Garlic: Roast it!

Pretty much every cuisine around the world has dishes that involve garlic. So why have so many cultures embraced this versatile cooking ingredient? It smells so good while cooking, it makes everything taste better and it is super nutritious! Garlic gives the ‘yum factor’ to many dishes… but have you ever tried roasting it?

Here’s how to roast garlic:

• Wrap unpeeled heads of garlic sprinkled with olive oil in a tin foil bundle and roast in a 350-degree oven for 30-40 minutes until soft and deliciously sweet. You can serve it alongside roasted vegetables, beans, poultry or meat or as a delicious spread for a toasty whole-grain bread.

When using minced garlic to obtain the maximum health benefits, after peeling and crushing it, let it sit for 10-15 minutes before cooking with it, this allows the health promoting phytochemical, alliicin, to form! The Super Crew calls them fight-o-chemicals because they fight off disease.

Don’t forget to get the kids involved in cooking! They can smell the garlic before and after it is roasted – discuss how it changed, sprinkle the olive oil over the garlic, wrap up the tin foil bundle and set the timer. Garlic is one of Super Crew kid Carlos’ favorite food.

Courtesy of 

Sorry for the confusion about the missing Pre-orders. 

Please check MENUS page for Updated and working Link to next Pre-order Form.

I'll be receiving them on Monday.

In Defense of Okra What did okra ever do to you? Besides being an itchy plant when it grows, it is harmless. But, throughout so much of the country it has gotten a reputation for being slimy, unappetizing or only good for frying. I am here to stand up for okra and tell you why you should give it a second chance. I first came across okra on a trip to India in 2007. In India they call okra “lady’s fingers”. The traditional dish is called bhindi masala where the okra is chopped up and mixed with onions, garlic, chilis, tomatoes and a variety of fragrant and mouth watering Indian spices. Serve me that and some warm roti (Indian whole-wheat bread) and I am in heaven. I fell in love with okra immediately. Upon my return to the states I began to seek it out. And it was then that I realized that we are a nation of okra-haters. Slowly but surely I had to make my case one dish at a time. I made jambalayas, I added it to stir-fries, I roasted it and I, of course, made a lot of bhindi masala. As a future dietitian I appreciate the fact that okra is low calorie (50 calories per cup) and high in fiber (3g per cup). But my favorite thing about cooking with okra is that it is a natural thickener. Instead of added flour or roux to a recipe, okra becomes a natural, low calorie – zero fat way of providing thickness and texture to dishes. So, the next time you see okra at the farmer’s market don’t run away. Pick out the smaller pods (they are the most tender) and go home and try this recipe for bhindi masala and tell me you haven’t come over to my side! Pippa’s Recipe for Bhindi Masala Ingredients: 1 Tbsp cumin 1 Tpsp coriander 1.5 tsp turmeric 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp curry powder 2 tsp smoked paprika (it isn’t an exact science – if you don’t have all these spices it is not the end of the world – it will still be delicious!) 2 Tbsp minced ginger 3 cloves minced garlic 1 serrano chili or jalapeno, minced 1 large red onion, chopped or sliced 2 large fresh tomatoes, chopped (or use canned tomatoes if tomatoes are not in season) 3 cups sliced okra (1/2 inch thick) Vegetable or chicken stock for thinning What to do: Heat 2 Tbsp of canola oil in a deep skillet or pot Add the spices and mix into the oil until just fragrant (30 sec.) Add the onions, chili, ginger and garlic and stir constantly until coated with the spices Season with salt and pepper to taste Once the mixture starts to stick a little after a few minutes, deglaze with a little stock and get all the bits up off the bottom of the pan Add the tomatoes and okra Stir together and bring to a boil (the tomatoes and okra will release a lot of liquid), then turn it down to a simmer (med-low) Let the masala cook until the tomatoes have broken down and the okra is tender and has done its thickening duties. Taste before serving to make sure it is seasoned well. Serve with chopped cilantro and lime wedges It can be served over rice or with warm roti (my favorite!) Courtesy of

