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We have started up our taste tests again this year! They are part of a larger, new program that includes a monthly food lesson taught by our resident chef, Mr. Brezic (4th grade teacher), a food of the month and a recipe contest. The students are always very excited about the taste test process and are always asking, "When is the next taste test?". The addition of the food lesson last Tuesday increased the excitement and many students tasted the hot and cold kale dishes during the taste test. That excitement is one of our goals of this food education project. We want to get students talking about and excited about new foods. The more they are exposed to new foods, what they do for us, and the idea of trying them, the more likely they are to actually try them. Here is a link to a video of our first food lesson.
http://vimeo.com/114034944 During the taste test, the students tasted both dishes seen in the video, and voted by placing a bead into a jar. They voted on whether or not the taste was for them. "YES", "NO thank you" and "Maybe" are the jar options for both the hot and cold dishes.
See below for voting results and recipes!
Contact Nurse Amy if you want to volunteer!
TASTE TEST VOTING RESULTS:
2015-16 School Year:
1/20/16-
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese was 207=Yes, 15=No and 19=Maybe
12/15/15-acorn squash muffins: 23 = No, thank you. 14= Maybe, and 184=YES
11/11/15- Tofu Taste Test: 94=YES, 80=No, thank you, 43=Maybe
2014/15 School Year:
5/26/15- Arugula pesto-
Yes=46, No, thank you=83, Maybe=38
5/21/15- Arugula Salad- Yes=70, No, thank you=47, Maybe=36
4/7/15- Rutabaga Bread- YES=176, No, thank you=8, Maybe=17
3/27/15- Beet Chips- YES=58, No, thank you=64, Maybe=38
2/19/15- Parsnip Soup- YES=40, No, thank you=81, Maybe=37
2/18/15- Parsnip Chips- YES=101, No, thank you=49, Maybe=43
1/23/15- Sweet Potato Chips- YES=111, No, thank you=48, Maybe=34
1/27/15- Sweet Potato Mash results- YES=92, No, thank you=41, Maybe=31
12/15/14- Kale salad- YES=61, No, thank you=60, Maybe=38
Kale AuGrotin- YES=86, No, thank you=40, Maybe=38
2013/14 School Year:
9/24/13- JES Pesto pizza- YES=197, No, thank you=14, Maybe=15 Prepared by Mr Botzojorns' class
10/10/13- Sweet Potato Muffins- YES=211, No, thank you=29, Maybe=27 by Mrs. Baer's class
11/14/13- Butternut Squash- YES=91, No, thank you=76, Maybe=32 by Mrs. Pack's class
12/5/13- Beet's
1/27/14- Parsnip Chips- Yes=66, No, thank you=105, Maybe=36 by Mrs. Jackson's class
3/20/14- Monkey bars- Yes=173 , No thank you=34 , Maybe=31 by Ms. Andrew's class
4/17/14- Monster Bites (spinach balls)- Yes=72, No,thank you=100, Maybe=32 by Mrs. Bouchard's class
1/24/13- Grandma's Vegetarian Chili- Yes= 95, No thank you=64, Maybe=49
2/7/13- Kale Slaw- YES=60, NO thank you=113, Maybe=37
2/21/13- Sunshine Mac & Cheese- YES=142, NO thank you=38, Maybe=38
3/7/13- Kale Chips- YES=121, NO=64, Maybe=45
3/21/13- Cranberry Coleslaw- YES=65, NO thank you=85, Maybe=66
4/4/13-Roasted Garbanzos- YES = 77, NO thank you = 78, Maybe = 41
4/18/13-Maple baked Beans- YES = 72, NO thank you = 80, Maybe = 38
5/2/13-Mixed Greens with or w/o Raspberry Dressing- YES= 135, NO, thank you= 38, Maybe= 34
5/17/13- Pest Pizza- YES= 170, No, thank you= 22, Maybe= 20
6/6/13- Black bean brownies- YES=123, No thank you=76, Maybe=33
RECIPES:
4/7/15-
Rutabaga Bread-
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
2/3 Cup Sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1/2 cup rutabaga; cooked and pureed
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Directions:
Grease an 8 x 4 inch baking pan and line with wax paper. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg; mix well. In another bowl, beat egg and add rutabaga and oil. Add moist ingredients to dry ingredients all at once. Stir just enough to blend. Pour into prepared pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven, one hour or until toothpick comes out clean
3/19/15-
Super Silky Parsnip Soup
Ingredients:
3 pounds of parsnips (peeled and cut into 1 inch slices, tops removed)
1 large Russet (baker’s) potato (peeled and cut into 1 inch slices, tops removed)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
½ gallon of milk (whole works best, but lighter milk can be used for a healthier soup)
4 cloves of garlic (peeled and smashed)
Directions:
Prepare the parsnips, potatoes, and garlic and add them to a pot. Hold aside the salt and pepper for the end.
