Cooking with extended family

In late May 2009, I was a belly in bloom with my dear Cecilia bursting at my seams, and my mum was the proud winner of a cooking class for 12 at Harry's Market in Alpharetta, Georgia. She mulled over whom to invite, and I was among those fortunate enough to attend. The class was taught by a feller whose name escapes me, but the school itself is called Salud! (as in, let's-have-a-drink-why-don't-we). It is a glassed-in room right within the walls of Harry's. Feels a bit like an experiment, where groups of students in aprons stand around and get observed by the shoppers outside the glass. The room has soft lighting, however, so one does not feel too scrutinized.

We first donned our aprons, the 12 of us, and then we had some quick explanation of the foods we would be preparing. (Dad looked dubious.) The menu: morrocan pastry cups, mediterranean chicken with saffron rice, and, for dessert, lemon yum-ness. (Help me out, people, what was it called!) The dessert bears mention, but the appetizer was the main palate-pleaser. We dredged the chicken thighs in flour, cooked and chopped, added raisins and powdered sugar- what a delight of sweet and savory with a kick of spice! As soon as I find that recipe, it is getting posted here...

After all the cooking frenzy--and my first time using phyllo dough--we sat down to our little feast and clinked wine glasses. (Oregon pinot noir, of course.) Everyone was rosy from the heat of the stove--or was it the wine--and Aunt Patty and Dad spontaneously broke into song, "I'm just mad about saffron-!" Anyone who can tell me the name of that song gets a quarter.

We had to peel off the aprons before we left for the evening, and I had just enough time to make a mad dash around Harry's for some phyllo dough to take home and for some homemade soap. They do not sell such luxuriant items at the Dahlonega Wal-Mart, you see.

I noticed these classes cost about $60 per person if you wish to do the cooking, and about $30 if you just want to watch, like watching Paul Prudhomme but live. Check out the site: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/alpharetta/saludcalendar.php

I declare it was money well spent. Someone else's, that is.