Run, Move and Playing tips for this week? What type of activity have you and your family done together to live healthier this week? Jot them down at mealtime together and discuss more ways you can be active together. Try keeping a written record for one week of your physical activities to keep you motivated and make your family proud of its accomplishments! Reward your family when they’ve completed AT LEAST 5 activities each week (30 minutes each activity) for 5 weeks in a row. Put some money in a jar each time a family member chooses do an activity and treat them to a fun, family day outdoors or a trip to the store for a toy that involves exercise – a new soccer ball, jump rope, or even a Wii Fit for the family! RememberNEVER use food as a reward. Now think about how you can role model a healthy activity this week? Promoting physical activity by being a good role model will help your family form healthy habits to take a positive view of exercise! Here’s some ways to get started below. Select what you plan to do then choose a day to get moving! I will pick a day and time that we will exercise together, as a family, each week I will chose to walk or bike rather than drive when time permits I will chose a fitness activity rather than watching a TV show or DVD I will sign up for a sports or exercise class rather than buying a new video game system or the latest electronic gadget I will play an exergame with my child or catch instead of curling up on the couch Courtesy of

FYI

Estoy aceptando formas de pre-orden este martes, debido a que varios padres me lo han solicitado.

I am accepting pre-order forms on Tuesday, due to the fact that several parents have asked me.  

Feliz Independencia

Felices Fiestas de la Independencia!
Disfruten el feriado largo.  Nos vemos el martes.  

Desayuno Tipico

On Thursday, September 13 students will celebrate Independence day with a typical Honduran Breakfast.  As this is a classroom event check with your teacher and homeroom parents.  Please confirm grade and number of meals per class when placing an order.  Orders need to be placed at least 2 days before event.  

The cafeteria is offering the following:

Baleadas (frijoles, mantequilla) L15

Baleadas + huevo L 20

Pan con frijoles y mantequilla L15

Pan + huevo L20

Pupusas con ensalada y encurtido L20

Platano entero con frijoles y mantequilla crema L25

Plato de platanos fritos en tajadas mas frijoles mas queso y 2 tortillas L35

Bebida: vaso de Horchata L10

Why Eat Less Meat? It’s not news that the typical U.S. diet—what researchers call the “Western diet”, loaded with meat, saturated fat, processed foods, salt and sugar and low in fruits, whole grains and veggies—is spurring all sorts of health problems, even for our youngest citizens. However, it is good news that the message to “eat more plants” is slowing creeping in. And it’s not just the long list of celebrities, from Anne Hathaway to Woody Harrelson that are praising the a plant-based lifestyle. It’s also the scholarly experts in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and nutrition experts have joined the campaign to promote a more plant-based way of eating. In my book released earlier this summer, The Plant-Powered Diet: The Lifelong Eating Plan for Achieving Optimal Health, Beginning Today (The Experiment, 2012), I explain the dramatic benefits of eating more plants and why hundreds of studies have led to one conclusion: The healthiest diet on the planet is a plant-based diet. Since a plant-based diet is simply an eating pattern that “emphasizes plant foods,” it covers a spectrum of eating styles and preferences. For some families, a plant-based diet may consist of no animal products. For others, it might be a more gradual process of shifting away from the traditional Western diet that is high in animal products towards more plant foods. The great thing about transitioning to a plant-based diet is that it doesn’t involve complicated instructions. It’s a simple shift towards more whole, unprocessed foods that come directly from plants – and the result is optimal health for your children and for your whole family. Learn how with the top ten tips to eat plant based kid friendly meals!