Pour the milk over the top of the vegetables until they are covered, about 1 inch higher than the veggies.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently to avoid scorching to the bottom of the pan.
Once the vegetables are soft, turn off the heat. Carefully transfer the mixture (a bit at a time) to the blender. Hold a rag over the top of the blender and pulse until the vegetables are initially blended then puree until smooth. Transfer smooth soup into a clean pot.
Keep blending until all contents are pureed smooth and in the new pot. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Eat and enjoy!
1/27/15-
Maple and Cumin Sweet Potato Mash-
Ingredients: 3 pounds sweet potatoes, 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1/2 cup cream, 2 T salt, pepper to taste, 1 T cumin, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 cup VT Maple Syrup
Directions- Peel sweet potatoes and place in a large pot covered with water. Add 2 T salt. Bring to boil and cook until soft. Drain in a colander for 3-5 minutes. Add cream and butter to the pot to melt slowly (the heat is not on but the pot is still warm). Return potatoes to the pot and mash. Add cumin cinnamon, syrup, salt and pepper to taste. Eat and enjoy!
1/23/15-
Sweet Potato Chips: Cut sweet potatoes into rounds. Toss with olive oil (aprox 1 T per 2 sweet potatoes). Bake at 400 for 20-30 min until beginning to get crispy. Sprinkle with salt and serve.
12/15/14-
Kale Salad- Ingredients: 1 bunch of kale (take out the stalks and tear it into bites), Juice of 1 lemon, ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil, Salt and pepper (to taste), 2 teaspoons of honey, ½ teaspoon of mustard, roasted and cubed winter veggies (beets, squash, pumpkin, put YOUR flavor in it!), 3 Tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
Directions:
Pour the lemon juice into a large mixing bowl with the mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while you whisk the juice mixture to make an emulsion.
Massage the kale into the mix, rub it until the kale starts to get a little soft and wilt.
Toss in the winter veggies and pumpkin seeds.
Eat and enjoy!
Kale au Gratin (“au gratin” is French for: Topped with melted cheese)- Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, 2 cloves of chopped garlic, ½ cup of water, 1 bunch of kale (take out the stalks and tear it into bites), Salt and pepper (to taste), ¾ cups of milk, 1 Tablespoon of butter, 3 Tablespoons of breadcrumbs, 1 pinch of nutmeg, 4 ounces of VT cheddar (shredded)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a medium sized loaf pan with butter.
In a large deep sided pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot add the garlic for about 30 seconds.
Carefully add the water and the kale, turn up the heat to between medium high and high.
Add salt and pepper. Cook it for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the greens are soft and the water is mostly gone, add the milk while stirring slowly. Season with the nutmeg.
Once everything comes back to a simmer, add the 2 tablespoons of the breadcrumbs while stirring. Switch the mix into the loaf pan. Top with the cheddar cheese and the last bit of the breadcrumbs.
Bake until the top is melted and golden brown. Make sure you let it cool a bit before you eat it!
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4/17/14-Monster Bites (spinach balls)
Mix 1/4 C butter, 1 box frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed dry), 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs, 1 T onion powder, 4 oz shredded muenster or cheddar cheese, pinch of salt and pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 3 beaten eggs in a large bowl. Roll into 1 inch balls and refrigerate for at least 30 min (refrigerate before rolling, too! It is much easier to roll!) Bake at 350 degrees for 12 plus minutes. Makes 40 balls. Yum!
