More and more city dwellers are getting interested in finding out where their food comes from, especially their animal products. In this class, we’ll talk about real farm products — raw dairy, laid-that-morning eggs, grass-fed meats –  and how to handle and enjoy them. We’ll also cover exactly what is expected in a customer/farmer relationship and talk about how both of you benefit. (You may be a consumer in a faceless supermarket, but when you are lucky enough to have a personal relationship with an honest-to-goodness farmer, you’re a customer! And you’re also supporting your community.) Been wanting to get out of the grocery store and into a cowshare/farmshare? Come find out how!

Note: this class is a REQUIREMENT for all customers (cowshare holders) of Hicks Dairy Farm. Class size is limited, so cowshare holders get priority. The public is welcome to attend if any seats are still available.

Please call the Authentic Living Center at (248) 822-9253 to register for this class. The fee is $15.

More and more city dwellers are getting interested in finding out where their food comes from, especially their animal products. In this class, we’ll talk about real farm products — raw dairy, laid-that-morning eggs, grass-fed meats –  and how to handle and enjoy them. We’ll also cover exactly what is expected in a customer/farmer relationship and talk about how both of you benefit. (You may be a consumer in a faceless supermarket, but when you are lucky enough to have a personal relationship with an honest-to-goodness farmer, you’re a customer! And you’re also supporting your community.) Been wanting to get out of the grocery store and into a cowshare/farmshare? Come find out how!

Note: this class is a REQUIREMENT for all customers (cowshare holders) of Hicks Dairy Farm. Class size is limited, so cowshare holders get priority. The public is welcome to attend if any seats are still available.

Please call the Authentic Living Center at (248) 822-9253 to register for this class. The fee is $15.

Whole grains are tastier, healthier, and offer a bigger nutritional bang for your buck…and they’re just as easy to prepare as their refined counterparts. Help your taste buds and your health (goodbye, diabetes!) by joining us and learning how to tweak favorite meals such as Baked Macaroni & Cheese, Stuffed Peppers, and Breaded Chicken Fingers with Mustard Dipping Sauce. We’ll also explore unconventional grains with dishes like Black Bean, Corn & Quinoa Salad and Sweet Millet Cakes with Cinnamon & Honey.

Please call the Birmingham Community House at (248) 644-5832 to register for this class.  Class fee is $32.

More and more city dwellers are getting interested in finding out where their food comes from, especially their animal products. In this class, we’ll talk about real farm products — raw dairy, laid-that-morning eggs, grass-fed meats –  and how to handle and enjoy them. We’ll also cover exactly what is expected in a customer/farmer relationship and talk about how both of you benefit. (You may be a consumer in a faceless supermarket, but when you are lucky enough to have a personal relationship with an honest-to-goodness farmer, you’re a customer! And you’re also supporting your community.) Been wanting to get out of the grocery store and into a cowshare/farmshare? Come find out how!

Note: this class is a REQUIREMENT for all customers (cowshare holders) of Hicks Dairy Farm. Class size is limited, so cowshare holders get priority. The public is welcome to attend if any seats are still available.

Please call the Authentic Living Center at (248) 822-9253 to register for this class. The fee is $15.

More and more city dwellers are getting interested in finding out where their food comes from, especially their animal products. In this class, we’ll talk about real farm products — raw dairy, laid-that-morning eggs, grass-fed meats –  and how to handle and enjoy them. We’ll also cover exactly what is expected in a customer/farmer relationship and talk about how both of you benefit. (You may be a consumer in a faceless supermarket, but when you are lucky enough to have a personal relationship with an honest-to-goodness farmer, you’re a customer! And you’re also supporting your community.) Been wanting to get out of the grocery store and into a cowshare/farmshare? Come find out how!

Note: this class is a REQUIREMENT for all customers (cowshare holders) of Hicks Dairy Farm. Class size is limited, so cowshare holders get priority. The public is welcome to attend if any seats are still available.

Please call the Authentic Living Center at (248) 822-9253 to register for this class. The fee is $15.

Too hot to cook? No problem! With dishes like Spanish Gazpacho with Shrimp & Croutons and Black Bean & Tortilla Toss with Crab, Avocado & Red Pepper, you won’t have to turn on the stove or the oven. Or try Instant Grape Leaves Stuffed with Zucchini, Feta & Pine Nuts. Still hungry? We’ll also be making a Mediterranean Tuna Salad with Homemade Hummus Dressing & Roasted Peppers. Save money on air-conditioning and enjoy hearty, no-cook summer meals!

Please call the Warren Community Center at (586) 258-2024 to sign up for this class. The fee is $35 for residents and $45 for non-residents. If you register for three classes at once, you’ll receive a discount of $5 off each class.

