January Classes
Warming Winter Soups
Tuesday · January 8 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Paige Vandegrift
There's a lot of winter ahead of us, so let's hunker down and put on a pot
of slow simmering homemade soup. Join Chef Paige for a cozy evening of new
ideas, and all new recipes, to fill your soup pot. Paige will warm you from
the inside out with Cream of Chicken & Mushroom Soup with Wild Rice;
Vegetable Barley Soup; Gingered Carrot Soup; and White Bean Soup with
Sausage & Swiss Chard. With the addition of Wheatfields bread and a piece of
cheese you have a meal! You'll leave class nourished and inspired.
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Wrap It Up Asian Style
Wednesday · January 16 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Nancy Stark
We're happy to welcome back Chef Nancy Stark, teaching a fun class for which
we've had many requests. Nancy will gather up lots of wonderful fresh (and
some unfamiliar) ingredients and set to work rolling and wrapping. Nancy
will demonstrate and you'll get to sample: Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls
with Spicy Peanut Sauce; Crab and Avocado California Rolls with Wasabi and
Ginger; and Thai Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps with Sweet Chili-Garlic Sauce.
Wow - don't wait to sign up for this one!
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Change for the Better
Thursday · January 17 · 7-9 PM
taught by Marybeth Bethel, MS
Are you ready for change but unsure you can handle it? Let's talk about it!
This class will introduce you to ideas and strategies that will help you
maneuver through change, whether it's chosen or dumped in your lap. Brush
off those unlived dreams and look at them again with hopeful eyes. The sky's
the limit, and I'm eager to share these dynamic concepts that can help you
create a more fulfilling life. Using these ideas has allowed me to fashion a
life that will soon include living part of the year in Italy. Get inspired
to become more!
$12 per person, $10 for Merc Owners & seniors
Fabulous Winter Pastas
Tuesday · January 22 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Paige Vandegrift
Put on a kettle of water to cook up pasta dishes like you've never had
before. Paige combines pasta of all shapes and sizes, the best winter
vegetables, accentuated by cheeses and meats to create wonderful cold
weather pasta dishes that will satisfy and warm you. Paige will prepare
Baked Penne with Cauliflower & Two Cheeses; Rigatoni with Broccoli, Capers &
Olives; Farfalle with Wild Mushrooms; Fettuccine with Leeks, Walnuts &
Cream; and Pasta with Greens and Sausage. It's another Paige feast you won't
want to miss!
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Homemade Danish Pastries or Wienerbrod as it's called in Denmark
Thursday · January 24 · 7-9 PM
taught by Bonnie Sparrman
Bonnie learned how to make Danish pastries from the best of all possible
teachers - her Danish grandmother. She learned to make it the way good home
bakers make it in Denmark today, creating delicate layered dough by cutting
in butter. Bonnie will demonstrate and you'll get to sample three classic
Danish pastries including a Raspberry Filled Braid; Almond Filled Bear Claw;
and Pecan and Cinnamon Filled Pinwheels. You will learn how to make all the
fillings and glazes, as well as the pastry. The coffee and tea are on.
$15 per person, $13 for Merc Owners & seniors
The ABC's of Winter Squash
Tuesday · January 29 · 7-9 PM
taught by Nancy O'Connor
Acorn, Butternut, Carnival, Delicata - we'll work our way through the alphabet
of winter squashes, each with their own distinct personality and flavor.
We'll start with a simple demonstration of how to cut into these sometimes
large and imposing vegetables. Then we'll sample a variety of squashes
simply baked so that we can compare and contrast their very different tastes
and textures. After we've laid the groundwork Nancy will demonstrate, and
you'll sample, several dishes prepared from squash including: Savory
Butternut and Black Bean Burritos; Baked Acorn Squash with Herbed Stuffing;
and Melt-in-your-Mouth Winter Squash Lasagna. You'll never be intimidated by
a squash again.
$15 per person, $13 for Merc Owners & seniors
Authentic Mexican Flavors with Corn Masa
Thursday · January 31 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Nancy Stark
Corn masa is one of the cornerstones of indigenous cookery and also one of
the original whole grain foods. Nancy will demonstrate a variety of
delicious Mexican dishes that you can make with a simple corn dough. Our
menu for the evening includes; Corn Tortillas with a Simple Chicken Taco
Filling; Goat Cheese Empanadas with Guacamole and Fresh Salsa; Red Chili
Pork in Corn Husk; Baked Tamale in Banana Leaf; and Black Bean Tamales. No
need to head south for this fiesta!
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
