mamamich's blog

Tyler Florence on Cooking with Family

2009-02-19T22:23:00-06:00

It was such an honor to be invited to interview Tyler Florence, author and celebrity chef of Food Network's Food 911, How to Boil Water, and Tyler's Ultimate.
As a working parent, concerned with feeding my family well, it was only
natural for me to ask Tyler about how a busy man like himself is able
to spend time with his family in the kitchen.

"Family meals are a top priority," he says, and he does whatever he
can to be there to eat with his wife and three children. He praised
his wife Tolan's cooking and says that they both work hard to prepare
delicious meals for their family to enjoy.

My friends and I have always been curious about the types of meals
that professional chefs prepare in their own homes. I asked him if he
cooks differently than the average family. "I don't think that chefs
necessarily try for 'fancy' as much as they work for 'delicious,'" he
says. But he does acknowledge that "an average meal for us is never
average. We've got a 6 month old, a 20 month old, a 12 year old, and
of course ourselves, so we've got a couple different stages of flavor
and texture going on. For ourselves, we try to put together something
fresh and seasonal, but not too over the top. We keep it simple but
delicious."

As a children's cooking teacher, I am often curious how other people
involve their children in the kitchen. When I asked him if his
children help with meal preparations, he laughed and said, "If you
count letting them smear roasted apple puree all over the place, yes!"
His 12 year old, Miles, has more self control, of course, and loves to
help his father prepare meals and home made gifts in the kitchen.
Tyler pays particular attention to the foods that his children enjoy so
that he can prepare meals that will suit them. "The smiles on their
faces let me know what they like and what they don't" he says.

My daughter, a self-proclaimed picky eater, had a burning question
to ask Tyler: "If your kids don't like what you made for dinner, do you
say, "Too bad, this is what is for dinner." Or do you make them
something else?" He agrees that this question "is a tough one! But
in general, I have thought about their tastes beforehand, so that I
hope that it doesn't come up. If I know what I have prepared is good
for them and something they generally like, I don't have a problem
saying "no" to making something else."

For families like mine, where people have a variety of food
preferences, he encourages meals to begin with a "somewhat neutral base
and then make additions from there. Take tacos - you can always add
the heat. But the best way to satisfy the whole gang is just to do a
little bit of extra research in advance and find a dish that satisfies
everyone. Branch out from your "go-to" dishes and I'll bet you can
find something that will work."

If you have a favorite dish that your family enjoys, be sure to take a look at Tyler's contest, Macy's Keeps America Cooking,
which ends on April 13. The contest calls for viewers to record and
upload their own videos showing how to prepare some of their favorite
recipes. Prizes include a trip for two to San Francisco to cook with
Tyler, a shipping spree with Tyler for new kitchen products, and gift
certificates from Macy's. For more information about the contest and to
view a sample video entry, please visit the What's Cooking Blog and Macy's Keeps America Cooking.

Healthy Ski Snacks for the Family

2009-02-18T21:02:42-06:00

You
have spent a long day on the slopes and have worked up an appetite.
Stumbling into the lodge, you find it hard to resist the scent of
french fries and hot cocoa. After all, what could be better than a
warm high-energy snack after a day of strenuous exercise?

While some of the foods you find in the lodge make for delicious
treats, most of them provide only empty calories - a quick-fix, so to
speak. It is best for your body if you plan ahead and bring snacks are
more nutritious. In order for your body to feel energized and perform
well on the slopes, it is better to consume healthy snacks that are
high in protein and calories, without sacrificing nutrition.

Simple snacks that are easy to pack and store in your locker or jacket pocket include:

string cheese
granola
nuts
energy bars (made from ingredients you recognize, rather than from synthetic ones)
Ski Bunny Snack Mix (see below)

Other simple lunch or snack ideas include:

slices of carrots and apples with peanut butter
crackers with hummus
home made banana or pumpkin bread
soup, chili or pasta with marinara sauce, brought from home in a thermos

Keep in mind that for food-safety reasons, some foods, such as
yogurt, sandwiches made with mayonnaise or meats, should be stored in a
refrigerator or in a small chilled cooler.

Ski Bunny Snack Mix

Mix some of the following ingredients together to create this
delicious sweet and salty snack mix. Feel free to improvise and add
ingredients that suit the dietary preferences or needs of your family.

Dried coconut ribbons (not sweetened shredded coconut)
Annie's cheddar bunny crackers
Dried cherries, cranberries or golden raisins
Sliced or slivered almonds

Don't forget: Skiers don't usually sweat as much as other athletes,
because of the cold air temperatures. So be careful - you may get
dehydrated without even realizing it.

