Welcome to

The Black Sheep Cooking Club

Where you learn to cook the way all professional chefs learned to cook, by watching a mentoring chef cook!

Current curriculum on the membership site!
As of February 18, 2012


Below is a listing of the many videos, photos and PDF books currently available on our membership web site.
More are being added weekly and sometimes, daily. Note to former Black Sheep Bistro customers, as a member,
you'll get the Black Sheep Video Cookbook Vol 2 recipes before the DVD is even released!
See this short video on
"How We Teach!"

As a member, you get everything listed below, and then some!

The Black Sheep Cooking Club - We take you into our working kitchens and really show you how to cook!
Just Good Fun- Numerous crafts and projects for the whole family. Go green and turn trash to treasure.
In His Image- Diana's still photography of animals. nature, places and more. In full size JPEG's!
The Raven Diaries- Rick's obsession with the amazing wild life he encounters everywhere!
(See how to join below!)

At the Black Sheep Cooking Club we teach you how to cook, not how to follow recipes.


Step #1 - Learn to season! If you know how to season, you can make most anything taste good!

 

You'll learn the professional way and you'll learn to make your own Seasoning Salt!

For both great flavor and good health!

Great Flavor! - This is the most important video in the entire program,
learn this, be consistent, and you will be amazed at everything you make!

For Good Health! - You will cut your sodium intake drastically!
Next! 

 

Herbs de Provence
One of my most used
seasoning mixes.  
Minced Garlic
A kitchen must have!  
Here's a fun party idea!
A Seasoning Salt Tasting
Don't want to make your own?
Set it up like a wine tasting!
Special Seasoning videos for " Kids" of all ages!
Kids Learn to Season 1
The first "sauce" I learned to make!
Kids Learn to Season 2
Here we'll do a hot sauce!

 

Playing with Snails!
 My nephew and I made a three course lunch using "caracoles."
An Appetizer
The Second Course
The Main Course


Step #2 - Determining how much!
How Much To Use?
Learn to cook to your own tastes and needs. Look at a recipe, don't follow it!
(Please know that this does not apply to many baking disciplines like; breads, pastries etc.)
 
Step #3 - Now watch how it's done!
 

I believe this is one of the greatest opportunities we offer at The Black Sheep Cooking Club for we give you the ability to "watch how it's done" over and over again in the comforts of your own home. Realize, all true professional chefs learn by watching a mentor do it. For many of us that meant years* in a hot and dirty kitchen only being allowed to do various forms of grunt work. And when one finally starts to get the opportunity to actually cook, one must watch until "Chef" is convinced they've got it down right. Then and only then is one allowed to go and make the dish for themselves.

Know also that at The Black Sheep Cooking Club we are giving you real life situation dishes. In other words we aren't just showing you how to make it, we are creating the dish for a real meal, so it's cooked and seasoned for a live person, and many times that person is a paying customer, who is going to eat it. We shoot each recipe so that it's as if you were standing next to the chef in the kitchen during the dishes actual preparation. We feel it's as close and real as you can get without actually being there. And, by watching it again and again, you get every detail down pat.

*For a great book on the subject, read Jacques Pepin's, "The Apprentice: My Life In The Kitchen"
Aioli
(a quick & easy version)
This was by far the restaurant's
most popular sauce!
Aioli Dinner Suggestion 1
Now dinner is fast and easy!

< Some uses with Aioli >
Aioli Dinner 2
(Mediterranean Tacos)
 

A Favorite Spring Lunch
On the BBQ

  

Start with this special section seeing
"How a chef thinks..."
These are short videos to help you see how a chef organizes, makes use of
odds & ends, and gives you unique ways to prep ahead, saving time & money!


Some ideas for Beef!

Trimming a whole New York Strip
Save money, eat better.
 Cooked New York Salad
Using New York Trim Meat 

 
 
Roasting a Beef Sirloin
Save money and prepare for
future meals at the same time.
  
Basic Beef Stew
You can use most any kind
of meat for this dish.

Working with my favorite, Lamb!

