QC Cooks, Queen Creek Library

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Food has always had the power to bring people together. “QC Cooks” is a 90-minute program for adults at our Queen Creek Library that combines a book discussion and food preparation workshop. Each month, participants explore a theme through a single cookbook, such as “Forks Over Knives” or a general topic (e.g., “breakfast”). At the end of the month, participants gather at the library to learn more about the topic, discuss the foods they’ve researched, share personal experiences and memories of food, as well as the traditions they represent. Participants also prepare a complementary recipe (e.g., massaged kale salads, no-bake power balls, and homemade ice cream). The popular program had nearly 200 adults attend over the course of the series. Between 2017 and 2018, QC Cooks offered a yearlong exploration of culture, economics, history, and sustainability through the preparation and discussion of food-based traditions. Many participants expressed an increased excitement for new recipes, as well as a new willingness to experiment and a greater sense of community.