This post was inspired by our winter vacation to Montana. The photo
above was taken at Blacktail Mountain, about an hour outside of
Kalispell.

Great Tools for Cooking With Kids

2009-02-11T15:20:39-06:00

Cooking with kids is a fantastic time to spend time together, and if
you are lucky, you will accomplish something productive at the same
time! Because cooking with kids has been my business
for the past 5 years, I have some favorite cooking tools that I like to
use with children. But I realized that my experiences are only the tip
of the iceberg and wanted to see what tools other people enjoy using
with kids in the kitchen. Thanks to all of my Twitter friends who responded to my request, as well as all of the fantastic replies from HARO.

Colleen loves to use a sushi mat with her son - they create healthy and delicious sushi as a team
Jessica measures ingredients in measuring spoons & cups and then lets her toddler add them to the recipe.
Chris Perrin has a 3-year old chef in training that can already peel potatoes with a vegetable peeler! He says, "He gainsa deep sense of accomplishment...and we have a lot of fun."
Jill Nussinow, MS, RD: loves to use pumpkin carving knives with children they can cut hard foods without cutting kids' skin. She also loves to use the Garlic Twist, which she sells on her website
because it's a lot of fun for kids to use. You simply drop in the
garlic and twist the plastic and you end up with minced garlic.
Chef Jill Houk: is a mom and professional chef who teaches healthy cooking classes to families. She loves to use the blender-under close supervision, of course.
Krista sells a nylon lettuce/vegetable knife on her website
that works great for kids. It's sharp enough to cut breads and most
veggies, but does not have a metal blade so it's a much safer, but
still useful, tool. I can speak to this product personally - because
it is the same size as a "real" knife, kids can learn how to handle it
safely and properly. We love it
Elizabeth Yarnell, author of cookbook Glorious One-Pot Meals loves to use her juicer
with her children. They take turns feeding fruit and veggies into the
spout and pushing with the stopper. The best part about juicing with
them, she says, is that she can usually be guaranteed they will drink
the output!
Chris kids cooking classes and carries the entire line of Sassafras kids cooking tools in their. He says his favorite is Little Cook's Kitchen Tool Kit,
which includes a wooden rolling pin, rubber spatula, dry measuring
cups, measuring spoons, whisk, wooden spoon ... all geared for
kid-sized hands.
Amber says her favorite tool to use with her 2 ½ year old daughter is the KitchenAid Mixer. Her daughter can help with the attachments, close the lid and lock it and see everything mixing together.
Leisa Naples, star, host and producer of over 100 short episodes of Living Well with LeisaTM and inESPN's Flex Appeal, loves to use Princess spatulas
with her 4 daughters. She says it fits well in their little hands and
is great for mixing, frosting and scraping. Any little girl will feel
like a true princess with this fancy cooking tool. She also loves the kitchen timer because teaches them that timing is everything in the kitchen!

Since so many people suggested products from The Pampered Chef,
I thought I'd assemble them into their own list. You can find a
complete list of great PC tools to use with kids and college bound
students here.
If you don't feel like looking at the whole list, here is a "best of
list" of people's favorite Pampered Chef tools to use with kids:

Personally, I use the Food Chopper and Deluxe Cheese Grater in almost all of my cooking classes for children. They are are fun but are also safe for kids of all ages to use.
Ashley Harris,
a pediatric and adolescent dietitian in Washington believes that fun
kitchen tools attract children to healthy foods in the kitchen. She
recommends the Apple/Peeler/Corer/Slicer. "In the end", she says, "you
get a naked, spiral-peeled apple with a little pile of "apple skin
spaghetti" asher daughter liked to call it. You can also find apple
corer peelers at Bed Bath and Beyond, or Linens n' Things or any other
kitchen store for$15-20.
Denise Willms
loves the Measure All® Cup from The Pampered Chef. It's designed so
kids can eject soft, messy food like mayonnaise, molasses, and peanut
butter from the measuring cup, instead of having to scrape it into the
bowl. Her daughter loves cooking with peanut butter, and she says that
this tool makes it easy to measure, and very easy to clean up after.
Caryn Small Bamboo Spoon set because they fit so well in little hands

Favorite Cook Books to use in the Kitchen With Kids

Veggie Teens
was developed by Elyse May, a 14-year old veggie-teen for other teenage
vegetarians, along with her mother, a physician, and her father, a
professional chef. It contains teen-friendly recipes with photos, basic
culinary tips for new cooks, nutrition notes and teen tips. Her
favorite tool is the melon baller.
A great book of activities to get Dads in the kitchen with their kids: Dads, Teach Your Kids 2 - 6 About Baking
One of my personal favorites: The Toddler Café
And another great one that I helped to edit: Picture Yourself Cooking With Kids, by Beth

Healthier Valentine's Day Treats for Class Parties

2009-02-11T15:17:03-06:00

Many
schools have started to implement wellness policies and no longer allow
sweets to be shared at school. While many people are in mourning over
this decision, others rejoice. After all, school IS a place for
learning, which can be difficult to accomplish on a sugar high.

