Harper College offers belt-friendly cooking classes

Poor quinoa, so often misunderstood.

No one is really sure what it is (a seed from a veggie — not a grain). It’s hard to pronounce (“Keen-WA”).

But we want to know, above all else, does it taste good?

Harper College is rolling out two new cooking classes that demystify quinoa and has aspiring chefs pairing the nutrition-packed ingredient with some serious comfort food.

In Quinoa Breakfast Recipes, students will tackle inventive recipes like coconut quinoa pancakes (say that 10 times fast) and java quinoa smoothies from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

In Cooking with Quinoa, students will give mac and cheese a belt-friendly spin from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8.

So after all that quinoa, you’re looking for another healthy staple?

Harper also is offering All Kale, from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30.

Harper will hold classes at My Chef Station, 632 E. Irving Park Road, Roselle. Tuition for each course is $90.

To sign up, call (847) 925-6300 or visit harpercollege.edu/ce.