February Classes
Fabulous Ways with Winter Vegetables
Tuesday · February 3 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Paige Vandegrift
If you want to get really excited about eating hearty winter vegetables like cauliflower, brussels sprouts and root vegetables then this is the class that will inspire you. Paige will take humble veggies to a new culinary level when she prepares Ragout of Roasted Winter Squash & Root Vegetables with White Beans; Butternut Squash Pizza; and Orecchiette with Brussels Sprouts & Bacon.
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Recipes from the Late, Lamented West Side Cafe
Tuesday · February 10 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Nancy Stark
For those of you who may remember the West Side Cafe (and even those who don't), Chef Nancy is here to share some of the Cafe's most beloved recipes. Join Nancy for another taste adventure as we start with a mezze plate of Bazargan (Winter Tabouli) and Mast O Esfenaj (Persian Spinach and Yogurt Dip) with Grilled Flatbread. Then on to the Famous Shrimp Curry w/ Basmati Rice and Chopped Salad. We'll end the meal with memories and a sweet surprise.
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Herbs to Help Avoid Heart Disease
Saturday · February 14 · 2-4 PM
taught by Ocoee Miller
During the dark days of winter we eat all kinds of things that stress our livers, clog up our blood and ultimately burden our hearts. The good news is that herbs can help us clean up the errors of our ways. Cleaner blood helps take the strain off your liver and kidneys and gives your heart the help it needs. Even if you eat fairly carefully you still need to give your heart and bloodstream a good housecleaning. Ocoee will teach you how to accomplish this with herbs. This could be the class that saves your life.
$12 per person, $10 for Merc Owners & seniors
Simple Dinners After Work
Monday · February 16 · 5:30-7 PM
taught by Hilary Kass
After a busy day we all want a simple, healthy meal. Join Hilary Kass in this "after-work" class where you'll learn how to prepare three simple meals using fresh, frozen and canned foods. We'll prepare and then sample Pasta Primavera with Hearty Garlic Toast, Bean and Vegetable Rice Bowl, and Roasted Squash and Potatoes with Turkey or Tofu Dogs. Recipes printed as grocery list so you can use it for shopping.
$15 per person, $13 for co-op Owners & seniors
Wonderful Gratins & Casseroles
Tuesday · February 17 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Paige Vandegrift
After this class you'll view casseroles in a whole new light. Paige is repeating a familiar and popular winter class, but with all new recipes!
You'll want to get cozy in the kitchen after you taste these recipes; Pastitsio (a traditional Greek baked pasta dish with lamb); Winter Vegetable Cobbler; Butternut Squash, Ham & Rice Gratin; and a melt-in-your mouth White Bean Gratin. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Osteoporosis & Naturopathy: Building Strong Bones Naturally
Wednesday · February 18 · 7-8:30 PM
taught by Amber Belt, ND
Osteoporosis affects more than 25 million Americans - mostly women past menopause. That's a frightening statistic, but bone loss is a condition that can be prevented and reversed naturally. In this class that covers the huge topic of bone loss, we will tackle a little bone anatomy and discuss risk factors for osteoporosis. Then we'll talk about solutions to bone loss such as lifestyle, nutrition, and supplements.
$12 per person, $10 for co-op Owners & seniors
Fresh Food Fast
Monday · February 23 · 7-9 PM
taught by Nancy O'Connor, Nutrition Educator
Here's a new class inspired by Peter Berley's cookbook by the same name - Fresh Food Fast - Delicious, Seasonal Vegetarian Meals in Under An Hour.
Recipes in this book are grouped by season and presented as whole menus.
We'll prepare two whole menus and top it off with a dessert from the same book. Our first meal will be Spicy Coconut Sweet Potato Soup with Collard Greens, topped with Crispy Tempeh Strips and Jasmine Rice. Our second menu will be Lemon Lentil Soup with Spinach, accompanied by Buckwheat Vegetable Pancakes with Savory Yogurt Sauce. For dessert - we're still deciding, but we know it will be good!
$15 per person, $13 for Merc Owners & seniors
Fun, Delicious and Mostly Fast Asian Noodles
Tuesday · February 24 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Nancy Stark
As the days get short and cold, and filled with holiday busy-ness, take a break from it all with this fun and entertaining class. Chef Nancy will feed us and keep us smiling with her usual enthusiasm and passion for ethnic cuisines. Nancy will prepare Vietnamese Pho (a soup noodle dish), Soba Noodles with Miso-Sake Salmon (a salad noodle dish), and Pad Thai (a stir-fry noodle dish). Guaranteed holiday relief.
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
A Classic High Tea
Wednesday · February 25 · 7-9 PM
taught by Bonnie Sparrman
We'll put on the tea and let Bonnie do the rest as she puts together a classic High Tea for us to enjoy. We'll start with the savories: Curried Chicken Salad; Egg Salad with Chives; and Smoked Salmon with Dill tucked between layers of bread and iced with cream cheese and garnished with cucumber slices. Then we'll finish with the sweets; Berry Scones; Lemon Curd in Pate Sucree Tart Shells; Orange Pecan Short Bread; and Chocolate Kahlua Bites. Close your eyes and pretend you're in England.
$15 per person, $13 for co-op Owners & seniors
