District 196 Community Education

Try online cooking with this free mini class! Cook along with Kirsten as she makes air fryer crispy polenta rounds with roasted seasonal vegetables and, for a bonus recipe, roasted veggie skewers. Recipe handout provided before class and link to class recording shared afterwards.

Oh no! Are all the holiday preparations getting you down? Don’t fret, Nancy’s team will help you get your baking done in no time at all! Go home with ten dozen cookies. Cookie dough and everything you need to form, trim and decorate the cookies will be provided. Cookies will be baked for you by Nancy’s team in large commercial ovens. Hairnets and gloves will be provided, but bring your own apron if you like. And most important, don’t forget to bring containers to carry home your ten dozen treats. Please arrive on time and plan on staying the full three hours, which includes assisting with clean-up at the end of class. Due to safety restrictions, and out of respect for the adult attendees, no children are allowed in or near the class. If you cannot find child care you may send someone in your place. Please be respectful to others; if you are ill, you may find someone to take your place. Cookies will not be provided for no-shows. We are sorry, we cannot accommodate nut allergies in this class. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor.

Baklava is a traditional pastry dessert that is known for its sweet, rich flavor and flaky texture. Prepare flavorful and easy-to-learn baklava to take home and bake yourself. Demonstration and hands-on. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor.

Savor the flavors of Brazil with Chef Mimi's Coconut Chicken with steamed veggie or rice recipe! This creamy and aromatic dish combines tender chicken, rich coconut milk and nutty peanut butter, served with a hint of spice and fresh cilantro. Perfect over rice or steamed veggies. Sign-up and taste the tropical twist! Demonstration and hands-on. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor.

Learn how to make kolaches, a national pastry of Czechoslovakia. This egg-rich slightly sweet yeast dough arrived in the Midwest as early as the 1860's. It is traditionally filled with fruit mixtures including apricots, prunes, cottage cheese or poppy seeds. They are round, square "tied packages" or filled turnovers. Make variations and taste samples. Take home an assortment of more than two dozen to eat, share or freeze. Bring large containers. Receive recipes, tips and techniques. Hands-on and tasting.

Build a better bowl using seasonal vegetables, savory proteins and delectable drizzles. Kirsten will also demonstrate how to prep ahead different grains, sauces and garnishes, making healthy meals faster and more convenient. Recipe handout provided before class and link to class recording shared afterwards.

Create Norwegian Krumkakes (baked with an iron including cream, butter and cinnamon), Italian Pizzelles (anise or vanilla flavored flat cookie), Swedish Sandbakkelse (baked in tiny tins resembling tarts) and Rosettes (deep-fried, paper thin Scandinavian favorites deliciously dusted with powdered sugar). Gain great recipes, and many tips and techniques that will make your baking a success. Rotate stations to gain cookie-making experience. Bring containers to class to take approximately six plus dozen cookies home. Hands-on.

Prep along with Kirsten in your ow kitchen to stock your freezer! Prepare and assemble different entrees and discuss meal planning and make ahead tips and tricks. Receive an extensive shopping list and recipe handout before class (with lots of substitutions for GF, DF and meatless options) and after class a link to the recording for future reference.

This highly aromatic, mouth-watering staple dish is perhaps the most comforting meal of Indian cuisine. Packed with fragrant basmati rice and organic juicy tender chicken pieces, it’s the perfect one-pot dinner recipe your whole family will love! Demonstration and hands-on.

Create a finger-licking chicken curry with juicy chicken, cooked with freshly ground spices, mustard oil and coconut milk, creating a rich and aromatic delight! Chicken will come pre-marinated, but do everything else in class and leave with all the recipes! Demonstration and hands-on.

This spinach-based curry originates from Purijab, India. Cooked with soft paneer cubes and spices, it offers a delightful texture and flavor and is typically served with white rice. Easy to cook, this vegetarian dish is both nutritious and delicious! Demonstration and hands-on.

Join Chef Mimi for a flavorful journey to the Caribbean and learn to make authentic jerk chicken with pimento seasoning, rice and peas. Demonstration and hands-on. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor.

This wonderful Norwegian delicacy is made for banquets, holidays, weddings and all special occasions. Learn the fine points in making the dough, baking, storing and of course how to serve lefse with a bit of history and humor! Begin with real potatoes using a number of authentic recipes and a modern version using instant potatoes. Sample and take home finished lefse along with dough to bake and share with family and friends. Demonstration, hands-on and tasting.

If it's a board for 3, 30 or 350 ... Kirsten has arranged them all, and you can, too! The best boards contain many elements that can be prepped ahead, so cook along with Kirsten as she makes quick pickled vegetable and spiced nuts, then follow along - or take notes for later - as she adds fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and/or dips, then kicks it up a notch with edible garnishes. Discuss what elements make up a well-rounded cheese board and how to source local products. Recipe handout will be provided before class and link to class recording shared afterwards.

Macarons are beautiful and so fun to make! Discover some simple tricks to make the process easy. Make and assemble three different kinds, one from start to finish and the other two decorate and assemble. Be the talk of the party when you serve these little delicacies! Supply fee of $13 payable to instructor. This is an adults only class.

Metro Dining Club, South of the River, offers discount cards featuring two-for-one dining or 50% off meals. Cost $30 per set of 138 dining cards for area restaurants Add $5 if using U.S. mail for Shipping and Handling Each card can be used monthly for one year Sets are valid Oct 2025 - Oct 2026. Proceeds support fee assistance for children and families. Cards will be mailed out by October 1 if ordered before. Questions: 651-423-7920 District 196 employees download the interoffice form here.

Fall is in the air! With that comes apple season. This is the time of year to make the very best apple pie. If you say, “I can’t make pies” then this class is for you. Master all the steps, from making a crust, to preparing all the filling for your pie using the freshest apples. Be surprised how easy it is! Bring home a hot apple pie to share with family and friends. Boxes will be provided, but please bring a rolling pin and a potato peeler, if you have them. Instructor will have some extras, too. Supply fee of $15 payable to instructor.

Indulge yourself in this popular Chicken Pad Thai cooking class, whose name means “Thai stir-fry.” Build an authentic Pad Thai sauce with a diverse flavor profile of sweet, salty, sour and spicy. Perfect for entertaining. Wow your family and friends at your next dinner party with your newfound signature dish! Demonstration and hands-on. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor.

Cook along with Kirsten as she demonstrates Danish Smørrebrød, sweet braided Finnish Pulla bread and Swedish Fruit Soup. Recipe handout will be provided before class and link to class recording shared afterwards.

Explore favorite recipes of foodies all over the world. Ethiopian food is light, healthy and flavorful, ranging from very spicy to very mild. It can be addictive both in cooking it as much as eating it. Discover exotic spices and ways to easily pair them with your daily ingredients such as vegetables, beans, lentils and flax seed. For the non vegetarians, use different types of meat sauteed with flavored butter and healthy oils. Every step of the way is educational, informative and a dream-like trip into the food culture of historic countries. Demonstration and hands-on. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor.

Restaurant-quality egg rolls and samosas can be made right in your own kitchen as delicious, zesty appetizers! Jammed with flavors from around the world, they can be a quick way to incorporate leftovers into something new and fun to eat. Make a variety of egg rolls, samosas and dipping sauces in class. Demonstration, hands-on and tasting. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor.