An article in today’s Charlotte Observer reveals the topics Food University Star Instructor Curtis Aikens will cover when he hosts a free cooking demonstration at the IKEA in Charlotte on Saturday.  It’s the second to the last stop on the Food University cooking tour, presented by Family Circle, and you will not want to miss this rare opportunity!  Click here to read the Charlotte Observer article previewing this event.  We hope to see you at the IKEA on 8300 IKEA Boulevard, Charlotte, NC  from 2 – 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.

The overflowing crowd at yesterday’s Food University event at the IKEA in Conshohocken, PA laughed and learned as Food University Star Instructors Mary Ann Esposito and Marc Silverstein demonstrated how to cook Italian dishes.  Mary Ann, who has the longest running cooking show on television, loves to share Italian recipes.  The crowd ate up the camaraderie between Mary Ann and Marc as the hosts shared stories that kept the audience engaged.  Mary Ann informed the crowd of the origin of pesto.  The word derives from the traditional method of preparing pesto; with a mortar and pestle.  The pesto sauce recipe and instructions are posted below.

There are two more Food University cooking demonstrations, presented by Family Circle, left on the schedule.  Curtis Aikens will be at the IKEA in Charlotte, NC on April 30 and Mary Ann will be at the IKEA in Schaumburg, Il on May 7.

PESTO SAUCE

INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups packed basil leaves, rinsed
• 2 large cloves garlic, peeled
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts
• 1/2, cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

Process basil, garlic and pine nuts in a work bowl of a food processor until finely chopped.  With a processor running, slowly add oil through top of processor. Process for one minute until smooth. Remove to non-reactive storage container and stir in Parmesan cheese and salt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Residents of California, we have two very special Food University appearances for you, presented by Family Circle.  Tomorrow, April 2, Star Instructors Caprial & John Pence will be at the IKEA in Covina, CA from 2 – 4 p.m.  They will also be cooking at the IKEA in Costa Mesa, Orange County on Sunday, April 3 from 2 – 4 p.m.  At both appearances, Caprial & John will be cooking in-store and offering tips that will make your life in the kitchen a little bit easier.  Read their biographies here.

Hope to see you this weekend!

The Food U crew continued their cross country tour over the weekend, this time stopping in Austin, Texas. Food U star instructor Claudine Pepin and Arturo Boada, of Arturo’s Uptown Italiano in Houston, were on hand to share some cooking secrets to the “Bat City” faithful. The lively crowd was given a first-hand look at the basics of food including recipes on fun, easy and healthy meals. Special thanks to the IKEA folks who were more than gracious in providing the crowd with complimentary Swedish meatballs and cheese. The Food U crew invades Cincinnati this Saturday, November 13th. Hope to see you there!

Star instructor Curtis Aikens is a hit at Food University events this past weekend in Detroit and Minneapolis. Lucky members of the audience got a close-up look at the quick, easy and healthy recipes Curtis prepared from the Food U menu. In Minneapolis, he presented an easy tomato sauce recipe that can be done in minutes. Curtis wowed the Detroit area crowds at the IKEA store on Saturday. Among the recipes he demonstrated, an easy yet tasty Green Onion Dressing:

INGREDIENTS

1 batch of scallions

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

4 teaspoons Champagne vinegar

1 small garlic clove

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Rinse the scallions, trim the root end, and then roughly chop them. Place all of the ingredients except the oil in a food processor and puree. Then add the Oil in a slow, thin stream with the processor on until it is incorporated. This dressing will go well with most salads but it will especially enliven blander greens like iceberg or Boston lettuce.

Upcoming Live Event Host: Claudine Pepin

Food U’s next stop is Austin, Texas November 6th. Watch the talented Claudine Pepin (shown here with her father and world-renowned chef Jacques Pepin), as she hosts a dazzling cooking showing dedicated to such topics as “Spice It Up with Flavor Enhancers” and “Memorable Entertainment.” For more information, visit our Upcoming Live Events page.

Here’s a quick, easy and healthy recipe we’re proud of. This Three Bean Caprese Salad takes mere minutes to make but tastes like you’ve been working on it all day. If you’re in the Salt Lake City area, and want to lean more about this and many other great recipes, head to IKEA on Saturday, October 16, 2010. Celebrity chefs Caprial and John Pence will be hosting a Food University event from 2-4pm.

THREE BEAN CAPRESE SALAD

INGREDIENTS

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salad:

• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup loosely packed basil
• 1 1/2 pounds of tomatoes, cored and chopped
• 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 can (15 oz.) of red kidney beans drained and rinsed
· 1 can (15 oz.) of small white beans drained and rinsed

DIRECTIONS

Prepare the dressing in a medium bowl. Whisk together vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper.
While whisking, add oil in a thin stream until blended. Set aside. To prepare the salad, heat
a medium sized pot of water to boiling. Add green beans and cook for four minutes or until
crispy or tender, Drain and rinse with cold water. Tear the basil into bite-sized pieces. In a
large bowl, toss the basil, green beans, tomatoes, mozzarella, and kidney and white beans.
Whisk the dressing. and then drizzle over the salad. Toss gently to coat and serve.

Caprial and John Pence will be talking about salt and a whole lot more during their appearance this Saturday, October 16 at the Salt Lake City-area IKEA store. The Food University star instructors will be sharing key kitchen tips from 2-4pm local time. The Draper Journal has all the details about a show you don’t want to miss!

Check out this interview with Food University Exec. Producer Rich Gore and Star Instructor Marc Silverstein. They were on the At Home with Victoria Show, talking this weekend’s live events at the IKEA in Portland, OR on Saturday, October 9 and at the IKEA in Seattle on Sunday, October 10th. And don’t forget, you can watch the Sunday event right here at www.myfoodu.com.

Listen to the show here

Food U star instructor Curtis Aikens shares a dream moment when food changed his life.  It came during a long-ago interview with the legendary Julia Child, who gave Curtis some simple yet vital advice. “With your passion, just cook!” she told him in that memorable voice of hers. Curtis says it’s the same advice he now shares with Food University fans and everyone who enjoys the kitchen.  Watch Curtis share his Food U Food Thoughts:

A few other Food Thoughts worth sharing:

1) Food University teams with IKEA and Family Circle magazine for a live event October 9th at the IKEA in Portland, OR. Join star instructors Caprial and John Pence as they share great tips and fantastic recipes. 2-4pm PT.

2) Looking to enjoy a Food University event, but can’t attend in person? Join us live October 10th right here at www.myfoodu.com for a webcast from IKEA in Seattle–presented by Family Circle. Marc Silverstein hosts as Caprial and John Pence share easy but fantastic recipes and cooking tips starting at 2pm PT, 5pm PT.

Food University is spending quality time in the Pacific Northwest. Just back from Seattle, Food University Executive Producer Rich Gore shares the secrets of Food U’s appearance at the just wrapped Italian Festival–featuring celebrity chefs John and Caprial Pence. Next up: stops in Portland (October 9th) and again in Seattle (October 10) as Food U teams with IKEA and Family Circle to bring home the flavor. (And don’t miss the details of the October 10th webcast from Seattle. You’ll be able to watch it right here at www.myfoodu.com.)