In the meantime, Valentine's Day is nearly upon us, and many parents
are in a tailspin as they try to figure out what to prepare for
classroom holiday parties. I thought I'd offer up a few healthy
options that are so delicious that the kids won't feel as if they are
missing out (on the chalky candy hearts of our childhood!).

For starters, some treats are easy to prepare and to share with a crowd:

Pop a fresh batch of popcorn in a pot on your stove, or in an old
fashioned air popper. Toss with parmesan cheese, salt or cinnamon
sugar.
Fresh seasonal fruits can be sliced and easily distributed. Or,
you can make little fruit kabobs. To save money, use fruits that are
in season this time of year and try to avoid ones that have traveled
from a distant country.

Some recipes, like the ones below, are delicious and festive -
perfect to share with a class full of students trying to avoid catching
cooties on Valentine's Day! Both of these recipes are really fun to
make - don't forget to call your kids into the kitchen to help you!

Breadstick Hearts

Ingredients:

1 package refrigerated breadstick dough
Any of the following toppings (to suit your young chef's personal taste):

Freshly grated parmesan cheese
Cinnamon sugar
Red crystalized sugar

Directions:

Wash your hands and tie back long hair.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Take a piece of the breadstick dough and shape into a small heart.
For a larger heart, twist the ends of two pieces of dough together.
Sprinkle the dough with any of the above toppings of your choice.
Bake according to the package directions, or until golden brown.
Share with your loved ones!

I LOVE Roll-Ups!

Ingredients:
1 whole wheat or flour tortilla
Cream cheese
Strawberry jam

Directions:

Wash your hands and tie back long hair.
Place the tortilla in front of you on a clean work surface.
With a spoon, place a scoop of cream cheese on the tortilla. Spread it evenly with a dinner or plastic knife.
With a clean spoon, scoop out a spoonful of strawberry jam onto the tortilla. Spread it evenly on top of the cream cheese.
Roll up the tortilla and slice into 1 inch thick pieces.
Serve to the one you love.

P.S. My after school cooking students can't wait for class on
Friday - we are currently doing a "Recipes from Books and Movies"
series... We'll be making Hermione Granger's Love Potion Soup!

Teacher Tips: Cooking In the Classroom

2008-11-14T14:10:39-06:00

: Dish duty!

Just ask anyone who has cooked anything recently and they will tell
you that the kitchen is an ideal place to reinforce what our children
are learning in school. Measuring, estimating and counting reinforce
math skills. Predicting, observing and causing chemical/physical
changes in food are the fodder of scientific learning. Tasting and
preparing foods from around the globe are an ideal way to learn about
other cultures. And cooking with healthy and seasonal ingredients
models healthy eating, which we certainly need to reinforce more and
more in our growing country (and by growing, I mean in girth!).

I
thought I'd share some tips for cooking with children in the
classroom. It is a fun activity and is a fantastic teaching method for
kids who learn by doing. Some of these tips are obvious to many of
you, but are worth mentioning for the safety and health of our students.

Cleanliness:

Before starting any cooking activity with your students, model
good hand washing techniques. Be sure to show the children how you not
only wash your palms , but also between your fingers, and the backs of
your hands. It's also good to show them how to "scritch scratch" the
soap on your palms with the tips of your fingers to clean under your
finger nails. Who knows what has been gathering under there...
If you have long hair, tie it back. Nobody likes strands of hair in their food.
If anyone touches his face or hair, gently remind them to wash
their hands again. Younger kids need frequent reminding since they
seem to adore scratching the insides of their noses!
Have clean and dry dish towels and dish soap at the ready.
Have two scrubbies handy - one for washing dishes with soap; the
other for scrubbing vegetables (be sure to keep this one soap-free!)

Safety:

Have two clean and DRY pot holders in a convenient location
Depending on the age of your students, you might want to use blue
painter's tape to make a "safety zone" around an electric skillet,
burner, oven or stove. Students should stay on the outside of the
taped area unless they are supervised by an adult and are actively
stirring the cooking food.
If you are using knives in your class, be sure to wash them
immediately after use and return them to their safe storage location.
Knives can easily get lost under soapy water in the sink and can cut
unsuspecting dish washers.
Always carry knives at your side with the tip pointing towards the floor.
Before cutting rounded objects, such as potatoes, carrots or
zucchini, give the food a flat edge so that the food doesn't roll
around on the cutting board. Do this by cutting a small slice from one
side of the food so that it can lie flat on your work surface.

