Winter: During the summer in Maine there are more things to do than you can possibly fit into your busy schedule, but in the winter, if you’re not an outdoor enthusiast, there seems to be little to do to while away the long, dark hours and days. Why not take a cooking class? A number of Maine restaurants and kitchen stores offer one-time cooking classes that last an afternoon or an evening. Some classes are demo only–you’ll watch a culinary expert prepare the dishes and you walk away with the recipe and some cooking tips. Other classes, usually those offered by restaurants, let you work directly with a culinary specialist doing hands-on preparation of a meal of three to five courses while you learn cooking techniques and recipes. If you are in the Portland area, Stonewall Kitchen in downtown and other company stores around New England offers a Celebrity Chef Series cooking classes. These classes including Classes cost $50 and include recipe tastings, a printed menu packet, product samples, and an opportunity to learn some kitchen secrets from the pros. So enroll in a cooking class this winter, you could be cooking up a storm before you know it!