wonderful homemade holiday item for your table. You can use the finished product throughout the holiday for all to enjoy — or devour the results at a holiday party. All the baking will be done ahead for you — you will select the "house" you want (or make it a school, post office — whatever). You will assemble the edible gingerbread pieces with the icing "glue" provided — and be in a kid's dream of candyland to decorate with a huge array of candy options to your heart's delight. All materials, instruction, recipes, and templates for future efforts will be provided. A fun start to the holiday season for children of all ages.

Call (518-785-3417) or e-mail ( chef@cookingtherapy.com) Cooking Therapy for information about cost and scheduling. We will arrange a convenient time (2½-3 hours) for our students. Participation is limited to eight individuals per class.

Pasta-Pasta-Pasta

Pasta is one of those foods that we are so accustomed to buying in the grocery store that we seldom stop to realize how easy it is to make at home. People often think it will take too long, be too complicated or require too much effort or equipment. Nothing could be further from the truth! This hands on class will show you how much fun it is to make, and how simple it is to do. Come and share in the fun — learn to make homemade pasta from scratch using the "well method" as well as using a food processor. Roll out and cut fresh pasta into ravioli, fettuchine and other forms using both hand and mechanical rollers. Let's make some sauces from scratch and sit down to sample the wonderful products with salad and glass of wine.

Appetizers for Entertaining

If cooking is therapy, then entertaining should not be stressful. It is a time to enjoy good food, and good company — and to allow the host or hostess to be part of the festivity and not enslaved in the kitchen. Our class on appetizers will focus on a variety of easily prepared items to stretch you out of your standard dip and chip offerings to guests. Many of the items discussed or prepared by the class can actually be done up to a month ahead and frozen — with just a quick baking as company arrives. Learn about food presentation, with an emphasis on selecting complementary flavors, seasonings and food groups. We will discuss such factors as color, selection of food, shapes, cooking methods, textures and flavorings. Make your next party or family gathering a fun and new experience for all!

Enjoy your entertaining by adding new appetizer choices for your family and friends. Learn new recipes that you practice in class and take home some of your results! Tuition is $75, including instruction, recipes, supplies, and the enjoyment of your delicious items.

Call (518-785-3417) or e-mail ( chef@cookingtherapy.com) Cooking Therapy for information about scheduling. We will arrange a convenient time (2½-3 hours) for our students. Participation is limited to eight individuals per class.

Biscotti Baking Extravaganza

A repeat of our past successful biscotti class is in the works. Join new baking friends in discovering just how easy it can be to create your own delicious twice-baked Italian cookies. You'll leave with recipes and a collection of biscotti just waiting to complement coffee, tea, or milk. Enjoy them after class with family or store them for another day.

For examples from our October biscotti class, see Jump to October Biscotti Class

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