Teaching:

Try to include every student - this may mean giving each student
a small task. Tasks can include: reading the recipe aloud, checking to
be sure that you have included all of the ingredients, washing produce
or dishes, drying dishes, measuring, stirring or helping another
student.
Encourage all of the students to taste the food. If they are
hesitant, don't force them, but remind them that they should taste the
results of their hard work. If they are fairly certain that they won't
like the food, we encourage them to take a "No, thank you." bite.
Remember that forcing the issue can lead to issues about food later in
life - and we want food to be associated with positive memories.

Food Tidings - An Easy Way to Share Food with Loved Ones

2008-11-07T11:33:56-06:00

What's Cooking
teaches cooking classes to children and helps families spend quality
time together in the kitchen and around the table. While cooking
strengthens family bonds and helps children to develop life skills,
there are many other benefits as well. Simply take the fruits of your
labor (pardon the pun!) through your front door and out into your
community, where they can be used as a vehicle for helping those in
need. This article is the first of a series that will share how
families, companies and schools across the nation are using food and
cooking to help others. Everyone knows that recipes usually guide
people through the steps of preparing food - but we want to take it one
step further. Consider these articles to be Recipes for Action. Gather your family and cook for a cause!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have all been there - a friend just had a baby, a relative is
recovering from surgery, or a neighbor has lost a spouse. If you are
like me, the first thought that crosses your mind is that you can show
your love and support with food. Nothing quite conveys your compassion
or empathy than a nourishing meal.

But what if someone else is planning to deliver a meal on the same
day as you? Or what if there are food allergies that you hadn't
anticipated? What if the recipient only needs meals for specific days
during a particular time frame? And if you are organized enough to make
a schedule, what if someone cancels and wants to find another person
who can step in and take their place.

Lucky for us, Zach, his wife Lisa and their friend Jeff have created Food Tidings,
an online place to organize and manage meals for friends and family in
need. They belong to a huge church (12,000 members!) that has an entire
"ministry" dedicated to helping members of their church when they are
sick, bereaved or blessed with a new child. Coordinating meal
deliveries often became complicated and the idea of forming a simple
online calendar to organize their efforts was born. Initially, Food
Tidings is being marketed to other congregations because many of them
already have the infrastructure of sharing food and helping others in
place. However, this useful tool is catching on, and playgroups and
families across the country are signing up.

Feedback so far has been fantastic:

"I just wanted to let you know that this site is such a great idea
and is going to be a life saver for me. I am in charge of coordinating
meals for a family member that is having brain surgery in January and I
have been thinking about how to keep everything straight so they don't
end up with too much food at the same time...I am so happy that you
have taken the time to offer this. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!"
"I absolutely love your website!!! It is such a time saver and it
makes helping people so much easier. Thank you for creating this
website."

Oh - did I mention that it is free to use? Zach says that their goal
is simply to help people. And from the look of things, he has achieved
his goal.

p.s. While I was writing this article, my sister had abdominal surgery. I set up a sample Food Tidings schedule
on her behalf so you could all see how it looks and how easy it is to
use. What are you waiting for? Sign up and help feed someone in need!

Halloween Treats - You've Got Options

2008-09-25T15:58:07-05:00

I have a confession to make. I am one of those moms. I
cringe at the thought of high fructose corn syrup entering the bodies
of my two children. It's not that high fructose corn syrup is much
worse for their bodies than ordinary sugar. But to me, it is a sign
that the food that it's in is a man-made laboratory concoction. Don't
get me wrong. I love a good hunk of chocolate or a bowl of ice cream as
much as the next person. But I aim to indulge in sugar-laden treats
that are made from real food. And even then, I try to do so only on
occasion.

So, how should I handle Halloween? Should I ban the sugar-bombs that
my kids bring home with pride after a fun evening of trick-or-treating?
No way - that will only make them want to eat more. Are there appealing
options for handling the sugar and over packaging madness that
surrounds this holiday? You bet!

Kids learn from our actions - it's time we step up and show our kids
that we care about their health and the health of other people's
children...not to mention the health of our planet.

Try to shift the focus from conventional candy treats to activities
and treasures that are better for our bodies and our planet.
Consider the ingredients that are in the treats that you share with
the little ghosts, princesses and superheroes that come to your door.
Consider a trade-in policy - you will give your child a book, toy
or coupon for a favorite activity if they turn in all but their
favorite 10-15 pieces of candy.
Do you have to give out candy? If not, give out special treasures
that will last awhile before being dumped into the trash. Here are some
of our favorite treat alternatives:

Flour or herb seed packets
Coins
Polished rocks
Fancy erasers, pencil grips or pencils
Temporary Tattoos
Mini clay packets
Origami paper and instructions
Miniature magnifying glasses
Bouncy balls, especially spooky ones!

