If a foray into food is what you are looking for this fall, the Cochrane CookHouse has a variety of classes available.
Tara Anderson is the community kitchen coordinator with the CookHouse and said they are looking forward to a lot of fun this season.
Anderson described food as a very intimate part of our lives and as something that connects us to the land and one another. She said it builds strong bodies and minds and therefore is important to understand where it comes from and the impact it has on our bodies.
“More and more people are learning to understand food literacy – the actual hands on connection. Getting out there building community, making new friends, making your own food and understanding it,” Anderson explained. “It is very empowering.”
The art of canning, preserving and more is a three part series that will run Wednesday, Sept. 24 and Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 4 from 2-6 p.m.
It is a class where people can learn to live more sustainably and learn the skills of how to understand food and how it works according to the seasons, according to Anderson. She added that this would include things like canning and preserving fruits and vegetables and as well as how to preserve dairy products.
There is a fermentation series that will run Thursday, Sept. 18, Thursday, Oct. 16 and Monday, Oct. 6, all from 7-9 p.m. Anderson described this as a series which is a time-honoured tradition on how to ferment food and drink. This includes learning about Kombucha, Kefir water and pickles.
A wine and beer making class will be happening Sunday, Oct. 19 from 2-4 p.m. Anderson said it is a partnership with The Home Vintner’s Paul Sass, who will be teaching the class.
There will be a raw chocolate therapy class Saturday, Oct. 18 from 2-5 p.m. Anderson said this class would focus on chocolate in its pure form, raw cacao, which is a super antioxidant.
Other classes include Thai Vegan and Vegetarian Cooking and The Sugar Fix: 4 Easy Steps to Curb Your Cravings.
Anderson said that classes usually have around 15 - 20 people and some of them do sell out fairly quickly.
People who would like to sign up can do so by contacting the CookHouse at 403-932-4292, visiting the website cochranecookhouse.ca or dropping by the location at 109-519 First Street and signing up.
