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:

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, Tunas 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

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

Delicious, healthy Bircher Muesli

Fluffy Pancakes

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

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

Honey Mustard Vinigarette dressing

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

Sunshine Fruit Salad

A delicious contemporary Chinese fried rice

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

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