COOKING STUDIO...FINESSING THE FLOUR

            Most of my readers know that I grew up in a bakery family. My  Dad owned a bakery and my  Grandfather owned one too. Yes, two bakeries in one family. One of the lessons learned through a childhood in food service is that there should always be a deep respect for food and fresh ingredients.

             Yesterday, I was invited to sit in on a class at Taste and Technique, a cooking studio in Fair Haven, New Jersey. This was the first time that I took a cooking class, and I really did not expect to learn anything that I didn't know...boy was I wrong! Let me start by saying that this was a first class, professional kitchen, owned by two local ladies.
The studio is stunning! I loved the black and white checked floor and the fun, kitschy accessories made the serious chef's tools a little less ominous.
The class was in a holiday baking theme, and started with a simple recipe for "Reindeer Food", or chex mix covered in white chocolate. What ever I might have thought I knew about white chocolate....I learned that I didn't know anything about it. The chef, Carol Maxwell, was educated in New York at Peter Kumps. She went to school on a James Beard scholarship, and was pastry chef at The Fromagerie in Rumson NJ. She is currently the chef at Dean's Natual Food Market in Ocean, NJ and teaches cooking classes at various colleges in New Jersey.
One thing I can tell you for sure about this chef...she knows what she is doing. The fact that she was highly entertaining was just a big bonus.
Throughout the class, Jackie and Carolyn were perfect sous chef's not only making sure that the chef had all of her ingredients ready but also seeing to the comfort and need of all the students. They are amazing hostesses.
My favorite recipe of the day was a crustless cranberry pie. Perfect for the season, oh so beautiful and very, very delicious.
You will find the recipe for the pie at the end of this post. The class also learned how to make cranberry icebox cookies, and pumpkin macadamia bars, but the big surprise to me was the fudge. The chef created a chocolate fudge with pecans and a white chocolate peppermint fudge.
I had no idea that fudge was this easy to make...it will definitely be included on my cookie trays for the holidays this year!
The kitchen is one of the prettiest professional kitchens that I have ever been in. The stove, well there was some envy going on there, and all of the refrigeration units...not to mention the mixers and ovens. Yes, if it is possible to be a kitchen geek, then I am guilty.  

This sweet swag was all wrapped up for us to take home, and if my husband weren't traveling right now, and if the kids weren't away at school, I would most certainly have shared this with them. 
So, the tea table was set for one with the vintage New Jersey tablecloth and the vintage Wendell August Forge candle holder and the vintage, hand made Bennington Pottery dishware. It was a tough job (lol) but someone had to taste all of these goodies.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cranberry Pie

 

2 cups cranberries

½ cup chopped walnuts

1 ½ cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted)

¼ cup vegetable shortening, melted

¼  tsp. salt

¼ tsp. almond extract

 

Preheat the oven to 325°F and butter a 10-inch (1 ½ quart) pie plate.  Arrange the cranberries on the bottom of the pie plate and sprinkle them with the walnuts and ½ cup of the sugar. 

 

In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the eggs and beat in the remaining 1 cup sugar gradually.  Add the flour, the butter, and the shortening and beat the batter until it is smooth.  Spoon the batter over the cranberry mixture and bake the pie in the middle of the oven for 1 hour, or until the top is golden.

 

Thank you's to Jackie DeMarco and Carolyn Rue at Taste and Technique, 597 River Rd, Fair Haven, NJ and to Chef Carol Maxwell for the education and the recipe's provided.

This post is being linked to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday's. I would like to thank these blog hostesses as well. If you would like to get in touch with, or get on the mailing list of the Taste and Technique Cooking Studio, they can be found here.

♥, Susan

Comments

[Pat ~ Mille Fiori Favoriti]

This looks like such a fun class to attend, Susan, and just look at all the yummy treat recipes you now have for the holidays! Thanks for the cranberry pie recipe -- that will come in handy!

[Pat@Back Porch Musings]

Looks like lots of fun!:-)

[Becky]

Thank you for your sacrifice!!! I know your husband and kids appreciated it also...now my mouth is watering and there is nothing in this house sweet...I do have some cranberries in the freezer though.........

[Mrs. Magpie]

Hi, Susan!

Happy Tablescape Thursday to you!

Oh, you poor girl... having to taste that food. LOL! Looks delicious. And the table is so cute with the NJ tablecloth. This looks like a very fun time.

Neat about your family being in the bakery business. So you come by your cooking abilites naturally. That recipe for pie sounds great. Thanks much!

XO,

Sheila :-)

[Pattie @ Olla-Podrida]

What fun! Thanks for the pie recipe. It is this time of the year when I start tsting recipes for Thanksgiving and I wanted to go a different way this year.

[Debbie]

What a wonderful way to spend your day! Thank you for the recipe.

[Cheryl F.]

Wow Susan, looks like you had a wonderful time! The pie looks yummy. Thank you for the great pictures and recipe. I can not wait to try it!! ;p

[Cherry Kay]

So much fun! Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us and for giving us the recipe. I can hardly wait to try that one! Cherry Kay

[Chari]

Hi Susan...

Ohhh...what fun! It sounds like you had a fabulous time and wonderful learning experience at this cooking class! I do declare that all of the goodies that were made...look simply divine! I had never thought about doing a white chocolate fudge with peppermint...Mmmm! Thank you for sharing your experience with us...such a treat! And yes...that kitchen was awesome! I loved the black and white tile floor with all the red kitchen accents!!!

Warmest autumn wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

[Kathy]

Oh what fun! YUM! Love the idea of the fudges! Love the chex mix in the bags! Gorgeous kitchen too!
Kathy

[Tricia@The Dull & the Dutiful]

Wow, what a fun class that sounded like! You learned a LOT of new recipes for the holidays. That peppermint fudge sounded divine -- I am addicted to peppermint bark. Thank you for your comments on my table this week at Tablescape Thursday!

[Kate Blue]

looking around from BNOTP and have to agree, I do love to cook and thought the same about a class I took and was pleasantly surprised and the new creations and tips I picked up!

[Susan]

What fun! I love their colorful kitchen. And how nice that they taught a bakery owner's daughter something new. Wish I could have joined you for a taste at your tea table!

[laurie]

Oh that does look like fun! I probably wouldn't even be able to listen to the chef, because I'd be so busy admiring the kitchen! I love your vintage NJ tablecloth. Your table looks so inviting, and oh my goodness that pie looks devine! laurie

[Natasha]

Wow, what a brilliant time you must have had. Everything looked delicious and I especially love the Holiday theme!

You are very kind to include one of the recipes. I will definitely try to make this, especially since you loved it so much!

Best wishes,
Natasha.

[Lynn@HappierThanAPigInMud]

The class looks like a lot of fun, and the cranberry pie sounds so different!

[Jenna Ericson]

So jealous.
I would love cooking lessons!!! I will continue with my experimentation up here at school, though. Hahaha. Did I tell you I finally perfected pork fried rice? :D

[christine]

What Fun! I've always wanted to take a class at T and T. I must try the pie...looks delicious.

[susan ericson]

The pie really was deilcious.. maybe we should take a class together!

[Sue @Rue Mouffetard]

Hi Susan....the class looked fun...the goodies you got to make looked fun...I'm sure eating them later on was fun but you have a vintage New Jersey tablecloth!!
Nothing gets better then that...I collect vintage state souvenir plates but I think I will have to be on the lookout for my very own "Motherland" tablecloth...it's very cool

[ugg boot]

I had to refresh the page 2 times to view this page for some reason, however, the information here was worth the wait.