Cooking class X 2!!

I mentioned a little while ago that I've been hired to teach a one-night cooking class at my local Co-op. A few years back, I had the good fortune of learning how to make authentic gumbo from friends from the New Orleans area. Since then, it's become something of a signature dish for me. I'm sure if I lived in the New Orleans area, everyone would be ho-humming to beat the band about this. It seems as if everybody makes gumbo down there, and every recipe is a little different. But up here in snowy New England, gumbo is a rarity. Many people don't know what it is, even.

My class description went like this:

Short, cold, dreary days call for lively flavors and bone-warming foods! Cajun and Creole dishes need not be spicy, but they are always intensely flavorful. Come learn how to make a traditional Mardi Gras meal of Hot Gumbo over Rice (to call it a soup is like calling champagne a table wine), Easy-but-Killer Corn Bread, and delicious pecan and chocolate cream pies. Gumbo is the perfect make-ahead meal, actually improving with time and eminently freezable for later meals. This is Creole peasant food at its best!

Since I've never tried to teach a cooking class before, I didn't know what sort of response to expect. To my delight, not only did the class fill up (12 people), but there was enough interest to schedule a second class! I'll be spreading the Gumbo Gospel* to twice the number of people! This is very exciting. I'm very excited. Can you tell? :o)

*Did you know that "gospel" is a Greek word meaning "good news"?