If you want to give out treats made from real ingredients, try these:

: Kid Clif Zbar: S'mores

Fruit leathers
Honey sticks
Glee Gum mini's
Kid Clif Zbar: Spooky S'mores
Annie's Cheddar Bunnies
Freeze dried strawberries
...you can find more ideas on my Amazon Store

For more wonderful ideas about how to make Halloween healthier and
safer for our children and for the environment, visit Green Halloween (www.greenhalloween.org).

For other Halloween articles by the same author, please visit the What's Cooking Blog.

Halloween - Limit the Candy-Chaos...or not?

2008-09-25T15:53:55-05:00

It's almost Halloween. You know what that means...The kids are
asking for a different costume every other day and are lured by treats
placed strategically near the checkout stands at the market.

It's decision time: How will you handle the loot that comes home
with your little ghoul? Will it be a gorge-fest or will the candy-fairy
come and take most of the haul off into the sunset?

What the heck - Halloween comes only once a year. Why not let the
kids eat their fill? Well, at the risk of sounding preachy, we should
consider the health implications that gorging ourselves with candy can
have. Bear with me - I'll keep this brief. You have probably heard
about the rising rates of childhood obesity in our country. Obesity can
often lead to diabetes - which affects more than 200,000 children in
the U.S. What is it? Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not
produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that converts sugar and
other food into energy for daily life.

Of course, I would never suggest banning candy - it is too
delicious. And as parents, we all know that banning certain foods makes
them unbearably tempting. So what are some alternatives to the
candy-chaos that frequently surrounds this holiday?

Ellyn Satter,
an expert on feeding children, believes that kids should learn to read
their own bodies and discover their own limits. Some children naturally
show restraint. My son, for example, does not. When he was only 3, he
ate so much popcorn that he made himself throw up! But you can bet that
he never ate himself sick again.

If letting your child stuff himself to the gills isn't an option for your family, here are a few other ideas:

Be a good role model - don't gorge (at least, not in front of them!)
Encourage your child to pick his or her favorite 10 pieces of candy
and buy the rest from her. Encourage her to save some of the money and
donate the rest to a charity of her choice.
Don't donate the rest of your candy to a charity. In most cases,
recipients of charity need all of the nutrients they can get. If it
isn't good for your body, it isn't good for theirs, either.
Pick out a few favorites and then trade in the rest for a gift-card, book or small toy

In the end, it's up to you. Celebrate the best way you know how.
Chow on candy...or not. But remember that it is okay to shift the focus
of the holiday from the sweets to some fun activities and celebrations.
Pot-luck block parties, costume contests and candy trade-in policies
are all fun ways to make your Halloween a little less scary this year.
The dentist and the doctor will thank you.

Last year, we wrote some other Halloween articles - you can see them here and here.

For some healthier Halloween Treat ideas, please visit our Amazon Store.

Going Bananas for After School Snacks

2008-09-02T15:21:32-05:00

We
just started our school year and the kids are getting used to the
routine all over again. They usually return home from school in slow
motion, dragging their book bags behind them, red-faced from the heat.
Nothing a cool drink of water and a healthy snack won’t help!

Need ideas for a pick-me-up snack? My kids loved helping me make
this delicious banana bread recipe…and loved the outcome, as well!

Surprise Inside Banana Bread

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour or whole wheat flour
2/3 cup sugar (we prefer to use unrefined organic sugar from the bulk bin at the market)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 very ripe bananas
1 large egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt or light sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup low-fat milk or buttermilk
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or m&m’s

Heat the oven to 350° F.
If you prefer to make a loaf of banana bread, lightly spray the pan with cooking spray.
If you prefer to make muffins, line each well of a muffin pan with
cupcake papers or lightly coat the muffin cups with cooking spray.
In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and stir with a fork to blend.
In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a potato masher or a fork.
Combine the mashed bananas, egg, melted butter, sour cream, vanilla extract, and milk.
Stir vigorously or beat with a hand mixer on medium until the ingredients in this bowl are well blended.
Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined
Pour the batter into your loaf pan, or fill each muffin tin approximately 1/3 with batter.
Bake your bread until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes
out with some melted chocolate but no crumbs. For muffins, this will be
about 1/2 as long as with a loaf. For a loaf, check the bread after 35
minutes.

