Culinary Arts
Below you will find links to recipes from
Jennifer Osterweil, Chef Alba Johnson & Ilysa Cohen
Chef Alba Johnson
Chef Johnson is a cooking instructor, a personal chef, cookbook author, recipe writer, editor and tester, and a food blogger with over 18 years of experience. Born in Naples, Italy and raised in Tunisia, North Africa, she gained practical knowledge of essential techniques and traditional dishes which she shares with her students and clients.
Alba’s expertise is in Regional Italian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Moroccan, and other Mediterranean Cuisine. Alba is currently teaching virtual adult cooking classes for Mary’s Land Farm, Whole Foods Annapolis, Howard County Parks and Recreation, Howard Community College, privately, and other locations.
Lastly, Alba has appeared on FOX DC, CBS DC, and PBS Virginia performing live demos. She also conducts culinary trips to Umbria/Tuscany in the Spring and Fall, and Giverny Normandy in the Spring. Alba is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, and IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals). These classes are included with GOLD subscriptions. Email info@myerberg.org or call 410-358-6856 to register.
Unique Sides for the Holidays – November 5, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. on the virtual center.
Italian and Greek Fusion Dishes – August 7, 2024
The Italian and Greek cuisine is recognized for its frugality and its richness of flavors and aromas. Greek cuisine differs from Italian due to its use of spices and yogurt. Both cuisines are famous for their custom of cooking with the day’s freshest and locally grown ingredients. In this class, we will merge these two cuisines. Menu: Pasta with Feta and Sundried Tomatoes, Greek Spinach Salad with Shallot vinaigrette, Zaatar Blend from scratch, and Zaatar and Feta Mozzarella in Puff Pastry Drizzled in Honey.
Easy Main Courses for Summer – July 17, 2024
Throughout the summer season we generally look for simple and fresh recipes. Join Chef Alba as we make delicious dishes prepared quickly with the freshest of ingredients. Let’s create appetizing recipes especially suited for a hot summer. Menu:Potato and Salmon Skewers with Arugula Sauce, Chicken Strips in Fresh Oranges, and Baci da Perugia (chocolate Kisses from Perugia from Scratch)
Best Served Cold Delicious Dishes – June 26, 2024
We all need recipes that include very little cooking or no cooking, and ideally that they don’t require many ingredients to create. Join Chef Alba as we make recipes that will surprise you on how quickly they can be made. Menu: Green Olive and Almond Pate Crostini, Chickpea Spinach Salad with Cumin Dressing & Yogurt Sauce, and for dessert, 2 easy recipes, Italian Affogato (Ice Cream and Espresso) and Tartufini di Banana.
Mouthwatering Panini – May 29, 2024
Is there anything more delicious than a mouthwatering sandwich? Great paninis can be made in your own kitchen even without a press. Paninis are great as a mealtime feast or cut into small pieces and served as appetizers. In this class we will create the next generation of Panini. Menu: Pan-Toasted Panino with Tapenade Sundried Tomatoes and Mozzarella, Torta Tramezzino (Sandwich Cake), and for dessert Crostata di Ricotta e Nutella.
