Happy Monday everyone! Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend. I was just about to sit down and email my friends about the Cooking Club I am starting up when I thought that perhaps I'd do a quick post about it first and see if any of you have participated in something similar and have any suggestions or advice on things I should consider.
My idea is to get together a group of friends who are all interested in cooking so that we can share recipes and get ideas for new dishes to try. We will actually be tasting the recipes we are sharing but not judging or critiquing or anything, just sharing. Here are my thoughts so far:
- Meet every two months - we are all busy with either work or children and I feel that monthly meet-ups would come around too soon.
- We would alternate the days and times we meet - for example, one month we may meet up for a Friday night dinner, the next catch-up might be a Saturday morning tea.
- Stick to six to eight girls, enough to be able to chat comfortably around a table.
- There would be a 'theme' for each Cooking Club - so far I've listed a salad/dessert one, sweet treats and Christmas goodies. Does anyone have any more suggestions for this?
- Everyone would bring along a dish to share along with enough copies of their recipe for all the girls.
I'm really eager to get my Cooking Club up and running, particularly because I can't wait to have an excuse to decorate the table prettily. I have so many images like the one above saved in my 'Entertaining' inspiration folder and I can't wait to try and recreate something similar.
Have any of you tried a Cooking Club before or do you have any suggestions for me and my friends?
Source of image above unknown
That sounds like a fabulous idea Amanda. Definitely not monthly...have learnt that from book club. Despite the best of intentions it just doesn't happen! Look forward to seeing all the pics and getting lots of good recipes :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic idea Amanda! I haven't tried a cooking club so no advice , sorry xx
ReplyDeleteWow that's a fantastic idea Amanda! I love the sound of that group! What about dishes from a certain country and two people can do entree two main and two dessert so that you've got a whole dinner party menu or something like that.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear more about it and you'll have to share pics from your cooking club on the blog!
Jxx
Kerry - will definitely share any winning recipes with you all :)
ReplyDeleteJanette - I'll be sure to post photos here on my blog x
That is such a great idea mate! You will have so much fun, and the sharing of recipes is fab. I would do one just for cookies and biscuts, a 'winter warmers' theme and maybe one based on party finger food ideas.. I always need new recipes for those!! Have fun with it, I look forward to hearing how it goes. I hope all is going great for you,
ReplyDeleteLove Flick xo
Flick - your ideas are awesome! One of my friends had suggested the finger food idea too - will have to add these to my list.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a group.
ReplyDeleteWill be following your progress with interest
What a wonderful idea! Can't wait to hear how it all goes.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for the sharing of food ideas, and also being able to have designated time with special people doing stuff that you like. I look forward to how it all goes, and what dishes are a hit!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. We have incorporated recipes into our bookclub and it is great. I agree with Kerry, not every month. We meet roughly six weekly and that works well for us. 8 Is also a good number, any more and there are too many to coordinate. If one or two are away, it is still a reasonably sized group. I hope it all pans out and can't wait to hear how it goes. Have fun, Deb.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! We used to do this, but we called it 'celebrity dinners'. Once a month four other couples together with my husband and I would get together and cook a feast with a 'theme'. Indian/American/Japanese. We would invite two other people (different each time) hence the 'celebrities'. It sounds rather cheesy, but we were only in our early 20's so was actually loads of fun. We learnt to cook a lot of new things!!
ReplyDeleteHi amanda, that is such a great idea!! I so wish i was more into cooking! anyway, I think you could also do dishes from other countries.. or cupcakes? would you all go to different homes each time to take turns? or at yours all the time? Sounds like fun!! You could have a blog; the cooking club! a book.. who knows! I wish you lots of luck and fun with it, let us know how it goes!! Laura xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea, Amanda. Good for you. If only we didn't live on other sides of the country. Sigh. I like Janette's idea of using countries as the themes. I can't wait to see what you create. J x
ReplyDeletegrand idea :) maybe a theme of one hour recipes - from go to eat they can only take an hour to do - or 30 mins same idea ... how about colour - a pink food party :) sweet - best le
ReplyDeleteSounds great Amanda. You need a wine expert type as a friend to explain what wine would go with what...