Call the Kids:

Kids can peel and mash the bananas. For mashing, potato mashers
work well. Or, for the very tactile child, try letting them mush the
bananas with clean hands!
Measure the dry ingredients and pour them into the bowl. Remind
them to dump the ingredients in slowly and close to the bowl so they
don’t poof all over the kitchen.
Crack the egg into a separate bowl, so it is easy to fish out any stray shells
Stir the ingredients together
Help to pour the batter.

Slow Food Nation - I Went. I Ate.

2008-09-02T15:15:34-05:00

');} // -->

The
perks of living in the SF Bay Area are endless. Yesterday, we rode our
bikes to an art festival, and today I rode the bus to Slow Food Nation
in San Francisco. Just to get in the mood, on the way there I listened
to a podcast of the How We Eat series from the Commonwealth Club. With each passing mile, I heard more about the Slow Food Movement from Alice Waters, Eric Schlosser and others, and got increasingly excited.

In a nutshell, the Slow Food movement embraces foods that are produced in a way that is Good, Clean and Fair. The word good
can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For Slow Food, the idea of
good means enjoying delicious food created with care from healthy
plants and animals. The pleasures of good food can also help to build
community and celebrate culture and regional diversity. When we talk
about clean food, we are talking about nutritious
food that is as good for the planet as it is for our bodies. It is
grown and harvested with methods that have a positive impact on our
local ecosystems and promotes biodiversity. We believe that food is a
universal right. Food that is fair should be
accessible to all, regardless of income, and produced by people who are
treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor. In our
current world, weighed down by the overwhelming rise in obesity, it is
clear why we need a whole movement to reverse the trend.

After
disembarking from the bus, I was greeted by the wonderful aroma of
cooking food and was immediately swept into a crowd of people, all
looking for something delicious to taste. While I was certainly lured
to the Slow on the Go vendors, I enjoyed spending time in the Victory Garden,
an edible and ornamental garden that was temporarily planted in front
of San Francisco’s City Hall. Since the garden’s installation in the
beginning of July, over 150 pounds of produce has been harvested and
donated to those in need.

It
is interesting to think of how few people now cultivate edible gardens,
when not so long ago they were a means of food production for so many
Americans. These beautiful gardens, designed in rings, flanked by
burlap stuffed with rice straw, were an inspiration to me. While I am
proud of my herb pots and productive sun gold tomato plants, I see how
we can easily grow more of our own food at home. Nothing beats a
tomato, still warm from the sun…Or a crisp bean, plucked from a runner
along the back fence. Okay - I am sold. Even though I buy the bulk of
my produce from local growers at our farmer’s market, imagine reducing
my food miles even further…to food-feet? Something for my kids and I to
chew on.

Stay tuned for more about my experiences at the Slow Food Nation…

The Golden Rule - Introducing Slow Food to our Children

2008-09-02T15:11:01-05:00

As
good parents, we try to teach our children about the golden rule: do
unto others as you would have them do unto you. Or, more simply: treat
others how you want to be treated.

The same should be true for our food system. I am hard pressed to
believe that the parents who encourage their kids to treat others
nicely would approve of a system that intentionally adds chemicals and
toxins to its plants and animals, pollutes our air and water with waste
or one that treats animals with disrespect.

Enter the Slow Food Movement. Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. It encourages consumers to recognize the connection “between plate and planet.”

Food should taste good.
It should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment.
Animals should be treated with dignity and respect.
Food production shouldn’t hurt us or our health.
The people who produce our food should receive fair compensation
for their work, and should not be exposed to toxins as they perform
their jobs.

I think that most of us are accustomed to “movements” being largely
led by adults. Politics is a timely example. However, the health of
our children is at stake, and we would be doing them a disservice if we
didn’t include them in the quest for better, slower food.

Our children learn their food values on a daily basis, not just from
us, but from the media and their peers as well. Corporate food giants
spend over 15 billion dollars a year on the 10,000 food ads most of our
children see. Almost all of these are for foods that high fat - high
sugar - high salt food with little or no nutrient value. Ann Cooper,
author of Lunch Lessons,
says that as a nation we’re getting fatter and sicker by the decade.
Over 2/3rd of us are overweight and fully 1/3 are obese - even more
disheartening is the fact that over 1/3 of our children are overweight
and the CDC says that of the children born in the year 2000 - 30 - 40%
will become diabetic in their lifetime. These dismal statistics are a
direct result of diet. Put another, even more dismal way, it is a
result of what we feed our children. What does this teach our children about the value of food?

