Cooking with Confidence: Life Skills for Every Ability
Empowering Neuro-diverse Adults to Confidently Cook Independently
"Kathleen has developed knowledge, skills and confidence around nutrition, safe food handling, following recipes and food preparation, all while making unique and delicious meals that we get to taste."
Sally, Guardian
Do you, or a loved one want to learn to cook, but have no clue where to start?
Are you scrolling on Instagram and Youtube, saving recipes but not actually ever cooking them?
I can help with this.
I have designed a cooking course for the absolute beginner. My goal: to teach fundamentals of cooking, with common ingredients and well-tested recipes for people who want to learn:
- how to cook a healthy balanced meal
- how to shop
- how to plan meals for a week
- how to safely use leftovers
- how to cook without a recipe
Special focus has been given to make this course accessible for neuro-diverse learners:
- Each recipe has video instruction which is short and easy to follow.
- Recipes are presented with visual cues for food and time to help keep everything on track.
- There is an extensive video skill library which highlights everything from how to use a can-opener, to the how to chop an onion and even how to brine shrimp.
This is a virtual course and includes 8 weekly live cooking lessons. The course starts April 16 and runs to June 4. There is a weekly live zoom class, every Wednesday from 5 pm - 7 pm.
By the end of this program, you will …
Know exactly what groceries to get for the week.
Grocery shopping can be overwhelming! You’ll learn how to plan your meals, make a grocery list, and grab what you need with ease. Plus, you’ll also have everything you need for the week!
Know how to choose the freshest produce.
You’ll learn how to choose the FRESHEST produce and some tricks to keep it fresher longer.
Understand what goes into a healthy meal.
You’ll develop a basic sense of nutrition. You’ll understand why you need protein and fiber, how much fruit and vegetables you need to eat and how to prepare healthy and balanced meals.
Know how to keep your kitchen clean and safe.
You’ll know how to handle raw meat safely and learn how to clean all your surfaces for a safe and healthy kitchen.
Develop knife skills and learn how to chop like a pro!
A knife is an essential kitchen tool and learning how to use a knife properly makes cooking so much faster and more enjoyable. You’ll learn the best way to chop everything from onions and potatoes to even carving a roasted chicken.
Know how to use leftovers.
Not only will you learn how to cook loads of amazing meals, but you’ll also learn how to use leftovers so you can save time and not waste food. You’ll also learn when it is time to put leftovers in the compost.
Understand the basics of baking.
You’ll come to understand how to handle batter and dough depending on what you are baking and learn to bake your own amazing biscuits, muffins, cakes, and cookies.
$589.00
Cooking with Confidence:
Life Skills for Every Ability
Course starts April 16, 2025.
Cooking with Confidence:
Life Skills for Every Ability
8 COMPREHENSIVE MODULES PLUS
A WEEKLY LIVE VIRTUAL 2 HOUR LESSON (AND LIFETIME ACCESS TO REPLAY)
LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE, IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HOME.
LESSONS AND QUIZZES SO YOU CAN PRACTICE WHAT YOU LEARN
EVERY RECIPE COMES WITH A COMPLETE SUBSTITUTION LIST AND ACCOMMODATION SUGGESTIONS FOR FINE MOTOR, SENSORY AVERSIONS AND ATTENTION DEFICIT.
WEEKLY SHOPPING LISTS, MEAL AND BUDGET PLANNER
VIDEO LIBRARY WITH OVER 45 RECIPES AND A SKILL LIBRARY WITH OVER 50 LESSONS.
PRIVATE GROUP TO CHAT WITH LISA AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM
WIDE RANGE OF RECIPES WITH DIFFERENT CUISINES AND SPICES FOR VARIETY.
In this module, we’ll learn how onions, celery and carrots are key ingredients to have in your kitchen. You’ll learn the basics of soup and how soup is a fast, easy, inexpensive, and super healthy meal. We’ll cover key kitchen skills: how to use a knife and the safest and best way to chop onions, garlic, celery, and carrots. We will cover grocery costs and students will be given a sample shopping list and menu plan for the week.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Video skill library: how to chop: onion, garlic, celery, carrots
- 5 amazing soup recipes
- Learn how to make stock
In this module, we will learn about protein, why we need it and where we can get it. We’ll learn different ways to cook eggs and how they can be used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We’ll learn about cross contamination and how to safely handle raw chicken and how to clean our work surfaces and hands. We’ll cover leftovers and how to use them and how long they last.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learn how to roast and carve a chicken.
- Learn how to check if your chicken is completely cooked.
