Cooking 101

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Secret Ingredient – Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear

“It’s what’s on the inside that matters.” Your mother may have been teaching you not to judge other people by the way they look, but she might just as well have been teaching you about the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. More

Did You Know...

Drinking prickly pear juice is said to have a preventative measure against hangovers.

Question of the Day

Q: How long will dried blueberries keep?
A. Dried blueberries, stored in an airtight plastic bag or glass jar, will keep for months. Their seasonal abundance makes this the perfect time to set some aside for a cool autumn day. To dry, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and put them in a sunny spot for four or five days. You can also bake them at 150°F for four or five hours. You can enjoy dried berries as a snack or since they plump up when added to any liquid, use them in your favorite blueberry recipes year around.

Culinary How-To Videos

Culinary Classes

September 2 – Executive Chef Terry Conlan from the Lake Austin Spa and Resort takes the Fiesta Culinary School on a jouney to the “Crustacean Station”. This delicious respite includes Crawfish Salad with Fried Green Tomato and Green Jalapeño Gastrique, Shrimp Scampi with Roasted Garlic and Lemon Beurre Blanc, Pork Tenderloin “Oscar” with King Crab and Low Fat Hollandaise, and concludes with a Blackberry Mousse. Reserve your seat today!

September 9 – Get ready to take a trip to the islands with Jacqui Tyson Neiderhauser, a dynamic culinary instructor and developer of authentic Caribbean cuisine. She will show you how to bring a new twist to Caribbean “Yard Style” cooking with gourmet flair. Come learn how to prepare Scalloped Breadfruit, Stuffed Fish Fillets, Roast Pork and Cabbage & Bacon Salad. Register now for this FREE CLASS sponsored by Sunburst Trading Company. This class is now SOLD OUT!

September 30 – Fiesta Culinary School welcomes back Executive Chef Jesus Lumbreras-Calvo to prepare a “Spanish Early Fall Dinner”. Enjoy a harvest of dishes including Ham Terrine in Fresh Tomato and Tarragon Sauce, Chicken with Piquillo Pepper Gazpacho Sauce, Zucchini and Tomato Gratin Balearic-Style, and Chocolate Sherry Chiffon with Citrus Cloud Topping. Register now before this class fills up! Reserve your seat today!

October 14 – Chef Natasha Treú indulges the class with small plates inspired by world cuisine. Join Fiesta Culinary for a Tapas Party starting with the cool taste of Margheritas with Fresh Texas Basil and Tuna Tartare. Proceed to haute bites including Crostinis veiled in Fine Spanish Iberian Ham and Lamb a un Caffé Garnished with Fine Chocolate Shavings. Then finish with a sweet surrender to Poached Pear Stuffed with Honey Whipped Mascarpone. Reserve your seat today!

October 21 – Join Suneeta Vaswani, an expert on Indian cuisine, in creating a meal to share during Diwali this November. This Indian festival celebrates the harvest and enjoying what life has to offer with friends and family. Includes dishes such as Rogan Josh with Lamb Simmered in Ginger, Spicy Indian Cheese Toast with Cilantro and Mustard and Cauliflower with Ginger and Cumin—all served with Perfect Steamed Rice. Reserve your seat today!