September and October Cooking Class Update

The September On the Farm Cooking Class was great fun last Saturday. Like all of my On the Farm cooking classes, this one took place in the kitchen at The Inn at New Town Farms. The morning started with a farm tour hosted by Sammy and Melinda Koenigsberg, owners of New Town Farms. In the picture to the right, you can see we gathered at the Inns outdoor courtyard to start Even though the weather was hot, the farm tour was fun and informative. We visited with the Heritage breed pigs, the French breed chickens and the turkeys; collected just laid eggs and perused the new and old growth in the fields as the crops rotate from one season to the other - so important to know where our food comes from and how it is raised. Class participants were also able to purchase product and produce from Sammy and Melinda at the end of class. But class is not the only place to buy from New Town Farms - Sammy and his fmaily are always at the Matthews Community Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings starting at 7:30 am!

After the tour, back in the kitchen, we cooked up fresh from-the-farm chicken and okra into a rich and delicious Chicken Gumbo; prepared a fillet of fresh local NC Cobia from SeafoodS.com at the Atherton Mills Farmers' Market with a cacciatore sauce (cobia is a thick dense fish with a texture that would keep you in mind of a swordfish steak); a smoked Greek eggplant dip with Sammy's special Italian varietal eggplant; and finished everything off with individual chocolate souffles served with locally grown figs and muscadines - delish!

More On the Farm classes to come - one every month! Classes for October and November are scheduled for Oct. 23 - For all of you grilling gurus, this On the Farm class takes on an outdoor twist with - weather permitting - a menu of recipes designed to hone your outdoor grilling skills.

Then our November On the Farm class will be on Nov 13 and will feature farm fresh holiday hors d’oeuvres -

Complete menus for both of these classes will be out soon, but you can sign up for either or both classes now if you'd like by emailing me at hlnc@carolina.rr.com. Cost for the On the Farm cooking classes is $55 per person. Classes begin at 11 am with the 1- 1 1/2 hour farm tour and generally run till 4 pm.

In the meantime, here's what's coming up in the next several weeks - each At Home with Heidi class is $55 per person and again reservations may be made by emailing me at hlnc@carolina.rr.com.

Cooking with Seasonal Seafood - At Home with Heidi
Tues. Sept. 28 at 6 pm
4-5 fabulous recipes, each featuring locally available sustainable seafood for four entrees and one appetizer: pan-seared trout with crispy kale, shrimp and scallops diable, baked salmon with a coriander crust, seviche cocktail, and a tasty prosciutto wrapped spicy shrimp. We'll work with fin fish and shell fish and talk about the cooking and handling of both!

Cajun and Creole Cuisine
Chef Choice Cooking Classes at Johnson and Wales
Sat. Oct 2 at 9 am
A fun flavor-filled class featuring these classic recipes from the kitchens of the Crescent City: jambalaya, seafood crepes with a creole sauce, a thick and hearty gumbo and a rich, ooey-gooey bread pudding with a knock-your-socks-off Whiskey sauce - Laissez les bons temps rouler! This is one you won't want to miss. Go to http://apps.jwu.edu/chefschoice/clt/searchsections.aspx on the Web and click – the “find classes” button - cost $140 per person


Try A Little Thai - At Home with Heidi
Tues. Oct 5 at 6 pm
An entire meal with all the intricate flavors of Thailand. Recipes include my twist on a Thai chicken and coconut soup, local grilled pork with green Curry sauce, classic Pad Thai and fishcakes with spicy cucumber sauce - the perfect comfort food for fall!

Food and Wine of Spain - At Home with Heidi
Sat. Oct 9 at 11 am
One of my most popular classes - a complete Spanish meal perfect for friends and family alike. Menu includes spicy saffron-seasoned empanadas, a seafood and sausage paella, roasted smoked paprika potatoes, homemade sangria and a cabrales souffle with oven roasted pears and caramel sauce.

FREE Cooking Demo at the Atherton Mills Farmers' Market
Tues Oct 12, 5:30-7 pm
FREE ongoing Cooking Demo at the Atherton Mills Farmers’ Market using the very best of locally home grown farm fresh produce and product. Recipes and samples for all!


Wine Country Cuisine-At Home with Heidi - PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE and location FOR THIS CLASS -
Tues Oct 19 at 6 pm.
Menu will include great dishes inspired by chefs and restaurants in
some of the most noted wine tasting and making regions in the world. Complete menu out Oct 1.

For more information about these classes sign up for my email newsletter by emailing me at hlnc@carolina.rr.com. Hope to see you Cooking Up A Storm real soon,
Cheers!
Heidi