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There are 4 modules in this course
Cooking is one of the most powerful ways in which we can optimize our enjoyment of great quality food while protecting our health. Even on a tight budget, cooking can be a cost-effective, joyful and rewarding way to love the food that will love us back for a lifetime. In this course, you’ll learn some basic recipes from a home cook and two professional chefs who prioritize healthful eating. You’ll also learn some of the fundamentals of principle-based cooking that can help you break free from the chains of having to follow recipes exactly. Better health and creative expression lie in the ability to improvise in the kitchen, using whatever is available to make tasty, simple meals. We can’t wait to welcome you into our kitchens in this mouth-watering course! Here’s to your health and the home cooking that can support it!
Special thanks to course contributors: Israel Garcia, Jacopo Beni, Jesper Baanghaell, Sejal Parekh, William Bottini, Perry Pickert and Friday Films
In this module we will prepare to get cooking by defining a set of key, basic ingredients that will allow you to cook more frequently, using whatever you have on hand. We’ll also learn how to apply principle-based cooking to the creation of flexible meals, instead of being overly tied down by recipes. We’ll also learn how to shop for and store vegetables in ways that help you to eat more of them! Let’s get started!
What's included
7 videos4 readings4 assignments1 plugin
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 14 minutes
Cooking for Busy Healthy People: Introduction•2 minutes
The Rationale for Cooking More at Home•3 minutes
What Do You Need in Your Kitchen?•2 minutes
Principle-Based Cooking•1 minute
Shopping Tips for Planet-Friendly Home Cooking•2 minutes
The Anatomy of a Healthy Meal•2 minutes
Cooking with Variety and Moderation in Mind•3 minutes
4 readings•Total 55 minutes
How to Master 5 Basic Cooking Skills by Gordon Ramsay•10 minutes
Looking for a Cookbook?•10 minutes
James Barber: The Self-Taught Cook Extraordinaire•10 minutes
How Cooking Can Change Your Life - Michael Pollan•25 minutes
4 assignments•Total 50 minutes
Reflecting on the Rationale for Cooking More at Home•15 minutes
Reflecting on What Do You Need in Your Kitchen?•15 minutes
The Anatomy of a Healthy Meal Quiz•5 minutes
Reflecting on Cooking with Moderation and Variety in Mind•15 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
Getting to know you•15 minutes
Cooking with Maya
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we’ll be cooking some of my favorite recipes - including some healthy dessert options! Desserts are often a challenge for people like me who love dessert but want to stay healthy. So, in this collection, I’ve tried to complement the other recipes in this course [the savory recipes in modules 3 and 4] with some of my favorite desserts. I’ll also show you how to make some delicious, savory breakfasts and how to make a single chicken last for three great, wholesome meals. Good for you and good for the environment! Come and cook with me?
What's included
7 videos7 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 13 minutes
Indian Tomato Chutney and Eggs•2 minutes
Cottage Cheese Cake•2 minutes
Oatmeal Breakfast Delight•1 minute
Veggie Omelette•2 minutes
Dark Chocolate Bark•1 minute
Almond Olive Oil Cake•1 minute
How to Use a Whole Chicken•4 minutes
7 readings•Total 60 minutes
Maya's Recipes•5 minutes
Eggs and Tomatoes, a Global Favorite•10 minutes
All About Cottage Cheese•5 minutes
Why Steel-cut Oatmeal•10 minutes
The Origin of the Omelette•10 minutes
Health Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate•10 minutes
All About Olive Oil, the Healthy Fat•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Optional: Cook something and send me a photo?•60 minutes
Cooking with Israel Garcia
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you’ll get to meet Chef Israel Garcia and we’ll be cooking some plant-based recipes with this dynamic Mexican chef. He won’t be using any meat in his meals, but they are packed with nutrition and flavor! After watching Chef Israel’s recipes, you’ll choose one to cook yourself - or adapt one of them using locally available ingredients. We can’t wait to see what you make!
What's included
11 videos7 readings1 peer review
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 22 minutes
Meet the Chefs: Israel Garcia•4 minutes
Roasted Potatoes with Fresh and Dry Herbs•1 minute
Fresh Quinoa Salad•1 minute
Black Bean Soup with Fresh Pico De Gallo•2 minutes
Easy Creamy Corn Chowder Soup•2 minutes
Classic Chimichurri•1 minute
Dal Salad with Spring Mix•2 minutes
Chickpeas with Coconut Milk•1 minute
Egg and Avocado Toast•2 minutes
Watermelon Salad•3 minutes
Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Cauliflower and Mushroom Bolognese and Parmesan Cheese•2 minutes
7 readings•Total 65 minutes
Israel's Recipes•10 minutes
The Health Benefits of Quinoa•10 minutes
10 Surprising Ways to Use Black Beans•10 minutes
How Chimichurri Got Its Name•5 minutes
All About Lentils•10 minutes
Garbanzo Beans•10 minutes
The Health Benefits of Avocados•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Optional: Cook something and send me a photo? •60 minutes
Cooking with Jacopo Beni
Module 4•5 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you’ll get to meet Chef Jacopo Beni and we’ll be cooking some traditional, seasonal comfort food with this innovative Italian chef. He will be using moderate amounts of meat and fish in his meals, but if you’re vegetarian, please feel free to substitute! After watching Chef Jacopo’s recipes, you’ll choose one to cook yourself - or adapt one of them using locally available ingredients. We can’t wait to see what you make!
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is an American private research university located in Stanford, California on an 8,180-acre (3,310 ha) campus near Palo Alto, California, United States.
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Reviewed on Jun 23, 2025
its awesome to learn this course. thank you so much chef and all teams
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MM
5·
Reviewed on Jun 28, 2024
This course is a wonderful inspiration even for those who have never thought about cooking themselves. Thank you Dr. Adam for these life-changing courses.
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AC
5·
Reviewed on Nov 24, 2021
Very helpful videos and articles. Very informative and gives me the desire to eat and cook healthy. Thank you so much!
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.