Everything Eggs – April 10, 2024
Mediterranean Brunch – March 20, 2024
Exceptional Soups – February 21, 2024
Mediterranean Appetizers – January 17, 2024
Delightfully Turkish – December 13, 2023
Flavors of Maghreb – November 8, 2023
Recipes from Beautiful Portofino – October 11, 2023
Easy Picnic Day Cooking Recipes (with bonus recipes) – August 16, 2023
Recipes from Puglia, Italy – July 10, 2023
Delicious Poolside Appetizers – June 21, 2023
Sides for a BBQ – May 24, 2023
Simply Elegant Mother’s Day Brunch – April 18, 2023
The Sunny Mediterranean Kitchen – March 15, 2023
Sweet and Savory – February 15, 2023
Exceptional Soups You Can East with a Fork – January 11, 2023
Holiday Entertaining Dishes – December 12, 2022
Sides for the Holidays – November 15, 2022
Cinque Terre Recipes – October 12, 2022
Delectable Pasta Sauces – September 20, 2022
Capri on a Plate – August 3, 2022
Dishes from Athens, Greece – July 6, 2022
Mediterranean Inspiring Dishes – June 14, 2022
My Egyptian Favorites – May 23, 2022
Brunch for any day of the week – April 6, 2022
Recipes from Puglia, Italy – March 16, 2022
Traditional Dishes of Valle d’ Aosta, Italy – February 16, 2022
Simple Tuscan Winter Soup – January 18, 2022
Easy Entertaining for the Holidays – December 14, 2021
New Sides for the Holidays – November 16, 2021
Recipes from Beautiful Portofino – October 19, 2021
Evening in Paris, C’est si bon! – September 1, 2021
Cooking with Aromatic Herbs – July 27, 2021
Rockin’ Moroccan Summer Dishes – August 3, 2021
French Cooking with an Italian Accent – May 27, 2021
Getting Fresh in the Kitchen – June 29, 2021
Cooking with Fresh Herbs – May 4, 2021
Enchanting Recipes of Casablanca – April 27, 2021
Tuscany Past & Present – March 31, 2021
Irresistible Italian Pasta Sauces – February 23, 2021
Scrumptious Soups You Can Eat with a Fork – January 27, 2021
Scentsational Sides – December 7, 2020
Irresistible Tea – November 19, 2020
Ilysa Cohen
Ilysa Cohen began volunteering for NNC-Northwest Neighbors Connection back in 2015. She started by helping seniors with small tasks that would allow them to remain in their homes. With her passion for staying healthy and cooking, she began teaching exercise and healthy cooking classes to older adults. Ilysa always wanted to work with seniors around fitness and active aging. She fell in love with the possibility of making an impact changing lives through movement.
She now teaches at the Myerberg. In person, she teaches two classes – Cardio Drumming: a class that improves health, both physically, psychologically & socially, through a unique sensory motor drumming program. She also teaches Bands Together; a class that uses resistance bands combining strength exercises to help build muscles in the entire body. Ilysa loves having the opportunity to integrate movement, strength, cardio, and flexibility into my classes. Virtually, Ilysa has been teaching Senior Strong, a class to build strength and balance, as well as Get in the Groove which is more cardio based. Ilysa believes working out should be fun as well as healthful! Ilysa received her certifications from The American Sports and Fitness Association, including: Senior Fitness & Stretching Instruction, Group Fitness, Balance & Stability and Core Fitness Training. In her spare time, Ilysa loves to exercise, cook, read, and spend time with her family.
In addition, Ilysa has a husband Bill, two daughters named Amanda & Molly and a Beagle named Lucy. Ilysa’s motto is, “The strive and commitment you put towards self-improvement today, will allow the stability you must have to be accomplished tomorrow.” Ilysa’s classes are free to members and subscribers since they are sponsored by NNC. They occur the second Monday of each month from 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Moroccan Eggplant with Chermoula Sauce
Creamy Cucumber Radish Salad (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
Strawberry Muffins (Paleo, Gluten Free)
Strawberry Mango Spinach Salad
Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Easy Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce
Dairy Free Green Bean Casserole
Baked Squash with Apples & Cranberries
Watermelon Salad with Coconut Lime Dressing
Watermelon Salad with Coconut Lime Dressing
Mango Cilantro Curry Chicken Salad
Flourless Chunky Monkey Cookies
15-minute Healthy Chicken & Veggies
Beef, Celery, Walnut & Apple Stuffing
Jennifer Osterweil
Jennifer Osterweil is the director of programming and owner of Peace Love Sprinkles, LLC, has been baking up a storm for the last 16 years. After her son was diagnosed with peanut and tree nut allergies, she started baking everything from scratch. She also tries to find easy and fast ways to make some delicious recipes.
Jennifer brings creativity, organization skills and a meticulous attention to detail. This comes from her background as a Certified Public Accountant, planning and budgeting for over 20 years, and her love of arts, crafts and entertaining. She has a degree in Accounting from University of Maryland and an MBA with a concentration in Management Information Systems from Loyola. Jennifer brings new classes and instructors to the Myerberg and loves to see members get excited for new programming.
Additionally, outside of her role at the Myerberg, she can likely be found volunteering at her children’s school, serving as President of the PTA. Jennifer, her husband Steve, their children – daughter Jordan (19), son Zachary (16), as well as their two miniature dachshunds, Rosie Cupcake and Bella Sunshine reside in Owings Mills.