And with many parents in dual-working families, time is of the
essence. One of every 4 meals in America is eaten at a fast food
restaurant; one in 4 is eaten in a car and one in 3 in front of a TV or
computer. It would be worth considering what these children are
learning about the value of food. Are we teaching them that it is
easier and cheaper to purchase this type of “food” than to prepare real
foods at home? While the immediate cost of fast food might seem low,
there are other costs to consider. What is the long term cost of CO2
emissions, pollution, obesity and diabetes that inevitably comes from
eating processed foods?

What happened to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?

Okay, enough doom and gloom…What can we do about it?

Let’s start with the Golden Rule. Yes, that again. It is important
that we make wise choices about the foods that we impose upon our kids
and teach them how to make good food choices for themselves. Let’s
teach our children about the staple foods that are eaten around the
world. Let’s encourage them to get their hands dirty, growing some of
their own foods each season, so they can take pride in the fruits of
their labor (so to speak). Oh, and of course we can’t forget to bring
our children into the kitchen to help prepare our meals. Not only are
kids helpful in the kitchen, but their participation motivates them to
eat healthier foods with gusto. (If you have a dog, this might be the
time to let him come into the kitchen and lick the floor!)

Slow Food is Good Food. What Can You and Your Kids Do?

Grow some of your own food. Start a garden, or if
space is tight, fill a few pots with herbs, radishes, peas or
tomatoes. Pick and enjoy food fresh from your garden - and if there is
any left, bring it into the kitchen and add it to your meal. Children
will appreciate the fresh and delicious flavors of foods picked at the
peak of freshness. Point out the benefits of eating foods right out of
the garden instead of purchasing items from the grocery story that have
traveled from other countries.

Buy locally produced foods…or eat some grown by
your neighbors! Shopping locally is an action with an impact. You are
making the choice to spend money on foods that are picked nearby and
brought to market, instead of those that travel great distances. When
you are at the grocery store with your kids, if the sources are
labeled, be sure to point out where they are coming from. My kids are
always surprised to learn that the produce at Whole Foods comes from so
many countries. We even give a little cheer when we find one that is
from a local source! Geography aside, fresher food contains more
nutrients and tastes better, anyway. So, why not?

Buy Organic when you can. Not only will this
reduce your exposure to fungicides, pesticides and chemical
fertilizers, but you will also indirectly let others know that you
don’t want farmers to be exposed to those things, either. It’s like
voting…but with your money instead of with a ballot.

Get your tush into the kitchen and COOK! Think
back to the foods from your childhood. Are there any recipes that have
been passed down through the generations? Give these a try, keeping in
mind that some ingredients might not be in season now, and if available
at all, probably come from thousands of miles away. Try to stick to
recipes that use foods that are fresh now. We keep some of our recipes
organized by season, so that when we need some inspiration in the
kitchen, we can just dive into the appropriate folder.

As we mentioned earlier, don’t forget to Call The Kids into the Kitchen!
Not only are you spending quality time together with your children in
the kitchen, but you are teaching them how to be involved in the food
choices that they make. They are learning that they can make choices
about the foods and ingredients that they consume. The kitchen is a
perfect platform from which to teach your children about ingredients,
both in your recipes and on packaged “foods.” If kids can’t pronounce
the name of an ingredient on a package, it is probably something that
was produced in a laboratory and should most likely be avoided. Be
creative with your food and let your kids express themselves through
their recipe choices and presentation.

Share. Use food to help others who might not be
able to cook for themselves. Double a recipe and deliver a home-cooked
meal to someone who is home-bound, sick, or who has just had a baby.

Just as we have said all along, it’s time to practice what we preach
- Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You. Be kind to your
body. Be kind to our planet. We would have them do the same for us.

Family Meal Planning

2008-06-16T23:22:59-05:00

Planning meals for a family can be quite a challenge. But when you
get the kids involved, the culinary world is your oyster. Take a look
at our guest appearance on ABC's View From the Bay a few months ago -
my kids and I share two recipes that we enjoy as a family: Polenta Bean
Pies and Pear Ginger Crumble.

Because cooking with kids is my business, our online menu planning service, What's Cooking Weekly,
has some wonderful information about what to eat and how to get your
kids involved. If you are in a meal planning rut or if you just need
help deciding what to make each week, please give us a try.

Take a look at our appearance on View From the Bay.

There's a Hair Dryer in my Kitchen

2008-06-16T23:15:37-05:00

Our Great American Bake Sale
is coming up, and I'm doing several cooking classes with kids ahead of
time to make some tasty treats to sell. I had chocolate on the brain
and was contemplating all of the ways that my students could melt it
safely. A friend of mine (who is in the chocolate business!) told me
that she did an experiment with a group of 8th graders and discovered
that using a hair dryer was the best way to melt chocolate! It sounded
so nutty that I had to try it.

