Tag Archives: A Taste Of the Mountains Cooking School

Chipotle-Orange BBQ Rub

 

Barbecue season is upon us! Time to introduce a new recipe to make your summer delicious:

Chipotle-Orange BBQ Rub
Recipe from Chef Steffani Adaska

Summer BBQ

 Yield: Makes about 1 cup

2 tablespoons Kosher salt
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons Chipotle Chili powder
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/4 cup dried orange zest

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well; use as a dry rub on beef, chicken, lamb or pork.

Store in airtight container in cool, dark pantry.

Want more BBQ recipes? Sign up for our Father’s Day BBQ Best cooking class on Tuesday June 11th!

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Cipollate con Pancetta (Bacon-Wrapped Scallions)

Cipollate con Pancetta

Cipollate con Pancetta (Bacon-Wrapped Scallions)
recipe from Chef Steffani Adaska, Director of A Taste of the Mountains
Yields: 4 Servings

Who doesn’t like bacon? Right? My kids and I can never get enough.

This tasty dish originates from Italy. In Italy, they make with pancetta,  often called Italian bacon. That’s a true enough  description, but unlike American bacon, which is most often smoked, pancetta is unsmoked pork belly that is cured in salt and spices. It’s then dried for a several months.

I serve this as an appetizer with a a horseradish cream drizzle, or as a side dish. It is so easy to prepare and always a crowd pleaser. I like with the pancetta or the traditional smokey bacon. Try it both ways. Choose your fave!!

  • 24 large scallions, trimmed of roots and green tips
  • 8 strips bacon (or pancetta)
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

Wrap 3 scallions together with 1 strip of bacon. Repeat with remaining scallions and bacon and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add bacon-wrapped scallion bunches, and cook, turning as needed, until browned and crisp on all sides, 6–8 minutes.
Alternatively, you can do this over the grill for added flavor. Either way they are delish. Serve hot. Enjoy!

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Smitten For Seafood

Smitten for Seafood With Chef Gary Sheldon

Saturday, April 27th, 1-4 pm • Only 3 Spots Left, Book Now!
Class Description:
Intimidated by cooking seafood? Don’t know the difference between a Sea Scallop and Bay Scallop?
Come on over to A Taste of the Mountains Cooking School and attend a cooking class that’s all about seafood. Join fun-loving, Certified Executive Chef, Gary Sheldon, in our Seafood cooking class where you will learn a variety of seafood preparations and cooking techniques, witness fish cooking at its finest, get all your questions answered and practice cooking with guidance from this experienced, award-winning chef.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor over a glass of wine in our laid back cooking school. Meet new friends and swap cooking tips. SIGN UP NOW before this class is sold out.

Menu:

  • Crab Cake, with micro greens tossed in a Maple Walnut Dressing
  • Thai Shrimp Firecrackers
  • Pan seared Scallops, with seafood risotto
  • Grilled Maine Salmon with tourne’ potatoes and grilled asparagus

Meet Chef Gary Sheldon

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Mexican Horchata Recipe

Are you thinking of throwing a Cinco de Mayo party? This is a delicious and festive recipe for your fiesta!

horchata

Mexican Horchata
Recipe by Steffani Adaska

Horchata (or orxata) is the name of several kinds of traditional beverages, made of ground almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley, or tigernuts. Horchata varies in taste across Latin America. Although Horchata shares the same name, the flavor of each is very unique to its country of origin.

In Mexico and Guatemala, horchata is made of rice, sometimes with vanilla, but it always has cinnamon.

1 cup uncooked white long-grain rice
2 cinnamon sticks, (Mexican if you can get it), broken into pieces
7 cups water
1 cup milk (leche)
1/2 cup sugar, or to taste
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
Ground cinnamon, (Mexican if you can get it), for garnish

Combine the rice and cinnamon pieces sticks with 4 cups water in a blender; pulse to coarsely grind. Transfer to a large bowl and add another 3 cups water; soak at room temperature for 3 – 4 hours.

Puree the rice mixture in a blender in batches until smooth. Strain through chinoix,or fine sieve,  into your pitcher.  Discard the rice. Mix in the milk, vanilla and sugar.

Chill and stir before serving over ice. Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick (optional) and a dusting of ground cinnamon.

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Cooking Inspiration

Cooking Class Students
“…no one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.”

― Julia Child

 

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Sweet Pea Soup With Bacon Lardons and Crème Fraiche

This week’s recipe is inspired by our upcoming April in Paris cooking class.  You can see all our upcoming classes and register for a class here, or view more recipes.

Sweet Pea Soup

 

Sweet Pea Soup w/ Bacon Lardons and Crème Fraiche
By Chef Steffani Adaska, Director – Taste of Mountains Cooking School
Serves: 6
A heavenly chilled Spring Soup made with garden fresh sweet peas, leeks, bacon drippings, fresh rosemary, vegetable broth and a touch of cream, garnished with Bacon Lardons &  Crème Fraiche.

