Ready to schedule a Twice as Tasty workshop? The topics on this page will make your next dinner or party the talk of the town. Contact me and let me know which workshop you would like to host.
Mad about Sushi: Roll Your Own
Size: 4 to 8 people
Time: 3 hours
Rolling sushi can take regular practice and years to master, but simple rolls can also be created at home for a weeknight meal or special occasion. The basic ingredients are simple yet can vary as widely as your garden, tastes, and budget allow. That variety also lets you use ingredients in small portions as the first snap peas, cucumbers, peppers, and more ripen in your garden or appear at your local farmer’s market. Few special tools are needed, and a few tips and tricks will have you prepping ingredients and rolling futomaki like a master chef.
Creative Cocktails: Syrups and Shrubs
Size: 4 to 10 people
Time: 2-1/2 hours
Gather your friends and your favorite booze: this is a Twice as Tasty cocktail party. Craft cocktails aren’t about expensive equipment or fancy techniques: they’re about flavor, aroma, and creativity. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn to make sweet, tangy, and savory syrups and shrubs (also known as drinking vinegars). You’ll then mix them with your favorite liquors and test nonalcoholic combinations, experimenting with taste and balance until you’ve found your ideal cocktail or mocktail. We’ll be snacking as we work and send everyone home with samples to savor and share.
Beyond the Basics: Dressing up and Using Lemon Cheese
Size: 4 to 6 people
Time: 2-1/2 hours
It only takes 3 ingredients—milk, acid, and salt—to make an easy cheese in 30 minutes or less. But a few extra ingredients and/or a little more time lets you convince guests you’ve made several cheeses. In this small workshop designed to get everyone involved in the process and learning by doing, we’ll make lemon cheese (aka queso blanco) and learn how to press it to create paneer. We’ll also dress up the lemon cheese with herbs and other flavors to create spreadable or crumbled cheeses perfect for a party platter.
Creative Cookies: Dough Basics and Variations
Size: 4 to 10 people
Time: 2-1/2 hours
There’s no such thing as the holiday cookie, singular. There are cans, trays, and jars that must be filled with a variety of cookies every season. Some people simplify their holiday baking by holding a cookie exchange. This workshop takes that one step further: You’ll learn to find the basic ratios behind cookie recipes and how to swap up the ingredients to easily fill that cookie tray on your own. We’ll discover why cookies come in so many textures, shapes, and flavors and look at why some recipes work better than others. Whatever we don’t eat will end up on your tray to take home.
Indian Spices: Marvelous Masalas
Size: 4 to 10 people
Time: 2-1/2 hours
Indian food is delicious, but the long list of ingredients in traditional recipes can be daunting. A closer look reveals that list is primarily spices; factor out the spices, and the other ingredients and techniques are often simple and familiar. In this workshop, you’ll discover key spices used in Indian cooking and how to combine them into flavorful dishes at a moment’s notice. We’ll look at spices that are likely already staples in your collection, as well as ones that are readily available but may not be as well known. You’ll also sample and experiment with different spice blends.
Perfecting Pies: Crusts and Fillings from Scratch
Size: 4 to 8 people
Time: 3 hours
There’s nothing like a freshly baked pie in its flaky, buttery shell. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to make the final act of the night from scratch. I’ll share my tips and tricks to help you create a delicious crust and one of several fruit- or custard-based fillings. You’ll walk away with a crust and filling package ready to bake for your next gathering. We might just eat a little pie too.
Recipe Revamp: Making Your Family Favorites Better
Size: 4 to 10 people
Time: 2-1/2 hours
We all have recipes passed down in our family through the generations. But if you’ve never made your cranberry sauce or dressing (stuffing) from scratch, built a green bean casserole with fresh beans and home-fried shallots, or roasted your own vegetables, those family favorites could be—well, twice as tasty. In this workshop, we’ll look at your favorite family recipes and give them a facelift. You’ll have a chance to practice new techniques and test an upgraded recipe, giving you the confidence to present version 2.0 at the next family gathering.
Riffs on Risotto: Risotto Basics and Variations
Size: 4 to 8/8 to 12/12+ people
Time: 3 hours/2 hours/1 to 2 hours
Why do we see pasta as easy and versatile but risotto as challenging? Gather your friends for a dinner party, and I’ll show you how to unlock risotto’s mysteries. In this In this hands-on/intro/group workshop, we’ll start the evening by making a risotto from scratch in your kitchen. Then we’ll sit down to enjoy it and discuss how you can create other risottos at home. I’ll provide notes and recipe ideas that lead you from the meal to playing in your own kitchen.
Don’t see the workshop that interests you? Check out the other Twice as Tasty workshop topics or contact me and I’ll create a new workshop for you and your friends.
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