Top Ten Plant-Powered Kid-friendly Eating Tips Posted: 31 Aug 2012 01:49 PM PDT Planning to eat less meat as a family? To help jumpstart the transition to a plant-based diet in your family, here are 10 plant-powered kid-friendly tips. Ease into it. If meat is a staple in your household for every meal, you have room to cut back. Create a family goal for how many meatless meals you want to eat. You could start out slowly by having one completely plant-based meal per week, or even having an entirely meatless day. Breakfast of champions. With so many delicious and fun “veggie” friendly breakfast foods out there, it’s easy to pass on the meat in the morning. Your little one will be too busy feasting on oatmeal topped with berries and walnuts or buckwheat pecan pancakes with peaches to even miss the bacon. Change it up. Meat doesn’t necessarily have to be the center of the plate at every meal. Cut down on the amount of meat you consume by taking one individual portion of meat or chicken and using it to flavor an entire family-size meal of stir-fry, casserole, or stew.  One is the magic number. One way to make vegetarian cooking simple and delicious is to rely on more one-dish, kids’ favorites, such as chili, stew, casseroles, and pasta dishes. A crock-pot is a great investment when shifting to a plant-based eating style. Go on a family vacation – in your kitchen! Some cultures know how to do vegetarian meals right! But who says you need to travel far to enjoy ethnic cuisine? Visit a local ethnic restaurant, such as Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese to find inspiration for adventurous, vegetarian meals at home.  Take a lesson from your kids. There’s a common misconception that preparing vegetarian meals is laborious and complicated – but tons of simple, kid-friendly recipes are already meatless. Think: black bean burritos or spaghetti and tomato sauce. Transform your family favorites. Does your family love pizza night? Trim the meat and load up on the veggies. Skip the processed meats, and top your pizza with broccoli, cashews, red onions and basil. Say “yes.” Take a trip to the produce section of your supermarket or visit a farmer’s market with the kids. Get excited, and feast your eyes on all the delicious plant foods you can enjoy as a family. Your excitement will be contagious and in turn, your kids will get excited too! Step away from the faux-chicken nugget. A typical assumption is that vegetarian meals are centered on soy-based meat substitutes that can easily be popped in the microwave for each meal. But the “whole” point of a plant-based diet is to reap the nutrition rewards of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It doesn’t hurt that many of these foods are nature’s perfect finger foods. Naturally delicious and convenient. What’s not to love? Get cooking with the kids! There is no better way to get kids interested in new foods and flavors than to involve them in the kitchen. Invest in one good vegetarian cookbook and choose one family night a week to experiment with a fun, new recipe.  If you need a recommendation for a delicious vegetarian recipe, try this Southwest Black Bean Quinoa Salad from The Plant Powered Diet. You can also watch Sharon prepare it here. SuperKids Nutrition recommends adding the Plant Powered Diet to your reading list to help grow a healthy family! Courtesy of

Due tomorrow

Remember tomorrow thursday is the due date for Pre-Order Forms.
Have a great day!

Fun Food Art

Fun Food Art with a Little Lady Bug Get your kids to try chives, olives, baby tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers with this sleepy lady bug. Don’t you just want to have a lazy day like this little bug?  -But only after a family work-out! 1) Get the kids involved from the start by  having them wash the veggies 2) Young kids can use a plastic knife to cut the olive dots for the lady bug’s back and chives for the bug’s antennae  3) With a veggie peeler, remove a few thin slices of carrots for legs 4) Cut cucumber in half and create a small log like segment 5) You can use cream cheese or a cheese similar to laughing cow to keep veggies in place. 6) Take a picture of your child eating his or her art!

Courtesy of

Link Updated

Link for PreOrder form is already Updated!

Please re-print as it contains menu changes due to the extra 2 non-school days.

Have a great weekend!

Change for Sep 6 and 7

Reading the elementary blogs I just found out there will be a Map on site Teacher Training on September 6 and 7.  

Please take note of this and make appropriate changes to the PreOrder forms as there will be NO SCHOOL for grades Nursery to Grade 5 on those days.  

I will be updating the Pre-Order Form with the new info.  Please re-print and remember to send it to the cafeteria with payment attached by Thursday Aug 30.

Thanks!

Next PreOrder Form

Remember NEXT Thursday Aug 30th 

is the due date for Pre-Order form dated Sep 03-14

This morning

Fruits, drinks and a Birthday Cake!!!

Yummy!

A few of this weeks selections

Aug 21

Let’s Go Sailing with Food Art! Get your kids to try new healthy foods with this first rate sail boat. Add another dimension by teaching them the meaning behind sailing lingo with terms like “pipe down,” “foot loose,” and “to know the ropes.” Then sail, sail away with this pepper and celery boat!  What better way to enjoy the heat with a juicy orange slice shining sun, apple birds and a blueberry sea. Add in some celery slices for seaweed and carrot fish for character.  Raisin slivers allow the fish to express their happiness while swimming.

courtesy of

PreOrder forms

The Pre-Order forms for Aug 21-30 were due today but some parents requested an extra day during Open House this morning.

