Let’s talk about things that intimidate me – public speaking, taxes, appearing before certain judges, my BBQ grill…oh, wait, did that last one catch you by surprise? Yep, that’s right, I’ll just come right out and say it – I’m totally and completely intimidated by my grill. And when I say to Erajh, “Maybe we should grill out for dinner tonight,” it means one thing, and one thing only, “Hey honey, it would be great if you could grill some food for us.” Because I don’t grill. I get nervous at the mere thought of turning it on. What if I don’t use the right temperature? Which burners am I supposed to use? How will I know when the food is done? And it doesn’t help that Erajh picked a grill with no less than a zillion options.
But this year I’ve been trying to break out of my shell a little and try some new things, so when our local grocery store announced cooking classes in the area, one of which was a grilling class, I was in. Plus, it would make a nice date night activity. So after securing a sitter, we headed over to our cooking class not knowing what to expect.
Unfortunately, they didn’t start by showing me how to turn the grill on, but I was able to catch up pretty quick. We made 3 main course dishes, 2 side dishes, and a dessert. Yes, a dessert on the grill – how cool is that? Okay, the whole thing wasn’t done on a grill, but the peaches were grilled. I had no idea you could do that. But that was really the tip of the learning iceberg for me. I learned tons more – which types of measuring cups should/shouldn’t be used for baking, easier ways to marinate meats, how to make a quick sauce from marinade, etc. The teachers were so amazingly knowledgeable and entertaining that the night just flew by. By the end of the class we were starving and they finished the class with a dinner (of the things we made) coupled with wine.
It was only as we were walking out that I saw one of the pots that we had used during the class for sale. Erajh and I were contemplating buying one until we saw the price tag — $235! I just about fell over. Who uses one of those? Perhaps I just don’t understand. It may have made perfect rice, but $235? Needless to say we passed on the opportunity to own one, but we will probably be back to use it again for another class. I’m serious when I say that I nearly named this post – “The Night I Cooked in a $235 Pot”.
And now for the Peach Cobbler Recipe, because that was no doubt my favorite part of the whole night. Recipe from Publix Apron Cooking School.
Ingredients for batter:
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
4 ounces cold butter, cubed
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
Ingredients for filling:
8 fresh peaches, halved & cored
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp butter, sliced thin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Batter Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9×9 baking dish.
Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter with hands into the size of large peas. Mix in egg and milk, and pour batter into baking dish.
Filling Preparation:
Preheat grill on high.
Coat peaches with oil and grill for 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from grill and slice 1/4 inch thick. Mix peaches, cornstarch, and sugar in mixing bowl. Slowly pour filling into middle of batter, dot with butter slices and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake 45 minutes or till crust is light brown. Allow time to cool. Top with vanilla ice cream.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I paid for our class (full price!) and received nothing for free. Publix Apron Cooking School has no idea who I am, I just wanted to write about this experience because I had a great time and learned a ton. Everyone should try it if they’re in the Southeast and have a Publix Cooking School nearby.
