Judi

Creamy Baked Cheesecake

Published January 19, 2014

Creamy Baked Cheesecake

It’s one of our favorite desserts and for good reason. Cheesecake is rich and satisfying in a way no other dessert can be. I make a lot of different cheesecakes and this is one of my favorites. Simple to make and you can top it with any number of goodies to make it your own. If you get cracks in your cheesecake try buttering the pan first. It will help to prevent cracking. Also, don’t over mix the eggs. Just stir them in.

Creamy Baked Cheesecake

1/3 c. butter

1 ¼ c. graham cracker crumbs

¼ c. sugar

2 (8oz.) packages cream cheese, softened

1 (14oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

3 eggs

¼ c. lemon juice

8 oz. sour cream

Preheat oven to 300-degrees. Combine margarine, crumbs and sugar and press firmly into the bottom of a lightly buttered 9-inch springform pan. In a large mixing bowl beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in milk. Stir in eggs and juice and mix well. Pour into prepared crust and bake 50-55 minutes or until set. Cool completely then spread sour cream over the top.

Have you had your rocks today?

Published January 19, 2014

Blackberry Cinnamon Muffins

Did you think you were eating rocks? If you were eating any baked goods made with baking soda you were eating something that is mined from the earth. Baking soda is used in muffins, scones, cakes, cookies, pancakes and more. It is a common leavening agent and one of the ingredients in baking powder, too. Have you ever wondered where it came from? I did so I did a web search and this is some of what I found out.

We start our story with trona, a rock that is mined and then processed into all kinds of handy things. Trona is used to make something called soda ash (sodium carbonate). Soda ash is used to make glass, fiberglass, detergents, toothpaste and yes, baking soda.

Wyoming has the largest trona mine in the world.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is made by adding CO2 to soda ash (sodium carbonate).

5,000 years ago, the Egyptians used soda ash for glass ornaments and vessels. They found the sodium bearing mineral in dry lake bed deposits, or burned seaweed that produced ashes that contained soda ash (thus the name ash).

In the 1st century, the Romans used soda ash for bread, glass, and medicine.

Detergents· Soaps, detergents, and cleaning compounds- soda ash is used as a builder to emulsify oil stains, to decrease the redeposition of dirt during washing and rinsing, to provide alkalinity for cleaning, and to soften laundry water. Liquid detergents do not contain soda ash.

In areas of Africa, Trona (called kanwa) is an important domestic culinary additive, used for softening, tenderizing, and flavoring foods in addition to being a food preservative.

Water treatment – soda ash can be added to adjust the pH of the water and reduce the acidity. It can also be used as a precipitant with lime or alum to reduce various contaminants from the water.

Swimming pool products, medicines, paper, textiles, and toothpaste all use soda ash.

So this concludes our little food science lesson for today. I hope you enjoyed learning about baking soda as much as I did.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged baking soda, eating rocks, rocks, soda ash, trona, trona source, what is baking soda?, Where does baking soda come from?

The Challenge- Leftover Soup

Published January 18, 2014

Leftover Soup

Since I have made the commitment to not go to the grocery store I have become more aware of wasting food. I try to use as much of what I have and to throw out as little as possible. I am pretty good about using or preserving fresh food. Leftovers can be problematic. I was in the mood for soup last night as the snow flew outside of my window. I had no idea what kind of soup to have so I went looking in my fridge. I had stock but I needed to find something to put in the stock. I managed to find some cooked beans, a little leftover chicken, some pasta and baby bok choy. The end result was a wonderful, satisfying batch of soup. I could never make the exact same thing again, but that is OK. I liked it and the next time I make leftover soup I’ll probably like it, too. I think that may be my weekly routine for a while. I’ll clean out the fridge and use the leftovers to make soup. The nice thing about leftover soup is that the more stuff you have the better it gets.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged baby bok choy, baby bok choy recipe, bean soup, bean soup recipe, bok choy, bok choy recipe, challenge, leftover recipe, leftover soup recipe, pasta soup, pasta soup recipe, soup recipe, the challenge, the challenge recipe

Dehydrating Vegetables

Published January 17, 2014

Dried Vegetables

While I love canning I also preserve a lot of food by dehydrating it. Once you get over the initial investment in a dehydrator the cost to dry food and to store dried food is pretty minimal. Dried fruits are probably the most common home dried foods. Apples, grapes, pineapple, strawberries and cherries are among my favorites. But the dried vegetables are so useful and versatile I think I enjoy them even more than dried fruits.