All of the indulgence, none of the guilt. Now that summer’s here, it’s time to enjoy fruit-based desserts and lush smoothies. (Bonus dish: we’ll also see how easy it is to make smoothies into homemade ice cream!) Natural ingredients like nuts, dates, seasonal fruits, honey, cocoa, and coconut make it easy to celebrate summer with Honey-Nut Truffles, Walnut & Cocoa Crumble with Raspberries, and a sweet-tooth-satisfying array of other fresh and summery treats.

Please call the Warren Community Center at (586) 258-2024 to sign up for this class. The fee is $35 for residents and $45 for non-residents. If you register for three classes at once, you’ll receive a discount of $5 off each class.

Who doesn’t love flavorful, colorful, south-of-the-border fare? Learn how to kick your summer fiestas up a notch with Latin favorites like Homemade Tortillas, Guacamole, Tostones, Gallo Pinto, Batidos, and Chili-Lime Shrimp. Talk about the ultimate summer menu of five-ingredients-or-fewer dishes! And aside from the shrimp, it’s a vegetarian menu, too.

Please call the Warren Community Center at (586) 258-2024 to sign up for this class. The fee is $35 for residents and $45 for non-residents. If you register for three classes at once, you’ll receive a discount of $5 off each class.

Want to celebrate you and the Earth at the same time? This Earth Day, join us at Strongheart Yoga to hear a series of speakers talk about your inner and outer health: how to manage stress, understand food labels, create a healthy home environment, and make the most of local foods (and your own garden). Yoga teachers and a reiki instructor will lead introductory sessions to introduce participants to ancient healing arts. Join us to explore ways to spring into a healthier, happier life this Earth Day.

Please contact Strongheart Yoga at (248) 563-8615 for more details.

There seems to be plenty of information—and infomercials—on food packaging, but what are those labels actually telling us? We’ll discuss what terms and phrases mean, how they apply to our everyday health and nutritional needs, and when it does and doesn’t make sense to take note of the numbers. (Hint: calorie-counting is not always the answer!)

This private event is part of a series of professional development days at the Zoo.

Salad dressing is the #1 best thing to make instead of buy. Are you a fan of creamy dressings? Then you’ll love making your own Ranch and Creamy Caesar. Or maybe you prefer simple oil-and-vinegar dressings and marinades. Try the Balsamic Mediterranean Dressing, or even go with limes in place of vinegar to make a Citrusy Coriander-Cumin Dressing. We’ll also see how easy it is to make Fresh Marinara, Classic Roux, Spicy-But-Not-Too-Spicy Peanut Butter & Ginger Satay Sauce, Chunky Pineapple Salsa, and Fresh Fruit Sauce. And have you ever tried deglazing a pan with balsamic vinegar to make a quick Zip Sauce? It’s even better than A1! [All dishes are gluten-free.]

Please call the Birmingham Community House at (248) 644-5832 to register for this class.  Class fee is $32.

In this class, we’ll share strategies for making quick meals from what you already have in your pantry, plus we’ll create shopping lists of handy and tasty ingredients to have on hand. From Whole-Grain Pasta with Roasted Peppers, Tuna & Feta to White Bean Chili, you’ll see how easy it is to whip up delicious meals in no time. You can make Mile-High Salads with any or all of your favorite toppings, and Summertime Shrimp Sauté is as easy as cracking open your freezer and getting out a pan. Grocery stores offer plenty of minimally processed, healthy items that you can enjoy if you have a plan in mind! [All dishes are gluten-free and meat-free.]

Please call the Birmingham Community House at (248) 644-5832 to register for this class.  Class fee is $32.

Never roasted peppers or garlic before? Or made salad dressing? No worries! Come join us and see how simple (and satisfying) it is to create your own menus and meals. Homemade hummus, roasted chicken, and on-the-spot pesto are much easier than you think. You’ll also see how easy it is to embellish store-bought sauces to make them your own. Transform your unexplored kitchen into conquered culinary territory! [All dishes are gluten-free.]

Please call the Birmingham Community House at (248) 644-5832 to register for this class.  Class fee is $32.

There seems to be plenty of information—and infomercials—on food packaging, but what are those labels actually telling us? We’ll discuss what terms and phrases mean, how they apply to our everyday health and nutritional needs, and when it does and doesn’t make sense to take note of the numbers. (Hint: calorie-counting is not always the answer!)

This private event is part of a series of professional development days at the Zoo.

“What’s the big deal about coconut water… and what is kefir, anyway? How do I cook quinoa? I’d like to try ingredients like Greek yogurt and pomegranates, but I don’t know how to use them…” The average grocery store contains more than 50,000 items, and new ones arrive every day. Join us to find out which items are the healthiest (and tastiest) to have in your kitchen, how to choose them, and how to use them. With just a little knowledge, you’ll be a pro at navigating the grocery store aisles!

Please call the Berkley Community Center at (248) 658-3470 to register for this class. An additional $5 fee for non-residents.