Once a month, 20 people gather at the Pink Hill Wellness and Education Center for a free healthy cooking class. Participants sit around six tables, each equipped with the necessary equipment to cook five pre-determined recipes. This gives everyone a true hands-on kitchen experience.

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Workshop Example: All Time Favorite Meal

The workshop called “All Time Favorite Meal” focuses on nutritious versions of popular dishes. The evening starts with a chicken pot pie tasting, which is prepared by the instructors beforehand. As people enjoy their appetizer, the instructor reviews the class format and recipes. Assistants pass out pre-assembled trays of ingredients for the next recipe, Chicken Noodle Soup. Each table has an Instant Pot, a programmable pressure cooker, which is used to cook their soup. The instructor and assistants give general directions, then float between tables to help people prepare their meal. Everyone gets hands-on experience with a new kitchen gadget, while learning about a healthier version of this classic comfort food.

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Participants assembled three additional dishes. Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, a quick and healthy vegetarian option, featured sweet potatoes that were pre-baked before the class.  Each table traded their Instant Pot for a hot plate, where they cooked beans with onion, tomatoes, and seasonings to make a delicious filling. The last two recipes were a Healthy Chicken Caesar Salad and Stuffed Baked Apples for dessert. In a few short hours, everyone got hands-on experience making five new recipes.