Do you want to learn how to make the perfect loaf of bread? Even better, do you want the instructor to show you how in your own home?

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in many counties across the state has a program called Community Nutrition Education. Nutrition Education Assistants from the county extension office teach free classes in the home for families with school-aged and younger children.

Participants in the class get to keep the handouts and a notebook with 16 lessons on topics such as "Making the Most of Your Food Dollars" and "Choosing Healthy Snacks, " to lessons on the various food groups such as "Bread, Cereal, Rice and Pasta Group." Each lesson includes at least three recipes. The 16 lessons can be covered in as little as 16 weeks or extended up to nine months.

Participants in the program provide their own ingredients because the food that is prepared is for the participant's family to consume. However, the instructor can provide some of the minor ingredients, such as a particular spice, so that the family doesn't need to purchase it until they have tasted the dish and know that it is a spice that the family will like.

The program is easily adaptable so that a small group of friends can take the classes together, each making the dish for their own family.

There are income requirements for the program. For example, the annual income of a family of four cannot be more than $22,165. For more information, call 405/713-1125, or your county extension office.