Cauliflower Kids

I was never a big fan of cauliflower growing up. It may not be the most appealing looking vegetable but it is  rich in fiber, antioxidants and B vitamins which gives this vegetable a reason to reconsider offering it to the kids. My favorite way to prepare cauliflower is to chop the head into bite size pieces. Toss with 2- 3 teaspoons of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Roast the prepared cauliflower at 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until brown on top. I am not a huge advocate of adding salt to anybodies food because most foods have enough sodium and therefore there is not a need to add more but in this case the sea salt roasts with the cauliflower and heightens its delicious caramelized finish. 
I usually serve it as a side to pasta. If the kids don't want to eat it plain, they can dip it into their spaghetti sauce. 
Another way to serve roasted cauliflower is in place of popcorn. 

What are you making this week for the 

Kids in the Kitchen Challenge? 

Don't forget to post it on ABCD Eat Right's FB Page! 

Magnificent Muffins- What we made on the first day of the Kids in the Kitchen Challenge

This recipe was our launching recipe for the Kids in the Kitchen Summertime challenge. When my kids were young I use to make muffins from scratch. We were vegan at the time and I made more foods from scratch then. I  am now hooked on trying to decrease the gluten in our diets, for multiple reasons, one being the potential better feeling by not eating gluten and another just the pure challenge of cooking something new. Olivia and Jackson helped measure the ingredients, stir the ingredients and of course, taste the final product. This recipe was taken from Bob's Red Mill's website: 

All Purpose Muffins

• 1/2 cup Evaporated Cane Sugar
• 1/2 cup Applesauce (I used 1 applesauce squeezer and 1/2 a mashed banana)
• 1-1/2 cups Milk (Soy, Rice, Cow)
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1/4 cup Oil
• 3 cups GF All Purpose Baking Flour
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1-1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum
• Additions of Choice*

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray. 

Step 2

Mix together sugar, oil, vanilla, applesauce and soymilk. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and xanthan gum.

Step 3

Add dry ingredients to wet and stir together. When batter is almost blended, add any addition fruits or nuts. Stir ingredients until just blended, careful not to over mix. Add any additional flavorings at this time and mix until just blended. 

Step 4

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full and bake for 22-25 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins. 

Notes

*1 cup fresh berries, 1/4 cup dried cranberries and ½ cup chopped nuts, ½ cup diced apple and 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 sliced banana and ½ cup walnuts, ¼ cup shredded coconut and ½ cup sliced almonds and more.I would also add that flax seed and chia seed would make a healthy addition. 

What are you making this week? 

Don't forget to post your pics at ABCD Eat Right's FB page!

What are you bringing to the classroom holiday party?

December is flying by and coming up are the exciting holiday parties to commence the holiday break. What will you bring to your child's holiday party? Here are some ideas to incorporate holiday colors with fruits, vegetables, protein and calcium without all the sugar, colors and additives. 

Christmas (Winter Festival) 

Work to include the traditional colors of the season: red, green and blue.

1. Blueberry, strawberry and spinach smoothie

2. Vegetable trays with cucumbers, broccoli, sugar snap peas, and tomatoes with a low fat veggie dressing

 3. Red and apple slices with flavored yogurt dip or nut butter and cream cheese spread on top

4. Dried or shelled edamame

5. Desert dessert (Graham cracker with a layer of nut butter topped with a floret of broccoli)

6.  Mini sandwiches cut out into cookie cutter shapes

7. Red and green grape kebabs

8. Trail mix (crackers, yogurt covered pretzels, yogurt covered raisins, dried cranberries, blueberries or strawberries, dried edamame)

9. Hummus dip with pita bread cut into shapes, broccoli and tomatoes for dipping (hummus can also be combined with cooked beets to add a red color)

10. Popcorn balls with dried strawberries.

For more ideas for the home party visit a recent article I wrote on Education.com!