I made the following recipe with an enthusiastic group of first
grade Girl Scouts. The LOVED helping to melt chocolate with a hair
dryer and patiently waited in line to hold the bowl steady and stir the
melting chocolate. Occasionally a little drizzle of chocolate flew
through the air, and by the end of our cooking session, we were all
sprayed or dusted with some evidence that we had been in the kitchen!

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

These tasty gems are simple enough for even the youngest chefs to
create. Let your imagination go wild - no two pretzels will be alike.

1 bag large sourdough pretzels or pretzel rods
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
8 oz milk chocolate chips
4 oz candy melts, assorted colors
assorted sprinkles

Line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper.
Place each type of chocolate chip and candy melt into its own glass bowl.
Bring your hair dryer into the kitchen. Seriously.
Turn the hair dryer on High and blow hot air onto one bowl of
chocolate at a time, stirring frequently. The chocolate and candy melts
will begin to glisten as they start to melt. Continue stirring to
prevent burning, as they finish melting.
Coat half of each pretzel in chocolate and / or the melted colored
candy melts. You can either dip the pretzel or coat it with melted
chocolate dripped from a spoon.
While the chocolate is still wet, add an assortment of sprinkles: confetti, nonpareils or colored sparkling sugar.
Place coated pretzels onto the prepared baking sheets and allow to dry.
Once dry, place the pretzels in an airtight container and store in a cool location.
If you plan to sell these at a bake sale, place each one into a food-safe plastic bag, seal closed and tie with a pretty ribbon.

CALL THE KIDS:

Line baking sheet with foil or parchment
If your sprinkles don't come in jars with a shaker lid, pour them into little bowls so they are easy to pinch or scoop.
Help to stir chocolate while it melts
Dip pretzels into the chocolate
Decorate with sprinkles
Once pretzels are dry, put them in baggies and tie closed with ribbon

TIPS:

If you don't have a hair dryer, you can melt the chocolates in the
microwave. Heat them on 50% power for 1 minute at a time, stirring in
between, until melted.
Alternatively, you can place the chocolates in a metal bowl fitted
over a pot of simmering water. Stir frequently - the steam from the
simmering water will heat the bowl and will melt the chocolate. Be
careful if using this technique with young children - the bowl gets hot
and the steam can burn their skin.

Do Something Good...

2008-06-16T23:07:37-05:00

I could hardly believe my luck when I found out that some parents
from our school were scheduling a music performance around the same
time that I was holding one of my Great American Bake Sales.
John, the dad I spoke to, suggested we join forces and create a
wonderful community event. Nothing could have been better - we had a
fantastic family celebration in the park, complete with live music,
barbecue and baked goods. It was amazing how everyone came together
with the goal or raising money to help hungry children in America.

On our way to set up for the event, we passed a little boy who was
selling snow cones from his driveway. Our daughter read his sign and
exclaimed, "He's not doing anything good - He just wants the money."

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess. She is proud that
we have worked together (with our school, scout troop and friends) to
raise funds for the prevention of childhood hunger in America.

Several times during the afternoon and evening, I had to hold back
tears. Families played soccer; kids laughed as they rolled down the
grassy hill; and others sat happily on blankets listening to the sweet
voice of Brian Joyce, a dad from our school who sounds just like (my
favorite!) James Taylor.

As I approached the microphone to thank everyone for coming together
for our cause, I was met with applause from the crowd...and for the
20th time that evening, I had to hold back tears. Boy, it feels good to
energize a crowd and show them that helping others can be a fun and
wonderful way to spend time with family and friends.

Our grand total for the evening, in case you were curious? $667! So far, we have raised over $1000, twice our initial goal!

The Toddler Cafe - Feeding Your Kids Just Got Easier!

2008-03-14T19:08:36-05:00

It happened! Finally! A cookbook for fun, delicious AND healthy recipes for kids - that uses an honest to goodness approach to feeding kids real foods, as they were meant to be. The Toddler Cafe, by Jennifer Carden, is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the world of kids cookbooks. I own a company that teaches healthy cooking classes to children, so you can believe me when I tell you that the overwhelming majority of cookbooks “for kids” aren’t worth your time. Most of them focus on “kid food,” a concept that I find offensive to children. Why should they be doomed to a menu of hot dogs, pb&j and grilled cheese, when they could be eating tantalizing recipes like those found in The Toddler Cafe: Treasure Triangles, Mango Fandango, Pinto Panzanella and Knock Knock Gnocchi?

For more about The Toddler Cafe and a delicious recipe for Treasure Triangles, please continue reading here...
http://whatscookingblog.com/2008/03/14/the-toddler-cafe-feeding-kids-jus...