Experience the art of old-time retro cooking in a

1940s East Asheville log cabin.

You’ll think you’re in granny’s kitchen as you tie on a vintage feed-sack apron and bake up pies, biscuits, our garden veggies, and more using retro kitchen gadgets, mixers, bowls, and a 1928 Home Comfort wood cookstove. Recipes are heirloom, and ingredients are seasonal, local, and organic when possible. All classes hands-on and include recipes and take-home food or in-class feast. Beginning and experienced cooks welcome. Cost includes materials fee. Class size limited to 8.

Vegetarian substitutions available for all classes.

To Register for classes, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call Barbara Swell at 828 298-2270

---

 

Summer Fruit PIE!!!            Sunday, August 15 1-4pm $45

Well… first we’ll make the fabulous flaky butter crust that you’ve always dreamed of crafting, and then we’ll fill it with sweet late summer peaches, red raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. For those of you who are adventurous, how about bittersweet chocolate blackberry (what we call the “oh mama pie” and another name I can’t mention here) or maybe a raspberry frangipan (almond paste) pie. We’ll sample our wares in class and you’ll take some home to share as well

Aunt Barb's Tuesday Night Supper Club

First Tuesday of each month 6:00-9:00      $10 

• Sept. 14   Apples & pears, in appetizer, salad, meat (or veg. main dish), and dessert
• Oct. 5      Cooking with fall harvest vegetables (winter squash, kale, root veggies, nuts)
• Nov. 2     PIE! ....pumpkin, pecan, and lemon cake-pie
• Dec. 7      Hosting a holiday party

 If you're somewhere between 21 and 30-ish, and don't have a grandmother, aunt, or parent within range to show you the ropes in the kitchen, don't fret. Aunt Barb and her other fake aunt & uncle friends will fix you right up. For a minimal fee to cover costs, we'll learn basic skills like when to measure and when to eyeball, how to select and use various small kitchen appliances, gizmos and cookware, How to enhance flavors with spices and herbs, strategies for shopping at local farm markets and grocery stores. And most especially, you'll learn, elbow to elbow, how to prepare easy and affordable healthy foods from scratch from fun and engaging women & men who are darn good cooks. We'll make appetizers, soups, quick and yeast breads, pizza, beguiling salads, seasonal main dishes, veggie sides, desserts and even party foods. Requests are welcome. You'll need to bring a recipe scrapbook with you because real aunts take the time to sit down with you as you write out their recipes.

The structure is informal,  we'll plop whatever's in season on the counter and turn it into dinner and then eat it. Participants are welcome to bring wine or other beverages to share. After dinner, we'll all clean up ... why, it's just like home!

If you are, or know of a fake aunt or uncle  who would like to volunteer to teach or host an occasional supper club session, please let me know.

Class size is limited to 8 each week. The deadline for registration is one week prior to a given class. We'll need a check or credit card number to hold your place. You can sign up for one or more classes at a time. To begin, we'll meet the first Tuesday of each month (unless it's a holiday!). If you'd like to start your own supper club, then contact me for a list of fake aunts and uncles that are happy to share their expertise in the kitchen.

(ps  I've chosen the 20-30's age range because I find that this generation was often raised with prepared/fast/take-out foods and they'd like to learn to cook with fresh ingredients....but are in the stage of their lives where paying for traditional cooking classes is just too pricey. If you're over 40, and are interested, then I'll provide you with tips to start your own supper club.)

To register for classes or to receive notice of future classes, contact Barbara Swell by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (828) 298-2270.  (This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  We never give out your email address or other info to anyone!)

Ask us about private group classes for friends, family, or co-workers. We can accommodate from 6 to 12 per group. Cost for private class is $200 plus cost of ingredients for up to 6. An additional $35 for each person over 6.

Other Cooking Classes in the Asheville Area

I'm just one of many offering cooking classes in the Asheville area, be sure to check out the following terrific classes as well (I know they're terrific because I've taken classes with all these folks):

Swannanoa School of Culinary Arts this summer right in your own back yard at Warren Wilson

John C. Campbell Folk School has cooking classes and more all year long

Slow Food Asheville has monthly events you won't want to miss, check the events link

Italian Cooking Classes with Wally Maria Mazzucco Wyatt

Thai Cooking Classes in your home or hers with Kade Espy

Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Robbinsville NC

Vegetarian, Raw foods with Lenore Baum

About Barbara Swell

Barbara Swell has written eight historic cookbooks including Log Cabin Cooking, The Lost Art of Pie Making, and The First American Cookie Lady. See Native Ground (click on Kitchen & Home) She teaches cooking classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Swannanoa School of Culinary Arts, and elsewhere, and is on the Slow Food Asheville Board. An overenthusiastic organic gardener, you'll most often find her rooting in the dirt.

Directions: Log Cabin Cooking & Music is located at 111 Bell Road, just off off New Haw Creek Road in the Haw Creek section of East Asheville. From Highway 240 in Asheville, take exit #7. From 240 going East, turn left at the light. From 240 going West, turn right at the light. Now you're on Tunnel Road going east. At the very first light, turn left and then take a sudden right on New Haw Creek Road. Go about 1 ½ miles. On your right you’ll see a baseball field. Turn right at the beginning of the ball field on Bell Road. Pass Evergreen Charter School on your left. You’ll see a new development on your right, (Ozark Springs Road) and then our big garden on the right. At the end of the garden, you’ll see two big black mailboxes that say 111 and 109. Turn right there. As you come up the driveway, the cabin will be on your left. You can park either in front of in back of the cabin.

For more information, call (828) 298-2270 or (828) 299-7031

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it