Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Reason For My Ever Expanding Waistline



My mom-in-law, sis-in-laws and I have been taking cooking classes together for over a year now. We do it for our monthly or biweekly girls night. Gotta love the GNO. We are very lucky to take them from Margaruite Henderson and we absolutely love it!


The classes are set up in an intimate atmosphere at Marguerite's home, she plans the menu in advance and gives us all a copy of the recipes to refer to as she cooks. We arrive to beautifully arranged appettizers displayed with gorgeous dishes and serving utensils. Rivaling such dexterity and finnesse of my precious Bree Van de Kamp.


Someone usally brings wine, which is a big plus, and then we sit back and relax while she cooks up a storm.


She is, without exception, the best chef ever. And the cutest.





We have learned so much from her, not only does she teach us how to cook the recipes given, but she also shares her insider chef secrets like how to know when a certain fruit is ripe, the most sufficient way to extract the juice from a lemon, the finest cutting techniques and the best cookware to use.


And my favorite part of the class?


Eating the food.


Of course everything she makes is to die for. The classes are 3 hours long and she makes anywhere from 5 to 7 dishes so you want to arrive hungry. Pacing yourself is the key, which is hard to do when every single dish implores you to have seconds and thrids. (And fourths)


By the time the class is over we've all split our pants and Marguerite has to roll us out the door. Seriously, you leave VERY satisfied, plus you get to take the leftovers home to the hubster.





The last class that we attended was called,


Fabulous February Fromage:

Cheese Fantastico! Big flavors in Puff Pastry Pizzas, Panini with Comte and Ham, Creamy Pasta with Four Cheeses, Beehive Cheddar Biscotti with Walnuts and a lemon blueberry torte!




Oh man. A class all about cheese? It was meant for me, I just know it.


Here we all are pre-pant splitting condition. From left to right: McKell, Rachael, Sharon, Cris & Me.





Marguerite persisted to take 5 pictures of us because she said Cris kept turning out too dark in each one. So we'd try to scoot Cris forward into the light and I would try to scoot back.





Um, no Margaurite, she just looks extremely dark because she IS extremely dark. And of course it doesn't help that she's sitting next to the pearly albino.





Nope, still dark.


I'm pathetic.

36 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Ummmm, how can I get in on this?

Christine Macdonald said...

Oh how I long for the metabolism of my youth.

I have more than a muffin top. It's a bread roll.

Brian Miller said...

i wish i could use that excuse...

Liz Mays said...

I glow in the dark too. You are not alone! Don't make me think you're preggo again with titles like that! Stop it!

brokenteepee said...

Yum. I love to cook.
It's fun.
I can't wait to have a real kitchen.

The Red Headed Mama said...

Oh, I need to find a Margaurite near me!!! FUN!

Formerly known as Frau said...

Sounds like a blast and food, wine and dessert yummy! Great picture you are all such pretty girls!

Unknown said...

When I read the title of this post I thought you were going to announce you were pregnant! But the food was a good substitute...

Marissa said...

Mmm, sounds tasty and fun. Wish there were cooking classes around here. I love cooking and it's always nice to get ideas and tips from someone who knows.

Nana said...

O.k. Where are some recipe's fatty?

Nana said...

Better yet, we should get together here at my house and you can show us a few things. Yep, that's the ticket! Then I can call you fatty in person.

Nana said...

And... of course you know, we will have to drink milk. Now you probably won't do it. Fatty.

Stesha said...

Dammit, Pooba! I thought there was a baby in the oven. Turns out it's just food.


Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha

CLUFF FAMILY said...

I love white people!

Megan said...

That sounds like a blast!!! So fun!!

Robyn | Add a Pinch said...

Ok, can I get in on the leftovers? Surely you could send some on dry ice?

Looks like a blast!

Unknown said...

Oh MAN! that is the best idea for a girls night out! I gotta find me one of these!

Controlling My Chaos said...

What a nifty way to spend a GNO. I'm jealous.

Jeanne said...

Pooba,

Wow! This post is making me hungry. :)

That is awesome that you get to do something you enjoy so much with your relatives.

Jeanne

Justine said...

So wait, all of you just sit there and watch her cook? You don't do any of the prep work with her? And WTF? You're eating all this yummy shit and you can't even be bothered to share a recipe or two?

Hmph. I'm mad at you now. My poor albino friend.

Justine :o )

Anonymous said...

Sounds yummy and fun-great idea for a GNO. Now I'm hungry...

The Green Family said...

MMMMMMMM...chhhheeeeessseee!!! I love it!

I also think you have pretty 'albino' skin Ü

Good for you on the consistent GNO!

Alexis AKA MOM said...

Man this so makes me want to be part of your family even more! Ohhhh Idea if every keeps eating my fluffy self could fit in! LOL

Oh man cheese orama ... yup that would be a lactose intolerance person looking for the Beano ... lol

Lee said...

Oh my gosh.

You know, I've always wanted to take a cooking class.

I love food.

blake said...

Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun. And it sounds like you're learning lots of fun stuff. Good for you, you pearly albino!

Anonymous said...

That sounds like an awesome GNO!

Unknown said...

when i was sick the other day, my boyfriends father says "well i'd say you look a bit pale...but you always do".

so i feel you on the albino thing. but mine is thanks to my pasty british bloodlines;)

and food cooked by someone other than me?! i'd totally be there.

andrea

Mike said...

If you look at all three pictures it looks like one of those, "Can you spot the difference?" games!

Hernandez Family said...

Mmmm muffin tops! I got the "apron" thing going on thanks to my kids!

KK said...

sounds yummy and fun!

Aleta said...

I wish there was a group like that where I live! I could so use some cooking classes :)

Sounds like a lot of fun and sooo yummmy! Great pictures!

Closer to Lucy said...

I wanna go to Marguerite's pants splitting class.

I'm a pearly albino too, though I prefer ivory queen. You can sit by me, we'd totaly compliment each other!

Stacy Uncorked said...

Yep, I really do need to move there so I can have an excuse for my ever expanding waistline. And I won't feel so ghostly white next to you! ;)

Seriously, though - how FUN!! Very cool thing to enjoy doing with such a fun group of people! ;)

Jason, as himself said...

Oh, how I love fromage!

And Bree Van de Kamp. Now I must go read about how you love her too.

The Stucki's said...

What a fun thing to look forward to!

LadyStyx said...

Damn. I think I just gained 15 pounds reading this one.