Summer update

Although I usually take the summer off from teaching, this summer turned out differently.

First, there were the two Russian Dumplings classes at The Pantry in July that I'd posted about earlier: fun, dynamic, and filled with chatty, eager students, as Pantry classes typically are. There were stories and laughter, flour flew everywhere, we had up to 6 pots and pans going on the stove at any given time, and people left with satisfied stomachs and updated Instagram accounts :)

Then, the lovely people from Auburn International Farmers Market invited me to do a cooking demo in August. They wanted a recipe that was quick and easy to prepare, healthy, and - naturally - showcased some of the fresh produce for sale at the market. We settled on a cucumber, tomato and herb salad, a classic Russian summer salad that is crisp from the cucumbers, juicy from the tomatoes, rich and creamy from the sour cream dressing, and fragrant from the plentiful chopped dill and parsley. When I got to the market, there was a wonderful crew of volunteers who helped things run as smoothly as could be (special thanks to Sonia for being a stellar demo assistant!). To me, the best moment of the demo was when a little girl came up to our station asking for seconds!

Finally, later this month I am teaching a private cooking class for a group of folks who made high-level donations at last year's Caravale, the fall fundrasing event put on by Neighborhood House, the social services non-profit where I work. The menu is still to be determined, but, if this cool, rainy weather holds, I'm certain that there will be a nice warming soup on the agenda, and perhaps an apple cake for dessert.

Normally, fall and winter (and, sometimes, spring) is when I teach a bunch of classes at PCC Cooks, However, this year, after the Neighborhood House class, I will be taking a break from my regular teaching schedule in order to spend more time with my husband, who is dealing with some health issues. Fall and winter are often challenging seasons for him; hopefully, my being around a bit more than in previous years will be helpful.

That being said, I am still available for private classes and dinners during this time, so please feel free to reach out! Hope you all have a beautiful fall and enjoy the glorious apples, pears, squashes, pumpkins, root veggies, and other seasonal bounty!