Moorhead Community Education

Experience the warmth and elegance of Greek cuisine in this one-of-a-kind cook-along experience with instructor Tess, who brings generations of culinary tradition straight to the table. Tess will guide participants in the step- by-step process of making Dolmáthes—tender grape leaves delicately filled with savory rice and seasoned meat filling, then gently simmered and finished with a luxurious velvety avgolemono sauce, a classic emulsion of fresh lemon juice and egg. To complete the meal, participants will also bake a loaf of crusty artisan bread—perfect for savoring the bright, savory essence of the rich lemony sauce.

Step into a sweet winter wonderland in this joyful holiday cookie workshop cook-along experience led by instructor Tess. Learn to create FOUR amazing gourmet cookies from scratch using two types of dough using Tess’ original recipes. Only requirement is being able to keep the recipes secret! First up, MONSTER COOKIE DOUGH will be used to craft two DIFFERENT types of Monster Cookies, one of which actually looks like the beloved Cookie Monster, and the other is more of a classic albeit moist, delicious, and decadent. They are MASSIVE, colorful, chewy, and loaded with festive mix-ins that are as fun to make, as they are to eat. Next, an out of this world dough will be created using a recipe Tess has never shared before that uses very unconventionalmixing techniques. The dough will be used to create the ultimate bakery, NYC-Style stuffed cookies filled with dreamyindulgent centers like cheesecake, and fudgy brownie. Cookies will then be created, once again, using unconventionalshaping and baking techniques!

Step into the world of Italian-inspired elegance with this hands-on culinary experience. You’ll learn to create ricotta gnocchi—delicate, cloud-like morsels of goodness prized for their refined melt-in-your-mouth texture and subtle flavor. Far from ordinary, these handcrafted bites capture the essence of rustic Italian cooking while bringing a touch of sophistication to your table. Once prepared, the gnocchi will be turned into a restaurant worthy meal, married with a velvety herb-kissed Tuscan cream sauce and paired with tender chicken. A beautiful soft, French-style loaf of bread will be baked to accompany this luxurious dish.

Deck the halls (and your cookies) in this festive holiday class! We’ll be decorating sweet shapes straight from Santa’s kitchen—think aprons, oven mitts, a cold glass of milk, and trays of fresh-baked cookies. It’s the ultimate holiday bake-off, no oven required!

Banh mi is Vietnam’s iconic sandwich, a delicious fusion of French and Vietnamese culinary traditions. Crisp baguettes are filled with savory meats, fresh and pickled vegetables, herbs, bold spreads, and seasonings to create a sandwich that is both vibrant and satisfying. In this cook-along adventure, you’ll learn to craft banh mi from the ground up—baking bakery-quality baguettes, marinating and cooking char siu chicken, quick-pickling colorful vegetables, and mixing a zesty mayo spread before assembling everything into a flavor-packed creation. Prefer to keep it simple? Bring your favorite bakery baguettes and focus on the fillings and assembly. Either way you’ll leave inspired and ready to recreate gourmet bahn mi at home.

The word “Mezze” refers to what we all know as finger foods and dips. Many Mediterranean meals consist of a variety of “mezze” items that come together creating the most wonderful flavors, tastes and textures. Learn how to bring warmth, color, and the flavors of the Mediterranean to your fall and winter gatherings with this festive Mediterranean mezze cook-along class where Chef Tess (a descendant of Spartans) will guide you through creating a stunning mezze-style charcuterie board, perfect for sharing or seasonal entertaining any time of year. The mezze-style charcuterie board will include four delicious scratch-made dips, warm-spiced, bright Greek meatballs, and handmade pita bread. Mezze boards / platters will be rounded out with an array of fresh and pickled vegetables, olives, fruit and nuts for a vibrant crowd—pleasing spread! The board, platter, or table becomes the canvas upon which we create an edible work of art! Cook-Along mezze items: Silky whipped feta & tzatziki dips, Greek Meatballs, homemade pita bread Mezze items to be demonstrated: Muhamarra (a smoky red pepper dip), Greek hummus and time permitting, some crispy, Greek sesame bread sticks. The demonstration will also include how to build the board balancing the colors, textures and flavors, and how to build interest and visual appeal with using height and practical items found in every kitchen.

Kimbap is Korea’s answer to the perfect rice roll—similar in shape to sushi, yet uniquely its own with savory cooked fillings that create distinctive flavors and textures. Join Tess for this, fun filled cook-along adventure and explore the art of making Bulgogi Kimbap rolls from start to finsh, rivaling any you will find in a restaurant. From seasoning the rice, to marinating and cooking Bulgogi, preparing colorful vegetables (including a quick pickle), and crafting a delicate omelet you’ll bringing everything together into beautiful hand-rolled Kimbap.