Drying Vegetables

Most vegetables should be dried at the lower range if you have an adjustable thermometer on your dehydrator-around 125-degrees. The big thing to know with vegetables is that some of them need to be blanched first. Blanching is just steaming the vegetables for a few minutes and draining, if needed, before drying. Blanching kills certain enzymes, prevents browning and assures a better end product.

Vegetables that need blanching include green beans, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, greens, winter squash, corn and beets; this is not a complete list, but a good start.

Vegetables that do not require blanching include onions, celery, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, zucchini, cucumbers and garlic and also herbs.

Broccoli and cauliflower do not dehydrate well.

Tomatoes are probably the best vegetable to dry for the home gardener and cook. They are so easy to make and so tasty. Just cut plum tomatoes in half and scoop out the seeds. Lightly spray the trays with non-stick spray and place the tomatoes cut side up for the first 12 hours. Turn them over after that until they are dried. I like them pretty crispy, but keep them in the freezer to keep their color and flavor longer. After a year they will turn black if stored at room temperature. Larger tomatoes can also be dried. Just cut them in slices and squeeze out the seeds. Cherry tomatoes are just cut in half and squeezed to get out the seeds. With small cherry tomatoes I just make a cut large enough to get out the seeds and leave them whole.

How do I use them?

Veggie chips-zucchini and cucumber slices can be used instead of chips in dip.

Powders- Tomatoes, celery, onion, pumpkin and garlic can all be powdered and used to flavor soups, stews sauces, cheeses, dips and more.

Reconstituted as fresh- potatoes in casseroles are wonderful.

Dips- Peppers, onion and celery all add great flavor.

To thicken sauces- Shredded zucchini, peppers, onions celery and tomatoes all work well this way.

Soups and Stews- most any dried vegetable is most often used this way. Easy to just let them simmer together until tender and all their flavors will enrich your stock

Chowders- Corn and potatoes are great in these dishes

Dried vegetables are best stored in a cool, dry place- I often freeze them for best shelf life.

Vegetables in photo: Starting left with bright green and going clockwise: Celery, potatoes, red peppers, mushrooms, carrots, cucumbers, onions and tomatoes. In the center- mixed sweet peppers.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged dehydrating, dehydrating vegetables, dehydrating veggies, dehydrators, drying vegetables, drying veggies, powdered vegetables, powdered veggies, using dried vegetables, using dried veggies

Cranberry Roll-ups

Published January 16, 2014

Cranberry Roll-ups

After making cranberry juice I was left with a lot of pulp. I didn’t want to toss it so I decided to make cranberry fruit roll ups with it. I ran the pulp through the coarse blade of my food mill. I then sweetened just a little- less than a cup of sugar. I then spread the mixture on plastic wrap placed on the trays of my dehydrator. I ended up with 7 in the end. I dried them at 120 degrees for 6 hours. They should be pliable but not sticky to the touch when done. A couple of friends stopped over today and they got a chance to taste them. Both said they liked that the roll ups were not too sweet- they had a nice tartness to them. Once finished I rolled them up in the plastic wrap and will store them in the fridge.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged cranberry, cranberry fruit rollups. recipe, cranberry leather, cranberry leather recipe, cranberry recipe, cranberry roll-ups, dried cranberry recipe, fruit leather, fruit roll-up, fruit rollup, fruit rollups

Homemade Cranberry Juice

Published January 16, 2014

Cranberry Juice

I bought quite a few bags of cranberries right after Thanksgiving and popped them in the freezer for later use. Decided to make cranberry juice last night. The juice came out great. Nothing like store-bought. It was really easy, too. I started with 5 (12oz.) bags of cranberries. I measured them out and added the same amount of water- each bag was just under 4 cups of berries so I added 3 1/2 cups of water for each bag. I brought this mixture to a boil and let it cook until the berries starting popping. I strained the juice twice. First time through a fine strainer and second time through a strainer lined with cheesecloth. I returned the juice to the pot and brought it up barely to a simmer. To sweeten it I added 6 oz. of frozen apple juice concentrate and less than a cup of sugar. Once the juice was up to a simmer I let it cook 5 minutes and then ladled it into clean, hot quart canning jars. I filled them to about 1/4 inch from the top, wiped the rims and closed the jars. I also used the last of it to fill a pint jar. Processed in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Ended up with 4 quarts and 1 pint for my efforts. Don’t discard the pulp- you can make fruit roll ups with it.

