February 2012
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Herbs Build Better Bones
Saturday, February 4, 2012 2-4 pm
Taught by: Ocoee Miller
View Ocoee Miller biography
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t need their bones? These days almost everyone is concerned about Osteoporosis. It is time to learn how herbs can help. We don’t have to let our bones crumble. In this class Ocoee will teach us how to use herbs to keep our bones strong and supple.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $12 per person, $10 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Eat Well and Be Well in Pregnancy
Monday, February 6, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Karen Duggan
View Karen Duggan biography
For those pregnant or planning a pregnancy, Nutrition Coach Karen Duggan will help you listen to your body and your baby during pregnancy. Learn about foods to eat to help prevent morning sickness. Discover simple ways to include more greens and grains in your diet to support you and your baby, with a menu that includes the Best Potato Soup you’ll ever eat, and a simple and delicious Kale Quinoa Salad. We’ll also share healthy treats you can make for good energy in pregnancy.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $18 per person, $16 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Vegetarian Sushi
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Chef Nancy Stark
View Chef Nancy Stark biography
Learn how to make tasty Japanese food without the fish. We’ll start with Vegetable Gyoza (pan fried and steamed dumplings with a savory dipping sauce). Then we’ll learn how to make perfect Sushi Rice and with it we’ll construct a beautiful array of rolls: Umeboshi and Shiso Leaf Nori Rolls; Inside-Out Rolls with Spicy Miso Eggplant and Tofu; Inside-Out Rolls with Asparagus, Omelet, Cream Cheese and Avocado; and Tempura Mushroom-Wasabi Sweet Potato Nori Rolls. A lovely surprise sweet will crown the evening!
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $20 per person, $18 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Create a Special Valentine’s Day Dinner for (or with) Your Sweetheart
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Chef Paige Vandegrift
View Chef Paige Vandegrift biography
Join Paige for a fun class where she’ll guide you through a meal you can prepare for someone special on Valentine’s Day. Start your meal with Simple Gorgonzola & Goat Cheese Crostini; followed by a Spinach & Mushroom Salad with Creamy Vinaigrette. The main dish will be a fabulous Baked Salmon with Herbed Mustard Breadcrumbs served with Ragoût of Winter Vegetables. Finish your romantic meal perfectly with Provençal Hot Chocolate Creams (a.k.a Molten Chocolate Cake). You’ll be in love with this food!
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $20 per person, $18 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Gluten-Free Italian
Thursday, February 9, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Hilary Kass, MPH
View Hilary Kass, MPH biography
Enjoy all the flavors of an Italian feast with some traditionally gluten free items and a few gluten substitutions. Hilary will prepare, and you will enjoy, Farinata (a traditional chickpea flat bread) served with Baby Greens; Fresh Minestrone Soup; Risotto with Spring Vegetables; and a sampling of gluten-free pastas. We’ll finish with a freshly baked Macaroon. Bravo!
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $18 per person, $16 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Cajun Cuisine - In Time for Mardi Gras
Monday, February 13, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Raven Naramore
View Raven Naramore biography
Don your Mardi Gras beads and get in the spirit, as we talk about the fusion of cultures that brought the world Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Crawfish Étoufée. We’ll start with roux-making basics that will be the base of Chicken Sausage Gumbo and a vegetarian variation. Next we’ll explore the Mardi Gras staple Red Beans & Rice, served with a side of Cajun Green Beans with Pecans. Finish with Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. Head on down to the Merc mon chère!
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $18 per person, $16 for Merc Owners & Seniors
All New Vegetarian Mexican
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 7-9pm
Taught by: Chef Nancy Stark
View Chef Nancy Stark biography
Come join us for a new round of delicious, authentic Mexican dishes without the meat. We’ll begin with Chilaquiles, which is a “casserole” of crisp tortillas bathed in Guajillo Chile Sauce and drizzled with homemade Crema and cheese. Then we’ll sample a fabulous Yucatecan Tamale wrapped in Banana Leaf with Chard, Pumpkin Seed and Egg, with Yucatecan Salsa. We’ll go over the top with Mexican Chocolate Pudding Tart!
