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In advance of this weekend’s Food U shows in the Detroit (Saturday) and Minneapolis (Sunday) areas, here’s a quick, easy and healthy pesto sauce recipe prepared by Food University star instructor Karl Benko.

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.

You can see this and many more recipes and cooking tips as celebrity chef Curtis Aikens hosts Food University events this weekend. On Saturday, join us from 2-4pm at the IKEA at 41640 Ford Rd in Canton, MI near Detroit. On Sunday from 2pm-4pm, we’re at the IKEA at 8000 IKEA Way, Bloomington, MN, near Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Food University star instructors, Caprial and John Pence, demonstrate cooking simple with seasonal ingredients on KPTV in Portland, OR. Watch their appearance here.

The chefs are gearing up for a weekend-long Food University event with IKEA, presented by Family Circle magazine. Join us on October 9th, 2-4pm EST, at the IKEA in Portland as Caprial and John share great cooking tips and delicious recipes!  Watch live here.

Food University does more than just change your outlook on food, it can change your outlook on life. That’s what happened to Karen Jones, founder of “Karen’s Custom Cuisine,” her out-of-home bakery based in Evansville, Indiana. Jones sells her goods at local farmer’s markets, even taking personal orders as well. Her inspiration grew from a Food University program hosted in Chicago, where she spent a weekend immersed in hands-on cooking classes with Food University star instructors Sarah Molton, Mary Ann Esposito, and Martin Yan. After suffering a heart attack, the former Ohio Valley Heart Center CEO came to realize her true life’s calling: cooking – always a beloved hobby, but never a career plan. Jones decided to put her Food U skills to full-time use and shortly after, “Karen’s Custom Cuisine” was born.

See how Food U can change your life too, starting this weekend in Portland, OR and Seattle, WA. Food University, presented by Family Circle Magazine, is teaming up with IKEA to deliver two days of fun-filled cooking instruction and inspiration. The first event will be held at the Portland IKEA on Saturday, October 9, with a second event at the Seattle IKEA on Sunday, October 10. Both will be led by Food University Star Instructors John and Caprial Pence. Can’t make it in person? Tune in to a live broadcast of Sunday’s show right here at 2pm PST/5pm EST. See you there!