Posted in Cooking

Layered Bean Salad

Published January 15, 2014

Layered Bean Salad

This is one of the dishes we made in class last night. Fresh and colorful it was a big hit. It uses both green and yellow split peas in something other than soup. You can scale back the amounts- it does make a lot. The dish was inspired by my nephew Danny’s love of sand art.

Layered Bean Salad

1 c. each green split peas, yellow split peas and red lentils

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can butter beans, rinsed and drained

1 c. diced sweet onion

1 c. diced sweet pepper

1 c. grated carrot

Cook split peas and lentils separately just until tender. Split peas, both green and yellow will take 20 minutes. Red lentils will take about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse each under cold water when done and set aside until ready to use, or you can cook them a day ahead and keep chilled. Each will yield about 2 1/2 c. cooked.

In large glass bowl, place the following ingredients in this order.

Black beans, butter beans, green split peas. yellow split peas. onion, red lentils. carrots and peppers. Pour over dressing and chill several hours or overnight. Serve on a bed of greens.

Dressing *

1/2 c. oil

1/2 c. vinegar

1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained

2-3 T. sugar

1/2 c. parsley or cilantro

1 t. each chili powder, cumin and salt

dash hot sauce

Combine in a blender or food processor until smooth.

*Note: Any bottled dressing you like can be used. Italian works very well. In class I served it with a balsamic dressing.

Posted in Cooking

Chicken with Olives

Published January 14, 2014

Chicken with Olives

In an attempt to use leftovers from a recent dinner with friends I ended up with a great chicken dish. I had some leftover green olives and white wine. I had some chicken I wanted to cook and I decided to use these leftovers in the dish. The end was result was very tasty.

I had some boneless skinless chicken breasts that I had cut into thin strips and marinated in sherry. I started the dish by sauteing chopped onions (also leftover from chili night) in oil. I added some sliced baby sweet peppers and sliced garlic. I tossed in the chicken and the olives and cooked it until the chicken was cooked through. I then added some of the white wine to the pan and let the sauce reduce. I didn’t add much salt because of the saltiness of the olives but I did finish the dish with some fresh ground pepper and a little basil. The dish could be served as is or over cooked pasta or rice.

Posted in Cooking

Cooking Class Schedule

Published January 13, 2014

2014 Schedule

My classes are held in a number of different venues. It is important to register early so you won’t be shut out or so the class will not be canceled. Most classes are demonstrations with plenty of food for tasting and recipes to take home. Registration fees vary from one location to the next. Food fees are payable to me the night of the class. Unless otherwise noted all classes are from 7-9 pm.

Mentor

Mentor classes are held at Wildwood Center at 7645 Little Mountain Road. Unless otherwise noted all Mentor classes are held on Tuesdays. You can register online at CityofMentor.com/play or by phone at 440 974 5720 from Cleveland call 440 942 8796.

Classes in Mentor sell out quickly. Please be sure to ask to go on the waiting list if the class you want to attend is full. We do get openings and if there are enough people on the waiting list we can always schedule an additional session. Cost to residents is $14, non-resident fee is $17. That does not include the food fee paid to me the night of the class. Unless noted- all Mentor classes are on Tuesdays.

Winter 2014

Jan. 14: Gourmet Vegetarian: Cooking without meat does not mean your food has to be tasteless or boring. In fact you can create terrific gourmet meals and your guests will never miss the meat. In class you will learn how to make nutritious foods elegant, too. There will be plenty of foods to try in class and recipes to take home. Food Fee $8.00.

Jan. 21: Soups of the World: Soup seems to be the universal comfort food. From hearty to light, piping hot to icy cold soup recipes are as different as the places they come from. This class will explore many cultural soup traditions. From Eastern Asia to Eastern Europe, South America to West Africa you will get a chance to sample soup from all over the globe. Recipes will also be provided. Food Fee $9.00

Jan. 28: Wok This Way: Stir-frying can be a fun and fast way to prep dinner. With wok cooking vegetables are still crisp and colorful and you haven’t spent the whole evening in the kitchen. It also does not need to be only Asian-style dishes. In class you’ll learn to cook like a pro with a wok in dishes from all over the world. There will be plenty to taste in class and recipes for home. Food Fee: $9.00

Feb. 4: For Chocolate Lover’s Only: For many people consuming chocolate is one of life’s great joys. Cooking with chocolate can be enjoyable, too. From the basics of handling and working with chocolate to baked treats this class will give you plenty of ways to indulge. You will get a chance to taste plenty of chocolate treats and will have recipes to take home. Food Fee: $9.00

Feb. 11: Eat Better for Less: In today’s economic environment every penny counts. Food prices are making it harder to feed your family on a budget. This class will focus on strategies for eating good food and saving money, too. Seasonal shopping, food storage, preservation and where to shop are among the topics. There will recipes to sample in class and many recipes for home. Food Fee $8.00

Feb. 18: One Pot Meals: You can create tasty meals for your family without creating chaos in your kitchen. This class is all about making meals that cook in one dish for easy preparation and easy clean up. From casseroles to soups you’ll get to sample a wide array of dishes and you’ll get plenty of time saving tips as well as recipes to take home. Food Fee $9.00.

Mar. 11: Foods of Italy: A country of diverse regions, people and cuisine, Italy has long been the home of great cooking. From classics like polenta, risotto and tiaramisu to earthy country dishes this class will expose you the foods of Italy in all their many forms. There will of course be much sampling to do and recipes to help you bring a little bit of Italy home with you. Food Fee $9.00.

Mar. 18: Morocco and North Africa: Treat yourself to something a little different in this class. You’ll learn how to make rich savory dishes with spices that will be certain to expand your cooking skills. Both the meat-based and vegetarian dishes of this part of the world will delight you with both their flavor and simplicity. There will be several dishes to try in class and many recipes to take home. Food Fee $9.00.

Mar. 25: South America: The foods of Brazil, Argentina and Chile are more popular than even. In class you will learn how to make some of the dishes that is making the world take notice. From soups to salads to tasty main dishes these rich cultures have created a rich cuisine. There will be sampling in class and recipes for home. Food Fee: $9.00.

Apr. 1: Southern Comfort: No matter where you live you have probably enjoyed some of the wonderful dishes from this regional cuisine. With long growing seasons and a rich multicultural heritage Southern cooking combines simple, classic dishes and homey favorites. From grits to praline this class will give you the chance to taste an array of dishes with many more recipes for home. Food Fee $9.00

Apr. 8: Easter Baking: Baking is very much a part of our holiday traditions. Some breads are associated with springtime and Easter. In class you’ll taste breads and other baked treats from different cultures. You’ll get recipes from hot cross buns and Easter bunny rolls to Bird’s Nest Biscotti plus you’ll have the chance to do some hands on work. You’ll also get tips on how to bake better bread. Food Fee $8.00

Apr. 22: Tea Time: Serving tea in an English tradition that is gaining popularity here. Learn how to make proper tea and how to make all the tasty treats that are part of a proper tea party. From scones to lemon cake and cucumber sandwiches to crumpets you will get a chance to taste several tea party foods and you will receive plenty of recipes to take home. Food Fee $9.00

Apr. 29: Skillet Dinners: Simple and fast is a good way to describe skillet dinners. In class you’ll get plenty of recipes and tasty samples of meals made on top of the stove. Many are made in 30 minutes or less, perfect for weekday dinners or any time you want a home-cooked meal in less time. Some take more time, but are well worth the wait. Food fee $9.00

May 6: Cupcakes: Get in on the hottest trend in baking. Cupcakes are loved by young and old and can be the right dessert for casual and formal events alike. In class you will get recipes for a variety of cupcakes and frostings including chocolate mint, very vanilla, lemon, strawberry, pumpkin and many more. This will be a hands-on class with a chance to bake and decorate cupcakes. Food Fee $8.00.

May 13: Breakfast in Bed: Pamper the ones you love as well as yourself with picture perfect breakfast foods. Besides learning the basics of preparing eggs and omelets you will also learn how to make fun foods like chocolate waffles, peanut butter pancakes and even homemade granola. There will plenty to taste in class and recipes to take home. Food Fee $8.00

May 20: Go Green, Cooking with Leafy Green Vegetables: We know we should eat them but many of us just aren’t sure what to do with leafy green vegetables. This class will give plenty of tasty recipes using all sorts of greens. From delicate salad greens to the hearty winter greens you will learn how to prepare them all. Collards, beet greens, kale, broccoli rabe, spinach, chard, dandelion greens and many more. There will recipes to sample in class and recipes for home. Food Fee: $8.00

Fairview Hospital Wellness Center

Located at 3035 Wooster Rd., in Rocky River, the Wellness Center is operated by Fairview Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital. Unless otherwise noted classes here are on Mondays. For more information, or to register for classes, visit fairviewhospital.org/wellnesscenter or call 440-356-0670.

