Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I Went to Cooking School in Ohio

Enjoying one of the yummy strawberry desserts with my mom


As promised, I have more to say about my Ohio trip. In that same town, Vermilion, Ohio, where I had my life-changing peanut butter burger, I also took a class with my mom called Celebrating Strawberries at the Laurel Run Cooking School in Vermilion, Ohio. Cooking instructor Marcia DePalma taught us some very creative ways to use strawberries.

When we first neared the entrance to the school, my mom's and my mouth dropped to the floor. We were stunned by the beauty of the property. Marcia's house is a gorgeous white mansion surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns, and a long winding driveway to the right leading to the cooking school, a separate building in the back. What a wonderful set up for a cooking school, and how lucky for Marcia to be able to walk from her house to her school in a matter of steps.

The cooking school's curb appeal - yowza!

The classroom has a kitchen at the front with giant mirrors hanging from the ceiling above the counter so everyone in the class could see the demonstration. The tables for the students were high, with rotating stools with back support. Most of our classmates were repeat visitors or even regulars of Marcia's school. I think my mom and I were the only tourists. But if we lived nearby, we'd be regulars, too; the experience was fantastic.

In the kitchen with Marcia - it's a good thing ;)

In Pictures
Here are some of the delectable strawberry dishes Marcia shared with us...

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries


Sauteed Strawberries in Wine and Pepper Sauce with Vanilla Ice Cream


Roasted Strawberry Shortcakes with Vanilla Biscuits


Salad with Strawberries and (Sugared) Almonds


Balsamic-Macerated Strawberries with Basil

Lucky for me, strawberry season in California lasts a little longer than strawberry season in Ohio. Did I say little? You've got about 4 weeks in Ohio. But you can get a decent strawberry in California almost year round.

1 comment:

AJ said...

I want recipes!

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