Anyone who has experienced a culinary workshop with Carin Smeets knows to expect festive decorations, delectable food, and a gezellig atmosphere as they say in Dutch. Even the frosty weather and cloudy skies cannot dull the warmth of Carin's home, filled with laughter, as novice chefs try their hand at Carin's winter recipes.
Beginning with coffee/tea and cake, in typical European fashion, Carin hands out individual recipe books to make notes as she explains the recipes we will be cooking. She also lets us taste the Christmas mincemeat already prepared by a previous workshop to get our mouths watering for the edible experience ahead.
Once the recipes have been explained, Carin breaks the group up into pairs--each pair is given a workstation and is responsible for one recipe. Whenever an important step comes up at a particular workstation, everyone stops what they are doing to come watch while Carin carefully directs the participants. Anyone whose product is already completed or in the oven is able to then assist with other recipes as needed.
At this specific cooking class, the focus was Christmas pies and pastries that could be served during holiday meals or parties.
But the best part of the day is sitting down together to share a meal of all the fabulous food we just cooked.
An the second best part of the day is....taking home leftovers!
A trip to Carin's home (otherwise known as "Op den Donck") is always a delightful experience, especially when enjoyed with fellow lovers of cooking.
To be added to Carin's mailing list and receive newsletter updates with upcoming workshop schedules, contact her at carin.smeets@home.nl.
Beginning with coffee/tea and cake, in typical European fashion, Carin hands out individual recipe books to make notes as she explains the recipes we will be cooking. She also lets us taste the Christmas mincemeat already prepared by a previous workshop to get our mouths watering for the edible experience ahead.
Once the recipes have been explained, Carin breaks the group up into pairs--each pair is given a workstation and is responsible for one recipe. Whenever an important step comes up at a particular workstation, everyone stops what they are doing to come watch while Carin carefully directs the participants. Anyone whose product is already completed or in the oven is able to then assist with other recipes as needed.
At this specific cooking class, the focus was Christmas pies and pastries that could be served during holiday meals or parties.
But the best part of the day is sitting down together to share a meal of all the fabulous food we just cooked.
An the second best part of the day is....taking home leftovers!
A trip to Carin's home (otherwise known as "Op den Donck") is always a delightful experience, especially when enjoyed with fellow lovers of cooking.
To be added to Carin's mailing list and receive newsletter updates with upcoming workshop schedules, contact her at carin.smeets@home.nl.