On-Stage for Country Living Fair Atlanta & Classico Pasta Sauce

Welcome to the Fair!

I got an exciting call from Country Living Magazine to do two on-stage cooking demo shows for Classico Pasta Sauce at the Country Living Fair here in Atlanta. Being the girl who always has a jar of sauce in my pantry to help with a quick cheat to make an incredible tomato cream sauce with grilled chicken and veggies over penne (or a thousand other easy varieties), I knew it would be a good fit.

So Many People! Such Fun!

Flocks of people come each year to shop, eat and attend demos by nationally renowned design experts, chefs, and TV personalities from HGTV and Cooking Channel. The Country Living Fair is held at Stone Mountain, GA just outside of Atlanta.

Press kit and backtsage passes arrive. Always love an overnighted FedEx package!

I would have 2 one hour long shows to do, one each on Friday and Saturday. See the lineup here. Classico Pasta Sauce had two super easy recipes for me to demo to the Country Living audience, a pizza recipe and a lasagna recipe. Both easily adaptable to your tastes and what you had on hand. We decided, out of the two, the lasagna recipe would be the best to hand out as tastings since we could keep it hot…and gooey! Yum! But listen honey… I gotta serve 300!! Dats a lotta lasagna mama!! Better get cookin!

Making the sauce!

Here are the recipes! They were a huge hit and so easy to make! Classico Classic Lasagna & Classico Sausage Pizza with Roasted Peppers and Onions. The beauty is that by switching up the flavor of sauce you buy, it gives you the freedom to make the dish your own! Swap out some of the meat and veggies for what you have on hand and the dish just got even easier! Alfredo sauce pairs with grilled chicken and veggies from last night’s cookout. Sundried tomato sauce pairs with pulled rotisserie chicken meat, olives, and artichokes. Pesto sauce pairs with shrimp, onions and zucchini. So many options!

Backstage in the prep tent before going on stage.

So with lasagnas in tow, oh so many lasagnas, I head over to Stone Mountain Park and start to get ready for my demo. Kinda wonder how long my car might smell of eau de lasagna….

On Saturday, I was thrilled to go on stage just before Cooking Channel’s “The Fabulous Beekman Boys”, Josh and Brent from Beekman 1802 went on. They were so gracious and warm. For more on Beekman 1802 and Josh & Brent, visit HERE

Backstage with The Fabulous Beekman Boys

Such great guys with a fantastic sense of humor… Check out the pic they snapped of me with their infamous and very divalicious llama “Polka Spot”. She’s explaining her culinary vision! She has a lot to say! You can follow Polka Spot on twitter at https://twitter.com/llamapolkaspot

Posing with Polka Spot from The Beekman 1802 Farm

Both shows went perfect and the crowds loved the lasagna! I had a great time and the weather was so glorious, that my sweet daughter Gracie and I ditched the chef coat and hit the booths to go…wait for it…SHOPPING!