June Classes
Summer Cooking with Fresh Herbs
Monday · June 2 · 7-9 PM
taught by Bonnie Sparrman
The Farmers' Market is fragrant with the spicy and warm smells of fresh herbs. If you're looking for creative and delicious recipes featuring herbs as diverse as rosemary, lavender, and basil, then join Bonnie for a fun summer class. Bonnie will demonstrate Herb infused vinegar from which Bonnie will make a vinaigrette dressing for a mixed green and herb salad; Roasted Rosemary Potatoes; Fresh Green Beans with Basil Pesto and Compound Herb Butter Baked Salmon. The finishing touch for dessert - Lavender Shortbread Cookies. Summer perfection!
$15 per person, $13 for co-op members & seniors
A Taste of Greece
Tuesday · June 3 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Nancy Stark
Join Chef Nancy as she cooks up perfect summer food from the Mediterranean - a Greek feast! You will be amazed and delighted as Nancy creates (and you
sample) Gigantes Plaki ( butter bean salad with tomatoes); Saganaki (pan seared and flambeed!! Halloumi cheese) and Souvlaki (grilled lamb brochette) served with Tzatziki (yogurt-cucumber salad). Dessert will be the ultimate Greek treat - Baklava (filo and nut pastry with honey syrup). Joy!
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
From Hot Flashes to Osteoporosis: Natural Menopause Solutions
Tuesday · June 10 · 7-9 PM
taught by Amber Belt, ND
Do you have questions, concerns or confusion about menopause?
This class will cover it all. We'll start by discussing what, exactly, menopause is. We'll talk about many menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, insomnia, palpations, low libido, memory loss, and osteoporosis and what these symptoms tell you about what is going on in your body. Then we'll spend some time on naturopathic approaches to menopause. Diet and lifestyle, botanical approaches, nutritional supplementation, acupuncture, and even hormone replacement will be covered. Questions are welcomed, so bring yours and get ready to sail through menopause!
$12 per person, $10 for Merc Owners & seniors
Monsoon Wedding
Thursday · June 12 · 7-9 PM
taught by Debjani Bhaduri
Come savor some traditional dishes that adorn the menu of a Bengali wedding dinner. In Bengal, June and July happen to be favorite months to tie the knot. This class will feature some of the dishes served in my wedding (July 99). The sumptuous feast begins with Luchi (a traditional Bengali flat bread), and is followed by Aloordum (potatoes coated with fragrant sauce), Kumror-chencki (butternut squash with onions and mustard seeds), Macher Kalia (tilapia fillets and cauliflower cooked with aromatic spices), and Payesh (sweet potato pudding). Cool it all off with refreshing lebur-shorbot (lime sherbet). Enjoy a typical Bengali wedding dinner. It's spicy, but not hot, just yummy, with surprises!
$15 per person, $13 for co-op members & seniors
Hit the Trail!
Monday · June 16 · 7-9 PM
At Centennial Park Shelter, across the street from The Merc
taught by Nancy O'Connor and Jim Lewis
Join us for a fun evening of camp cooking outdoors. We'll meet at Centennial Shelter, across the street from the Merc and pretend we're in Zion National Park. Jim will start class by building a modest but efficient wood fire on which we'll cook some of our family's favorite meals - Classic Fire Veggies; Grilled Beets with Apricots; even a Hot Nectarine & Plum Compote served with Vanilla Yogurt. We'll demonstrate the use of an efficient backpacking stove while snacking on Spicy Seed Trail Snack and even set up a couple of backpacking tents. Held rain or shine, just like real camping! Fun!
$15 per person, $13 for co-op members & seniors
Main Course Summer Salads
Tuesday · June 17 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Paige Vandegrift
Take the bounty of the Farmers' Market and create lovely main dish salads.
Chef Paige will put her culinary magic to work to create an array of beautiful and tasty summer salads. Paige will prepare a California Summer Root Vegetable Salad with a Marinated Pork Tenderloin; an Heirloom Tomato & Avocado Salad; Spinach Salad with Roasted Corn & Mushrooms; Summer Pasta Salad; and a White Bean Salad. Bring on the heat, you'll be ready with these cool, and very special salads.
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
We Just Can't Get Enough Thai Cooking 3
Thursday · June 19 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Nancy Stark
It's clear we can't enough of Chef Nancy and her Thai cooking. If you've been to one of Nancy's previous Thai classes you know why - her enthusiasm for this flavorful cuisine is as entertaining as the food is delicious! In her third class Nancy will create Chicken Coconut Galanga Soup; Green Mango Salad; Satay with Thai Peanut Sauce; and Yellow Fish Curry Steamed in Banana Leaf. Is there a fourth class on the horizon?
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Cooking for Small Households
Tuesday · June 24 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Paige Vandegrift
This is a class you've asked for many times - and here it is with the best possible instructor. Chef Paige is usually cooking at the Merc for 30 guests but at home she cooks for two, and does it well. In this practical class Paige will discuss shopping, using the freezer, using leftovers, and cutting recipes down to size. Lots of demonstrations, delicious sampling, and down-to-earth ideas.
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Fantastic Recipes for Seasonal Produce - new presenter!
Wednesday · June 25 · 7-9 PM
taught by Chef Ken Baker
Let's welcome Ken Baker, chef and proprietor of Pachamamas Restaurant in Lawrence. In his first class at The Merc, Ken will bring the Farmers' Market to the classroom with a wonderful seasonal menu. Ken will demonstrate and you will taste Crostini with Marinated Chick Peas & Truffled Fava Beans; Arugula-House Ricotta Gnudi (a tender cheese pillow) with Tomato Confit & Herbed Annatto Oil, and Gently Cooked Salmon with Horseradish-Beet Citronette. Pretty impressive for a first class!
$18 per person, $15 for Merc Owners & seniors
Simply Gluten Free
Thursday · June 26 · 7-9 PM
taught by Amber Belt, ND
Gluten free cooking doesn't have to be complicated, tasteless, or dull. Join Amber as she takes you through a whole day of gluten free meals. For breakfast, there will be Hot Maple Amaranth Cereal. The midday meal will be lunchbox-friendly Tofu Hummus Burritos. And for dinner, there will be Lentil Stuffed Injera (a crepe-like bread). Don't forget dessert - it will be a surprise! This class also takes other food allergies into consideration and so it will be dairy and egg free.
$15 per person, $13 for Merc Owners & seniors
