Valentines Bake Sale!

I mentioned last post that we're having our annual bake sale this weekend. The menu is set and ready to be doled out unto the masses. Here we go!

Baklava
Petits fours (gluten free) 3 flavors: Chocolate Raspberry, Chocolate Cashew/Coconut, Chocolate Mint

Preview of the petits fours from a school potluck

Hello Dolly Bars
Carrot Pecan Cupcakes with a Cashew Cream Frosting (gluten free)
Cheesecake (gluten free) with your choice of 4 toppings: Chocolate Hazelnut, Blood Orange, Ginger Pineapple, and Blueberry

We're also adding a new savory item:
Spanakopita

As always all items are VEGAN and handmade by students of the school. The sale is at our school located HERE.

Please feel free to stop by, say hi and pick up some treats on Saturday Feb 14th from 10am to 2pm or until we sell out!

Hope to see you there.

Valentines Aphrodisiacs Class

The Natural Epicurean is holding a speciality cooking class and bake sale on Saturday February the 14th!

APHRODISIACS - COOK TO LOVE, LOVE TO COOK
When: February 14th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: Casa de Luz - Cielo Room
Cost: $55.00 for a single attendee and only $27.50 for a friend or family member who enrolls and attends with you. $82.50 per couple.


According to The American Heritage Dictionary, "aphrodisiac" is defined as: adj: Arousing or intensifying sexual desire. noun: Something, such as a drug or food, having such an effect. [Greek aphrodisiakos, from aphrodisia, sexual pleasures, from Aphrodite.]


In this vegan and macrobiotic cooking class, we'll talk in detail about foods that are considered aphrodisiacs, but we'll also explain how presentation, ambiance, good health, and serving our partners affect our ability to arouse, to become aroused, and to fully enjoy this most delightful and precious part of our humanity. And then we'll cook and eat some delightful and sensual food.We explain that "love foods" can be divided into two categories: biochemical aphrodisiacs that have a direct physiological effect on our sex organs and the more important psychophysical group. (After all, there is no sexual organ more important than the mind.)You'll learn to cook a complete meal to delight your Valentine's Day sweetheart and then have the opportunity to taste this exceptional food.


The menu:

Artichokes with Lemon Butter
Porcini Mushroom Soup with Chestnuts
Tempeh Italiano and Toasted Pine Nuts over Seasonal Greens
Risotto Milanese (this is made with saffron)
Maple Roasted Winter Squash with Apples and Fennel
Chocolate Amaretto Mousse with Almond Tuile and Kumquats



After the class you can step outside and purchase some delightful vegan baked goods from our annual bake sale. More on what we'll be serving soon!

free cooking demo, lecture and open house - oh my!

on the second wednesday of each month, the natural epicurean (located at 1701 toomey road, at casa de luz) hosts a free cooking demonstration from a senior student and a lecture entitled 'how food affects your health and emotions'. past cooking demonstrations have included saag paneer spanakopita, picture perfect pecan pie, the ultimate birthday cake and mochi-rella sticks. it's all vegan, it's all natural and it's usually mindblowingly delicious. recipes are given out during the demo... and did i mention that it's all FREE?

this month's is june 11th and marissa castello, a senior student at the school will be presenting her recipe conversion for 'edamame succotash'. if neither of those words mean anything to you, it's all the more reason to come down and try it out!

you can register/sign up on eventbrite:

http://www.eventbrite.com/org/58452322?s=1

also, rosa, our wonderful student coordinator is starting regular open houses for prospective students interested in checking out the school and getting more information. these open houses will also be on the second wednesday of each month and rosa will be available to answer any of your questions, give you a tour of the campus, introduce you to current students and help you with filling out your application! ;)

austin is wonderful

... and those of you who aren't blessed enough to live in this amazing city may not realize just how wonderful it is. i've heard time and time again from people who live here how austin is a very 'green' city and virtually 'recession-proof' and well, there's actual data backing up these claims.

in a recent survey/study conducted by popular science magazine, ranking cities on criteria including electricity, transportation, green living and recycling/green perspective, austin ranked in the top ten greenest cities in the united states and the greenest city in texas. austin ranks highest in the recycling/green perspective category with nearly a perfect score. surely, there's room for improvement in other areas, but these issues are actively being addressed by capital metro's efforts for increased ridership and austin energy's greenchoice program.

us news and world reports has also called austin one of the top ten green cities to retire in. these polls put austin in the company of such great cities as portland, chicago, and albuquerque.

austin is also considered by forbes magazine to be one of the top ten most 'recession-proof' cities in the country with its low unemployment rates, affordable housing prices and a growing tech sector.

with all these factors, i couldn't imagine that you'd want to live anywhere else. :)

Register Online for Classes!

Coming soon, you'll be able to register and pay for Natural Epicurean classes online! I'm working on getting the schedule for the rest of the year up on our Eventbrite site, which you can check out here.

There will be a small fee for signing up for classes through the website, but it's quicker and easier than calling in the office and you can do it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Enjoy!

Student Demo: Saag Paneer Phyllo Bites

This Wednesday at 6pm, I'll be doing a demonstration before the free lecture on my Saag Paneer Phyllo Bites. This recipe combines the flaky, light pastry of spanakopita with a classic hearty North India saag paneer. Everything will be vegan and everything will be delicious!

Join us and learn how to make this impressive and incredibly easy party appetizer. If the group is small enough, we may even do some hands on work! ;)

For more information on our monthly free cooking demonstration and lectures, visit our website and click on the 'Events' link.

Vacation!

Rosa (student coordinator) and Winnie (marketing coordinator) will be out of town this week. If you need anything, please contact Karen (outreach and operations coordinator) in the store - (512) 476-2276.