Class provides older students with new cooking skills

Cooking for one is difficult.

So, Virginia Guess signed up for a cooking class at Rose Hill Senior Center in hopes of getting some tips on how to cook for just herself.

“I just enjoy watching other people cook,” Guess said. “ ... I just like to find new recipes.”

The class was geared toward people ages 60 and older who may have entered a part of their lives when their children are grown and out of the house, and for the first time, they’re not preparing meals for a family. Or, maybe they’ve lost a spouse and are suddenly alone.

“After you lose your joy of cooking for your family, after you’ve done it for so many years, it’s not so much fun to cook for yourself,” said Debbie Reed, manager at Rose Hill.

Local chef Michael Sigler leads the classes — taught in six-week increments — and teaches how to use simple recipes and ingredients to get the most flavor out of a dish. Students have made dishes such as a creole chowder and even tackled what works best in a salad.

“We’re having fun tasting,” said Dorothy Ward.

Reed said the class gives older residents a chance to gain some cooking expertise in a social setting. But there’s also a health aspect. Reed has found many older residents will stop cooking after losing a spouse or when they’re no longer cooking for a family. But not only do they stop cooking, they stop eating healthy.

“It’s a matter of knowing what to do with your recipes,” Reed said. “ ... So now they’re excited to go home and try these recipes.”

Donald and Denice Landry decided to take the class together. The husband and wife were having a lot of left overs and wanted to develop some new cooking techniques. Denice Landry said she’s learned not to be afraid to experiment.

“I’ve eaten some dishes with vegetables that I didn’t think I would like,” she said.

Jack Ross was busy cutting onions during a recent class. Ross said he took the class so he could learn to cook better.

“The taste of good food is one of the genuine pleasures of life,” Ross said.
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Want to know more?
The next session of cooking classes at Rose Hill Senior Center begins on Thursday, June 25. The session lasts for six weeks and meets each Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the senior center at 401 S. Appletree St. in Dothan. Cost is $30 for the six-week session, which includes demonstrations, samples and ingredients. Call 615-3740 and ask for Debbie or Rene. The class is designed for older adults.