Est. July 2014
Unlock Your Culinary Potential with Back 2 Basics Cooking
Transform from a kitchen novice to a confident home chef in just 6 weeks with our hands-on cooking classes in Columbia, Missouri.
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Hands-On Learning: Gain practical experience with each class, ensuring you leave with skills you can use immediately.
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Expert Guidance: Learn from Chef Ashley, a seasoned professional who will guide you through each step with patience and expertise.
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Diverse Recipes: Expand your culinary repertoire with a variety of dishes, from savory stir-fries to delightful baked goods.
​What You Can Expect From This Series:
Hands-On Learning
Gain practical experience with each class, ensuring you leave with skills you can use immediately.
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​​Expert Guidance
Benefit from Chef Ashley's decade of culinary teaching experience. She will patiently guide you through each step, sharing her passion and expertise to help you succeed.
Our classes are engaging and interactive, allowing you to ask questions, receive feedback, and participate in hands-on activities. This fosters a personalized learning experience tailored to your needs.
Confidence in the Kitchen
Overcome your kitchen apprehensions and build confidence to cook meals from scratch.
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"Chef Ashley helped me to beat my anxiety in the kitchen and taught me the basic skills in a fun way. Her courses feel more like a fun night out than a class. And, I left full each evening!
My husband watched me do my first round of classes and asked if he could join for the second. We’re looking forward to six more weeks of classes now."
-Shay Ochoa
Series Details:
When: This class runs on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm, starting August 5th, 2025, for 6 weeks so the last class is on the September 9th.
Where: Como Cooks Kitchen
14 Business Loop 70 E
Columbia, Missouri 65203
Who: Designed for adult beginners. Ages 16 and up are welcome.
Cost: $425 per person, all-inclusive with no extra fees.
Class #1: Culinary Foundations
Skills Covered:
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Knife handling, sharpening vs honing, and basic cuts (such as dice, mince, julienne).
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Mise en place: staying organized and efficient.
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Kitchen safety and timing.
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Basics Cooking Terminology
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Kitchen Hygiene
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Cooking grains.
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Menu:
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Veggie Stir Fry over Jasmine Rice
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Class #2: Pasta and Sauce Making
Skills Covered:
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Making fettuccine from scratch.
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Cooking pasta to al dente and salting water properly.
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Emulsifying pasta water into sauces for a silky texture.
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Making Alfredo sauce and a roux-based cheese sauce.
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Take-home recipe for gravy.
Menu:
Fettuccine Alfredo
Baked Mac n' Cheese
Class #3: Flavor Enhancement 101
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Skills Covered:
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Creating compound butters.
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Sautéing aromatics (onions, garlic, mirepoix) to build a flavor base.
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Using both fresh and dry herbs and spices to enhance your dishes.
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Deglazing a pan and balancing flavors with acid, salt, and sweetness.
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How to plan your dishes with their flavor profile in mind.
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Menu:
Garlic Lemon Shrimp & Veggie Bowls
Italian Meatballs
Class #4: Breakfast Bonaza
Skills Covered:
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Mastering fundamental egg techniques, including frying, scrambling, poaching, and learning to crack an egg with one hand like a pro.
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Understanding emulsification, heat control, and timing while preparing eggs.
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More practice on the art of seasoning and flavoring by making homemade sausage patties.
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Exploring the science of quick breads through mixing and baking blueberry muffins, with tips for measuring, mixing methods, and achieving the perfect texture.
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Building confidence in multitasking while preparing a balanced and delicious breakfast spread.
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Menu:
Fried, Scrambled and Poached Eggs
Homemade Sausage Patties
Blueberry Muffins​​​
Class #5: Baking 101
Skills Covered:
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Developing proficiency in dough handling techniques for shaping and preparing savory baked goods.
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Gaining knowledge of working with different components to create versatile baked items from start to finish.
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Understanding the role and interaction of leavening agents to achieve the desired texture in breads and other baked treats.
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Mastering precise measuring techniques and understanding baking ratios to ensure consistent results in recipes.
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Building confidence in balancing flavors and textures through topping, filling, and finishing techniques.
Menu:
Personal Pepperoni Pizzas
Banana Bread
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Class #6: Creative Cooking Challenge
Skills Covered:
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Applying a full spectrum of learned cooking techniques in a collaborative and imaginative environment.
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Enhancing artistic presentation and attention to detail through meal plating and decoration.
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Growing creative confidence by experimenting with flavor profiles and ingredient combinations.
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Strengthening knife skills, seasoning techniques, and baking fundamentals through hands-on practice.
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Bonus activity includes a brief piping tutorial to develop precision in decorating techniques.
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Menu:
Student-Created Dishes Based on Available Ingredients
Explore Other Classes
Explore some other class options that adult students can sign up for!