Roasting a Bone in Leg of Lamb
Trimming a Lamb Rack
Selfish and Guiltless Pleasures
Gnocchi - Using Lamb Trim Meat
Use that lamb bone
to start a Cassoulet!
Roasting a Lamb Rack

Let's work with some Pork!


Make dinner fast by
Pre-Cooking a Pork Loin
Some things are great when done ahead!
Then look at the recipes below.

 

Wait! Don't waste those Pan Juices!

 Pork Loin Fideo

Pork Loin Risotto

Pork Loin Linguine

 
 
Now that you've made Risotto!
Risotto Cakes

Note: You can use all the same recipes above with both your roast sirloin and a leg of lamb!

Here's some Poultry ideas!


A Spanish (and healthier) version
of Chicken Cordon Bleu?
Great re-heating secrets included!
Roast Quail Salad with
a"Far East Feel"
Roast Chicken & Vegetables

Special Section - Confit of Duck Favorites!
Ou La La!
Fresh Foie Gras and Confit!
Cassoulet Tacos & Burritos
Heating up Cassoulet

Confit and Chanterelle
Mushroom Stew

 

Salads & Sauces

 

Building a Papaya Salza!

Salads - Combining Favorites
A fast, easy Salza! 

Inside, we'll show you how to save time by making breakfast and starting dinner at the same time!

< You'll also get SPECIAL ADDITIONS >

Learn to "think like a chef" on the road!

Travel with a chef and see how to prepare great meals on vacation (or at home!) and save money doing it. Rick and Diana love to travel and they also love to cook while traveling. In this section you'll find what they've done while on their numerous road trips. Many episodes include; where they shopped, what they bought, the menu, how each dish was prepared and how much it all cost! Although they love to eat out, they also love using what they find where they are!

See the contents of "Vacation Cooking in the San Juan Islands"
Join Rick and Diana for five days in a vacation rental on the west side of San Juan Island where they made full
use of the kitchen and still had time to go chase Orcas (Killer Whales), eagles and more. You'll see they ate
very well for less than $7 per person, per meal! (This is most of the DVD of the same name, online.)

This is a great mini cooking class in itself for it demonstrates
how a chef uses everything on hand, saving time and money!

 

Favorite "quick ones..."
These are very short videos made to inspire, and encourage you to expand on what you learn elsewhere in our program.
 

 

Pizza from
Black Sheep Bread
Lamb Chop Salad
Confit, Beet &
Goat Cheese Salad

 

Steak with potatoes & corn
on the cob in only two pans

Shrimp & Asparagus
Fideo with Aioli!

Baby Trout with Egg-pancakes

 

Really Fresh Fish Test!
Broccoli Sticks from Stalks
Making Paella Cakes 
 
 
 
Aioli Salad
Heating Plates Fast!
Turkey Thighs
Avocado Sauce
This could be listed in the "Healthy" section and it's great with so many things!
Rare "Ahi" Tune Steak
Turkey and Avocado Tacos
A nice change for left-over turkey!


Just For Fun

Party Ideas!
 

A Chocolate Mousse in 10
So quick, make it before going to work! Ready when you get home!

Chocolate Mousse in 10 real fast!

A Chocolate Sauce Tasting
This is a great party idea for friends!
 

 

 

Kate & Avery's Chocolate Mess!
2 kids vs. 6 lbs of chocolate.
Who wins?

 

A Black Sheep Cooking Club
Subscriber's Exclusive
The Black Sheep Bistro's Video Cookbook Vol 2 Previews
You'll get them here, online, before the DVD is even released!

A Basic Paté
This one's done with poultry
Salmon & Fish Terrines
Endless variations and easy for 2 or 50!

 
 
Cabbage in Duck Fat
 Borrego Borrgo Borrego
Yes the one with the stew in the onion cup, the grilled loin and the 3 baby chops!
 Black Sheep Tomato Soup
 
 

Sun Dried Berry Sauce
For Venison & Duck
 Sofrito
(An onion & Garlic reduction)
Mini French Fries

Lamb Loin and Chanterelles
Fresh Fish Brik
Italian Squash with
Sheep's Milk Romano Cheese

A Black Sheep Cocido
Our version was a Spanish Cassoulet!