In this fun, interactive cook-along experience, Tess will guide you through the process of making a variety of California rolls that just might have you wondering why you have never tired making them yourself before! California roll combinations are only limited by your imagination! Make them vegetarian or with seafood, with or without seaweed, spicy or mild—it’s all up to you and your creativity. Learn the essentials of preparing seasoned sushi rice, whipping up flavorful spicy mayo, and wrapping, rolling, and shaping your sushi with a range of tasty fillings including a crab salad we will be making with crabsticks. To top it all off, Tess will share simple yet impressive plating and presentation ideas to make your rolls look as good as they taste.

Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with a sweet culinary adventure across Europe! You will learn to create two beloved classic desserts: a dreamy, velvety Italian Tiramisu (using Tess’ unique signature no-raw-egg-method), and authentic Dutch Stroopwafles prepared completely by hand during this NEW real-time cook-along experience. Together we will mix the dough, make the gooey stroop filling, cook them in a special waffle iron and assemble them with an optional heart shaped twist.

Have some fun participating in this cook-along experience as you learn how to make your own homemade Classic Pierogi, and wonderful Sweet Berry Pierogi with 2 types of homemade dough and filling that will make your taste buds dance for joy. We will also be learning how to cook, and freeze these little dumplings that you can make ahead and store for a rainy day. No fancy equipment needed. This class has been so popular; it has even been featured in the American Polish Journal.

Have some fun participating in this cook-along experience as you learn how to make your own homemade Classic Pierogi, and wonderful Sweet Berry Pierogi with 2 types of homemade dough and filling that will make your taste buds dance for joy! We will also be learning how to cook, and freeze these little dumplings that you can make ahead and store for a rainy day. No fancy equipment needed. This class has been so popular; it has even been featured in the American Polish Journal!

No need to look any further for restaurant quality Dim Sum than your own kitchen. Dim Sum is a joyful Chinese dining tradition of sharing a variety of small flavorful bites, laughter, and connection with family and friends. One of the most beloved Dim Sum Dishes is Pot Stickers. Join Tess for one of her most popular classes as she guides you through the step-by-step process of creating the most wonderful restaurant worthy pot stickers with homemade wrappers that will take you to culinary heights you never knew you could reach. You will learn the magic of building a full-flavored filling (choose base of pork or chicken), roll out tender homemade wrappers, assemble and cook the pot stickers to perfection with a crispy bottom and tender juicy filling. A bright flavorful sauce will complete the experience.

Dim Sum is more than a meal—it’s a joyful Chinese dining tradition of sharing a variety of small flavorful bites. One most popular option of any dim sum meal is wontons. During this cook-along experience you will discover the art of creating restaurant quality wontons. A full-flavored chicken based filling with fresh vegetables and aromatic Asian ingredients will be created. Then two different filling / folding techniques using convenient store bought wrappers will be explored. We will then cook up these light fluttery bites of deliciousness two different ways, and explore two different serving options including a wonderful quick wonton soup! Serving, freezing and reheating tips will also be shared. No fancy equipment required.

Bring the vibrant flavors of Jamaica into your kitchen and experience the warmth of the Caribbean. During this cook-along experience you will learn to make a classic Jamaican hand pie (known as a meat patty) from the golden flaky pastry to the savory spiced meat-filling full of Island-Inspired flavor. You will also learn how to customize the seasoning and heat level to your taste. Tess will guide you through the process step-by-step. The best tricks for freezing and reheating will also be shared so you can enjoy these hand pies anytime.

What makes a Focaccia a Focaccia, a Stromboli a Stromboli, and a Calzone a Calzone? How are they different? How are they the same? Discover the delicious answers to these questions as we explore the world of unique rolled & stuffed pizzas, marvelous focaccia bread, and an out-of-this-world pizza sauce made from the instructor’s own personal recipes. Using two different types of homemade dough—one crafted for pizzas and the other for the focaccia, you’ll learn how to crate these Italian –inspired favorites step-by-step with confidence and easy. Participants are welcome to make them all or simply pick and choose their favorites to cook-along with, personalizing each creation with toppings and fillings of their choice.

Join us as we cook together and make traditional fry bread tacos. Top this tasty bread with hamburger and your favorites such as lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, and more.

Gather the whole family and join in the fun Baking and Building your very own show-stopping gingerbread house from scratch during this festive Family Bake-along experience. Together, we will combine the wonderful flavors of gingerbread and use the dough to create the pieces that will be used to “build” breathtaking houses. We will also whip up the perfect batch of stiff Royal Icing—the edible “glue” that holds everything together and is used to decorate the houses with candies and delicious treats.

Bring big flavor and fun to game night, or any night, while celebrating the art of scratch baking with soft, bakery style submarine rolls and pillowy Hawaiian rolls that outshine anything found in stores. Once the doughs are perfected, shaped and baked, the sub rolls will be transformed into irresistible submarine sandwiches layered with bold spreads, zesty vinaigrette, and fresh fixings, while the Hawaiian rolls are turned into golden sliders, filled with savory, melty goodness and brushed with buttery garlic glaze. You’ll even learn how to adjust the sweetness of your Hawaiian rolls to match your personal taste. This will be an engaging, interactive cook-along experience that blends hands-on techniques with unforgettable flavor—ideal for game-day spreads or year round crowd-pleasing family favorites