Easy as Pie! Crust, Fillings, and Toppings for Delicious Desserts! MASTER CLASS!

Classes - Adult / Food & Drink -

Adult Classes Fall 2024

Everyone has a special core memory of enjoying a freshly baked slice of their favorite pie. Fillings of fruit, berries, sweet or tart, custards or creams, dressed with sugar and spices, wrapped in a flaky or savory crust baked or prepared to perfection. Pie is the “crème de la crème” of a holiday meal or a simple visit to grandma’s house. Register for this Pie Making Master Class and learn to make the pies that create core memories for all who have the privilege of having a slice. The ins-and-outs of this culinary art form are within reach!
The class will include a bake-along option for two different pies, through which participants will learn two methods for making a wonderfully flaky shortcut crust that will be used in making the pie. In addition, the instructor will demonstrate the creation of two additional pies. Together we will also discover different techniques for artfully constructing and decorating the top crust.
There will also be a presentation on different types of pies, fillings, and crusts, blind-baking and more. Information on different flours that can be used, what effect they have on the crust, and what savory ingredients can be added to enhance the pie and take it to the next level will also be included. In addition, Presentation will include, tips for success in pie making, what makes a pie a pie, a tart a tart, and a galette a galette, how to prevent a mile-high meringue from weeping, and so much more!
Pie options for the class include: Apple Cheddar Pie, Cherry Pie, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Chocolate Cream Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Sour Cream Raisin pie. Two of these, (one single-crust and one double-crust pie) will be selected for the Bake-Along portion of the class, and two different options will be selected for the demonstration portion. All will be decided according to participant feedback. Participants will be asked to fill out a 30-second survey that will record their preferences and determine the pies that will be featured in each segment of the class.
Recipes for each of these pies, however, will be included in the recipe and information packet that will be received by participants AFTER the class. The packet will also include all of the presentation and discussion materials from the class. NOTE: The instructor’s recipes and the information shared in the packet from the Master Class are copyrighted materials and are only shared with those who register for this class.
Participants will receive a list of ingredients for the bake-along options in advance of the class with enough time for shopping and prep. The survey results that will determine the bake-along and the demonstration pies will be included in this packet as well.
This class will take place on Zoom, free on-line software. Participants will receive instructions on how to access the class prior to it starting.
As an added bonus, the instructor has created a private group and a public group on Facebook for participants of her cooking classes. Everyone will receive an invite to the groups although joining is optional. Come join the fun!
Note: One registration fee for this on-line virtual interactive class can include immediate family members living full-time in the same home ONLY. If children are participating, adult supervision is required. If friends, adult children, or extended family members are gathering for a fun night together, EACH household must register SEPARATELY even if participating together.

Refunds for any cancelations from this class will only be given if notice is received at least one week in advance, or prior to receiving the recipe packet. Refunds will not be given after the recipe packet is received, which is approximately one week prior to class.

Tess Georgakopoulos

Tess Georgakopoulos, also known as “Chef Tess—Culinary Artist”, has been cooking and baking for well over 45 years since she was roughly 6 years old. Born into a Greek family, the art of cooking traditional meals using ones senses rather than recipes and measurements was passed on from one generation to the next. Her father was also a trained chef who brought the magic of food to life in another form on the weekends as they cooked elaborate family meals together. Food prepared from the heart, with ones own hands and creativity was, and continues to be an expression of love in her home. As an accomplished cook and baker, Tess enjoys creating original recipes for her family and friends. Sweet, savory, or doughy, she enjoys experimenting and creating in the kitchen daily.
Tess is proficient and experienced in creating classes and curriculum for conventional cooking, baking, pressure-cooking, air frying, pizza making, Mediterranean Cooking, and meal preparation as well. More recently, she is expanding her creativity and experience in the creation of Cooking Master Classes! A Culinary Artist indeed!
She has been teaching both in-person and on-line cooking classes through community education for a number of years, and is currently working with almost 60 public school districts in and around the Twin Cities, in many corners of Minnesota, in addition to school districts in Wisconsin, New York, and Oklahoma. Through her teaching, Tess has helped people of all skill levels increase their confidence and expand their skills in the kitchen reaching heights of their own personal creativity that they never new existed!
Always working towards expanding her culinary repertoire, Tess enjoys spending much of her free time in her test kitchen creating new recipes and reinventing traditional ones as she combines traditional and new cooking methods, equipment, appliances, and technology in the creation of her recipes that help make “dishing” delicious and simple.
Tess has recently started writing her first cookbook, and her food blog is also in the works! Some of her creations can be seen on her Facebook page, “Dish it up Good”, https://www.facebook.com/dishitupgood/ or on her Instagram Feed.