Cooking chores are often shared in today’s households, but that was not always the case.

Many men have never had cooking responsibilities until life circumstances thrust cooking chores upon them.  

Cooperative Extension Men’s Cooking Class offers a way for any man to learn basic skills, whether cooking is a new responsibility or a new interest. Some students take the course as a refresher to skills learned in the military or other settings.

The 2019 Men’s Cooking Class begins at Tuesday, March 5. Classes take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and run for six weeks on Tuesday mornings at the Extension Center in Columbus.

Each class includes instruction, hands-on practice and a lunch prepared by class members. The class ends in May with a gala graduation ceremony.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service sponsors the class. 

The Men’s Cooking class has been a popular spring event for over 30 years, with the extension program winning numerous honors including state and national extension program awards, organizers said.

Men take the course for a variety of reasons — personal interest, increased cooking responsibilities due to loss of or disability of a spouse and more than one at the urging of his spouse. Whatever the reason, participants learn basic cooking skills, have fun and enjoy fellowship with class members — laughter is a key ingredient used in each class, organizers said.

The course also covers topics such as meal planning, buying and storing food, healthy eating, shopping on a budget, food safety and special classes on ethnic cooking. No cooking experience is required.

Jimmi Buell, extension agent, family and consumer sciences, will be the instructor for the class. There is a fee for the class, and registration is required.

Class size is limited. Those interested in learning more may call the Polk County Extension Center at 828-894-8218.

– Submitted by Jimmi Buell