Healthy Cooking Summer Session

Local, Chef Alonso, recently held a free cooking class at the Colton Public Library. Chef Alonso's wife Leticia Alonso, his son Andrew Maldonado, and his nephew Miguel Arredondo helped him prepare the ingredients for the class. When the class started, speaker Edward Pedroza announced, "This is one of the bigger classes that we have had so far and it is going to be the first of 3 this summer. He (Chef Alonso) has done about over 25 sessions." Chef Alonso shared, "I have been running this for a little over 3 years. It started out as an educational class where I taught the basics to people, like spelling terms, measurements, etc. I was helping people out with literacy and it evolved into a class.. I find it enjoyable and rewarding. I try to mix up the cuisines. I even had a class for kids. We did stuff like setting up chicken tenders, deep fried macaroni and cheese, fruit salad, melon balls. I just wanted the kids to have a good time. I've been cooking for about 5 to 6 years and I love it! I started out scared to do it, but now I'm fine." Robyn Avila shares, "I heard about the event through the ads from the library.. This is my first time at one of these events," she says while chuckling, "this is just a way to get me out of the house." Esther Zuniga has been coming to Chef Alonso's cooking classes from almost the beginning. She says, "It started out with simple things. He helped out people who had a hard time with tablespoon and teaspoon measurements. It's been growing. We're allowed to have suggestions. Everything he's done so far has been successful." It is an interactive cooking class where the audience is encouraged to ask questions. Chef Alonso asks the class "does everybody like it?" Esther Zuniga responds "I don't like chili but I liked that one. VERY good taste!" If you missed this event, don't worry because Edward Pedroza announces, "the next one is on July 9th ("Savory Sides") and it will be focusing on side dishes, and then August 6th is gonna be our "Summer Sweets" so he's gonna come in and do different types of desserts" Other events that the Colton Public Library offers during the summer is the "Summer Reading Program 2014" and the "Summer Reading Wrap-up Ice Cream Party." The "Summer Reading Program 2014" is for kids under the age of 12 and is held from June 7th to July 19th. The "Summer Reading Wrap-up Ice Cream Party" will occur on July 19th from 2 to 3 p.m. There is no registration for these events and they are all free and open to the public. Chef Alonso asked the class for suggestions and the responses that came in were: flan, mac and cheese, baked potatoes, cheesecake, and jams. These are the possibilities that are going to happen in the next class.