Hors d'oeuvres Cooking Class with Chef Contos

Holiday Hors d'oeuvres Cooking Class
December 2nd, 10:00 - 12:15 
$50.00 

Don't miss this intimate opportunity to cook with Chef Contos at her home in Essex Junction. Learn how to cook delicious small bites for your next party. Blue Cheese Apricots, Smoky Maple Roasted Nuts, Kofta (meatballs) with Tahini and Pine nuts, Burnt Eggplant Dip with Garlic and Pomegranate Seeds, and Seeded Flatbread with Beets and more!

Email thegoldencarrot@yahoo.com to sign up.
By referral only please. 

Upcoming Class: Discover the World of Flavored Salts

kitchen crafter class: flavored salts

essex junction senior center

december 1   3:00 - 4:00

open to the public/no charge

We're all about decreasing reliance on processed or store-bought food as much as possible and some things may be easily made at home. Discover the world of flavored salts, Tuscan Herb, Roasted Garlic, Celery Salt, Lemon Thyme, Spicy Habanero, Shitake Mushroom,

Perfect Pie Dough To Your Rescue

Why is making pie dough from scratch a frightening task for many? Most likely it has to do with fear from past mistakes like dry dough, dough falling apart when rolling, over working, warm dough, trying healthy recipes... One of my goals as a culinary educator is to encourage you to make your own pie dough from scratch. Yes, you may easily go and purchase low quality dough loaded with artificial ingredients (proof) at the grocery store, but the real reward of baking a pie comes from knowing you made it all from scratch. Up until this

Bacon Shortage, October Fest Cookies, GMO Apples

A Wrap-Up Of September's Food Highlights:

15 Things To Blame For Bacon Shortage

Lunch Box Advancements To Like!

27 Pounds

Beekeeping was on my wish list for many years before I moved to Vermont. I studied books on the topic and once I even contacted Burt Bees in Wisconsin, hoping to visit their bees. Turned out, they didn't having bees (what?)! A rant I will save for another time. So when Prince Charming finally said

Fall Shines In This Stromboli Recipe

Celebrate the flavors of a fun summer ending and the beginning of a beautiful colorful fall. In this scrumptious recipe I have combined the last of the sweet tomatoes in a dipping sauce and the first of

New Cookbooks Coming Out; Greek Yogurt Scams; Are Organic Foods More Nutritious? Sigh

Fall produce to be excited about- Brussels sprouts (roasted or shredded and cooked quickly in a hot pan, toss with vinaigrette), VT cranberries (juice and freeze), squash, better salad greens (many lettuce varieties don't like the heat of summer and get sweet and tender again in fall), fall raspberries, cauliflower, and apples! (Links have many more cookbooks but these are my highlights) New Cookbooks For Fall 2012 - Thomas Jefferson’s Creme Brulee, Ready for Dessert by David Leibovitz More Exciting New Cookbooks - Thanksgiving by Sam Sifton 18 New Restaurant Cookbooks - Bouchon Bakery by Thomas Keller, A Table at Le Cirque (stories and recipes from NY most legendary res. ), Fäviken by Magnus Nilsson More New Cookbooks - Burma: Rivers of Flavor (soups, noodles, dipping sauces), Jerusalem Healthy Tailgating Tips - Fruit, marinated chix, raw veggies for dips, and salads. On game day, eat a light breakfast and exercise before your head out. Practice the three F's: food, friends, and flexibility! Introducing Microgreens: Younger and maybe more nutritious, vegetables Are Organics More Nutritious? Again? Sigh More Greek Yogurt Scams (by adding milk powder protein the yogurt has a chalky grainy texture and is not natural) The Skinny On Greek Yogurt Production  Can't stop thinking about this bread Like to drink red wine at parties but prefer a wine glass over a solo cup? Keep up your rugged party goer image with this cup! Bloody Mary That Is Brunch: A 32 oz. glass overflowing with the Best Bloody Mary you've ever had...This beast boasts 8 oz. of Absolut Peppar vodka mixed with a special Bloody Mary mix. Then we garnish it with pepperoncinis, jalapenos, Tots, steak, a slice of toast, and a hard-boiled egg. Served with a Beef Straw to drink from  Rice Crispy Square Milkshake? Yes please! Boxed Wine Now Comes In Looking Like A Purse. Still Have Wine Box Shame?

Tomato Harvest; Camping Foods; Lobsters

What to do with your eggplant harvest: Make Jam

What I'm doing with my tomato harvest: Paste, V8, soup, and sauce

Is your ipod getting to much flour and grease on it? Try this

Perfect for picnics and camping - Mason jar whipped cream

Does your mail smell like food? Maybe because 

Is that ash on your food? Yes It's a new trend with chefs.

Recipe of the month.

Going camping? Meet gourmet camping food.

In case you're at Wendy's in Japan. Hope they are paying top dollar for that lobster since record breaking hauls in Canada and Maine are being reported.

Corn Chowder My Way (video)

Recently the girls at WCAX and I made one of my favorite summer soups, corn chowder.

Click here to watch us make this delicious recipe.

A Tour Of The 2012 Vermont Cheese Festival

The Vermont Cheese Makers Annual Festival is always on my summer calendar. Prince Charming and I slowly walk the big festival tasting and buying wonderful cheeses from the area. This is also a