No worries and great news, we are offering it again in 2027.

Join us Sept 14-23, 2027. Check back soon for details.

If you have been to one of our classes you know our passion for all things French. Our friend, Kathy Denis, Get Away à la Carte has created the most amazing trip to France for us. We are thrilled and hope you will join us. Register now!

The headnote on our recipe, Wine Poached Pears with Butterscotch Sauce, begins with the line, “Divine elegance.” Truer words were never spoken.

It was thrilling to see this recipe included in a recent newsletter, Leite’s Culinaria, by David Leite when he featured a collection of Perfect Date Night Dinners. Thank you David for reminding us of this timeless favorite and sharing it with your readers. It is the perfect recipe to serve this Valentine’s Day–or anytime really. Crisp fall nights all the way through spring means it is the ideal evening to savor this dessert.

Get out that slow cooker and enjoy deliciousness. This gluten-free dessert is the perfect sweet treat to add to your dinner party.  Recently, we were with a dear friend and colleague who reminded us that she serves this dessert often. (Thank you Dianne!) Drizzle the warm butterscotch sauce over the pears and “wow”—it can’t be beat. We developed this recipe for our cookbook, Slow Cooker Desserts, Oh So Easy, Oh So Delicious! Yes, we have shared the recipe before on our website, but it is sure worth revisiting it. Enjoy!

The pictures below were taken when we last visited this magical place!  We can’t wait to return.

So, for just a glimpse of this beautiful spot, enjoy this post from 2023! The food and classes will be fresh and new, but the fun and beauty remains the same.

We just returned home from an amazing place! The unparalleled beauty of nature, historic grandeur, luxurious accommodations, beautiful wedding venues, food and wonderful people came together and we know why they call it utopia!  That definitely sums up our time at the Inns of St. Albans, but words cannot really describe it.

We were guest teachers for a culinary camp at The Inns of St. Albans, in St. Albans, Missouri.  The historic village, nestled along the Missouri River is truly beautiful. The owners, Datra and David Herzog have restored the grand historic homes and transformed them into incredible event sites.

A cottage on the left, and the International Choux Co., cooking school, on the right.

Below: Roxanne preparing for a class.

The entire staff at the inn was wonderful and we developed lasting friendships with the people in our classes. We miss everyone already!

The cooking school is named the International Choux Co., cooking school, in honor of the International Shoe Company. That huge shoe company was co-founded by Isaac Johnson  in the early 1900’s and this beautiful spot was once the summer home of Irene and Isaac Johnson.

We taught four different classes—Cast Iron Pizza was first, and that pizza was accompanied by homemade herbed ricotta and charred tomato bruschetta, and our skillet chocolate chip cookie. The next day, we shared recipes for a Romantic Picnic that included a fresh green salad, savory Chicken and Swiss Pop Tarts, BLT Deviled Eggs and Blueberry Yogurt Bundt Cake. Then, on to a cocktail party with Mojito Slushies (perfect for a hot summer day), Potato and Salsa Verde Tortillas and Meatball Tapas. A Cast Iron Baking class, with breads, scones, and snickerdoodle bars followed. For the closing event, the chef at the Inns of St. Albans prepared our recipes for a Lillet Spritz, Gougeres, a delicious roasted corn salad with zucchini and summer vegetables, strip steak with herb butter, Bistro Potato and Leek Gratin, and capped it all off with Peach Crostata topped with ice cream.

Do you see why they called it utopia (Not only is it beautiful, their wine, from grapes gown in their vineyard, will be called Utopia, after a commissioned art piece about the area.) It was truly an incredible experience. Little, tree-lined roads, winding from Chesterfield, near St. Louis will take you to the Inns of St. Albans, and it is worth your drive. Check it out! You might book a corporate event or wedding there. Register for the upcoming events and classes or pick up a delicious sandwich at the Head’s Store restaurant. Or just schedule a time to relax and unwind in a spot so beautiful that you will hardly believe it exists.

Want to share our fun? Here are a few pictures from our trip.

The Studio, one of the historic structures at the inn.

Roxanne and Kathy, with the Missouri River winding behind us.

And the food!  Our Artisan Bread, topped with a cheese, mushroom and bacon topping, above. Below, what about lemon scones with fresh berries!

Courtesy of The Best Cast Iron Baking Book by Roxanne Wyss and Kathy Moore © 2021 www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. Available where books are sold.  Image credit: Brian Samuels

Winter in Paris? Doesn’t that sound delightful? One of the recipes we will feature in that class is this Tarte Tatin, a recipe from our cookbook, The Best Cast Iron Baking Book. While it looks elegant it is easy and is truly delicious. Register now at A Thyme for Everything for our January 31, 2023 class.

Next up, but already sold out is our Dinner From the Farmers’ Market. (We hate to entice your taste buds more, since the Farmers’ Market class is sold out, but look below for a picture of our beloved Peach Crostata from our new cookbook, The Best Cast Iron Baking Book.)

