After a long slog at the office, there is nothing better than coming home to a hearty home-cooked meal.

Most people do not have that luxury however.

You rush home longing to spend quality time with your children, only to find yourself sweating in front of the stove before hurrying the children off to bed.

The result is daily exhaustion.

This is where Loret De Musso of Loret’s Kitchen steps in with an answer to your prayers.

The talented foodie has developed a 4-week cooking course to turn your domestic worker into an able home chef.

Based in Umhlali, Loret takes small groups of domestic workers (8 maximum) one afternoon a week for hands-on cooking lessons designed to leave her students inspired and confident in the kitchen.

Each week the pupils prepare a set menu, which they then take home to their families to enjoy.

Meals range from roast chicken and vegetable pie with puff pastry topping, with savoury fried rice and apple nutty crumble, to lamb curry, potato and leek pie with parmesan cheese and chocolate cake with caramel cream mousse topping.

The class also learns about hygiene, the correct way in which to prepare items from scratch, how to store food, different cooking techniques and garnishing.

Students do not need to be able to read or write, nor do they need to be fluent in English.

The course costs R2 500 per person and runs from 12pm to 5pm every Tuesday – date to be confirmed as soon as 8 people have booked.

The fee includes all ingredients, a branded apron, a 100-page colour recipe book (English and Zulu) and a certificate on completion.

Palm Lakes resident Charles Haynes said he was thoroughly impressed by his domestic worker’s new cooking skills.

“She has made us some flippen’ good meals since the course and her confidence has grown, too,” he said.

Loret is passionate about all things culinary, and hopes to inspire her students to love both cooking and baking.

She started her own career as a high school Rooi Rose Top Teenager cooking finalist, one of 8 in the country.

The bug had bitten and after matric she was off to hotel school to study for her national catering diploma and later her higher education teaching diploma.

Loret’s Kitchen has become the heart and soul of Umhlali Village, where she has been an advocate for reviving the village’s quaint atmosphere.

Pop in to her shop for a coffee, vetkoek, ciabatta, frulata or iced coffee.

Or book your next birthday party for a Master Chef cooking party vibe.

“Everything to do with food I adore,” she says.

To book, contact Loret at 082 561 1735 or loret@loretskitchen.co.za.

Weekly lesson meal plan

Lesson 1:

• Roast Chicken & vegetable Pie with puff pastry topping (Chicken a la king basis)
• Savoury Fried Rice
• Apple Nutty Crumble Pie

Lesson 2:

• Leek potato & butterbean Soup
• Savoury Quiche
• Meatballs & gravy

Lesson 3:

• Cheesy stuffed butternut
• Souffle toasties (kids friendly treat)
• Spaghetti Bolognaise

Lesson 4:

• Lamb Curry
• Potato, Sweet potato & leek pie with parmesan cheese
• Fool proof Chocolate Cake with caramel cream mousse topping

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