How to Host a Fun Summer Cooking Class at Home

Sometimes the best parties aren’t really parties at all.

Recently I invited a group of women over to my backyard for a little summer cooking class, and it turned into such a fun evening of cooking, visiting, learning and—of course—eating!

Instead of preparing everything ahead of time and simply serving dinner, I thought it would be fun to show everyone how to make a few of my favorite summertime recipes.

We learned how to butterfly a pork loin, make a simple marinade and make fresh herb butter. I premade the peach, cherry and tomato salad. I had one of my friends make yummy herb flavored lemonaid too.

Then we gathered around the table outside while the pork cooked on the grill.

It was relaxed, interactive and honestly such an easy way to entertain.

You Don’t Need a Fancy Kitchen for a Cooking Class

One thing I loved about this evening was how casual it was.

We started inside in my kitchen for some of the food preparation and instruction and then moved everything outside to the patio and grill.

You certainly don’t need individual cooking stations or matching equipment for everyone.

For a home cooking class, I think it is actually more fun to demonstrate a few techniques and then let everyone gather around, ask questions and help along the way.

Teaching Everyone How to Butterfly a Pork Loin

One of the first things I demonstrated was how to butterfly a boneless pork loin. I am definitely not a pro at this but this is how I do it.

Butterflying or fillet a pork loin simply means cutting the pork horizontally so that it opens up into a larger, thinner piece of meat.

Here is a simple diagram. Mine is never perfect and I do it slightly different but it still works. I did not flatten mine but that is a good idea to do.

This allows more surface area for the marinade and also helps the meat cook faster and more evenly on the grill.

If you don’t want to butterfly it you can always cook it in its original from, just add more grill time.

Making a Simple Pork Marinade

After opening up the pork loin, we made the marinade.

This is another reason I love doing a cooking class instead of simply serving a meal. Something that feels completely normal to you may be a brand-new cooking technique to someone else.

And everyone can see exactly what the marinade should look and smell like before it goes onto the meat.

Peach, Tomato and Cherry Summer Salad

Next we made one of my favorite combinations for summer—a salad filled with juicy peaches, tomatoes and cherries. I could not find fresh cherries so I used frozen.

Here is the recipe for this delicious salad.

The sweetness of the fruit with the tomatoes and fresh herbs is such a good combination.

I tossed everything with my herb vinaigrette and added creamy burrata for that wonderful soft, rich contrast.

It’s beautiful enough for company but still very simple.

Homemade Herb Butter

This may have been my favorite little detail of the evening. I did prep this ahead of time but I showed a few of them how simple it is to make.

The recipe for herb butter is here and they make great gifts!

I gathered fresh herbs and mixed them into softened butter along with my favorite seasoning- Beer can chicken seasoning.

This is what I did ahead of time- Instead of simply putting the butter into a bowl, I used a little silicone pineapple mold and a strawberry mold.

The butter gets pressed into the mold and frozen until firm.

When you pop it out, you have the cutest little individual herb-butter pineapple or strawberry!

This is one of those tiny entertaining details that requires almost no additional work but looks incredibly special on the table. I packaged them up for my guests in small cello bags and a sprig of oregano or rosemary and stapled it together.

It was a little favor for everyone to take home.

Take the Cooking Class Outside

Once our prep work was finished, we headed outside.

I grilled the pork while everyone gathered around the patio table and visited. The first thing I did was to sear the marinated pork. Then finished it off on the grill.

This is really what I love most about entertaining at home.

The meal doesn’t have to be perfect.

The table doesn’t have to be elaborate.

It’s about creating a place where people want to sit down, talk and stay awhile.

And on a summer evening, there aren’t many things better than cooking outside underneath the trees and string lights.

A great way to use any leftover pork is to make my leftover pork tacos. The recipe is here.

Tips for Hosting Your Own Cooking Class

If you’d like to try something similar, I’d keep it very simple:

• Choose 3 or 4 things to teach, rather than an entire complicated meal.
• Include at least one basic technique, like butterflying meat or making vinaigrette.
• Pick recipes that can be partially prepared ahead.
• Have ingredients measured or organized before guests arrive.
• Let everyone participate without worrying about making it a formal class.
• Finish by sitting down and enjoying what you’ve made together.

Most importantly, choose recipes you already know and love.

You’re hosting friends—not auditioning for a cooking show. 😉

A Different Kind of Girls Night

I loved the way this evening turned out.

Everyone learned something, we shared good food, and we had plenty of time to sit around the table and talk.

It reminded me that entertaining doesn’t always have to mean decorating an elaborate table and preparing everything for your guests.

Sometimes it’s even more fun to invite them into the kitchen.

And I have a feeling this won’t be my last backyard cooking class.