I will be accepting forms tomorrow - Friday.
Remember to send them or bring them by before school is out.  Thanks!

A few of this week food Pics

Children eating at the Cafeteria

Open House Aug 16

Open House at Discovery from 7:30am-9:00am!!!
Those wanting info about the cafeteria please stop by.

Have a great day!

SENIORS 13

Today was the Seniors 13 Grand Entrance!
Dancing Carnival

It was so much fun :)
Everyone enjoyed it from the little ones in elementary to high school, teachers and staff.

 

Weekend Cooking

Enjoy this wonderful salad over the weekend!  Colorful and Tasty Corn Salad Summertime and corn on the cob go hand in hand! Corn is a whole grain with many phytochemials to help you fight off cancer and keep your heart and eyes healthy! Corn is one of Super Crew kid Marcus’ favorite foods because of its fight-o-chemicals! However, often times we load corn on the cob with butter and salt, adding lots of unnecessary fat and sodium to our meal. For a healthy corn on the cob alternative, try: a little olive oil and garlic olive oil and parmesan cheese limejuice and chili powder The next time you’re making corn on the cob, steer away from the butter and salt and get creative with your corn! But even better yet… cook extra corn on the cob and make this delicious colorful corn salad for a tasty new twist! Colorful Fresh Corn Salad Ingredients for salad: Fresh corn (about 6-9 ears of corn) 2-3 Large tomatoes, chopped 15 oz black beans (have the kids help dump beans in strainer and rinse) 1 small red onion, chopped 1/3 cup chopped green onions 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil (have the kids tear of the basil) 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro 1 avocado, diced into cubes (optional) (have the kids chop the avocado with a plastic knife) Ingredients for dressing: ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar (have kids help pour and mix ingredients) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Salt and pepper (to taste) Directions: In a large bowl, combine the salad ingredients. Whisk together dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Add dressing to salad ingredients and toss. Enjoy! courtesy of

Aug 09 First day Fun

It was wonderful to see everyone today at school! 

I saw lots of old faces and some new ones too.  

It was an exciting day and I am glad to be a part of our Discovery School Family.  

Looking forward to a great year!

Aug 09 about viewing and printing PreOrder Forms

Please remember to print Pre-Order Forms from the links in the Menus page.  Just click on the one you want and it opens a PDF file so you can print it.  The forms must be complete.  Do not Print the ones that say for Viewing only.  
The Pre-order form for Aug 13-17 you must print, fill, attach payment, and return to the cafeteria by tomorrow Friday Aug 10.  
The Pre-order form for Aug 20-31 will be going home tomorrow with your children along with an info page.
Please let your teacher know if you don't receive it.  

Porfavor recuerden imprimir las Pre-Ordenes desde el link en la pagina de Menus. Solo hacen click en la que escojan y les abre una pagina nueva, en archivo PDF, para que los puedan imprimir. NO impriman las que dicen para visualizar solamente.
Los que deseen llenar la Pre-Orden de Agosto 13-17 favor recuerden que mañana deben entregarla en la cafeteria junto con el pago.
Las Pre-Ordenes de las semanas de Agosto 20-31 seran enviadas mañana con sus hijos/as junto con una hoja general de informacion de la cafeteria.  En caso de no recibirla favor enviarle nota a la maestra encargada.

Aug 08

   School starts tomorrow!   The cafeteria will open at 8am for those parents who want to stop by to open accounts and/or to pay for Elementary Pre-Order Lunches.  Wishing everyone a happy day.

Cafeteria Opens Aug 07 to open accounts

For your convenience the cafeteria will be open on Tuesday August 07 and Wednesday August 08 from 9:00am to 2:00pm to open new Wolf Pass accounts and receive Elementary Pre-Order Forms and Payments.  We will have a few pre-order forms on hand for the week of August 13-17.


Elementary Pre-Order Form AUGUST 13-17

Elementary Pre-Order Form AUGUST 20-31

Welcome Back to School! Aug 2012

School starts on thursday August 09.

Welcome back students and staff!   

A special welcome to new families joining our Discovery Family.

We welcome students to enjoy a nutritional breakfast and lunch at the school cafeteria.  

Breakfast and lunch are served every day.   

Providing healthy, balanced meals is our Priority. 

Please browse around the blog for info and menus.