Cooking Basics 101 – Session 3; Monster Tiramisu; Home Made Ricotta

Post Date: 26 October 2015

Next Cooking Basics 101 Class – Session 3

                                                                 Panzanella Salad

The last of three sessions will meet this Wednesday evening, October 28, at 6:30 at McLean High School.  After making no bake desserts for the first 2 sessions, this week we will be baking, making a Lemon Olive Oil Pound Cake.  We will also be making a Panzanella Salad, an Italian salad which uses bread (hence the name), Salisbury Steak with Onions, and Broiled Zucchini with Tomatoes (we won’t call them Zucchini Boats).

Monster Tiramisu

The Fall 2015 issue of Italian America magazine reports that a group of chefs in Germona del Friuli, Italy, created a tiramisu weighing 6,646 pounds – that’s a lot of marscapone and lady fingers.

Home Made Ricotta

                                                           Making Ricotta Cheese

For this past Sunday’s Italian Desserts class I made Ricotta Cheese for the class to use in their Cannoli fillings.  I brought 2 cups of heavy cream, 2 quarts of milk, and a good pinch of salt to a boil.  As soon as the mixture boiled, I removed it from the heat, added ¼ cup of lemon juice, and stirred for about 4 minutes to separate the curds and whey.  I then poured the mix into a very fine strainer and let it drain for 15 minutes at least (longer for firmer cheese).  I then turned it out into a bowl and stored it in the fridge overnight.  Pour off any additional whey before using.

Chef Kevin on Instagam

Follow me on Instagram at #senseichef.  I look forward to your comments on my posts.

Upcoming Classes

The Fall 2015 schedule has been published.  Here is the rest of my fall schedule.

November 6, 13, and 20 – Friday Evening - Cooking Basics: One Step Further – Plum Center

November 8 – Sunday Afternoon – Twilight in Tuscany - _Plum Center

December 3, 10, and 17 – Thursday Evening - Cooking Basics 101 – Herndon High School

To register for this class, or any ACE cooking classes, please go to:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/ace/specialinterest.shtml and scroll down to the Culinary section

While there, be sure to check out the other culinary courses offered by ACE’s excellent chef instructors.

Till next time, keep cooking.

Contact Chef Kevin at: KJBrady@fcps.edu