MOSES LAKE - The Taste of Home Cooking School returns to Moses Lake next month, giving participants the opportunity to learn how to cook a variety of new dishes.

The national cooking show takes place at the Grant County Fairgrounds May 8. Taste of Home Cooking School shows take place in about 300 locations across the country each year.

This will be the sixth Taste of Home show in Moses Lake, local organizer Tera Redwine said. The event is sponsored by the Columbia Basin Herald.

She said the show's main event is a demonstration of various recipes, led by a Taste of Home cooking expert. It's much like being present at one of those cooking shows on television.

"It's just like watching a show on say The Food Network or another type of channel, only it's in real life," Redwine said. "You get to watch them prepare dishes, and interact and ask questions."

She said the great thing about Taste of Home shows is that they show you how to cook things using everyday ingredients in your pantries.

This year, Taste of Home Culinary Specialist Kristi Larson will lead the cooking demonstration. Larson is an Othello native and has presented at some of the past Moses Lake shows.

Larson will be demonstrating how to cook 10 different recipes including entrees, desserts, appetizers and brunch ideas including Bacon Potato Waffles and Chocolate Canoli.

She said the recipes are designed for "anyone who enjoys cooking at home for friends and family," and that she makes each recipe as easy and versatile as possible, and shares lots of short cuts.

Larson also promises the recipes will have easy to find ingredients. "You won't have to buy a big pack of something you only need a teaspoon of, and won't ever use the rest of," she said.

Larson said she loves to make the audience laugh and feel involved with her show. She will be giving away prizes, including the food she cooks, cook books and product samples.

This will be Larson's fifth show in the Basin, and she said she cooks for around 40 shows a year. She still remembers her first show, when she was in high school and her mother and grandmother took her to a Taste of Home Cooking Show in Tri-Cities.

"It's fun to get to work close to home and see friends and family at the show," she said.

Redwine said the Moses Lake event also features a trade show prior to the main cooking demonstration. There will be information on kitchen products, samples and giveaways during the trade show, she said.

One of the prizes being given away is groceries from Safeway, for example, said Redwine.

She said a lot of people will have fun at the show.

"It's for anybody who is looking for new recipes to try," Redwine said."It's also an opportunity to take mom out since it's right before Mother's Day."

Tickets for the event are $12 for general admission and $50 for VIP admission. VIP tickets come with a catered dinner by Michael's, an autographed cookbook and early admittance to the show.

Tickets are available at The Columbia Basin Herald office and Michael's Bistro.

Each person who attends the show gets a gift bag with coupons, samples and Taste of Home magazines.

The trade show portion of the event starts at 5 p.m. and the cooking demonstration begins at 7 p.m. Events takes place in the 4-H and Commercial buildings at the fairgrounds.

Be sure to 'like' the Taste of Home Cooking Show at www.Facebook.com/TasteofHomeML for a chance to win two general admission tickets and a cook book. Winners will be announced Monday. You can find Larson on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Kristi.TasteofHome.