Slow Cooker Super Bowl Party (D)

Wednesday, February 1

6:30pm - 8:30pm

$55

Kegel's Produce Playground

Take your Super Bowl menu Tex-Mex this year and actually enjoy the party.  We'll dust off, ahem, reserve, your best kitchen staff, the slow cooker, and turn out some of the crispiest and juiciest meat seen east of the Mississippi.

• Black Bean Soup
• Carnitas with all the Fixins'
• Slaw
• S'More Pie

NEW! We've added Demonstration-style Classes to our offerings, denoted with a (D) after the Class title.  All the great Essen techniques, tips, fun and food you expect, just more watching than doing.

Couples Cooking (H)

Friday, February 3

6pm - 9pm

$145 per couple

Kegel's Produce Playground

SOLD OUT!  Make it an early Valentine or how 'bout a dry run for the Big Night?  Either way, yes, it'll be fun and delish.

• Butternut Squash Tart
• Mussels and Fries with Homemade Mayo
• Mustard Greens with Gruyere and Bacon Croutons
• Blood Orange Panna Cotta (Italian custard) with Cardamom Caramel Sauce

This is a Hands-on Class, as denoted with the (H) after the Class title.

Chocolicious (FFB) (D)

Saturday, February 4

1pm - 3pm

$55

Kegel's Produce Playground

The austerity of post-holiday January is well behind us ... finally.  Time to get back to reality, one indulgent and heart-healthy bite at a time, and just in time to share with our favorite Valentines.

• Red Wine Chocolate Cake with Whipped Mascarpone
• Chocolate Tart
• Mocha Chocolate Mousse

NEW! We've added Demonstration-style Classes to our offerings, denoted with a (D) after the Class title.  All the great Essen techniques, tips, fun and food you expect, just more watching than doing.

Basics:  All About Burgers (D)

Tuesday, February 7

6:30pm - 8:30pm

$55

Kegel's Produce Playground

There's nothing more quintessential than a patty slapped between two pieces of bread.  Easy as it sounds, there are some key techniques to ensure a crisp outside and juicy, tender inside.  We've got the beef, as well as the items to take you through meatless Mondays, turkey Tuesdays, and fish Fridays.

• Buffalo Mushroom Burgers with Celery Apple Slaw
• Turkey Burgers with Tomato Mango Chutney
• Thai Scallop Cakes
• Winter Vegetable Bean Burgers

NEW! We've added Demonstration-style Classes to our offerings, denoted with a (D) after the Class title.  All the great Essen techniques, tips, fun and food you expect, just more watching than doing.

Pop-Up Cafe

Friday, February 10

7pm

$30

Lemon Street Market, 241 W. Lemon Street, Lancaster

TIME FOR ANOTHER ONE! What better way to say "hello weekend" than around our family table?  Pop-Up Cafe is a collaboration between Essen, Lancaster's gathering place for home cooks, and Lemon Street Market, your neighborhood grocery store for local edibles and so much more.  Here tonight and gone until the next one.

We'll welcome you with a complementary drink, nibbles and schmooze time.  Dinner will be classic Essen-style, casual yet elegant featuring a seasonal menu of fresh ingredients paired to create unexpected yet comfortable taste sensations.  Our hallmark bottles of filtered water and Chestnut Hill Cafe's fab coffee drinks are part of the gig.  BYOB for the stronger stuff.

Advanced reservations are required.  Seating is limited to ten people; reserve your spot around our table here.

Bring a group or bring yourself.  Either way, bring your appetites.  We'll take care of the rest.

The Fine Print.  Due to the extremely limited availability of this event, gift cards, prepaids, promotions and discounts of any kind will not be accepted.  We know you get it.

Sweet Selections

Thursday, February 16

6pm - 7pm

We're doing our part to increase awareness of the fight against heart disease in women and speed the advances in research by partnering with the American Heart Association.

The Lancaster Go Red For Women® initiative provides informative and enjoyable events to encourage women in the community to become champions for heart health.

We're cookin' up 3 heart healthy spring desserts to be judged by our guests.  The winning dish will be served at the Go Red Luncheon on May 11, 2012 at the Willow Valley Resort.  Which will they choose?

Essen Cookbook Club

Friday, February 17

6:30pm - 8:30pm

No charge.  Please bring a dish you’ve prepared from our selected cookbook.

Manheim Township Public Library

Discover new favorite dishes with our cookbook series. Each quarter, we'll be featuring one of our favorite cookbooks, followed by a potluck dinner based on recipes from the featured book.

In partnership with the still "new" Manheim Township Public Library (MTPL), we offer two ways to get acquainted with our selection, Classic Indian Cooking (Julie Sahni) - check out a copy at MTPL or purchase at your favorite book retailer.

On February 17, 2012, bring your favorite dish from the book to sample and share.

Cookbook readers 14 years old and above are welcome.  Event is free but space is limited.  Reservations are required.

Prez Day Kinder Cooking

Monday, February 20

10am - noon

$45

Kegel's Produce Playground

Rise and shine!  What better way to connect George and Abe to Lancaster but in the most delicious way, through cooking together with our "melting pot" of a menu.

• Golden Potstickers
• PB&J Pie

Great fun for First Grade & Up.

All Rolled Up (H)

Thursday, February 23

6pm - 9pm

$80

Lancaster JCC

You may have been told as a kid not to play with your food.  We wholeheartedly disagree.  Change the shape and you often change the perspective.  From the protein to the salad to dessert, there'll be no shortage of F-U-N in this menu.

• Rolled Fish Fillets with Tomato Sauce
• Unctuous Lemon Rice
• Herb Salad
• Salt 'n' Peppa Oreos

This is a Hands-on Class, as denoted with the (H) after the Class title.

Essen Demonstration

Saturday, February 25

11am - noon

a private company, Mount Joy, PA

We're spicing up a Saturday for employees on location with a live demonstration of how to fit more scratch cooking into their lives.  Teaching to fish can so be an employee benefit!

Essen Demonstrations can be held at Essen or in your own special cooking space. Please contact Essen at cook@essencooking.com or 717.391.8270 to discuss your event.  What are you waiting for?

Homemade Pasta Workshop (H)

Sunday, February 26

1pm - 4pm

$80

Lancaster JCC

SOLD OUT! Get your hands ready for a pasta afternoon delight.  We'll cover everything you need to know from the mystery of the flour and the special equipment (none) to how to incorporate fresh pasta into your busy schedule.  Mangia, Baby.

Menu to be posted soon and will include a variety of pasta doughs, shapes, fillings and sauces.

This is a Hands-on Class, as denoted with the (H) after the Class title.

Breakfast: From Freezer to Table (D)

Wednesday, February 29

6:30pm - 8:30pm

$55

Lancaster JCC

We'll have you LEAPING out of bed every morning to nourish your soul with these delicious, easy, make-ahead goodies.

• Breakfast Burritos
• Chocolate Banana Buckwheat Muffins
• Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies (vegan; gluten- and sugar-free)
• Pumpkin Spelt Pancakes

NEW! We've added Demonstration-style Classes to our offerings, denoted with a (D) after the Class title.  All the great Essen techniques, tips, fun and food you expect, just more watching than doing.