We love teaching cooking classes. Our last class, Summer in Provence was a hit as we love the food of southern France and enjoy sharing stories of Julia Child. We offered two, sold out classes for that one.

We keep posting our classes, so follow us and register quickly at A Thyme for Everything.

Our newest cookbook, The Official CorningWare Meal Mug Cookbook is the ticket to those spectacular meals for one. Whether at home, the office, or on the run, quickly assemble the recipe in the 20 oz Microwave Mug. When hunger strikes, your meal is ready in just minutes, piping hot from the microwave oven.

Best of all, the CorningWare mug comes with a silicon lid so fill the mug in the morning, snap on the cover and lunch is as mobile as you are. Or just fill and refrigerate for quick and easy meals anytime, any day.

So, when is the perfect time for a meal from a mug? Anytime! At home or on the road, at work, school, meetings, retreats, events—all the better because you know a hot meal awaits, without the bother of dining out. No parking lot to fight, no lines to wait in, and no same-old, boring burger-in-a-bag.

Who?
• Singles who are busy and have other things to do besides cook.
• Seniors looking for healthy, tasty and creative meals, without those tiring leftovers.
• Students tired of the cafeteria or cold sack lunch.
• Time strapped professionals who never take time to go out.
• College students facing a night of studying before exams.
• Anyone wanting to prepare a meal now, for themselves or another, and know a tasty, hot meal will be ready in snap.
• Anyone who is busy and can’t face another cold pizza or vending machine chips.
• On the road? Pack a Meal Mug in the RV, cooler in the backseat or even in your backpack. Hot and delicious meals await wherever the road takes you.

We had fun writing this book and let our creativity soar.  We had so many ideas of what to cook, then whittled the recipe to feed just one. We tested and tested in the microwave oven which means you can trust the recipes to turn out just the way you want.  From a Breakfast Burrito to Buffalo Chicken with Cauliflower, or from Cherry Crisp to Jambalaya, there is a recipe for any time of day and anyone’s tastes. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack time, great meals await.

What is the magic? No magic, just begin with a CorningWare 20-ounce microwavable mug. (Mugs are sold separately.) The recipes feature lots of fresh, not processed foods and give all of the tips you need to “Make It To Go.”  When ready to eat, remove the silicon lid, and microwave. A great meal will be piping hot and ready in a minute or two.

We will share more about this new book but sometimes, exciting news just can’t wait.  The book is available from Amazon.

We are thrilled to announce that The Best Cast Iron Baking book is now available!

If you follow us, you may already know that we love to bake. Just like many of you, we baked more when the pandemic started.  We baked it all, cookies, cakes, pies, and Roxanne baked more artisan bread than she could count.

You might also know that we love to use cast iron skillets. Our cast iron cooking classes always sell out. We explain how to use cast iron and also the stories of cooks in our family who used our skillets and passed them down to us. Our skillets are truly filled with delicious foods, and overflow with precious memories.

Combining our love of baking with our dedication to cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens, is a dream come true. Writing this book and testing the recipes was a tasty journey of joy.

The Best Cast Iron Baking Book is filled with our favorite recipes. You will enjoy the Artisan, no knead breads that you can easily pop into a Dutch oven. Pizza and flat bread develop the most incredible, crisp crust when baked in a cast iron skillet. No breakfast or brunch table is complete without sweet rolls and coffee cakes.  Many a family feast has to include inviting dinner rolls and buttery biscuits.  Oh, wait, there are pies, cookies, brownies, and all kinds of desserts that are special and spectacular. For each, that simple cast iron skillet or Dutch oven is the only piece of bakeware you need to bake these delicious recipes.

You do not need to be an expert baker to start baking these recipes. And, if you shy away from cast iron, do not worry. We will share all of the tips and insider information so you can use your cast iron with confidence.

Have we mentioned the pictures?  The book is filled with the most inviting, moutwatering pictures. Just browse through the book and you will discover lots and lots of recipes that you will want to bake immediately.

You will be hearing lots more about this cookbook soon. We just had to share the exiting news! We could not be prouder. It takes a village to write and publish a cookbook, and we are grateful to all who help pave the way. Most of all, we appreciate all of you who read our books, enjoy our recipes, take our classes and share a love of baking.

The book is available at any of your favorite book stores, and through many gourmet or kitchen shops. If you don’t find it on the shelf, ask if they will order it for you. You will also find it on Amazon and other online book retailers.

That first job can lead to an incredible career. It did for us!

When we say “cooking and appliance expert” we really mean it, and once you read this post, you will see why that first job gave us unsurpassed credentials. If you EVER need creative recipes, up-to-date appliance insight, cooking classes, food writing or credible content, targeted cookbooks, corporate trainers or spokespersons, or kitchen-techno gurus, we are the ones to contact. From that first job in the test kitchen, we established ourselves as true cooking and appliance specialists and we continue to share our knowledge with companies or consumers. Whether it is developing creative recipes, testing new appliances, testing a new and delicious slow cooker dinner, developing inviting recipes for a new packaged food, creating magic in an Instant Pot, writing our latest cookbook or teaching sold-out innovative and fun cooking classes, we are the ones to turn to and we would love to explore how our experience and skills will benefit you.

