It was the ultimate cooking demonstration and the atmosphere was festive. There were occasional surprises and an abundance of great food. One of the 700 attendees won a magnificent recliner. Others won bags of groceries, cooking items, cookbooks, hair care products, gift certificates and more. Tuesday night’s Taste of Home Cooking School was all about good food, classic cooking and having fun in the kitchen.

Culinary specialist Michelle Roberts, who travels to more than 250 communities coast to coast, said, “I always enjoy coming to Orangeburg for the Taste of Home Cooking School.

“The audience is very receptive, the sponsors are supportive and the cooking assistants are well-organized. Carla Hall and Missy Hutto of the Times and Democrat have everything exactly in place and ready to go when I arrive.”

While the doors to the Cinema Rooms at the Orangeburg Mall did not open to the public until 5 p.m., people began camping out in the parking lot as early as 3 p.m. Many were hoping to get a head start on shopping and food sampling with area vendors in the Carolina Room, and a front-row seat in the Palmetto Room for the cooking demonstration.

Deborah Llaro of Hanahan said, “I brought my mother-in-law, Vilma Llaro of Trijillo, Peru to the cooking school tonight to enjoy the delicious Southern foods and shop for unique gifts. I enjoy the cooking school because it offers food preparation tips, shortcuts and lots of new and exciting recipes. I always learn something new at the Taste of Home Cooking School events.”

When Wendy Braxton opened the free goodie bag she received at the door, she was pleasantly surprised to find a voucher for one of the best seats in the house, compliments of North Furniture Company. Ten lucky people were given the opportunity to occupy front-row seats in cozy recliners, and a chance to take a chair home with them after the show.

Braxton was overjoyed when emcee Greg Carson announced her name as the grand prize winner.

“This is overwhelming,” Braxton said, “I never expected to win such a nice prize.”

During the 2-1/2 hour program, Roberts introduced sensational desserts, international favorites and brunch recipes. While Roberts prepared the delectable dishes on stage with food items from Reid’s, the audience followed along and made special notations in their Taste of Home Cooking School Magazine.

“When chopping garlic,” Roberts told the audience, “you will get the smell on your hands. But rub your hands on stainless steel, such as a faucet, and the garlicky odor will disappear. And when a recipe lists crumbled or grated cheese, purchase a bar of cheese and grate it yourself for added flavor and freshness.”

Roberts prepared dishes such as Chocolate-Strawberry Bombe, Ham and Asparagus Puff Pancake, Spanish-style Paella and Gyro Salad with Tzatziki Dressing on modern appliances supplied by Stroman Appliance Center. The 11 elegant, tasty dishes were awarded as door prizes at the end of the program.

A number of teenage and pre-teen cooks were in attendance at the Taste of Home Cooking School. Eleven-year-old Casey Jenkins, a student at Felton Laboratory School, attended the event to learn how to prepare main dishes as well as the desserts she loves to make.

Lewis Davis of Pine Hill, a 15-year-old student at Orangeburg Preparatory School, accompanied his grandmother, Francis Davis, at the cooking event. Lewis won a basket filled with Apple-Berry Pomegranate Freezer Jam, one of the dishes prepared by Roberts on stage.

Davis said, “I am growing up in a family of good cooks. My mother, Mary Jane, my grandma, my aunt Bonnie and aunt Re are sources of inspiration for me. Their meals are always delicious. The men in my family are noted for their backyard barbecues.

“I’d like to be recognized as a good cook also, and this cooking school will help boost my confidence in the kitchen.”

Richard and Linda Barfield of North own a catering business and were among the many couples attending the cooking extravaganza. Richard said he is always looking for new dishes to add to his menu and recipes featured in Taste of Home Cooking Magazine are often included.

Richard said, “This cooking school is an awesome event and Roberts keeps the program upbeat. The Times and Democrat, the local sponsors such as Reid’s, Stroman Appliance, North Furniture Company and Bill Wise Printers are to be commended for their contributions. The national sponsors – Ball, Domino, Egg-Land’s Best, McCormick & Company Inc. and Taste of Home Entertaining – and the outstanding vendors and prize donors also helped make it a success. There is nothing like the Taste of Home Cooking School in Orangeburg County. I enjoyed it immensely.”

There really was something for every taste at the Taste Of Home Cooking School. There were cold drinks by Coca Cola and Orangeburg’s DPU provided bottled water.

The participating vendors – Taste of Home Entertaining, Bombadil’s Garden & Gifts, Black River Marine, Mary Nell’s, Main Street Garden & Gifts, Gifts And Things, Mimi’s, and Jaqui’s Garden and Gift’s – offered items such as exotic and herbal plant baskets, specially formulated skin care products, hand painted platters, vegetable dip and drink mixes, fine chocolates, monogrammed pitchers and glasses, fillet knives and gas cookers, beach shoes, kitchen utensils, hearty vegetable plants and more.

Long lines of excited people formed at the food booths to sample clux delux chicken sandwiches, pizza, red velvet cake, chocolate-dipped strawberries, shrimp and grits, chicken and shrimp salad, bread pudding and other delectable dishes.

A latecomer gently pushed me aside and asked, “Where is that shrimp and grits and bread pudding my daughter telephoned me about?”

The lady came too late to sample, but I mentioned Buckridge Plantation, The Parish House Restaurant & Tea Room in Eutawville, Papa John’s Pizza, Edie’s Bakery and Reid’s Grocery.

If you missed the Taste of Home Cooking School and haven’t signed up for a magazine subscription, visit them online at www.TasteofHome.com/free issue or call toll free at 800-334-6913 to receive a complimentary magazine. Mention code MHBO6T when you call.

As the aroma of Basil & Garlic Chicken Marsala with Orzo pleasantly wafted through the auditorium, Don James of Orangeburg told this reporter, “The Taste of Home Cooking School is very interesting and makes me hungry for home cooking.”

Times and Democrat Staff Writer Sonja Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at sgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.