shop.prep.cook #3 with The Soanka's

The experience
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with The Soanka's: Derek, Christie, and Baby Olivia for a shop.prep.cook session. I've had the pleasure of visiting their home and helping them with meals three times now. Since they've been in and out of town the past few weeks they've been eating on the go and were eager to have me back in the kitchen.

Derek requested more fresh salsa (which Baby Olivia helped make), peanut sauce, and Simple Slaw. Christie wanted more Simple Slaw and fresh salsa too (we made her own batch because she likes it mild), and she wanted to use up the abundance of squash from their garden.

Their food, their way right in the comfort of their home!

Christie grocery shopping with me guiding her

Baby Olivia helping me make the Fresh Salsa -- Young Chef in training

The Soanka's personalized menu:
- Teriyaki & Peanut Sauce -Cucumber Sauce -Fresh Salsa
-Baked Tortilla Chips - Simple Slaw
-Sautéed Squash and Tomatoes -Stuffed Squash
-Teriyaki Chicken Kebabs -Lemon Rosemary Chicken -Grilled Herbed Butter Lobster Tails

Fresh salsa

Prep work

Squash and tomatoes ready for sautéing

Stuffed Squash

After all the prepping and cooking we needed a food break.
So impromptu we paired the cucumber sauce with Naan, garden fresh tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, andFeta Cheese for a Mediterranean experience.  Local blueberries added a taste 

of sweetness.

Derek joined us but he opted for a taste of Stuffed Squash

After our break...

Grill time

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I've been here, there, and everywhere in the community teaching cooking classes and delivering healthy lifestyle presentations. Now, I want to bring my passion for food and cooking right to you in your home. shop.prep.cook is a more personal experience. The way I see it, this is your food, you should have it your way. Having it your way means being involved in the entire process from meal planning to cooking. What I've learned is most people may want to cook at home but their busy lifestyles make it challenging, some are looking for new ideas, and others may just not know where to start. No matter where you are I want to help. I'm full of ideas and passion for home cooked food. 


shop.prep.cook

shop.prep.cook with The Soanka's

I've been here, there, and everywhere in the community teaching cooking classes and delivering healthy lifestyle presentations. Now, I want to bring my passion for food and cooking right to you in your home. shop.prep.cook is a more personal experience. The way I see it, this is your food, you should have it your way. Having it your way means being involved in the entire process from meal planning to cooking. What I've learned is most people may want to cook at home but their busy lifestyles make it challenging, some are looking for new ideas, and others may just not know where to start. No matter where you are I want to help. I'm full of ideas and passion for home cooked food. 

About The Soanka's
As new parents and thriving personal trainers Derek and Christie Soanka were in a need of a little help. As personal trainers there job is health and wellness, but with their busy schedules sometimes they just don't have the time to prepare home cooked meals. I admire them for not being afraid to seek help and am honored to be the one to help them. They've also bought a few copies of my cookbook to give to some of their clients. They realize how important nutrition is in helping their clients meet and maintain their goals.
 
The experience
It was my great pleasure spending Sunday afternoon with Derek, Christie, and baby Olivia in their home.

After our consultation they decided to do their own grocery shopping with a customized grocery list that I provided. When I arrived at their home the counter tops were a sea of color thanks to the fresh produce.

After giving one my spiels about cooking and timing the meal.  Christie and I got to work prepping and cooking. Derek was nearby in their home office cracking jokes and baby Olivia was napping.

Christie admits she's not much of a cook but with me by her side was eager to learn. Her first task, boil water. Hey, you have to start with small steps.

With me coaching her Christie made the No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Bars, Hummus, and Baked Sweet Potato Fries.

Olivia awoke from her nap so she joined in on the delicious, fun! I fed her, her first potato. She liked.

After a while Olivia wanted mama so Derek took over in the kitchen. Watch out!  I started him off by chopping the slaw and he helped make the peanut sauce. He loved the peanut sauce he said, "It's legit."

We spent the afternoon prepping, chatting, laughing, cooking and creating magic, food magic. Christie and Derek done a great job in the kitchen and can feel proud of the meals they prepared.  This week they'll have an array of home cooked tasty dishes they can reheat with ease -- Outside of the Box!

The Soanka's personalized menu:

Classics: Macaroni & Cheese

Dips & Sauces: Hummus, Peanut Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce

Snacks: Kale chips, Sweet Potato Fries, Crudités (raw vegetables)

Salads: Green Bean & Potato Salad, Black Bean Confetti Salad, Simple Slaw

Meat: Sautéed Chicken

Taste Testing Fun!

  

The Spread

shop.prep.cook

The Jensen's: Outside of the Box

Jennifer admittedly can't cook. It's not that she doesn't have a desire to cook. But her parents didn't cook and so she never learned.

As an adult and now a mother of three, Jennifer realizes the importance of home cooked meals. She doesn't want her children to grow up eating restaurant fare and boxed, processed food. She wants to  feed her kids, her husband, and herself real food. She wants to pass down loving food memories from the comfort of their kitchen at home.

So rather than sit on the sidelines. Jennifer decided to take control and she's involving the entire family: Josh her husband and her beautiful kids, David, Bella, and Sarah. She discovered the free cooking classes offered at Chuck's Produce & Street Market and decided to give the classes a try.

I had the pleasure of having them for their first ever cooking class a couple of Sunday's ago. What a delight it was to have them.  The kids added real spunk to the class. Bella is the cook of the the family and she was just too cute. After class they hung out a little longer than most of the crowd.  They purchased a copy of my cookbook, we chatted, took photos and away they went. Or so I thought...They showed up again this past Friday for my Soup & Sandwich class. It was such a surprise to see them all because this class was during the mid-day. Typically the kids would have been at school, but they so happened to have a half-day. They could have been anywhere, but they were spending their afternoon with me. Learning how to cook. Heavy, heavy sigh. The pure joy of what I do!

I barely know Jennifer, but I am very proud of her for stepping OUTSIDE of the Box, taking control of her family's health, and ultimately passing down the art of cooking to her children. I'm confident that you'll be whipping up meals at home in no time, Jennifer.

The Jensen's are OFFICIALLY Outside of the Box!