To prepare for today’s class, Mara and I spoke on the phone. I offered her recipe suggestions for the lesson and she picked the Coconut Curry Lentil Vegetable Soup. She wanted to learn how to cook with herbs and spices and was excited to expand her cooking repertoire. I emailed her a shopping list, including a few extra ingredients just in case when Mara went shopping some of the spices and vegetables were out of stock. And good thing, since the coop was sold out of some of the spices on my list.
Hence, I got to teach her how to improvise and make a delicious soup with what she had in stock.
As a bonus of a virtual cooking class, I could be in and see her in her kitchen. I could help Mara choose the right size pot to cook the soup; become more efficient, and update her spice collection. Some of the spices she had in stock were 2 years old. Past their prime and not worth keeping. She agreed to rid of them. And from my kitchen, I could demonstrate chopping techniques and help her with her knife skills.
I also instructed her in the what ingredient goes in first, second and third when making soup. This was a new concept for her. Generally, she added everything at once.
During our hour together, Mara was open, curious and asked lots of great questions about procedure, nutrition and ingredients.
At the end of the lesson, Mara had a beautiful, delicious Coconut Curry Vegetable Lentil Soup for her dinner. Cooked with new ingredients, she should never used before. Tried and mastered new cooking techniques and enhanced her skills and confidence cooking in her kitchen.
We also talked about protein. As a vegetarian for 30 years, Mara was still confused about what foods, how much and how to create meals with complete proteins. Now we had a new focus for her next lesson.