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $20 per person, $18 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Hearty, Herbaceous Winter Comfort
Thursday, February 16, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Pam Bramlett and Ben Johnson
View Pam Bramlett and Ben Johnson biography
“Winter is time for comfort, warm food & a friendly hand...” Edith Sitwell. It’s the perfect time for a thick, rich, well seasoned stew to share with a friend. To warm your winter evening, Pam and her son Ben will prepare a Warm Arugula Portabella Salad and Tuscan Herb Vinaigrette. For the entrée, we’ll cook a Hearty Bean Ragoût topped with Seared Fish and Red Onion Jalapeno Confit. We’ll finish the evening with Warm Double-Chocolate Mint Pudding.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $18 per person, $16 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Herbs for the Deepest Detox
Saturday, February 18, 2012 2-4 pm
Taught by: Ocoee Miller
View Ocoee Miller biography
Improve your vitality and get the holiday goo out of your system all at the same time using herbal procedures. Herbs can practically scour away your eating mistakes as well as those nasty environmental toxins that jump on us. Ocoee will explain at least five different powerful deep cleanse protocols for you to choose among. Some of these can be done in just a weekend. Some take only five days. This class will cover everything from toxic heavy metals to the sticky stuff that accumulates from holiday treats.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $12 per person, $10 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Small Plates and Wine Pairings
Monday, February 20, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Jayni Carey
View Jayni Carey biography
Small plates are an adventurous approach to dining with tantalizing presentations of intensely flavored foods. Jayni will prepare a small plate menu of Creamy Potato-Basil Soup; Shrimp with Smoked Paprika on Tomato Bread; Braised Pork served over Soft Polenta and Fourme d’Ambert, France’s oldest cheese, served with Prunes in Red Wine Syrup. Local wine expert, Mike Hathaway, will pair small pours of four wines to match this array of flavors and share tips for choosing just the right wine.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $30 per person, $28 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Chicken Cooking for Beginners, Learning the Basics
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Chef Paige Vandegrift
View Chef Paige Vandegrift biography
In this class for beginner cooks, Paige will cover a range of basic chicken cooking methods using simple recipes. You’ll learn stock and poaching techniques with the very best Chicken Noodle Soup. Then on to braising with a flavorful Moroccan Spiced Chicken. Learn how to roast pieces and parts of chicken with Baked Chicken with Herbs & Shallots. Finally you’ll learn how to sauté and pan-fry Boneless Breasts to create Chicken with Mushrooms, and Crispy Chicken Paillards with Lemon & Capers. You’ll be a pro by the end of class.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $25 per person, $23 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Simple Dinners After Work
Thursday, February 23, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Hilary Kass, MPH
View Hilary Kass, MPH biography
After a busy day we all want to enjoy a simple healthy dinner. Join Hilary in sampling three dinners that take about 30 minutes each to prepare. First up, a simple Fritatta that includes Vibrant Greens served with Polenta. Next we’ll explore the infinite varieties of Quesadillas - filled and grilled, always with lots of vegetables. Finally, a super simple Curry Dinner to make at home thanks to coconut milk and prepared curry paste. Hilary will serve this with exotic and simple Black Rice. All done in 30!
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $18 per person, $16 for Merc Owners & Seniors
Decadent Hot Cross Buns, Cinnamon Rolls and Fabulous Yeasted Coffee Cake
Saturday, February 25, 2012 2-4 pm
Taught by: Mari Ruck
View Mari Ruck biography
Warm your winter kitchen with Melt-in-Your-Mouth Hot Cross Buns; Fabulous Yeasted Coffee Cake; and Spectacular Made-from-Scratch Cinnamon Rolls. What better way to spend a cold Saturday afternoon then in the Merc kitchen with Mari Ruck teaching. Guaranteed to be entertaining, informative, and delicious. The tea and coffee will be brewing.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $18 per person, $16 for Merc Owners & Seniors
All New Bean Cooking Basics
Monday, February 27, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Nancy O'Connor, MS Ed
View Nancy O'Connor, MS Ed biography
We’ll travel the globe with all new recipes featuring the humble bean. We’ll start the evening with a delicious Pureed White Bean Spread served on Crostini. Then on to simple Black Bean Tostadas with trimmings, and an Instant Tamale Pie topped with Sour Cream & Guacamole. We’ll switch cuisines with a savory Greek Pizza starring garbanzo beans, and end with a beautiful Minestrone & Parmesan Biscuit Pot Pie. Each participant will get to take home a complimentary can of Eden beans to get you started cooking.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $18 per person, $16 for Merc Owners & Seniors
World Curries and Flatbreads
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Chef Nancy Stark
View Chef Nancy Stark biography
Take a little trip around the world with Chef Nancy as she shares her love of curries, accompanied with flatbreads for dipping, scooping and wrapping! First we’ll make Fresh Corn Flatbread with Chiles (similar to a corn tortilla by way of India), perfect for eating with Spicy Chopped Tomato-Cucumber Salad. Then we’ll sample fresh hot Puri (Indian Fried Flatbread) with Sambhar Masala (Aromatic Mixed Vegetable Curry). We’ll finish in Ethiopia with Injera (a soft griddle baked flatbread) and Doro Wot, a traditional Ethiopian chicken curry. And, of course, a surprise sweet.
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $20 per person, $18 for Merc Owners & Seniors
New Recipes from Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple Food
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 7-9 pm
Taught by: Chef Paige Vandegrift
View Chef Paige Vandegrift biography
The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters is a culinary classic. Join Paige in her second class preparing recipes from this very famous cookbook, starting with Long Cooked Broccoli (served on a croûton). Next you’ll enjoy delicious and seasonal Curly Kale & Potato Soup, followed by Moroccan Sweet Potato Salad and a very Classic Beef Stew. The meal will be complete with a 1-2-3-4 Cake (a simple and perfect butter cake). This is a class focused on simple foods prepared with excellent ingredients using classic techniques. A winner!
Location: The Merc's Community Classroom
Cost: $20 per person, $18 for Merc Owners & Seniors