ReplyDeleteWhat about an "easy mid-week dinners" theme? I am always looking for different ideas to inspire me to make healthy and yummy evening meals that aren't too time consuming to prepare after a long day at work.
ReplyDeleteNik
Your ideas sound great. I like the way you've structured the club too. I bet you'll all have a great time, if only I was closer so I could join in too:) I look forward to hearing more about your cooking club soon. xo
ReplyDeletesounds fantastic...cant wait to see what you all come up with..every Sundays we meet up at my mother in-laws house for dinner, we started a while back that every week we have a different meal to bring relating to the theme.so much fun.. you will Love it xx
ReplyDeleteSounds like so much fun! I might have to steal this idea!
ReplyDeleteLovely idea - i was going to suggest a country theme, but you could also do things like brunch ideas, savoury baking, pastry etc and occasional dishes like dish for easter, mothers day etc!
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to see what you come up with
Rachie xo
Cute idea! I love this and it's such a fun way to get the gals together. I would add something savory in there too. Maybe quick snacks/appetizers could be "10 Minute Munchies" or "Savory Snacks"... just to break it up a bit :)
ReplyDeletewhat a fabulous idea!!!!! I wish I lived in Perth still so that I could come!!!
ReplyDeleteJane xx
What a nice idea! I especially like the idea of tasting the dishes. Being a vegetarian might be a hindrance for me, but I'd love the sweet recipes :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea. Make sure you share pictures after every meeting.
ReplyDeletex
oh how cool, wish i could join......i do enjoy cooking, i love the idea of sharing family reciepes that have been in your family for many years, your mother and your mother's mother etc, food that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.....look forward to your posts xx
ReplyDeleteSounds great Amanda! I'm not really much of a cook (meals!) but I love to bake - cakes, slices, cookies etc. Some great suggestions in the other comments - especially the savoury idea. Also I think maybe you could do ideas for events such as Easter, Mother's day etc.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! We actually have a cooking club here in Singapore among the expat wives and it's great fun! It's called United Nations Cooking Club as we are 10+ nationalities. We meet every month and every time we cook from a different nation. Lots of fun and ideas :) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think you are going to have so much fun with this Amanda!! And I think once every two months is a really good time frame, oh and girls only even better, in my experience the boys just drag you to the pub instead : ) I like the theme idea too, you could do a christmas in july, that is something all my friends really look forward too, last year we had a swedish theme, they have some amazing food, jansson's temptation is one of my favourite dishes, so that could be another theme? Likewise tapas? I hope you are having a great week : )
ReplyDeleteOh Amanda, that sounds like such a fabulous idea! I wish I was one of your real life friends, I would love to join a cooking club. I think your ideas are wonderful! Hope I am not repeating a suggestion someone else above may have made, but a good winter theme would be slow cooker meals:) I cannot wait to hear all about your cooking club meetings and see some pics:) Wish we had smell-a-vision or taste-a-vision:D Bon appetit ~ xx
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful idea! Also, I love all the yellow and cheeriness of your blog ;) XO
ReplyDeleteSounds great - now you've got me thinking... ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great idea!!!
Have fun!!!
What a brilliant idea! I'm pretty sure it's going to be a blast! Enjoy the gorgeous day, Kellie xx
ReplyDeleteI like Flick's idea. I always in need of different finger food that is fun for party guests and easy for me to make. Like Janette, oscar and ruby, and Rachie suggested, I was going to suggest the idea of different nationality of food, but this could be a bit challenging to gather ingredients or get good recipes. I also like Nik's idea to make easy mid-week meals.
ReplyDeleteMy friends did a cooking club where the members got together once a week at one of the members' house and made meals together with a new recipe and everyone always brought home dinner for their families. The members basically meet to learn how to cook something together (and the task becomes entertainment) and the family members got to taste it.
I look forward to reading about your cooking club post, Amanda!
Hi Amanda - my friend Emily started a cooking club with friends. She blogs about it here http://www.thefeedlot.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteGood luck - it's an awesome idea
Wow Amanda, what a wonderful idea! And having themed dinners sounds like the perfect way to keep your clubs momentum going. I'd love to do something similar... you might just have inspired me :)
ReplyDeleteSounds fun Amanda! Look forward to seeing what you all come up with :)
ReplyDelete