ACE Cooking Class – Cooking Basics 101 Begins this Week; Tomato Braised Chicken and Capers

Post Date: 6 March 2018

ACE Class- Cooking Basics 101 Begins March 9

My next ACE class, Cooking Basics 101, begins on Friday evening March 9 at the Plum Center in Springfield and continues for the following 2 Fridays, March 16 and 23.  In our first session we will be making a Chickpea Salad, Pan Fried Chicken Italiano with Blanched Broccoli, and a blueberry Ricotta Parfait.  For each of the main dishes over the 3 sessions we will be practicing a different technique – cooking in a skillet, in the oven, and starting on the stovetop and finishing in the oven.  Knife skills will be incorporated in each session as well.  We will also be discussing essential kitchen equipment and spices.

 

Tomato Braised Chicken and Capers

 

 

Pictured above is my take on Tomato-Braised Chicken with Capers from Prevention Magazine’s cookbook Mediterranean Table (Rodale, 2017).  This is a great 1 pot meal and it is delicious.  Instead of using chicken thighs as the recipe called for, I bought boneless skinless chicken breasts and cut them into the size of thighs.  Other ingredients are Onion, Garlic, Chicken Broth or Red Wine, Capers, and 1 x 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes.  Spices are just salt, pepper, and oregano. 

 

Although there are not a lot of ingredients, it does take from 45-50 minutes from start to finish.  First the chicken is browned until almost done, then removed from the pan; onion, garlic, capers and broth/wine are added, deglazing until the liquid reduces almost completely.  Then the Tomatoes and Chicken are added to the pot and simmered until the chicken is done.  I served the dish in soup bowls over rice.

Reminder – Instagam

 

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Upcoming Classes

 

Here is my schedule for the the spring term.

 

April 13, 20, and 27 – Friday Evening – Easy Gourmet Meals – Plum Center

 

May 5, 12, and 19 – Saturday Morning – Cooking Basics 101 – Plum Center

 

June 1 and 8 – Friday Evening – Off the Beaten Track in Provence – Plum Center

June 23 and 30 – Saturday Morning – Dolci Italiani II/Italian Desserts – Woodson High School

 

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

 

http://www.fcps.edu/is/ace/

 

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