culinary lessons Archives - Culinary Classroom

APP-Y Hour With Martha Stewart and Better Homes and Gardens

Editor — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 22:38:48 +0000

App-y Hour with Martha Stewart Living in the Culinary Classroom!
BY CULINARYCLASSROOM 0 COMMENT BLOG
Did you know that Martha Stewart Living Magazine (#MarthaFood) and Better Homes and Gardens (#BHGFood) are one and the same?
I had the honor of hosting a wonderful night with this great organization as they gathered for a Cooking and Mixology Event – or an “App-y Hour” .
The night started with a great cocktail from Martha Stewart Living Magazine (@MarthaStewart). This Silver Tequila Martini was a nice departure from the classic using Tequila in place of Vodka. I chose El Jimador (eljimador.com) because an authentic tequila must be distilled from 100% Blue Agave. Be sure to use clear tequila like this one for mixing and save your aged tequila for sipping neat!

Then we started on some of their recipes – it was a gastronomic delight! We made two entrees, one from each magazine. The Sweet Hot Coriander Chicken was from Better Homes and Gardens. My guests really enjoyed the quick and easy way this chicken dish goes from a 15-minute marinade, that includes Sriracha and spices, to a 10 minute sauté. A quick deglaze with orange juice- with oranges from my father’s tree- and your dinner is served.

Dessert was a Strawberry S’mores Cobbler from Better Homes and Gardens. We crushed graham crackers and placed a layer of them into small ramekins. Fresh strawberries were cut up and lightly cooked in a pot with orange juice, orange zest, sugar, and cornstarch. Once it thickened, the mixture was spooned over the graham crackers. We topped everything with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. A quick 10-minute bake and we were done!

These recipes are all really delicious and are perfect for your summer get together! Just tell them Martha AND Chef Eric taught you how! And when you post your photos, don’t forget to tag us in them and use the below hashtags:
#CHEFERICSCULINARYCLASSROOM #MARTHAFOOD #BHGFOOD
Twitter & Instagram: @MARTHASTEWART
Twitter & Instagram: @BETTERHOMESANDGARDENS
Chef Eric’s Instagram: @chefericsculinaryclassroom
Chef Eric’s Twitter: @chefericcrowley
Below please find the menu for the evening and a download of the recipes as well for your cooking pleasure.
Chef Eric Crowley Welcomes
Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes and Gardens
APP-y HOUR

MENU
Silver-Tequila Martini – (MSL Dec/Jan 2015, p. 136)
Bourbon Manhattan
Sweet Potatoes and Buttermilk Dipping Sauce
Cauliflower Gratin
Tangerine Sticky Ribs
Sweet Hot Coriander Chicken – (BHG July 2015, p.100)
Bread Pudding
Strawberry S’mores Cobbler (BHG July 2015, p.80)
DOWNLOAD THE RECIPES HERE!
http://culinaryclassroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Culinary-Classroom_MSLBHG-Menu.pdf

The post APP-Y Hour With Martha Stewart and Better Homes and Gardens appeared first on Culinary Classroom.

Stocks-A Foundation in the Kitchen

Editor — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:48:21 +0000

During the second week of the Master Chef Program, I explain why Stocks are so important in any kitchen, Professionally or at home.
My students will start by preparing their Mirepoix-learning what it is and even discovering that almost every cuisine has a variation of it.
Cooking the stock properly is vital. Here students learn the difference between a simmer and a boil and why a stock should never be boiled. In future weeks, we will make more stock and turn that liquid into sauces, soups and more.
Towards the end of tonight’s class, I will take a small amount of stock and fill two cups. One cup will be seasoned with Salt, the other will remain unseasoned. Every student will taste each one as a way to illustrate how Salt works to improve flavor. By encouraging them to taste, then season and taste again-I hope to instill the practice of getting my students to taste their cooking as they proceed with a recipe.
I hope to see YOU here sometime soon! I have lots of Recreational Cooking Classes and Baking Classes this Summer – My Cake Decorating Class is Sat, 6/22 @9am – you get to take HOME your Cake! I have a great Grilling Favorites class coming up Sat, 6/29 @2:30pm – a really nice Father’s Day Gift! and my Couples and Date Night Cooking Classes – always a blast and Romantic, too – Sat 6/29 @7pm, Sat, 7/13 @7pm and many more over the next couple of months. Come and check it out! Chef Eric Crowley www.culinaryclassroom

The post Stocks-A Foundation in the Kitchen appeared first on Culinary Classroom.

May 11, 2013-The Day Before Mother's Day In my

Editor — Sat, 11 May 2013 21:15:36 +0000

May 11, 2013-The Day Before Mother’s Day
In my Master Chef Program, I teach many students what they need to know about working in the Food Service industry. Many of them are changing careers, like I did.
One thing I tell my students is that if you are truly serious about cooking, as I am, then be prepared to work on Weekends. If you are used to having Friday night, all day Saturday and all day Sunday off, that is going to change. Even a special day such as Mother’s Day or New Year’s Eve is a work day in the life of a Chef.
This coming Sunday is no different. For all of those whose Mother’s are still with us, enjoy the day and if you love to cook, do so for her. For my Mom, who has passed, she understood that with the job I have, I must work. She may not have liked it, but she supported me nevertheless.
My current crop of Master Chef Students have made Stocks and have now learned the basic Mother Sauces that are made from them. Veloute and Espagnol. they also made Béchamel and turned that into a classic Cheese Sauce, called Sauce Mornay. That, in turn, became Macaroni and Cheese. I do love Mother Sauce day. Last but not least, every student has to make a Hollandaise Sauce (some make it more than once).
Keep on cooking, everyone! Not only will it please you, but it will also please your Mom!

The post May 11, 2013-The Day Before Mother's Day In my appeared first on Culinary Classroom.

New Master Chef Program- Tuesdays 4/23@6:30pm – YOU CAN STILL JOIN!

Editor — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:30:33 +0000

It is always an exciting time for me. I start a new Master Chef Program and on Day 1, I find out what my students are wanting to achieve at the Culinary Classroom. One of my Students, Solange, is Brazilian and French. She has been cooking as a Private Chef for years. She knows that the knowledge I will give her during the next 18 weeks will make her a better cook. As I tell all of my students, you never stop learning.
That is one of the wonderful things about teaching. The Culinary Classroom is celebrating it’s 10th year in business and I am teaching my students more now compared to what I was teaching before I even opened the Culinary Classroom. Whether you are a budding professional or just want to broaden your culinary horizons at home, you will never stop learning. It is one of the fantastic realities in the world of food.
My first night with my students focuses on the knife. After all, if you are not intimate with your knife, if you don’t know how to sharpen it, hone it, store it and hold it, your time in any kitchen is going to be short lived and not enjoyable.
Next is learning how to make basic but commonly used cuts. I demonstrate to the students how to cut various vegetables into Julienne and Dices. I then show them some lesser known cuts such as a Paysanne and Lozenge (I do give out a pop quiz every now and then. So this information is essential to learn.)
Then we enter the kitchen and the students begin to practice. It is going to take repetition, I tell them. You can’t expect to dice an onion once and do it perfectly. You must do it again and again. One of the things I have found is if you repeat the basics enough, they will become second nature. That’s when the real cooking and creativity happens-the more basic tasks become second nature, the more you can concentrate and taking those tasks and creating with them.
So, I send my students home with some reading to do and tell them to practice, if they have the time. Those students who are really driven to get into this business will find the time. Next week, more knife skills and with those skills, we will make the fond de cuisine, Stocks.
You can still join my Program that started last week – in my program that helps you become a Chef! Give me a call and I can get you registered. 310-470-2640 Until I see you here, Cook Well, Eat Well and BE Well! Chef Eric Crowley www.culinaryclassroom.com

The post New Master Chef Program- Tuesdays 4/23@6:30pm – YOU CAN STILL JOIN! appeared first on Culinary Classroom.