Yum! Summertime feasting is about fresh, crisp food. We all know the drill: a hot, humid day and no one wants to stand over a hot stove or heat the oven. To the rescue comes Chris with Thai summer rolls with crunchy fresh vegetables and your choice of crabmeat, cold shrimp, or more veggies; Pad Thai fresh noodle salad using local greens and veggies (and/or more crabmeat/shrimp); topped off with a fruit sorbet made on the spot. Don’t forget to bring containers to take home any leftovers! $10 food fee included in the cost. No discounts.

Ever wonder how to preserve all those great garden vegetables? This hands-on food preservation workshop will teach you the basic steps for canning and freezing. Participants will receive a "Preserving the Harvest" food preservation packet, and will learn recommended methods for preserving foods, the latest and safest recipes, about equipment to insure safety and how to check for properly sealed jars. Participants may bring their own pressure canner dial gauge to class for a free accuracy test! Please bring a potholder with you to the workshop.

Material fee:  $20 paid to instructor at workshop.

Capture fresh, local fruit while it’s in season with homemade jams and jellies! Learn how to use less sugar in canning, learn about different types of pectin and recommended preserving methods from UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver staff. Participants will receive recipes and a jar of jam. Please bring a potholder with you to class. There is a $20 materials fee paid directly to instructor. 

Learn how to cook healthy food on a budget! This no cost, 6 session cooking class is offered in partnership with Healthy Acadia. The series offers participants an opportunity to learn about easy ways to prepare healthy, family-friendly, delicious meals and stretch food dollars. Participants work together to create a meal each week and sample their recipe. Free take-home ingredients will be provided for all participants.

This series is designed to engage community members who are experiencing low income, and who want to gain knowledge and skills to eat health food on a limited budget.

Participants are requested to commit to all six classes in the series. No class on July 4.

Some of our common weeds are not only nutritious foods but have wonderful healing properties. On this 2 hour walk through field and woods you will learn how to add vitamin and mineral rich wild plants to your diet, treat bee stings, heal wounds, aid digestion, treat UTI’s and protect yourself from cancer.

Instructor: Linda Nelson, Certified Herbalist

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Time: 10 am-Noon

Location: MCHS

Registration: $15

Chris spent the month of February in Hawaii! Come and see what he learned between walking the beaches, rainforests and lava fields. Join Chris for a taste of Hawaii with some Hawaiian Salmon Poke Salad, the Classic Hawaiian comfort food Loco Moco, and smokey and tangy Huli Huli Chicken. Bring an empty stomach and empty containers for possible leftovers! $10 food fee included in the cost. No discounts.

Fresh Stuffed Pasta Combinations

Join Chris to create your own fresh tortellini and ravioli with four, tasty fillings and several choices of sauces. The only problem will be that after this class you won't be able to find a local restaurant with pasta as fresh and good as yours!

Instructor: Chris Toy

Thursday, 6/7, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: Windham High School – Rm 302

Fee: $34 includes food fee

Nothing tastes better than a backyard barbecue! Learn new tricks for classic grilled foods. Chris will teach his favorite open-fire recipes straight from the restaurants where he was trained. The class will include steak, chicken, grilled fish, Portobello mushrooms, grilled corn on the cob, and grilled vegetables. Bring your appetite and kick off the summer with style! Don’t forget to bring containers to take home any leftovers! $10 food fee included in the cost. No discounts.