We are all things kitchen and cooking related and bring all of our skills to each and every project and cookbook.  Be on the lookout for our two newest cookbooks! Stay tuned for more details but this fall, The Best Cast Iron Baking Book and The Official CorningWare Meal Mug Cookbook will both be released. You can pre-order each of them now on Amazon. Plus our latest release,  Toaster Oven Takeover cookbook, is available now.  We are recognized for innovative, current and completely tested new recipes and cookbooks.

It is all true, and now you will learn why we can say that. We worked together in the test kitchen for Rival Manufacturing Company in Kansas City. That was forty years ago and the Crock Pot was a new appliance. New, yes, but taking the United States by storm.

It was a super busy test kitchen. We tested several Crock Pots each night (chicken, after chicken, after chicken) —recording temperatures to be sure the pots were cooking correctly. We worked with great engineers who were constantly developing new Crock Pot models and creating new appliances. We worked with Sales and Marketing, helping to tell the story of the Crock Pot, promote it and share the wonders of that new appliance. We talked with so many consumers, answering their questions, encouraging them to try this new way of cooking and helping them get the best flavor of their slow cooker. We developed hundreds (if not thousands) of new recipes.

To say it was a magical time for us, as young professionals, is an understatement. That test kitchen helped us sharpen and expand our skills. It allowed us to work with many people across the country, to test new appliances, and to become skilled in recipe development, PR, customer relations, and being part of a corporate team.

Most of all, it was where our friendship and business partnership began. We are so grateful for that time.

Time has flown by and the Crock Pot is now a kitchen staple. Can you even imagine a world without a Crock Pot? Whether it is for a family dinner, a potluck, the tailgate, cocktail party or holiday feast, the Crock Pot has an important seat at the table. It makes so many cooking tasks easier. It is now the way many people cook and get dinner on the table.

When Jenny Vergara, a friend and fellow member of the Kansas City Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, asked us to talk with her about the history of the Crock Pot and our work in the test kitchen, of course we said yes, immediately. She is a skilled journalist and added so many other interesting voices and perspectives to the story.  It was fun to record the podcast and want to thank her and the entire staff at KCUR for making the story come to life.

Tune in now to listen to this PBS broadcast. It is an honor to reveal the story.

Thank you for allowing us to share this walk down memory lane and to again share how grateful we are that we worked together in a test kitchen on a classic kitchen appliance.

Now, let’s all raise a spoon and celebrate the wonders of the Crock Pot!

This cookbook has it all, and we had a great time writing it. It is fast family meals that you can get on the table quickly. It is filled with over-the-top delicious desserts, casual-yet-yummy appetizers, fantastic pizzas, great tasting, easy sheet pan dinners, scrumptious sides to round out the dinner, wonderful breads and more.

The benefits your toaster oven offers is incredible. We will share more about that underrated appliance on future posts, but for now, take our word for it that new, electronic toaster ovens are a far cry from those portable ovens available even a few years ago. The more we used ours, the more we loved it and that is going to be true for you, too.

Want a peak into the cookbook? Here is the cover and it shows oh-so-good Individual Chicken Pot Pies, and the back of cookbook showcases Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cupcakes. But what delicious recipes lie between those covers?

It is hard to pick just one recipe that we might feature. Should it be one for breakfast, lunch or dinner? A sweet or a side? We really love the variety of recipes. A few of our favorites include the Loaded Cauliflower Casserole, Sweet Chili Glazed Wings, Chipotle Glazed Meat Loaf and the Espresso Chip Muffins. We use the toaster oven constantly (and a few of those foods are in a handy chart in the book) to toast nuts, roast vegetables, or broil burgers.

To read more about the book or to order your copy, visit Amazon

So what one recipe to share today? What about everyone’s favorite—Sheet Pan Loaded Nachos! These are topped with seasoned, cooked ground beef, beans, and cheese. Then, you can dress them up and add your favorite toppings or make them quick and keep them a bit simpler for those teens that always seem to be hungry. Invite your friends for a casual snack on the patio (yes, we wrote this book during the pandemic) or watch your favorite movie and munch on these nachos.

Have we mentioned we love our Cast Iron? Yes! We! Do!

If you have taken one of our classes, you know it is true.  And we want to share with you.  Roxanne has been busy baking delicious, crisp-crusted yeast breads in a Lodge cast iron Dutch oven. It makes a perfect environment for baking bread. The heavy covered pan traps the steam, so the bread develops a delicious, crisp, chewy brown crust, just like that bread you buy at the artisan bakery. If you use the Dutch oven upside down, it acts much like a bread Cloche, which is a bell-shaped specialty baker—but no, you don’t have to speak French. Just follow this link and buy a trusty cast iron Dutch oven!