Cooking w/ Amanda

Bill's dad and step-mom Kathy gifted me a cooking lesson last Christmas and I finally used it this past weekend. Despite the rain, Chef Amanda showed up at our house at 12pm and we cooked until 4pm. Chef Amanda started her cooking career in Manhattan and also is an expert in vegetarian and macrobiotic menus. Read more about Chef Amanda here.

Each private lesson includes 4-5 dishes and I chose all entrees. Since I didn't grow up eating a lot of meat, I also lack any real knowledge of prepping or cooking it. Here's what I learned to cook:

Saffron Mussel and Lobster Chowder
Pork Tenderloin with Cognac-Mustard Sauce
Striped Bass or Snapper en Papillote with Fennel and Shallots
Beef Medallions with Caramelized Onions

The pork tenderloin turned out the best and the chowder was a close second... although I picked it thinking it was lobster bisque. I also learned to cook a live lobster and flambé with cognac. I'm happy to report that I still have my eyebrows! It was a great experience and I'm definitely thinking about taking some of her other group cooking classes.