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Back to Basics

Hooray! The kids are going to back to school – it’s time to get back in the swing, back in the routine, back in the groove of things. And, oh yeah, one more thing to add to your “to do” list – pack a lunch for the kids every morning. This year, make it a priority to pack a delicious and nutritious lunch each day … ditch the Doritos, dump the Ding-Dongs and lose the Lunchables. Packing something wholesome can be just as easy as grabbling those empty calorie packs of cardboard snacks and sugar-laden treats.

Turkey Pinwheels

INGREDIENTS

1 large whole-wheat wrap (11 to 12 inches), or 2 smaller wraps (8 inches), or a 12-by 9-inch rectangular lavosh
1 tablespoon mayonnaise or hummus
1 lightly packed handful rinsed baby spinach leaves
1 tablespoon dried cranberries
2 medium carrots, ends cut off, peeled and coarsely shredded
2 slices Swiss cheese
2 thin slices roasted turkey breast

PREPARATION

If necessary, warm the wrap in a 350°F oven for 2 minutes to soften before filling. Lay the wrap on a work surface and spread the mayonnaise/hummus all over. Sprinkle the spinach leaves, cranberries, and carrots evenly on top. Arrange the Swiss cheese and turkey in even layers over the vegetable layer. Fold in the side edges and then roll up snugly from the bottom. Cut crosswise into 4 even pieces and wrap tightly in plastic

Edmame Salad

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bag (1 pound) shelled edamame (soybeans), thawed
1 bag (1 pound) frozen corn, thawed, or 3 cups fresh-cut corn kernels (from about 4 ears)
2 large ripe plum tomatoes, diced
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup minced fresh chives or basil

PREPARATION

Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened but not browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the edamame and corn and cook, turning often, until heated through, about 7 minutes. Stir in the tomato, salt and pepper. Let cool and then chill if packing in a lunch box. When ready to serve, stir in the chives or basil

All-Out Granola

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cups pecans
1/2 cup natural almonds
4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup sesame seeds (optional)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1/3 cup pure maple syrup, cane syrup or honey, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup dried blueberries or raisins

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a large shallow baking sheet with foil. Spread the pecans and almonds on the sheet and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly toasted. Transfer the nuts to a board, let cool and chop the nuts. Set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F. Pour the oats and sesame seeds, if using, in a mound on the same baking sheet. Melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave; stir in the maple syrup and salt and drizzle on top of the oats. Stir well with a rubber spatula and then spread out the oats in an even layer. Bake the oats for 30 minutes, stirring once with the spatula halfway through, until the oats are lightly colored. Let cool; the mixture will crisp as it cools. Add the dates, blueberries, and reserved nuts and toss

Check out other great recipes with this super book
www.amazon.com/Real-Food-Healthy-Kids-Wholesome/dp/0060857919

Let’s try and reduce, reuse and recycle … reduce the amount of plastic bags, foil and plastic wrap, reuse containers and recycle juice box containers

www.kleankanteen.com

www.3lbdc.com

http://www.laptoplunches.com

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/everydaycooking/tastetests/healthysnacktastetest

Chef Cali Bergold and Carson Pazdan on WGN

The Kids Feeding Kids Club was founded in 2008 by 5-year-old Carson Pazdan.

Inspired by his love to cook and experiment in the kitchen, Carson wanted to create his own cookbook featuring all of his recipes as well as those from other children. He dreamed of a cookbook designed by kids for kids. This idea evolved into a vision of creating a club for kids where they can directly impact the lives of other children and help stop hunger. The organization’s mission is to feed hungry youth through fundraising and volunteering, building awareness, compassion and a foundation of philanthropy that will last a lifetime. It is the organization’s belief that the earlier children are introduced to community service, volunteerism and charity work, the more likely they are to stay engaged in these activities into adulthood thus making the world a better place.

To learn more about the cookbook, and donor opportunities, please visit kidsfeedingkids.info

Worms and Eyeballs

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. bucatini pasta (hollow spaghetti)
1 sm. red bell pepper
1-1/2 lbs. ground chicken breast
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tbs ginger, chopped
2 scallions, finely chopped
2 Tbs hoiser sause (Chinese BBQ)
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 Tbs vegetable oil
1 cup preshredded carrots
1 cup bean sprouts
1 cup snow pea pods (cut into pieces with scissor knife)
1/2 cup tamari

PROCEDURE
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put a large pot of water to boil for the pasta. Cut off a quarter of the bell pepper and have your grown-up helper (GH) chop it finely. Slice the rest of the pepper yourself. Combine chicken, garlic, ginger, scallions, finely chopped peppers, hoisin sauce, salt and perpper in a bowl. Roll the mixture into meatballs the size of chicken eyeballs and place balls on a nonstick cookie sheet, coated lightly with 1 Tbs vegetable oil. Roast the chicken eyeballs for 10-12 minutes. When the past water comes to a boil, cook pasta according to directions. When the pasta is almost cooked through and the eyeballs are about 5 minutes away from coming out of the oven, start stir-frying the veggies. Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat and add remaining 2 Tbs of vegetable oil. Stir the veggies for 1 minute. Have our GH drain the noodles and add the worms to the veggies. Pour in the tamari while the GH tosses the worms and veggies to coat. Transfer noodles to serving platter. Remove the eyeballs from the oven, roll them on top of the worms, then serve.