Winter/Spring 2014

Jan. 13: 5 or Fewer: If you are tired of recipes with long ingredient lists try this class. All the recipes use 5 or fewer ingredients. Mostly main dishes and sides there are also some delectable desserts. Learn to make dinner simply, often using items you can have on hand and by using some convenience foods. Food Fee $9.00.

Jan. 20: One Pot Meals: You can create tasty meals for your family without creating chaos in your kitchen. This class is all about making meals that cook in one dish for easy preparation and easy clean up. From casseroles to soups you’ll get to sample a wide array of dishes and you’ll get plenty of time saving tips as well as recipes to take home. Food Fee $9.00.

Jan. 27: Around the World with Pizza: Does your family have pizza every Friday night? Getting bored with the same old traditional pizza? Even though pizza originated in Italy, today we can enjoy it with the taste influence of many other cultures. Take a trip around the world and learn how to prepare pizza such as Asian Pizza, Chicken Fajita Pizza, Greek Pizza, Double Dutch Extra Cheesy Pizza and more. Samples will be available for everyone to enjoy! Next Friday night surprise your family with one of these new pizza variations! Plenty of recipes to take home, too. Food fee $9.00.

Feb. 3: For Chocolate Lover’s Only: For many people consuming chocolate is one of life’s great joys. Cooking with chocolate can be enjoyable, too. From the basics of handling and working with chocolate to baked treats this class will give you plenty of ways to indulge. You will get a chance to taste plenty of chocolate treats and will have recipes to take home. Food Fee: $9.00

Feb. 10: Soup’s On: What could be nicer than a simmering pot of homemade soup? In this class you’ll learn how to make wonderful soups staring with how to make stock from scratch. You’ll get to taste Tomato Bisque and Cabbage Soup along with Bean and Barley. There will plenty of recipes to take home, too. Food Fee $9.00

Feb. 17: Skillet Dinners: Simple and fast is a good way to describe skillet dinners. In class you’ll get plenty of recipes and tasty samples of meals made on top of the stove. Many are made in 30 minutes or less, perfect for weekday dinners or any time you want a home-cooked meal in less time. Some take more time, but are well worth the wait. Food fee $9.00

Mar. 3: Eat Your Vegetables: From artichokes to zucchini, this class will teach you how to cook vegetables for maximum flavor and nutrition. There will be a chance to taste several vegetable dishes in class and you will get plenty of recipes for home. There will also be information on freezing. Food Fee $8.00.

Mar. 10: Focaccia, Bruschetta & Bread Sticks: Simple Italian Breads: Tell your family you’re serving Focaccia Bread or Bruschetta or and they may look at you funny. But watch their faces change once they take their first bite! Learn how to prepare Focaccia, a dimpled, Italian flat bread that is a “cousin” to pizza, Bruschetta, a classic Italian appetizer, and Bread Sticks that will compliment any Italian meal. Recipes include Herbed Focaccia and Fennel Breadsticks. There will plenty to taste in class and recipes for home. Food Fee $8.00.

Mar. 24: Eat Better for Less: In today’s economic environment every penny counts. Food prices are making it harder to feed your family on a budget. This class will focus on strategies for eating good food and saving money, too. Seasonal shopping, food storage, preservation and where to shop are among the topics. There will recipes to sample in class and many recipes for home. Food Fee $8.00

Mar 31: Vegetarian Cooking: Watching your cholesterol? Looking for an alternative to meat and potatoes? In this class you will learn the basics of eating meatless meals including ‘protein pairing’ and how to make food the family will enjoy, too. Whether you are already a vegetarian or just want a change of pace this class will give you a lot of information and plenty of good food. There will recipes to take home and samples to taste in class. Food Fee $8.00.

Apr. 7: Cooking With Tortillas: If the only time you eat a tortilla is at a Mexican restaurant be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. The flour and corn tortillas in the dairy counter at your grocery store can be used for everything from appetizers to breakfast, sandwiches to desserts. You’ll learn how to make Mexican and non-Mexican dishes including a baked egg roll! Tortillas are easy to use and can make cooking easier. Recipes to take home and plenty of samples to taste in class. Food Fee $8.00

Apr. 14: Wok This Way: Stir-frying can be a fun and fast way to prep dinner. With wok cooking vegetables are still crisp and colorful and you haven’t spent the whole evening in the kitchen. It also does not need to be only Asian-style dishes. In class you’ll learn to cook like a pro with a wok in dishes from all over the world. There will be plenty to taste in class and recipes for home. Food Fee: $9.00

Apr. 28: Mediterranean: With a beautiful climate and access to the sea the foods of the Mediterranean will awake your senses. From the Grecian Isles to foods of the Middle East you will get a chance to try some tasty, simple dishes that you can easily duplicate at home. Plenty of recipes for home, too. Food Fee: $9.00.

