Reviews and Blog Posts: cooking

Learn to make (and sample) creative Summer Salads at Schlessman on Monday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. If you're tired of iceberg lettuce, this class is for you! Cool off mealtime while keeping it healthy with these salads that will introduce more veggies into your diet and that your whole family will love!

This Sunday, we're throwing a little party in honor of Moms everywhere. We hope that you can come -- and bring your Mom!

First, Chef Shellie Kark is going to take us on a tour of New York Jewish Deli cuisine, with her demo and sampling of traditional knishes. YUMMM.

But that's not enough! Our friends at Whole Foods Market have chipped in so that we can serve a sweet deli finish -- like rich cheesecake. And we just might have a surprise or two for our Mom's.

Its origins track back to the siege of Castelnaudary by the Black Prince, Edward the Prince of Wales, in 1355. The villagers came together to create a large cauldron of beans, meat and herbs to fortify their warriors — and cassoulet was born.

After this Saturday's cooking demo with Chef Jessica Gaydos, you'll be on your way to a truly beneficial stock portfolio. Chef Jess is going to show you how to make soup from fresh produce and short list of pantry ingredients; she'll also talk about making luxurious stocks that can be the base for great homemade meals. Stocks (and many soups) freeze well; after you learn the ins and outs of making stocks, throw a stock party for a group of friends and bank your dividends for future meals.

“BOOKS Keep them (with one exception)… there is one area where printed matter is going to give way to digital content: cookbooks. Martha Stewart Makes Cookies, a $5 app for the iPad, is the wave of the future. Every recipe has a photo of the dish (something far too expensive for many printed cookbooks).

I recently made soup that turned out tasty. I have to admit that I’m not much of a cook. I want to try making more dishes. If you need some cooking inspiration, try one of the books below.

My intention is to get people to avoid relying on frozen food this month, but let's renegotiate that. How about you cook some home made frozen food instead?

Try some of these great resources:

The Freezer Cooking Manual from 30-Day Gourmet: A Month of Meals Made Easy

Don't Panic More Dinner's in the Freezer: A Second Helping of Tasty Meals You Can Make Ahead

Maybe you want to move your body in a new way in the cold weather. Try Tai Chi at the Bear Valley Branch Library on Saturday, January 22, 3:00 p.m. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese system of exercises used to build energy (qi) and vitality for improved quality of life and longevity. These exercises are accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Come explore the benefits of energy based exercise and learn daily movements from Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Dao Yin.

This year has been full of amazing chefs teaching delightful dishes, and now you have access to those dishes whether you attended the class or not.

Here are some highlights of the 2010 cooking demos:

New Irish Cuisine Cooking Series in February and March- Chef Jessica Gaydos taught us about the potato famine, soda bread, and boxty, a very starchy yet delicious fried potato dish.

For Even More Recipes:

• Icebox Cakes: Simply Irresistible No-Bake Desserts by Lauren Chattman
• 365 Foods Kids Love to Eat: Fun, Nutritious & Kid-Tested by Sheila Ellison & Judith Gray
• No-Bake Gingerbread Houses for Kids by Lisa Turner Anderson