Hi, readers! This is Paloma writing to you all again. If you don’t know me, I am Melissa’s social media coordinator. I help Melissa run the backend logistics of Home With A Twist. I’m excited to share my experience with you of when I attended Mrs. Twist’s School of Gracious Living and took Melissa’s cooking class!
Have you ever taken a cooking class? This was my first time, but I can say it was such a great experience and I learned a ton of new information along the way. There was a group of six attendees in the class which was hosted by Melissa in her beautiful home. It was BYOB, so we (students) started pouring drinks for each other upon arrival and introducing ourselves to those whom we hadn’t met. Soon after we all had a drink, Melissa invited us to sit in her formal living room to learn what the night ahead would entail.
As we sat, Melissa explained the night’s schedule to us: we’d break into partners and each prepare a different recipe. After each recipe was ready, then we would sit together, taste the food we prepared and enjoy each other’s company. Each group got their own workstation, tools, and ingredients for the recipe we were assigned. Sitting in the living room together was a great way to get closer with everyone in the class, which made it even more fun to sit down together after cooking and share a meal with new friends. We broke off into our groups and started cooking in Melissa’s beautiful kitchen. The theme for the night was ‘Homemade Appetizers.’ The menu included strawberry goat cheese crostini, fresh lemon hummus, and crispy cheddar cheese bites.
Top Left: Lemon Hummus Bottom Left: Strawberry, Mint, Goat Cheese Crostini Right: Crispy Cheddar Bites
As each group made progress through their assigned recipe, Melissa walked around to assist and show special tricks in each recipe. For example, she demonstrated the proper way to zest and juice a lemon and the proper way (and difference) to measure wet and dry ingredients. Melissa showed us a few of her kitchen tools she uses to execute chef-quality cooking, like a strawberry huller. Another pro-tip we got is that if a recipe calls for shredded cheese, it’s better to buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself. Not only is it the cheaper option, but it makes for a better-melted cheese since pre-grated cheese has a coating to keep it from clumping in the bag.
The best part of the evening came last when we all sat down together to taste the creations we made. There was plenty to go around and we even got to bring home a doggy bag of leftovers. It was lovely to spend a warm summer evening meeting new friends and learning new recipes and kitchen skills. If you ever get the chance to take a cooking class hosted by Melissa, I would absolutely recommend it! This was such a special experience because it was hands-on, informative and I made new friends along the way. It would be great to get a small group of friends together and attend all at once, or even just bring your date and an open mind to make new friends.
If you’re interested in hearing more about the classes Melissa offers, be sure to follow @HomeWithATwist on Instagram and Facebook. If you want to get on the waitlist for the next cooking class, be sure to send an Instagram Direct Message to Melissa and let her know!
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Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
