ULSTER COUNTY CLASSES MARCH, APRIL, MAY

I'm offering a few classes soon at Ulster BOCES in Port Ewen, each for a very reasonable fee. Chances are you would take some food home. You have to register for these classes in advance. www.ulsterboces.org, 845-331-5050. The classes only run if there are a sufficient number of people to take them - at least 6 but no more than 10.

(I'd like to find other available places as well for teaching cooking around the Saugerties/Woodstock/Kingston area. Private classes in your home are available.)

Meanwhile see if any of these are of interest:

SOUPS – 1 session

March 19

Saturday 11AM to 2PM

Everyone loves soup. Here is a chance to learn hot to make some international favorites from scratch. Class will be mixed hands-on and demonstration. We will make Corn Chowder, Carrot Ginger, Cream of Tomato, Chicken Coconut, and a Quick Onion Soup.

Bring an apron, your favorite knife, a container and kitchen towel.

Class fee: $35 plus $15 food fee payable to instructor.

DIABETIC BASICS  ( BASICS FOR DIABETES)– 2 sessions

April 23 & 30

Saturday 11AM to 2PM

We’ll explore the options of a diabetic-friendly pantry and an unprocessed food diet with many plant-based options. Recipes geared to spring ingredients with new potatoes, asparagus, chicken tostadas, a couple of fish recipes, the use of fresh herbs and spices, all quick and delicious. For the second session you’ll pick ingredients you want to use and we’ll create some personal favorites.

Bring an apron, your favorite knife, a container and kitchen towel.

Class fee: $69, plus $20 food fee payable to instructor.

MOSTLY SAVORY PANCAKES – 2 sessions

May 14 & 21

Saturday 11AM to 2PM

The world of pancakes is very varied. We’ll take an international journey using pancakes as our theme. We’ll make Chinese Scallion or Wild Ramp Pancakes, Florentine Crespelle with spinach and ricotta in a tomato sauce, Lime Pancakes, Matzo Brei, German Apple Pancake, and Buckwheat Blini. If time allows we’ll also make some Potato Pancakes, Moroccan Beghrir, and Lentil cakes.

Bring an apron, your favorite knife, a container and kitchen towel.

Class fee: $69, plus $20 food fee payable to instructor.

FLAVORFUL BROIL ROASTED CHICKEN

Broasted Chicken

A special technique for cooking a chicken quickly. Marinate then broil placing the chicken low in the oven, not right under the broiler. 

Use a whole chicken it’s more economical and you’ll be eating just one chicken. If you purchase chicken already cut up it’s usually from different chickens. (Some people ask if they can use all breast meat and boneless. I would not recommend that for this recipe.) 

Cut it up into about 6-8 pieces depending on the size. First remove the backbone using shears or a cleaver. Then cut in half down the soft breastbone. Next, cut off the egg/thigh. Next, the breast with the wing attached and cut the breast in half. 

It’s okay to cut off the wing separately.

The raw chicken cut up.

Create a marinade. I like to use about ¼-1/2 cups soy sauce, depending upon the size of the chicken, add about 6 cloves of garlic roughly cut or grated – your choice. 

Add about 2 inches of chopped fresh ginger. 

Optional additions are about 1tablespoon roasted sesame oil, a few star anise, and a couple of whole chili peppers.

The chicken pieces with marinade in plastic bag. Refrigerate 3 hours to 2 days.

Place it all, chicken and marinade, into a plastic bag then seal the bag and move the chicken pieces around so they are all coated. Refrigerate from 3 hours to 2 days. The longer the better. I usually take it out at least once to move the pieces around.

Chicken pieces ready to cook. Marinade removed.

When ready to cook prepare a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place an oven rack way down at the bottom of the oven and preheat the broiler. 

Shake off the marinade from the chicken and place the pieces skin side up on the pan. Drizzle with about 1 tablespoon roasted sesame oil. 

Place the pan with the chicken on the low rack. Close the oven door.

Add caption

Chicken in the oven.

Let it broast until you see it browning and bubbling, between 10 and 15 minutes should do it. 

Then take the pan out and turn the chicken pieces over. Return to the oven and broast about another 10 minutes. 

Turn the oven off. You can leave the chicken in the oven for about another 10 minutes if you like. Then remove the chicken.

Chicken after about 15 minutes. Take out and turn over.

Chicken cooked after turning over.

Serve it hot or room temperature. Top with cut green onion pieces and a sprinkle of lightly toasted sesame seeds. I like the unhulled seeds mixed white and black together.

The chicken remains very juicy using this method and cooks very quickly. I think you’ll like it.

SERVING SUGGESTION.