The Cook’s Nook Calendar

Please call us at (620) 241-7180 to reserve a seat for a class, as class sizes are limited. Your reservation is confirmed when we receive your payment. If you must cancel, a 48-hour advanced notice is necessary for a refund.

September

Fun with Cupcakes
Wednesday, September 21- 6:00 p.m. ­ $25.00

Michelle from The Cake Lady will be here to give you some fun cupcake decorating ideas for different animal-style cupcakes, including a pig, monkey, cow, frog, lion, butterfly, bumblebee, and ladybug. This is a hands-on class, so space is limited.

October

The Ultimate Party Food for the Holidays!
Saturday, October 1 - 10:00 a.m. - $35.00

Bonnie Aeschliman from “Cooking at Bonnie’s Place” in Wichita will be coming to The Cook’s Nook.  She will be showing you how to make some great recipes from her new cookbook – “Cooking with Bonnie: Farm to France.”  The menu for this class includes:

• Artichoke and Red Pepper Tapenade with Baguette Slices
• Smoked Salmon Cucumber Canapes
• Mediterranean Layered Dip with Pita Chips
• Shrimp Shooters with Spicy Dipping Sauce
• Avocado, Tomato and Corn Salad with Corn Chips
• Bonnie’s White Chocolate Cheesecake on Hazelnut Crust with Raspberry Coulis

She will have her cookbook available to purchase at the class and also be happy to autograph a copy for you.  This would also be a great holiday gift idea for the person who loves to cook and entertain.

Five Nights, Five Entrees -- Quick-Fix Everyday Entrees
Saturday, October 8 - 10:00 a.m. - $40.00

Chicken, pork, fish, ground beef and even a meatless entrée are all on Barry and Meta West’s menu. These recipes are easy to make, use everyday ingredients, and can be made quickly – set your watches and keep track of how little time each one takes! They’ll offer ways to vary the recipes and provide serving suggestions for complete meals. And, of course, you’ll get to sample each dish.

On the menu – two oven entrées and four stove-top fixes: Dijon-Crusted Oven Fried Chicken, Pork Tenderloin w/ Mustard Cream, Cheesy Quesadillas, Tilapia Piccata, Hamburger Steak w/ Caramelized Onions.

Fall Cookie Decorating
Wednesday, October 12 - 6:00 p.m. - $25.00

Michelle from The Cake Lady is excited to teach you how to decorate your fall sugar cookies.  You will learn some great techniques on how to decorate pumpkins, scarecrows, sunflowers, apples, ghosts, and turkeys.  Space is limited in her hands-on class, so call early.

The REEL DEAL: Seafood Night on Main in McPherson
Friday, October 21 - 6:30 p.m. - $35.00
Cocktails and Spiced Shrimp at 6:30 p.m.

Chef Alli’s cookin’ up a delicious array of fish and seafood in this special Cook’s Nook class.  Her favorite recipes will soon be yours – nothin’ too fancy or expensive, just good fish and seafood staples you’ll make again and again. 

You’ll experience: Slow Roasted Chipotle-Glazed Salmon with Oven-Baked Creamy Pineapple Rice, Lemon Garlic Sea Scallops Over Fresh Pasta, and Chef Alli’s favorite: Cioppino! Plus, Chef Alli will also be introducing you to a fish that is fast becoming one of her week-night wonders: Swai.  This tender, sweet fish is seasoned and baked in a flash (just 10 minutes!) then served topped with a beautiful Tropical Fruit Salsa. (This recipe has been a huge hit and there is virtually NO fat, yet it’s soooo flavorful!)

Over-the-Top Tailgating with Chef Alli
Saturday, October 22 - 10:30 a.m. - $35.00

Hail Marys and Nibblers at 10:30 a.m.  

It’s finally getting close to FOOTBALL season, and that means Sundays are filled with game-day festivities! Kick off your stadium event by dropping the boring burger menu for something updated and new in your cooking arsenal!  Chef Alli’s got an All-Star lineup for you: 

• Southwest Chicken and Black Bean Chili Pot with Jalapeno Texas Toast
• Shredded Brisket Sliders with Sassy Chipotle Slaw 
• Cajun BBQ Shrimp served over Tasty Cheese Grits
• Portabello Grillers (in case there’s a vegetarian in your crew...)
• Apple Pie Milkshakes  

As with football, preparation for tailgating makes all the difference!  This class will include a helpful advance-preparation checklist for throwing a successful tailgating party!  

Christmas Cookie Decorating
Saturday, October 29 - 10:00 a.m. - $25.00

Michelle is back to show you more!  Hopefully you will have mastered fall cookie decorating and will be ready to come back and move on to Christmas Cookies.  Learn how to decorate a Santa, snowman, reindeer, stocking, tree, and melted snowman.  Again, this is a hands-on decorating class.

November

Christmas Treats for School Parties
Wednesday, November 9 - 6:00 p.m. - $25.00

Have you been hesitant to sign up for school treats because you're not sure what to make?  This class would be great for you, and you could have some really awesome treats to take for those special parties.  Michelle will show you how to make: 

• Pretzel snowmen
• Rice Krispie Treats on a stick reindeer and snowmen
• Marshmallow snowmen on a stick
• Snowmen and reindeer cake pops
• Chocolate dipped spoons
• Nutterbutter reindeer or snowmen

Thanksgiving Dinner -- Let's Talk Turkey!
Saturday, November 12 - 10:00 a.m. - $35.00

Is Thanksgiving Dinner at your house this year?  If you’re “Doin’ tha Bird,” let Chef Alli show you how EASY it can truly be.   Assign all the side dishes to your guests while you focus on the star:  Tom Turkey!  Chef Alli will show you all about:

• The great (and very worthwhile) technique of BRINING. 
• How to properly PREPARE and ROAST Tom Turkey so he’s beautifully browned.
• Proper use of an instant-read meat thermometer to achieve perfect doneness for a succulent, juicy bird. 
• Simple steps for easy carving and serving.
• LOTS of discussion on how much turkey to purchase, when to begin thawing, etc. 

Class includes generous tastings of Tom Turkey along with Chef Alli’s favorite Thanksgiving Side Dishes:  Cranberry Walnut Dressing, Sweet Potato Crisp, and Cauliflower and Bacon Gratin.

Pies for the Holidays
Saturday, November 12 - 2:00 p.m. - $35.00

What would Thanksgiving and Christmas be without the homemade pies? It seems that everyone has their absolute favorites that they look forward to each year. With that said,  please join Chef Alli at The Cook’s Nook for some delicious, incredible variations to those traditional pies: Bourbon Pecan - Pumpkin Rum Crumble - Double Chocolate Cream and, of course, good ole American Apple Pie.

Your guests will be so impressed with your baking skills when you whip up one or more of these tasty treats for the Holidays!  Come learn Chef Alli’s secret recipe and rolling technique for perfect pastry crust EVERY TIME.

Enjoy generous samplings of all four pies created in class, along with some freshly brewed Cook’s Nook coffee.