Food For Thought: Taste of Home Cooking School

Last night my mother and I attended the Taste of Home Cooking School.
If you don't know what it is or have never attended, I highly recommend it! You can find out more info here: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Cooking-Schools
They are traveling the country and they may be in your area soon! :)

Anyways, I wanted to share some pics and info about the show incase anyone wanted to learn more!

As soon as we walked in, we had this awesome goodie bag sitting on our chairs (everyone did). It was filled with all kinds of coupons, recipe books, information, two magazines, some freebies such as the WestBend wooden spoon & a free bottle of Dijon Mustard pictured. Plus the cute pink reusable tote.

Little Miss loves these smaller-ish size ones because when we go grocery shopping, I always have to put a few items in her reusable bags (so she can be like Mama) and carry some groceries. :)

The room was filled with seating and it was packed! Along the perimeter of the hall there were booths featuring samples anywhere from marinated pork, chips 'n salsa, to buffalo dip. A local grocer (Family Fare) had ice cream sandwiches, waters, and cookies too. Mmm... ice cream!

There was also massage therapists (because this is hard work people!!), giveaways from the individual booths, furniture, boutique items, etc.

The show itself, Taste of Home, had TONS of door prizes and items being raffled off - NICE things too, I was VERY impressed! Everything from baking pans, cook books, to food baskets. The local grocer mentioned above also gave away about 20 reusable grocery bags FILLED with free groceries! How cool is that?

At the end of the night, they even gave away the food made during class. Ooooh how I wanted to take home the Agave Chocolate Cake *drool* LOL who am I kidding, it wouldn't have made it home... I'd still be in the parking lot savoring it and licking the plate clean. ;)

This is a shot when I first got there - and hour and half early and it was already full!

During class - our Chef was Dana Elliot

She was funny, VERY imformative, and explained things very well.

A mother of FIVE! (Holy cow!) Down to earth.

I would def take one of her classes again!

Another shot during class. They had a big screens all over the room too and a camera that was on the uprights above her demo table so we could clearly see every thing she was doing and how.

Sorry I didn't get more pics - I was having such a great time and learning so much I was paying attention instead of snapping photos. :)

All in all, it was a great night and even more so because I got to spend it with my mother.

I know she had a great time too!

I would highly recommend this one evening class to everyone.