Culinary Arts

Cooking 101

Whether you’ve never picked up a spatula or are looking to sharpen your skills, join us for this hands-on class to learn the essentials of cooking at home. We’ll explore must-have kitchen tools, helpful pantry staples, slow cooking, air frying, and more. Plus, you’ll receive great starter recipes—including simple meat and potato dishes, vegetarian options, and tips for adapting recipes to your family’s tastes or dietary needs.

Together, we will enjoy homemade mac and cheese with a fresh salad and light baked dessert. By the end of class, you’ll leave with the confidence to create delicious, cost-effective meals from scratch.

Class Notes: Some samples/recipes contain milk & wheat.

Community Instructors: Jan Szalkowski and Wendy Steusloff

Cooking for Your Health: Legumes and Lentils 101

Join local family physician and certified culinary medicine specialist, Dr. Humaira Lateef, to learn the nutrition benefits of various foods and how to use them for taste, flavor, and better health.

This fun class will showcase the versatility and health benefits of legumes and lentils, followed by hands-on time in the kitchen making a healthy recipe that we will enjoy together. Participants will receive a handout with valuable information and can take home any leftover food.

Class Notes: We recommend everyone bring an apron and a hairnet or head covering, and a small container for leftovers.

Community Instructor: Humaira Lateef, M.D. FAAFP, CCMS

Summer Seasonings & Rubs

Kick off your summer with the fresh flavors of homemade seasonings and rubs! In this hands-on class, you’ll explore the fundamentals of combining herbs, spices, and salts to create custom blends that elevate any dish. Learn how to balance flavors and tailor each blend to suit your unique tastes as we mix up samples including homemade pork and turkey rub, beef patty grill seasoning, and roasted potato seasoning.

Participants will sample taco beef in class, complete with homemade chips for dipping, and take home a small jar of the roasted potato seasoning made during class. Plus, you’ll receive handouts filled with additional recipes to try at home.

Class Notes: Some samples/recipes contain wheat.

Community Instructors: Jan Szalkowski and Wendy Steusloff

Beyond Greens: Creating Salads that Satisfy

Discover a variety of ways you can create vibrant, satisfying, plant-based salads that are as filling as they are fresh. Learn how to turn an ordinary salad into a BAS (Big Awesome Salad) that will keep you full and nourished for hours, and get hands on as we make one to enjoy together in class.

We’ll go beyond the greens, exploring delicious, 100% plant-based toppings like crispy quinoa croutons, fakun’ bits, and baked almond feta. Plus, we’ll dive into the anatomy of a salad dressing, then craft our own signature dressing in class. Leave inspired and ready to make fresh, crave-worthy salads that are as nutritious as they are delicious! Each participant will receive recipes that are customizable and offer endless possibilities for creating their own hearty, plant-based salads.

Class Notes: Please bring a small reusable container with a lid for any leftovers. Some samples/recipes contain tree nuts, peanuts, soybean, and sesame.

Community Instructors: Becky Fitzpatrick

Baking Biscotti

Learn how to make cherry-pistachio biscotti and chocolate-espresso biscotti in this hands-on class. Whether enjoyed on their own like a cookie or dipped into a warm cup of coffee or tea, biscotti make a delicious anytime treat.

Working together in small groups, you’ll create these classic twice-baked delights from scratch. Each participant will leave with approximately 18 biscotti, depending on how thick they’re sliced, along with both recipes and the confidence to make them again at home.

Class Notes: Please bring a reusable container for taking your biscotti home. Some samples/recipes contain egg, tree nuts, & wheat.

577 Staff Instructor: Beth Phlegar

Cooking for Your Health: Creamy Mixed Lentil Soup

Join local family physician and certified culinary medicine specialist Dr. Humaira Lateef to learn the nutrition benefits of everyday foods and how to use them for taste, flavor, and better health.

This is the second class in Dr. Lateef’s series highlighting the versatility and health benefits of legumes and lentils. Together, we will get hands-on in the kitchen to make a creamy mixed lentil soup featuring three different lentils. After cooking, we’ll sit down to enjoy the soup together, served with a side of naan bread. Participants will receive a handout with valuable information and are welcome to take home any leftovers.

Class Note: We recommend everyone bring an apron, a hairnet or head covering, and a 2-cup container for leftovers.

Community Instructor: Humaira Lateef, M.D. FAAFP, CCMS