Alexandria Public Schools Community Education

Join Tess as she walks you through how to make a variety of the most marvelous California rolls that will make you wonder why you haven’t tried to make your own before. California “sushi” roll combinations are only limited by your imagination! Make them vegetarian, with or without seaweed, spicy or not, it is totally up to you! Learn the skill of creating delicious seasoned sushi rice, spicy mayo, and how to stuff, wrap / shape the rolls, with wonderful filling ingredients. One of these fillings is a “crab” salad that will be created using crabsticks. Tess will also provide a demonstration plate decorating ideas! Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.

Learn to make Soft Pretzels with Beer Cheese Dip & Italian Meatball Slider Sandwiches from scratch! Everything from the dough for the pretzels and rolls, beer cheese and meatballs will be made fresh! No store bought rolls or frozen meatballs are included in the instructors’ personal recipes being used for the class! Crowd pleasing goodness during the game or any time of year! Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.

Warm, cozy, soothing, satisfying soups are such a welcome treat for dinner any time of year. On the Menu: Luscious Creamy Mushroom Cheddar Soup, Velvety Loaded Potato Soup, & Homemade Italian Bread bowls or Italian Bread rolls (baked in the oven). Choose one soup for your cook-along, and watch a demonstration of the other or choose to make both! Participants will have the option to choose to make bowls or rolls. The instructor will be making one soup in the Instant Pot®, and the other on the stovetop using a soup pot. Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.

Are you looking for something unique and memorable to serve this St. Patrick’s Day or a simple heartwarming meal during the cold days of winter? Do you enjoy the decadence of chocolate for dessert? Whatever the case, you will enjoy a wonderful new spin on the classic meal of Shepherd’s Pie Twice-Baked Stuffed Potatoes, and decadent Chocolate Stout Cake with a wonderful almost “froth-like” frosting for Dessert! Learn to create the instructors’ own delightful version of this decadence using unique ingredients that bring pops of flavor bursting with umami, added nutrition and memorable textures. Whether you choose to make the Shepherd’s Pie version with lamb, or the Cottage Pie version with beef, the end results will be mouthwatering and delicious. Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.

Are you curious about the air fryer craze or looking to expand your recipe repertoire beyond fries and frozen foods? Whether you're a seasoned air fryer user or considering your first purchase, this class is for you! Join Chef Tess for an elevated air fryer experience and explore new family-favorite party dishes, including her mouthwatering Copycat KFC®, and her from-scratch air fryer doughnuts, pizza and burgers! Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.

Spring is in the air, and nothing says “I love you” more than a handcrafted from-scratch meal like Chef Tess’ Marry Me Gnocchi with Chicken and Breadsticks. Hand crafted gnocchi bathed in a homemade silky, rich, flavor-packed sauce, paired with perfectly cooked and seasoned chicken breasts, and a side of homemade bread sticks! A restaurant quality meal that is guaranteed to become a family favorite in your dinner rotation! Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.

Demystify the electric pressure cooker / multi-cooker called the Instant Pot® during a LIVE VIRTUAL class! Learn the foundations of cooking and care, and how to make a few amazingly satisfying dishes in the Instant Pot®. Menu items will include Creamy Steel-Cut Oatmeal or Egg Bites, Creamy-Cheesy Tuscan Chicken with Penne, and luscious Lava Cakes or Dreamy Banana Bread. Menu items on the day of the class will depend on ingredients that are on hand. Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.

During this class, you will learn to make a decadent French pastry known as a Chocolate Éclairs filled with pastry cream and covered in chocolate ganache, and another wonderfully rich yeasted dessert known as Paczki (Polish Doughnuts) filled with preserves or pastry cream. The steps for each dessert will be simplified so that any home cook will be able to create professional looking and tasting desserts for Valentine’s Day. Elements of these desserts will include, making the Choux pastry (Pâte à Choux), the sweet vanilla pastry cream filling and the ganache, in addition to making the wonderfully rich dough for the Paczki. Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.

On the Menu: Stromboli (rolled / filled pizza), Calzones (stuffed pizza), wonderful Focaccia Bread, and an out-of-this-world Pizza Sauce. Two different types of homemade dough will be used. One will be for the pizza options, the other for the focaccia. The instructor will provide step-by-step guidance and instruction help to ensure the process is a simple as can be. Participants can personalize their pizzas and focaccia bread with toppings and fillings of their choosing. Participants will receive a list of ingredients in advance of the class to allow time for shopping. Have your questions answered by the instructor and interact with other participants as you cook-along. While cooking along is loads of fun, it is optional. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor’s personal recipes in PDF format following the class. This class will take place on Zoom.