Basic Cooking

On completion of this course your domestic helper will receive a certificate and will be able to master the following:

• Operate kitchen equipment and appliances

• Safely manage and store food hygienically (Including Freezing and Re-Freezing)

• Quantify ingredients properly using cups, spoons and scales

• Follow  recipes and learn to modify it to your families dietary needs

• Cook a variety of breakfasts to start your day in a healthy way

• How to create great salads with complementary dressings

• Create side dishes that complement main meals

• Prepare wonderful desserts to impress

• How to do weekly menus for the family and prepare shopping lists with ease

• Understand dietary requirements such as low fat alternatives and vegetarian options for all recipes

• How to prepare dishes from various cuisines (Chinese, Malay, Middle Eastern, Italian, Western and German)

Week 1:

Basic Kitchen Skills

• We emphasize the importance of cleanliness and food hygiene

• Do's and don'ts when handling common electrical appliances

• Measuring ingredients correctly

• Using kitchen utensils

• Preparing ingredients using our time saving tips

• All methods of cooking the 'right' way

• A simple dish that can be adapted into 3 different meals

• Shopping sensibly at the supermarket - reviewing packaging and labelling

• Reading and Interpreting Recipes the correct way

• The perfect chicken stock, when to use it and how to freeze it for when required

• Dips - Hommus, Avocado, Tuna and Eggplant (Baba Ganoosh) and crudete'

• Fresh basil and tomato pasta sauce

• Marinades  Made easy - Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Satay marinades

• Marinated Lemon Pesto Chicken

Week 2:

Breakfast Foods and Side Dishes

• Breakfast foods: How to cook eggs perfectly (scrambled and poached), ham and cheese omelette, frog in a hole 

• Delicious, healthy Bircher Muesli

• French Toast

• Fluffy pancakes

• Creamy mashed potatoes, roasted rosemary and garlic chat potato and crisp pomme potato

• Principles of salad making: Using nuts, fruits & cheeses to turn a boring salad into a fabulous salad

• Honey Mustard Vinaigrette dressing

• Cooking vegetables and keeping them crisp (steaming, blanching, stir fry, etc.)

• Sunshine Fruit Salad

• A delicious contemporary Chinese fried rice

• Warm Oriental Chicken Salad

Week 3:

One Pot Winners and Desserts

• Thai Green Fish Curry  - How to make home made curry paste for a wonderfully tasty curry

• Baked Moroccan Chicken - A fantastic meal with a middle eastern twist that your guest will be impressed with - served with couscous

• Sheppard's Pie - A family favorite in every home

• Chunky Lamb Minestrone Soup - A tasty starter or a hearty meal in itself

• Banana Nut Rolls - Bananas, sprinkled with roasted nuts and wrapped in light Filo pastry

Week 4:

Main Meals Fare

• Roast Chicken - How to roast a chicken to crisp, juicy perfection

• Beef Stir Fry - A healthy dish loaded with veggies and a lovely lime accent

• Schnitzel - Home made chicken nuggets & fishie chippies. Great for fussy Kids, they love them!

• Chocolate Croissant Pudding - The most amazing dessert you will ever taste!

• Chocolate Fondue - A unique dessert different from the regular chocolate dips

• Apple crumble- A family heirloom handed down by generations

• Menu planning- Weekly menu planning & how to shop for the family. Getting organised in the kitchen.

• What side dishes should be "married" with each main course

Course Fee: $ 330.00