Melissa Ward - Cooking Lessons

Are you too busy or too tired to cook? Is eating out too expensive and fast food is too unhealthy? Then this course is perfect for you!

Chef Melissa Ward will demonstrate how to make easy-to-prepare meals that will dazzle your friends and family. In one evening, you'll learn how to prepare delicious appetizers, savory main courses and luscious desserts. All meals are low in fat and sodium with an emphasis on using organic produce and products. She'll also show you how to shop, use herbs and spices, and properly store food.

Best of all, you'll have a chance to sample all of the delicious food that has been prepared. You'll leave with a recipe packet and the ability to cook a fantastic, low-cost meal easily and quickly. Materials fee $10.

Melissa Ward is been a proponent of organic foods for over 30 years, specializing in organic cuisine, catering, home cooking, nutritional counseling, and private culinary instruction. In addition to her work as a caterer and counselor, Melissa teaches cooking classes both privately and to groups. She is a published writer and regularly contributes articles about food, nutrition and healthy living.

Contact Melissa for details

Upcoming Cooking Classes Taught @
Let's Get Cooking in Westlake Village

HEALTHY CHICKEN ENTREES
WHEN: Tuesday, January 5 TIME: 6:30 pm

Eating well in the New Year will be easy to do with these healthy chicken entrees from organic cook and teacher, Melissa Ward. You can utilize several different cooking methods that will enhance and bring out the true flavors of these recipes. Melissa will pair up some side vegetables and grains in class while suggesting other combinations you can try at home.

ACHIOTE CHICKEN STEW WITH CILANTRO DUMPLINGS; BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CREOLE MUSTARD ORANGE SAUCE; CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD WITH BLANCHED, SHREDDED CHICKEN; SAUTEED LEMON CHICKEN PAILLARDS WITH COUSCOUS; BASIC ROASTED WHOLE CHICKEN WITH ROOT VEGETABLES.
$75

HEALTHY SOUPS, BREADS AND SALADS
WHEN: Wednesday, February 24 TIME: 6:30 pm

This hands-on workshop will focus on making healthy soups with bread and salad accompaniments. Melissa has a background in nutrition and organic cooking. She will emphasize ingredients that will help you to eat and live well.

TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH ESCAROLE; PARMESAN WAFERS; RED LENTIL AND CARROT CURRY SOUP; BUTTERMILK SKILLET CORNBREAD; POTATO LEEK SOUP WITH SALMON; ENDIVE, RADICCHIO, PARSLEY, ARUGULA WITH TOASTED HAZELNUTS & RICOTTA SALATA.
$75

LET'S GET COOKING
Home of Westlake Culinary Institute
4643 Lakeview Canyon Road
Westlake Village, CA 91361
(818) 991-3940
http://www.letsgetcookin.com/

Cookery is not chemistry, it is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements.
- X. Marcel Boulestin, 1928

Private Cooking Classes

Why not learn to cook at home? Cooking is a habit that takes time to build, yet with each new discovery you are inspired to learn more and create your own style. Melissa Ward Catering offers personal, hands on cooking classes taught in the privacy of your kitchen. Melissa will teach you how to shop for and prepare the specific recipes of your choosing, designed both for your interest and skill level.

Melissa’s cooking classes focus on teaching techniques, profiling ingredients and generating ideas so that you can always feel confident in the kitchen.

Cooking doesn't have to take a long time and it doesn't have to be stressful. Approached with the right attitude, cooking can be easy, and it's a simple way to take care of your self, and a happy, healthy kitchen is the ultimate in aromatherapy!

Here’s How It Works

Melissa brings any of the tools needed to supplement your own equipment, plus all of the ingredients needed to prepare the menu. No kitchen is too small, or too large.

Choose a one-on-one class, and you have the option of first receiving a nutritional screening, and then learn to prepare the recipes and menus suited to your current situation in a personalized class based on the results of the consultation. Or design your own class based on your desire to learn those recipes you’ve always wanted to prepare. Improvisation is welcomed and encouraged!

Invite your family and friends for a group private class in your home, and be rewarded for your efforts when you sit down and enjoy the meal you’ve prepared together. Cooking classes make a perfect gift for anyone, including newlyweds, newly singles and young adults learning to live on their own.

Learning to cook is fun, and rewarding, and by learning in your own home, it takes a lot of pressure off of knowing what equipment you can use, what your space can realistically accommodate, and what fun tools and gadgets might be worth adding to your collection. Let Melissa design a custom class for you, or choose from one of our popular classes.

Group Classes

Group Classes are taught hands-on with the option to observe only, with locations on the West Side of Los Angeles. Topics include healthy cooking fast, healing and restorative foods, menus for entertaining, farmer’s market menus, world cuisine, and many more. Class menus vary with the seasons. Contact us for current listings.
In addition to teaching her own group classes, Melissa teaches group classes for the following organizations:

Coopportunity:
ZONE FRIENDLY: A FAST & SIMPLE APPROACH TO COOKING & EATING HEALTHY MEALS

The Learning Annex:
HOW TO COOK TWO WEEKS OF HEALTHY MEALS IN ONE EVENING

Los Angeles Unified School District/Nutrition Network:
CHEF IN THE CLASSROOM
This program runs January–June of each school year and is designed to teach children enrolled in classes K-12 about healthy, nutritionally sound food preparation and choices with an emphasis on organic produce and products. Melissa is also available to teach this class in private schools, camps and workshops.

http://www.thompsondockside.com http://www.charnelaw.com http://www.lefsetz.com http://www.palivillagebooks.com http://www.daltondesign.com http://www.yourweddingday.com http://www.feastofojai.com/ http://www.aspenlive.net http://www.zarmati.com http://www.dmzpublishing.com http://www.opila.com http://www.harlancollins.com http://www.weicher.com http://www.oneforthetable.com http://www.1forthetable.com http://www.authorspodcasts.com