SELREC/ Adult

South Euclid/ Lyndhurst Recreation Department classes are held in the cooking room in Beachwood Middle School. To register for classes you can call 216 382 4300. You can also request a brochure for all SELREC classes when you call.

Winter 2014

Jan. 15: Chowders and Stews: This class is all about the ultimate comfort foods. Learn how to make all kinds of warm, thick and creamy dishes for chilly nights You will get a chance to sample several dishes in class and will have plenty of recipes for home. You will also learn how to thicken chowders and stews without flour or cornstarch. Food Fee $9.00

Jan. 23: One Pot Meals: You can create tasty meals for your family without creating chaos in your kitchen. This class is all about making meals that cook in one dish for easy preparation and easy clean up. From casseroles to soups you’ll get to sample a wide array of dishes and you’ll get plenty of time saving tips as well as recipes to take home. Food Fee $9.00.

Feb. 6: For Chocolate Lover’s Only: For many people consuming chocolate is one of life’s great joys. Cooking with chocolate can be enjoyable, too. From the basics of handling and working with chocolate to baked treats this class will give you plenty of ways to indulge. You will get a chance to taste plenty of chocolate treats and will have recipes to take home. Food Fee: $9.00

Feb. 12: Soup’s On: What could be nicer than a simmering pot of homemade soup? In this class you’ll learn how to make wonderful soups staring with how to make stock from scratch. You’ll get to taste Tomato Bisque and Cabbage Soup along with Bean and Barley. There will plenty of recipes to take home, too. Food Fee $9.00

Feb. 20: Chili: Chili is almost as American as apple pie. You can’t believe how many types there are. There are some with tons of meat and some with none. There is lentil chili and even white chili. In class you’ll get to sample several and take home the recipes for many more. Food Fee $9.00.

Feb. 26: More One-Pot Meals: One- pot meals can be casseroles, crock pot meals, stews, soups and skillet dinners. Most are easy to prepare and leave behind a minimum of dishes. They are also comfort foods everybody loves. In this follow-up class the instructor will share even more of her favorite one-pot dinners including both meat-based and vegetarian meals. There will also be hints on getting the most from a crock pot. Food Fee: $9.00.

Mar. 5: Wok This Way: Stir-frying can be a fun and fast way to prep dinner. With wok cooking vegetables are still crisp and colorful and you haven’t spent the whole evening in the kitchen. It also does not need to be only Asian-style dishes. In class you’ll learn to cook like a pro with a wok in dishes from all over the world. There will be plenty to taste in class and recipes for home. Food Fee: $9.00

Mar. 13: Focaccia, Bruschetta & Bread Sticks: Simple Italian Breads: Tell your family you’re serving Focaccia Bread or Bruschetta or and they may look at you funny. But watch their faces change once they take their first bite! Learn how to prepare Focaccia, a dimpled, Italian flat bread that is a “cousin” to pizza, Bruschetta, a classic Italian appetizer, and Bread Sticks that will compliment any Italian meal. Recipes include Herbed Focaccia and Fennel Breadsticks. There will plenty to taste in class and recipes for home. Food Fee $8.00.

Mar. 19: Won Tons: These little squares and circles of dough are for more than just soup. Easy to work with and versatile they can be transformed in minutes into appetizers, main dishes, sides dishes and desserts. No time to cook- wontons may be the answer. In class we’ll learn how to roll and fold them to make many dishes including Crab Rolls, Chicken Chowder Bites, Pumpkin Ravioli, Cheddar Bacon Rolls, Pot Stickers, Chocolate Fried Pies and so many more. Some hands-on in this class. Food Fee $8.00

Beachwood Recreation

Cooking classes for Beachwood Recreation are held at the Beachwood Middle School in the home ec room. The School is located on Richmond Road behind the library. You can register by calling 216 292 1970.

All classes listed in Selrec schedule can also be registered through Beachwood Rec.