Eating Southwest Michigan

Best Afternoon Delight - Gelato at Casual Chef Café

Be sure to stop by the Casual Chef Café and The Pumpernickel Inn along Red Arrow Highway in Union Pier, Michigan. Their selection of gelatos was outstanding - we sampled the mint chocolate chop, pistachio nut, malted chocolate and toasted coconut caramel. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner the café is a cozy, relaxed spot. Also, if you’re in need of your “Starbucks fix” the Café serves the full line of drinks. There is also a Bed and Breakfast attached that has five unique rooms that include a full breakfast.

www.pumpernickelinn.com
16090 Red Arrow Highway, Union Pier, Michigan
269-469-1200

Best Little Market with Big Ideas — Bud & Elsie’s Union Pier Market

So it’s this tiny little place, with a screen door that smacks you in the ass as you enter - at first go-around it’s a beachy, sleepy “convenience store” and then … upon closer inspection, its this tiny little place with super great food stuffs … Scharffen Berger chocolate bars, local wines from Round Barn, St. Julian and Tabor Hill, bread from Labriola, tons of organic stuff and great housemade guacamole and hummus (we also stocked up on some of their salads - try the chicken Caesar and some ginormous sandwiches for the beach). Wine tip … try the Round Barn Merlot - this a supple sipper for post-beach porch hang time.

www.scharffenberger.com
www.labriolabaking.com
www.roundbarnwinery.com

Bud and Elsie’s
9805 Townline Road, Union Pier, Michigan
269-469-5651

Pizza How It Should Be (and don’t forget to get a salad so you can get the dressing) - Mario’s Pizza

Okay, let’s set the record straight … there’s pizza, and then there’s pizza. There’s pre-formed cardboard pizza crusts with stringy, gooey mozzarella and sub-par toppings and then, hold on to your aprons, there’s Mario’s Pizza. Walking into this place I knew I was in good hands - behind the order counter there was this smoky, black, hotter than hell Blodgett deck oven that had to be more than 60 years old. Cranking out pie after pie … this oven had some history (and I’m betting they have never washed it or sprayed it down - this is the sign of a great pizza oven - all those years of baked on flavor). We were bringing pizza and pasta back to a hungry mob back at the beach house - our stomachs ached and our mouths watered - the order was impressive: Two large pies - one with everything (and by everything, they mean everything, including sliced meatballs on top) and one simple pepperoni and cheese. For pastas, we tried the shrimp scampi, linguine and red clam sauce, pasta with meat sauce and penne in alfredo with chicken and broccoli. As we waited for our order, we played cards, talked with the locals and basically drooled. The smells were incredible …with each of our pastas we were to receive a house salad. What dressing did we want?

Me: “Whattda got?”
Mario’s Pizza Goddess and Order Taker: “Caesar, Ranch, French, Italian, Bleu Cheese”
Me: “Which one is homemade?”
Her: “All of them”
Me: “All of them?”
Her: “Yah, all of them, why’s that so hard to believe?, everything here is scratch - now which one do you want?”
Me: “I want to have all of them and … I love you”
Her: “Go sit down and wait for your stuff”

This is real pizza done perfectly - you’re not going to find any goat cheese or bbq chicken pineapple pizza - this is authentic, down-n-dirty pizza. Go eat there.

Mario’s Pizza
16170 Red Arrow Highway, Union Pier, Michigan
269-469-4633

Slow Down, Feel Special, Have Some Dinner at Bentwood Tavern

Located inside the gorgeous Marina Grand Resort in New Buffalo, Bentwood Tavern describes its food as “artisan comfort food” - I’ll agree but it does have a bit of a swanky swagger to it. We started with a fig and prosciutto pizza from the wood-burning oven and the tuna and avocado tartar - both were excellently executed and tasted divinely delicious. Next, a Caesar salad and then entrees of the evening’s fish selections — sautéed skatewing with this super rich and sexy mushroom sauce and striped sea bass with a rustic kalamata and tomato relish. Both of the dishes were plate-licking good. We ended with the lemon start and coffee. The room is simple yet artful, the service attentive and friendly and the wine list eclectic and fun (we tried the Adelsheim Pinot Gris from Oregon - a great pick to pair with our fish).

www.marinagrandresort.com
www.adelsheim.com