3/20/14- Monkey bars- In Saucepan over med-low heat, melt 5 T butter, 1/2 C brown sugar, 1/2 tsp salt. Cool 5 min. While cooling, mix 1/2 C mashed sweet potato, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 egg and 2 bananas. Add butter mixture. Add 1/2 C old fashioned oats (not quick cook), 3/4 C white flour, 1/4 C wheat flour and 1/4 C chocolate chips. Pour into 9" square sprayed or greased pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
9/24/13- pesto pizza
Pesto- 3C basil leaves, 4 cloves garlic, 1/2 C olive oil, 3/4 C Parmesan cheese. Mix in a food processor. Pizza- Spread pesto on pre-baked pizza dough. Cover with cheese and bake.
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6/6/13- Black Bean Brownies-
INGREDIENTS- 25 oz black beans, 5 eggs, ½# butter, ½ c cocoa powder, ⅛ tsp salt, 1T vanilla, ¾ C sugar, 1C choc chips
DIRECTIONS- Preheat oven to 350. Butter 9x12 pan, Mix all ingredients except choc chips. Stir in ¾C choc chips. Pour into pan. Sprinkle the rest on top. Bake 30 min or until just set in center.
5/17/13- pesto pizza
Pesto- 3C basil leaves, 4 cloves garlic, 1/2 C olive oil, 3/4 C Parmesan cheese. Mix in a food processor. Pizza- Spread pesto on pre-baked pizza dough. Cover with cheese and bake.
5/2/13- mixed greens
Maple Baked Beans 4/18/13
Ingredients: 1 pound Great Northern Beans or Kidney Beans (or a mix as we did). 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 T canola oil, 1 chopped yellow onion, 1 cup pure maple syrup (we used less), 1/3 C brown sugar (we used less), 1 tsp dry mustard.
Directions: Rinse beans and pick them over. Cover beans in water (1 inch above beans) and soak 8-12 hours. Rinse and cook with water, simmering on med-low for 40 minutes or until soft. Saute onion in oil until tender. When beans are cooked, strain but save cooking water. Mix beans, onions and all other ingredients. Bake for 1 1/2 hours at 325 in covered dish. Check part way through and add some of the reserved cooking liquid if beans look too dry.
Roasted Garbanzo beans 4/4/13
Rinse one can of garbanzo's. Dry well. Add 1 T olive oil and 1/4 tsp salt. Spread on cookie sheet and roast (Bake) at 400 degrees for 12 minutes shaking tray half way through.
Cranberry Coleslaw 3/21/13
Ingredients: 1/4 c plain nonfat greek yogurt, 2T plus 2 t mayonnaise, 1 ½ t sugar, 1 ½ t red wine vinegar, ½ t celery seed, ¼ t salt, ¼ t dry mustard, 5 C green and red cabbage- shredded,
½ C Carrots- shredded, 2 medium apples, ½ C dried cranberries.
Directions: Shred cabbage in a food processor. Peel and grate carrots. Peel and slice apples. Measure first 7 ingredients into a jar. Cover tightly and shake to mix. Mix with all remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir to coat.
Kale Chips 3/7/13
Ingredients:
1 bunch of kale, 1 T olive oil, 1 tsp salt (can use seasoned salt)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Remove leaves from stem and tear into chip size pieces
Wash and dry kale
Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt
Bake 10 min or until edges are slightly brown
Sunshine Macaroni and Cheese
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
½ pound whole wheat elbow pasta
2 cups skim milk
1 large sweet potato- peeled, boiled and mashed (for 1 ½ cups)
½ tsp dry mustard (or ¼ tsp nutmeg for variety- not used in taste test)
1 ½ cups shredded cheese (can be a mixture- cheddar, monterey Jack, moz, etc)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Add salt and elbow pasta to rapidly boiling pot of water.
Cook al dente- don’t over cook! Drain and rinse pasta very well.
Warm the milk on the stovetop and add spices.
Add cheese and sweet potatoes and mix until smooth. (can use blender)
Put pasta in baking dish and mix in sauce.
Top with bread crumbs if desired. (not done at JES)
Bake 25-30 min or until top is browned and bubbly.
Parents, we need you to make these taste tests happen! We need one parent at each taste test. The time commitment is 10:45-1:25. Split the time with a friend! Available taste tests this year are:
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