Area residents enjoy a 'Taste of Home'

The "Taste of Home" Cooking School was the place to be Thursday for those interested in expanding their culinary knowledge or just getting out to have some fun.

The annual cooking school, held by The Weirton Daily Times and Herald-Star, was held Thursday at the Serbian American Cultural Center on Colliers Way in Weirton.

This year's event was sponsored by the Weirton Shop 'n Save, Hancock County Savings Bank, M&M True Value Hardware, Frank and Jerry's Furniture and Appliances and First Class Tour Club.

People were lining up outside the center more than an hour before doors opened, hoping to be among the first to browse through the vendors and claim their seats for the program.

"It was a great turnout," Maggie McGinnis, inside sales manager for the newspapers, said.

The "Fresh Pick Favorites" program included 10 recipes prepared by Culinary Specialist Cheryl Cohen.

Among the dishes put together by Cohen and four local volunteers for the audience were a mushroom clafouti, freezer berry jam, sour cream blueberry muffins, a maple sausage breakfast casserole, an orange chocolate tart and angel hair with chicken and artichokes.

"Everything is quick and easy," Cohen said.

Cohen, from Dover, Ohio, conducts approximately 40 cooking schools each year, traveling to communities in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

She offered a variety of tips for the crowd, such as the brighter color in fruits and vegetables, the more nutrients are included, the need to preheat the oven when working with puff pastry, and suggesting to always crack an egg on a level surface.

"I try all of these recipes at home," Cohen said, adding the recipe for Gram's Chicken Pot Pie Updated was her husband's favorite.

All of the recipes were found in the "Taste of Home Cooking School Brand-Name Cookbook" each attendee received as part of their goody bags; provided by M&M Hardware.

The appliances used during the demonstration were donated by Frank and Jerry's and all the food was provided by Shop 'n Save.

Prior to the start of the demonstrations, those in attendance could walk through the center's Garden Room, browsing the more than two dozen vendors displaying their product, with everything from groceries and sweets to cooking utensils to jewelry and cosmetics.

Vendor displays included Gallo Wines, Weirton Shop 'n Save, Nana's Sweet Treats, First Class Tour Club, Mary Bizzarri Purses, Schrickel Chiropractic, Mary Kay - Cheryl Clarke, Gold River Canyon, Thera-Jewel, EZ Care, Dolce Pizzelles Cookie Co. - Debbie Latynski, Sweet Shop Unlimited, Theresa DeCaria, Premire Design, HH Artworks, TLC Fashions, Ighnat Chocolate Catering, Silpada Designs Jewelry - Donn Cipriani, Avon - Vikkie Garan and Roseann Finney, Beauti Control, A Little Bit Of This A Little Bit Of That, Pampered Chef, L'Ru Jewelers, Silpada Designs - Mary Lou Jones, Ava & E's, and Debra Lawton.

Attendees had the opportunity to win dozens of door prizes, including bags of groceries provided by Shop 'n Save, gift certificates to local businesses, a trip to Daytona Beach provided by First Class Tour Club and a 10-piece Emeril Lagasse cookware set provided by Hancock County Savings Bank.

"It was a really nice night," McGinnis said. "We can't wait for next year."

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)