Leslie makes Mini Lemon Merinque Pies

For her class at Desert Botanical Gardens, Leslie Christiansen showed us how to make this wonderful dessert. Aren't they beautiful?

Gov. Rose Mofford's Cornish Pasties in Leslie's cooking class

Summer and pie go together. Homemade pie calls for a flaky and tender crust that holds a perfect sweet or savory filling. The delectable Cornish Pasty—a meat-filled pastry that was a favorite of former Governor Rose Mofford—will be demonstrated along with a refreshing Lemon Meringue Pie at Desert Botanical Gardens cooking class July 15, 2012. You will learn how to make its delicious and tangy lemon curd filling and the secret to a fluffy meringue that will not weep or slide off the pie.

Leslie Christiansen, League member and Culinary Instructor, will be conducting this cooking demonstration Sunday, July 15th from 1:00-3:00PM.

Members: $50 General: $62

Sign up at http://www.dbg.org/shop/courses
Click on Education classes Scroll down to July 15 2012 summer pies
or Phone 480-481-8188.

Lemon Merinque Pie at Desert Botanical Gardens Cooking class

Leslie Christiansen will conduct another cooking class July 15 at Desert Botanical Gardens. This time she will present this luscious Lemon Merinque Pie. The best part of her classes is the wonderful helpful hints she has for preparation and creating healthy alternatives. Cooking is a passion for Leslie and she conveys how important a legacy it can create with families.

Sign up at http://www.dbg.org/shop/courses/summer-pies-7-15-12
or Phone 480-481-8188.

Leslie's Facebook Page
Private Cooking Classes and
Custom Culinary Parties

Tastes & Treasures cookbook has a different pie called Lemon Rub Pie recipe on page 178. We like both recipes.

Lemon Rub Pie

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
5 eggs
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 unbaked (9-inch) pie shell

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream the sugar and butter in a bowl of a stand mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the lemon juice, flour and lemon zest and mix until combined.
Spoon the lemon filling into the pie shell and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top is brown and the filling is set. Cool on a wire rack.

Serves 8

Cooking at Desert Botanical Gardens with Tastes & Treasures cookbook

Observe the Arizona Centennial by learning to make the official centennial entrée--piñón crusted chicken with cherry chipotle sauce at Desert Botanical Gardens Feb 5 from 2-4 pm. League member Leslie Christiansen, who will instruct the class, commented, "Toasted pine nuts give this dish a wonderful nutty aroma and texture, and the cherry chipotle sauce is smoky and full of flavor. This mouth-watering entree comes from the historic guest ranch Rancho de La Osa, as does margarita pie. A fabulous, refreshing dessert, margarita pie is the Southwest's version of key lime pie."

These delicious recipes are perfect for entertaining and can be found in the Historical League's award winning cookbook Tastes & Treasures, for sale in the Garden's bookstore as well as www.HistoricalLeague.org.

Sign up for this class at www.dbg.org/education-programs/classes-trips and scroll down to Feb 5 class Centennial Celebration Cooking with Leslie Christiansen.

Leslie Christiansen to teach cooking class at DBG

Directory of Adult Ed at Desert Botanical Gardens, Steen Allard-Larson met the Historical League at our booth at Arizona Highways Travel Show. Carolyn Mendoza showed him Tastes & Treasures cookbook and Steen was very interested. He wanted to know if anyone in the League could teach a cooking class based on recipes from the book. Guess What??? We have our own chef extraordinaire, Leslie Christiansen who is an accomplished cooking instructor.

Last week Leslie and Ruth McLeod met with Steen at his office in the DBG. Steen signed Leslie up for a class Sunday, February 5 in the afternoon. It will be a treat to learn from her. I can't wait to sign up for the class myself. Stay tuned for details.

Desert Botanical Gardens is venue for Historical League Open House

What a beautiful place to hold the annual Historical League Open House October 23. Most of the guest toured the Monarch Butterfly Exhibit prior to meeting at Webster Hall. Our guest speaker, Beth Brand, was very informative and presented the history of Webster Hall and the Botanical Gardens as well as the construction of the new entrance. Several members and guests took the opportunity to purchase our Tastes & Treasures Cookbook. We munched on lovely appetizers and desserts and enjoyed the unusual cactus centerpieces. Meeting in one of the most unique desert dwellings in the world is a wonderful experience.