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Community Corner

Bloomingdale Library Hosts No-Fuss Cooking Class

The No-Fuss Foods cooking class by Rowena Sjovall was a hit at the Bloomingdale Regional Library.

What started back in college as a negotiation with her roommates has evolved into a passion for Rowena Sjovall of Lithia.

Her love of cooking has led to a blog titled "No Fuss Foods" and a series of cooking classes to be offered twice a month at the , 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico.

Sjovall is strictly a home cook and does not claim to be a professional. However, the students she has taught to prepare her simple recipes at the library might disagree. 

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According to Bill Pierce of Brandon, who attended both the June and July classes, "The recipes are simple and right on point. They are easy to duplicate at home."

While the public library does not offer a full-size kitchen, Sjovall brings an electric skillet or deep fryer with her to the class to better demonstrate and allow the students to taste the end result. 

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"I like to keep it simple and quick, but have a unique flavor," Sjovall said in between chopping cucumbers.

The class typically features three side dishes in the hour-long segment. One of the dishes can typically be turned into a main course by adding a protein.

Originally from the Philippines, Sjovall moved to FishHawk Ranch about two years ago. Since meeting her military husband in California nine years ago, she's lived in Hawaii, Kentucky and Georgia, honing her cooking skills at each location.

"I love to experiment with flavors," Sjovall said. "I want to use ingredients that are unique yet inexpensive for everyone to enjoy."

Whenever Sjovall goes to a new restaurant or a friend orders a new dish, her brain starts turning, wondering how she can recreate the dish at home.

She now has two cooking blogs featuring her enhanced-flavor recipes, nofussfoods.com and sarapliciouskitchen.com

Sjovall also dabbles in food photography, taking pictures of her creations before her husband and two growing teenagers dig in.  

Patty Mier of Valrico has attended both of her classes and said she is "pleasantly surprised how tasteful the recipes are since they are simple ingredient combinations."

More classes have been added to the library's schedule. The class offered for August is full, but you can ask to be placed on the waiting list. Future dates will include daytime and evening options.

Daytime classes from 10:30 a.m. to noon are scheduled for Oct. 14, Nov. 18, Jan. 13, Feb. 10 and March 9.  

Evening classes from 6-7:30 p.m. are slated for Oct. 25, Nov. 29, Jan. 24, Feb. 28 and March 27.

You can register for the classes at the library.

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