A fun day yesterday- I ran a food processor workshop

C

CathyZ

Well-known member
I did what I said I wouldn't do again- teach a class- and found I had a ball. I know so many people who either own food processors and don't use them or that want to buy them but don't know how to start. So- 8 of them came yesterday to see if I could give them some ideas. Thought some of you might enjoy reading about the fun we had.

Our kitchen design is perfect for doing classes so having 8 was no problem. I planned things so I could send each person home with something we made. I wanted to cover the whole spectrum of what the processor can do but not make it intimidating at all.

First we chopped onions and garlic. That went into pizza sauce that bubbled on the stove as we did other things. Then we made pizza dough and put it aside to rise. Next we made banana bread, chopping walnuts and making the batter in the machine. Into the oven it went. Next we sliced and shredded- sliced veggies for the pizza, shredded cheese for the pizza. I also showed them how to shred carrots as one of the ladies asked for it. All eight ladies had a chance to process ingredients as we went along.

Next we made Aioli. None of the ladies had ever tasted homemade mayo so I had eight pairs of wide eyes staring at me in amazement as they tasted this glorious goop.

Next came pesto. Again with the wide eyes as none of them had ever made it before.

I showed them how to make bread crumbs- an easy thing but something a person just doesn't really think about doing.

Then we made Hummos. Most had tasted commercial versions but of course homemade is very different! I made up pita crisps beforehand so they tested the Hummos out on them.

The pizzas were assembled and put in the oven along the way- so when we finished the workshop, they had their own pizzas for lunch. We spent a total of 3 hours and I think several of these ladies are now food processor converts. Everyone went home with pesto, Hummos, pizza, Aioli and a nice loaf of banana bread and my DH helped clean up the mess. A good day.

 
Your class sounds like so much fun and far better than the classes I took in the 70's.

They weren't hands on. I did have a good teacher, though...Anne Greer who was a San Antonio resident at the time. She went on to write several cookbooks, including some for Cuisinart.

 
Cathy, Sounds like fun!! Glad you enjoyed it! SO....Will you do it again? Other themes? Just

Curious...(Well, not really curious. I believe she is in Fla....) Just Barb!

 
CathyZ - I wish I would have been the 9th member of the class!

Sounds delicious, interesting, and lots of fun.

I definitely could have used it a many years back. I was given a beautiful food processor as a wedding gift and never knew how to use it except for the discs (shredding/slicing/etc). It was less than 3 years ago I discovered the steel blade attachment. Now I use it weekly!

Deb

 
Cathy, how great that sounds. I am sure that many of us don't use>>>

the processor to its optimum value. BTW, my Cuisinart is on its last leg, and I'm puzzling (had to change my verb... cause the bad language police xed it out, LOL)over different brands. Which one do you have, or like the best???

 
Terrific, Cathy! I just knew your kitchen layout was perfect for teaching. Now will you

return to catering too??? Your (most-enviable) bedroom-sized pantry is so great for that as well. :eek:)

 
Hi Pat- in a word, NO.

I'm already working more than full time and don't want to cater again- but I am considering doing some classes. Don't know if there would be enough interest here. We'll see.

 
Thanks to all of you! Anybody want to come and help? Moyn, let's talk machines...

I had a Robot Coupe for many, many years. My dear old warhorse. It finally conked out and no parts were available so I naturally bought a Cuisinart. 11 cup and assumed I would get the same quality I was used to. I had a very old Cuisinart (which was made by Robot Coupe) for years too. It finally conked right before I moved to Hawaii.

Well, the "new" Japanese Cuisinart works but I found myself comparing it to my old workhorse, the Robot Coupe and found these things that disturbed me: the workbowl has such thin walls and the second top for using the slicing and grating discs is clumsy and doesn't seal well enough with the workbowl so liquid can ooze out. The blades all work but the metal is so thin- the motor is the biggest one they make but has trouble getting through grating a block of cheese without jamming up. It will knead dough well enough but gets really hot and I let it cool down before doing a second batch. I have had it about 4 years and I use it every day BUT....I bit the bullet ($$) and bought a commercial Robot Coupe several years ago and using it is like driving a Rolls Royce compared to a Ford Escort. I use it for the heavy duty stuff and the Cuisinart for lighter everyday stuff. I probably use the RC 6 times a week, the Cuisinart 12 times a week.

I don't know a lot about the others on the market now- I hear that KitchenAid makes a pretty good one. If I had to replace the Cuisinart today I would probably buy another Cuisinart since Robot Coupe doesn't make any small models. I understand its' capabilities well and work around them but I admit I use a food processor much harder than average.

 
This explains why my new Cuisinart (my old one died after 12 years) just can't make bread dough

like the old one. It jams easily and gets very hot. I ususally make a lot of bread at once so it's really frustrating.

 
Joe, you would be a great candidate for the commercial RC

Mine is an RC-300. They are kind of big bucks but oh so worthwhile.

 
Now I remember reading your post about the RC..... but, for my >>

purposes, I don't think it's warranted to spend those big $$$.... And I am rethinking the Cuisinart, as well, especially after I hear your comments (read: Cathy & Joe)..... Have heard lots of good things about the Kitchen Aid, and Gretchen just confirms those. Hmmmmm, will think on it, meanwhile..... long live the Cuisinart, LOL.

 
Yeah, remember I was comparing to my OLD RC, Moyn- I do not know if the new

Cuisinarts and KitchenAid machines are comperable to each other at all- The Cuisinart is not a bad machine - just not made like the old models (now it seems everything is made to be inexpensive, use up and throw away instead of fix and keep for 40 years.) I would like to use a new KitchenAid just to see because in general I know those folks make good stuff (except the hand mixer I bought and hate.) Unfortunately, there is no place here on Kauai where I can go to even see one "in person". You can most likely see them side by side somewhere. I'm sure there are other brands to look at too....

 
Absolutely amazing CathyZ, I would have loved to be there too...My original was a RC and wow.....

did it last well. I remember buying it from the person who was bringing them into S.Africa at the time. I dithered as it was something I had never seen let alone used and I really wondered in those very cash strapped days if it'd sit on the shelf for most of it's life. Having bit the bullet, I found it fantastic.
Used it for years and years and when we went cruising that self-same ancient one went along with us. I had to wangle a generator to run it...it was hauled out the bottom of a locker, a long cord attached to the RC and I had to go on deck to rev up the darn generator....Well, after 8 years on a small boat it finally died...I've had 2 cuisinart since then (in 8 years) and have just bought another one as that is all I can get here....these simply do not seem as strong (sturdy) a machine as the original and the blades seem to get blunt awfully quickly, I burnt out the motor of the 1st one......but they are much cheaper these days. I think things are made to be tossed after a few years so a replacement can be bought. How else does the economy keep going???

 
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