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Sugar, flour, cinnamon, butter and apples combined with friends and laughter were the ingredients for an apple-themed demonstration and dinner in Howell recently.

About 20 guests of Special Ministries, a nonprofit organization that provides programs for individuals living with cognitive and physical disabilities, had the opportunity to learn All Things Apples with Renee Chodkowski, known locally as The Great Foodini.

The class, held Nov. 7 at the new prep kitchen in Cleary University’s Community Recreation and Wellness Center, featured a variety of apples including Granny Smith, red delicious and sweet.

“Some apples are sweet, some apples are sour, some apples are soft, some apples are hard, and, when we can mix them up like this, we get not only good flavor but really good texture,” Chodkowski told the rapt audience.

Chodkowski, whose perky personality kept the Special Ministries’ guests at attention, provided a quick lesson in proper kitchen etiquette, including washing hands, washing the apples and proper knife technique.

Chodkowski then expertly demonstrated how to cut apples into slices before asking the amateur cooks to follow suit.

“I thought it would be fun to show that you can have savory applications … as well as sweet applications,” she said.

John Engerson hesitated as he picked up his plastic knife. With a sigh and determination, he placed the knife’s serrated edge against the apple and whispered, “Here goes.”

John Engerson learns to cut apples for an apple tart during a Nov. 7 demonstration for Special Ministries of Livingston County. (Photo: Lisa Roose-Church/Livingston Daily)

I didn’t think I had a special skill for apples because I’ve never done that before,” he said. “I learned how to slice.”

Once the apples were cut, the cooks measured sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter, which was mixed with apples before placing in a pie crust. They curled the edge of the crust and placed their concoction in the oven.

The cooks enjoyed dinner – harvest apple brunch bake and salad with apple slices and creamed caramel dip – while their apple tart baked, sending the smell of apples and cinnamon wafting into the air.

Traci Turner deemed her group’s finished apple tart “good.”

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Clients of Special Ministries learned Nov. 7 how to make this country apple tart at Cleary University kitchen in Genoa Township. (Photo: Lisa Roose-Church/Livingston Daily)

Holly Nied, who likes watching the Food Network, enjoyed creating an apple tart and hinted she may make it for her family for Thanksgiving.

“I learned anybody can be a good cook if they try,” Rachel Gerutta added.

Cleary University’s community kitchen housed at the Community Recreation and Wellness Center in Genoa Township was the recipient of a $6,000 donation in February from the Gannett Co. Inc.’s Gannett Foundation, which is the parent company of the Livingston Daily.