AURORA – One of the best ways to save money on food in 2013 and save money is to sharpen your cooking skills. The roster of culinary classes in the Aurora area includes a new series of free cooking demonstrations at the new Anschutz Health and Wellness Center at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Classes there include:
Healthy Super Bowl Party Foods, 6 p.m. Jan. 8: Chef Paolo demonstrates a simple grilled sirloin appetizer with avocado salsa.
Cooking Dry Beans, 6 p.m. Jan. 15: Learn to cook dried beans from garbanzos to heirloom varieties — and control the salt level — and use in black bean salad, hummus and other side dishes.
Personalized Trail Mix, noon, Jan. 16: Make your own signature sweet, crunchy, salty combo of seeds, nuts, fruits and beyond while understanding nutritional value of ingredients.
Cruciferous Creations, 6 p.m., Jan. 22: Michelle Cardel, RD, demonstrates how to make low-calorie, nutrient-rich cauliflower mashed potatoes that are still comforting.
Amaranth, 6 p.m., Jan. 29: Amaranth is a gluten-free grain with enormous amounts of protein and plenty of calcium, magnesium, iron and fiber.
Information: https://www.anschutzwellness.com/community-programs/cooking-demonstrations/demo-schedule
The City of Aurora offers a full schedule of cooking classes at Expo Recreation Center including:
Couples Cook: Some Like It Hot, Jan. 11: Five wines matched with five spicy dishes including chicken and fennel sausage jambalaya, and chorizo with jalapeno pesto.
Let My People Eat!, Jan. 19: Classic Jewish cooking including challah, matzo ball soup, beef brisket, and noodle kugel.
Family Pasta Workshop, Feb. 23: Kids ages 6-12 and parents make pasta and sauces including cheese ravioli with marinara sauce, and chicken noodle soup.
Tasty Packages, Feb. 27: Wrapped foods including New Orleans-style shrimp, chicken in puff pastry and spanakopita.
Truffles, Feb. 2: Take home chocolates for your Valentine.
Information: auroragov.org/cooking
Empanadas, Jan. 19, Colorado Free University Lowry, near 1st & Quebec. Information: freeu.com. Details: Learn how to make the savory and sweet versions of this Central American pastry treat.
Backyard chicken class, Feb. 24, Lyons Farmette, Lyons. Information: lyonsfarmette.com. Details: Use the winter to acquire new urban farming skills. Also: Valentine’s Day Chocolates Class (Feb. 10).
Bison and Bourbon, Feb. 23, Kitchen Table Cooking School, Greenwood Village. Information: kitchentablegv.com. Details: Learn to make Buffalo Ribeye with Sweet Onion Relish and Roasted Fall Vegetables matched with a Colorado small batch whiskey or Kentucky straight Bourbon. Also: Fresh Pasta (Jan. 3).
UPCOMING BEVERAGE EVENTS
Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival, Jan. 10 to 13, Vail. Information: bigbeersfestival.com
Colorado Urban Winefest, June 8, Denver. Information: winecolorado.org
Steamboat Wine Festival, Aug 7-11, 2013, Steamboat Springs. Information: steamboatwinefestival.com
Send information about Colorado food events, classes, festivals, wine dinners and tours in the metro area to: jlehndorff@aurorasentinel.com
John, that Anschutz link at the top does not work for me. FYI. Gunner