6 slices of thick bacon, sliced into 1” lardons
2 medium leeks, white and tender green only, cleaned & thoroughly, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
5 cups vegetable stock or low-sodium broth
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound sugar snap peas, thinly sliced
2 pounds, fresh peas, shelled (or two 10-ounce boxes frozen baby peas)
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 Cup crème fraiche
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, sliced thinly

1. In a medium stockpot over medium-high heat, render bacon until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel lined plate. Reserve for later.
2. Pour off all but 2 Tablespoons of bacon fat. Reduce heat to medium-low.
3. Add the leeks, garlic and rosemary sprig over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened (do not brown), about 6-7 minutes. Add vegetable broth and season with salt and pepper. Simmer about 15 minutes to marry flavors. Remove rosemary sprig.
4. Add the sugar snaps and the fresh (or frozen baby) peas, cook 3 minutes.
Remove to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain. Cool soup in a large bowl set in a larger bowl of ice water to cool. Add heavy cream.
1. Once soup is chilled, taste for seasoning. Add more salt or pepper if needed.
2. In a small bowl, mix crème fraiche with minced shallot. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Ladle chilled soup into chilled bowls. Add a dollup of crème fraiche mixture to soup. Garnish with parsley and reserved bacon lardons. Serve.

Chef’s Note: The soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

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April in Paris

Spring is here! If you are having trouble believing that because of the weather, head over to A Taste of the Mountains Cooking School for our next class:

April in Paris with Chef Steffani Adaska

Spring in Paris

Saturday April 6th, 1-4 pm • Open

Class Description: Oh la la! Come celebrate Paris and all its magic and charm-starting with the food. Prepare recipes from famous Parisian restaurants as you learn about French cuisine. Chef Steffani Adaska will share her culinary experiences of living in Paris, while teaching you amazing recipes. Bring an empty stomach and a love for food. Bon Appétit!

Meet Chef Steffani Adaska

Look at a full list of Upcoming Classes

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Gluten Free Cooking

Next month we are doing a gluten-free cooking class! Perfect for anyone looking to add a few gluten-free meals to your routine or get new meal ideas for a completely gluten-free diet.

Gluten Free Cooking with Chef Kendra Stanley
Price $95

Thursday, April 25th, 4-7 pm •  Open
Class Description:
Join Chef Stanley to learn recipes that are Gluten Free. Fantastic recipes to include a Breakfast, Lunch,  and Dinner dish. Don’t forget your dessert. Come Hungry. Leave Happy.
Meet Chef Kendra Stanley

Spaces are limited so sign up now!

Here’s a recipe to hold you over until the class:

Gluten Free Banana Cake

Gluten-Free Banana Cake

Ingredients1 1/4 cup almond meal
1 cup sweet sorghum flour
1/2 cup tapioca or arrowroot starch
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
6 eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup of milk, room temperature
6 over ripe bananas (nastier the better), mashed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 2 9-inch tart pans by spraying with cooking oil. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk. Combine the wet ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently combine. Add the banana. Stir well. Pour mixture into pans and bake for 30 minutes. Cake will brown slightly and rise in the middle. It should be firm to the touch. Let cool slightly and then remove the bottom of the tart pan from mold.

Frost with peanut butter cream cheese frosting

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1stick unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 -5 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk, room temperature

Mix together cream cheese, peanut butter and butter with mixer until smooth.

Add vanilla and powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, along with the milk and beat until spreading consistency.

Spread on cooled cakes.

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Wedge Salad With Gorgonza and Bacon Dressing

Wedge Salad with Gorgonzola and Bacon Dressing

Classic Steakhouse Wedge Salad With
Steffani’s Best Gorgonzola & Bacon Dressing

Recipe Steffani Adaska, 2013

Dressing:
4 ounces Gorgonzola, crumbled
6 strips bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Salad:
1 large head of Iceburg lettuce, outer leaves removed and discarded.
2 plum tomatoes, cored, diced
½ small red onion, sliced thinly (optional)

Directions:
1. Cut head of lettuce in quarters. Place each quarter on chilled salad plates. Sprinkle with diced tomatoes and sliced red onion.

2. Put the Gorgonzola in a small mixing bowl and mash it with a fork. Add bacon bits, sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, vinegar, Worcestershire and pepper. Stir to combine. Store in a glass jar, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week,  or serve immediately over salad wedge.

Yield: 1 1/4 cups dressing

To learn more Steakhouse style recipes to go with this one, Sign Up for D.I.Y. Steakhouse Meal with Chef Steffani Adaska on Thursday, March 7th.

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Sushi 101 With Chef Kendra Stanley

California Roll

Sushi 101 With Chef Kendra Stanley
Saturday, March 2nd, 1-4 pm

Class Description: Chef Kendra teaches the ancient art of sushi making from beginning to end. She will introduce the tools and basic skills of sushi making to include proper rice cooking and ingredient selection. Kendra will demonstrate her skills through hands-on approach. When learning to make sushi, you must acquire your skills through practice. You will learn the techniques required to roll some of the standards such as Veggie, California, Basic Nigiri and more.

Meet Chef Kendra Stanley

The class is almost full so sign up now!

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