- Learn why eggs are the perfect ingredient for breakfast.
In this module we’ll learn about fibre and why it is important to eat. We’ll learn how plant-based protein is an excellent source of protein and fibre and is super inexpensive compared to beef, chicken or fish. We’ll learn how to add legumes (like chickpeas and lentils) to salads, soups, stews and dips. We’ll learn how to read nutrition labels and the difference between dry and canned legumes and how they are used differently.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learn why fibre is so important.
- Understand how to use canned and dried beans.
- Learn why plant based protein is so healhty and economical.
In this module, we’ll learn how to make meatballs, meatloaf and stir fries and pork chops. We'll earn how to safely handle raw meat, the best way to tenderize meat and how to properly clean our cutting oards.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Fish is an excellent source of protein and is a great choice for a fast healthy meal. In this module we’ll learn about the different varieties of fish and the best ways to prepare them. We’ll also learn the many ways to season and marinade, and how to use canned fish for lunches and salads.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learn how to remove bones and skin from fish
- How to defrost fish safely and how to check if it is fully cooked
- Easy recipes with canned fish
In this module we’ll learn about the different types of rice and how to prepare them. We’ll learn how to use grains as a side or the main course in a meal. We’ll also learn how grains can add texture, and flavour and fibre to a meal and how them also excellent leftovers.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- 5 fast and healthy weekday recipes that can be prepared in less than 40 minutes
- Skill Library: the tricks for perfect pasta
- Skill Library: how to wash rice
Mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, steamed broccoli, roasted squash and oven roasted potatoes are flavourful, filling and help make a delicious, balanced meal.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learn the healthiest vegetables and how to store them.
- Learn how to pick out the freshest fruit and veg at the supermarket.
- Learn how to add fruit and veg to breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Homemade baked goods are fresher, more delicious, and often healthier. Plus, baking is so much FUN! In this module we’ll learn how to stock your pantry, so we always have the supplies we need to bake. We’ll learn about gluten and how it affects baking. This module teaches the differences in muffins, cookies, and cakes.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Learn the secret to making perfect biscuits
- Skill Library: how to “make” buttermilk
- Bake a birthday cake from scratch
"Lisa is an experienced teacher and easily included all our participants. Our students were able to gain life skills, communication skills, social skills and fine motor skills through hands-on activities, and they enjoyed every moment of their experience at Dickie’s Cooking School"
Shanna, Teacher
Frequently Asked Question
What our most successful students asked before joining:
Learn to Live Independently: The Ultimate Neuro-Diverse Cooking Course
Learn to Live Independently: The Ultimate Neuro-Diverse Cooking Course
is PERFECT for you if…
- You are tired of eating frozen dinners over and over again.
- You want to learn more about nutrition and eating healthy, balanced meals.
- You want to learn to cook meals you LOVE to eat.
- You are overwhelmed about making a grocery list, planning a budget and shopping and want help with that.
- You have no clue how to tell when food is bad and it is time to throw it out.
- You are ready to start cooking and shopping for yourself.
- You are ready to be more independent and confident in the kitchen.
I can’t wait for you to join:
Cooking with Confidence:
Life Skills for Every Ability
I have spent seven years developing cooking classes for the neuro-diverse community. And what I have discovered in that time is that there are so many young adults who want to be independent, who want to learn how to shop and prepare meals for themselves, but they don’t have a place to do this. Creating a digital course allows me to share my knowledge, my love of cooking (and eating) with more people.
I developed this program to give educators and students easy access to lessons, and materials that they can practice at home -- because that is where they will ultimately need to learn how to apply their skills.
Learning to cook and prepare healthy, balanced meals is an essential life skill and this course gives people the opportunity to not only learn key cooking principles, dozens of recipes, plus practice skills, but also learn how to shop, budget and store food. It is a one-stop-shop.
My name is Lisa Dickie. I am a former Special Education Teacher and now I am the owner of Dickie’s Cooking School. In the past 7 years I have taught hundreds of neuro-diverse people – from all ages, skill level and experience – how to cook food they love to eat.
I have designed cooking programs for teens and adults at CAMH, Community Living Toronto, Holland Bloorview and the Down Syndrome Association of Toronto. This course isn’t just about cooking, it’s about learning how to shop, plan, budget so that you can cook and bake with ease.
Lisa Dickie
Lisa Dickie
Founder, Dickie's Cooking School
Founder, Dickie's Cooking School
$589.00
Cooking with Confidence:
Life Skills for Every Ability
Course starts February 25, 2025.