Black Sheep Cooking Club's
Seasonal Dishes
Fun favorites, many of which can be used year round!

Roasting a large Turkey!
The tricks to a brown and moist bird.

A fast and simple Gravy!
When the Turkey's done, make the
gravy in less than 10 minutes!

Pumpkin Soup
A great and very versatile soup!


Turkey for One or Two
With a Turkey "Sauce"
(See also Turkey Thighs in "Quick Ones")
An "Adult" Cranberry Sauce
Now make a sauce
from that Pumpkin Soup!

Black Sheep Cooking Club's
"Pre-Packaged Gifts"
We give you these recipes and gift giving ideas in the hopes that you will use them to help others. We encourage you to share them with your friends, family, co-workers, church group, girl scouts etc. They not only make great gifts for the holidays, they are a fun way to; welcome a new neighbor, say thanks, make an easy dinner or side dish for the mother
with the new baby, just to have around for something quick, and so much more. What can you do?

Make a Lental or Split Pea Soup
Risotto with dried mushrooms
Fideo, Paella or Couscous
Pizza Dough
Makes fun and easy gifts!
The best chocolate sauce, ever!

The Black Sheep Cooking Club's Pre-Packaged Gift Ideas

Black Sheep Cooking Club's
Heart Healthy and Green Dishes
 These dishes lean towards; higher protein with lower fat and cholesterol, whole grains rather than processed flours, and an overall attempt to get more salads, greens, fiber, fruits, vegetables and legumes into the diet without starving the body of it's needed calories and numerous nutrients.

Bison Burgers
Lower fat than beef!
"Aioli" and a more traditional style.
Venison Rack
with a truffle scented mushroom sauce!
Healthy ways to Thicken
Soups, sauces and more.
Sausage & Pepper Variation
Salmon & Capellini
Fast & easy!
Pureed Cauliflower
Instead of potatoes & butter.

 

Extras
Tools, equipment, suppliers and more!
Favorite Tools
Giving you insight and demonstrations of the best tool for the job.
Tips on cleaning, storing and use.

Instant Read Pocket Thermometer
 
 
 
Black Steel Pans
The workhorse of the kitchen
 
Tongs
No kitchen is complete without them!
 
Do two jobs at once with a
Double Steamer
 
 
 
 
Sources, Suppliers & Purveyors

Growers Ranch
In Costa Mesa, for Produce
D'Artagnan
For dried meats, sausages, confit
and other European Specialties
Dry Dock Fish
In Fullerton, for fish
La Espanola
In Harbor City, for everything Spanish
Chef's Toys
In Fountain Valley, for equipment
The Meat House
Meats and more with two locations;
Costa Mesa & Mission Viejo

 

 

Savory Spice Shop
Great spices and herbs in
Newport Beach/Corona del Mar

 

 

Black Sheep Cooking Club
PDF's and Books
 
 
 
 
What To Look For In Wine!
In a downloadable PDF form
The newest version of the book Rick used when he was a Sommelier and Wine Educator, to train hundreds of waiters, waitresses and the general public in his numerous wine seminars.
 
 
 
 
Black Sheep Cooking Club
Photos
 
Some Misc. Black Sheep Pictures
 

PLUS

Just Good Fun's Hobbies and Crafts
Wine stuff, surfing, Sea Glass and making jewelry from it, and more!
Introduction to Sea Glass
Introduction to Sea Glass Jewelry
Make a Sea Glass Pendant
Make Sea Glass Earings

Make a Sea Glass Wine Charms
Sea Glass Christmas Trees
Sea Glass & Driftwood
Christmas Tree

Make a Trivat & Wine Coaster

Make a Wood Surfboard Part 1
Make a Wood Surfboard Part 2

The Raven Diaries - Nature Videos & PDF Books

And so much more to come!

or send a check (in US dollars) to;

Just Good Fun
P.O. Box 15427
Newport Beach, CA (USA) 92659-5427

Please include the email address you'd like to use (please write clearly) and a
phone number in case we need to verify the email address. Thank you!