Good nutrition in the morning and early afternoon is vital for attention and learning, and it helps keep kids focused and alert all day. I’ve taught hundreds of youth to plan and cook for themselves, and the vast majority of them, given the opportunity, will choose healthy, nutritious foods, if
They taste good
Are offered in variety
They feel like they are allowed to choose for themselves.
Kids get bored with the same old, same old…and a variety of foods helps ensure more balanced nutrition. Here are a few of my favorite "quick & easy" tips for school lunches...
Wraps are sturdier and less messy to eat. Who wants to eat a smooshed sandwich?
Quesadillas are quick and easy to make. Ham & Cheese, Pizza, Turkey and cheddar
Vary hot and cold lunches. A thermos of their favorite soup or stew is a nice break from cold lunch, especially in winter.
A hot sandwich, wrapped in foil, will stay warm in a thermos, all day!
Pita Pockets are easy to eat, less messy, and because pita it denser than…
I’ll let you in on a little secret, but only if you promise to tell everybody… The #1 way to overcome Picky Eater Syndrome (and the parental guilt that often
accompanies it) is to teach our children how to cook. Kids a far more likely to try something new, if they prepared it themselves.It’s true! One of the things I've most enjoyed, in this grand adventure of fatherhood, is teaching my little one the joy of cooking.You see, both my father and grandfather were chefs, and though their own teaching methods were not always…stellar, I'm excited about passing this passion and enjoyment of cooking on to The Pickle, and as many other kids as I
can.
The Secret IngredientWorking closely with under-served youth, many of whom have (literally) never boiled water before, has taught me that fear and anxiety, which most of these kids are already dealing with, only increases the likelihood of an injury, mistake, and discouragement. My personal philosophy is that the younger the child, the more praise…
I started out, many years ago, grilling with a good old fashioned Weber Kettle, the most popular
charcoal grill in American since, well...ever. 😉 Sadly, these marvels of simplicity rarely get used to their full potential. Sure, you can grill up endless burgers, dogs, and brats…and they’ll be awesome, but let’s look at some advanced (dare I sayHome Chef?) techniques to take
this old classic to the next level! I have used the Weber to make everything from jerky, to smoked salmon, to traditional Southern Pulled Pork, to authentic Texas-Style Briskets and Pork Bellies, and I’m going to show you how to, as well. Direct vs. Indirect There are two basic styles of grilling, direct & indirect. Direct Grilling Direct grilling cooks your food “directly” above the hot coals. Best for searing and charring foods that you want to grill quickly.Of course, with this higher heat, you have to be more watchful to ensure that foods, especially those with sugary marinades or glazes, don’t burn before they’re…
Spatchcocking: "Cutting a chicken or other type of poultry down the middle, removing the backbone, and pressing flat in preparation of roasting or grilling." Spatchcocking is a great method for adding some amazing flavors while reducing your grilling or roasting time by nearly half! To spatchcock a chicken, use strong kitchen shears and cut down either side of the spine. Pull out the spine, turn the chicken over and press down on the breast of the chicken, until you hear the breastbone crack, to flatten it out into an even thickness. Here’s the marinade recipe I like to use
2 Tbs Tabasco Sauce (I like the new Buffalo flavor)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
2 Tbs Lemon Juice
2 Tbs Light Brown Sugar
2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
2 Tbs fine sea salt
1/2 orange Juice
2 cups apple juice
Whisk together the marinade ingredients in a medium bowl. Put the chicken in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag in a rimmed dish. Pour in half of the marinade. Seal the bag and rotate it around to…
Tailgate parties...a great place for football fanatics to gather, or a convenient place for food fanatics to gather? Who cares? As long as you can run your taste-buds into the end zone with traditional Mexican street tacos, baby! Carne Asada is a Mexican recipe for marinated, grilled beef served in tortillas. This is not your run-o'-the-mill taco! This is a flavorful and delicious fistful of awesome that's great for any occasion, and, for my money, skirt steak is one of the best cuts of meat you can ever toss on the grill. Serves 6 to 8
2 pounds skirt or flap steak
24 corn, or 12 flour tortillas
1/2 cup tequila
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup orange juice
4 cloves garlic crushed
1 medium onion chopped
2 teaspoons black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cumin
1 cup Fresh Pepper Pico
1 cup simple guacamole
2 teaspoons hot sauce
Mix…