6/12/09

Bite Into Summer with a Sweet Activity

As most of you know I usually try to talk about recipes with some nutritional value. Well, let me tell you, summer is here and we are already looking for activities to keep Kidlet busy.  Last week I was out shopping and needed a bag of marshmallows. (yes we do make our own marshmallows but not all the time) I immediately grabbed a bag because of the great shape of the puffs inside. The marshmallows were longer and thinner than the ordinary ones from the store. I was pretty excited and was probably muttering to myself about how cool they were.Of course I brought them home with me, I prominently displayed them in a jar to admire them and show off their great lines. 
The next day Kidlet had a play date and they were looking like they needed something to do so we came up with these pretty gems.
Here is what we did:
Each child got a paper plate and a few marshmallows
We stuck a lollipop stick in each one
I gently melted some chocolate (chocolate is delicate and will burn in the microwave if not watched carefully)
We dipped each stick in the melted chocolate halfway, and then dragged a fork down the sides to create the grooves.

Optional:
Sprinkle with sour candy powder
This was an attempt to use up something we had laying around
The more healthy choice would be nuts, Pistachios or Peanuts

Place them in the freezer for 5 minutes only to set the chocolate.
We slipped our sticks into the ends of frozen waffle boxes, they stood up just right.



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6/9/09

Camps that whet the appetite, summer cooking camps your kids will love


Another great listing from Edible Magazine... Stone's Soup column.


Summer Cooking and Farm Camps and Clubs for Kids

There are wonderful opportunities around Marin and Wine Country to get your kids out into nature and into the kitchen this summer, learning where their food comes from while getting their hands dirty!

Check out the newest project I am working on, this farm to table camp should be lots of fun at Connolly Ranch.


Dirt to Dine Adventure Camp for Budding Chefs,

Connolly Ranch (in collaboration with Chef Michael

Chiarello of Bottega/NapaStyle)

Napa, ages 5–11

Camp dates August 3–7

Connolly Ranch.

For more on this camp e mail me


What’s Cooking Cooking Classes for Kids

San Rafael ages 6 and up

camp dates - July and August www.whatscooking.info



Slide Ranch Camp, Muir Beach 5 & up June-August www.slideranch.org


Devil’s Gulch Camp Nicasio 6 & up June-August www.devilsgulchranch.com


Children’s Garden Co. Organic Farm Club, Sonoma for the whole family, year round www.childrensgardenco.com


“Eat Draw and Be Merry,” Napa, grades 1-8

call or email for Summer 2009

andrapaints@comcast.net or 707.333.1641


Summerfield Farm Camp, Santa Rosa 4 thru 12 June and July www.summerfieldws.org


Pine Point Cooking School, Sausalito grades 5-10 June–August www.pinepointcooking.com


Operation Chef, San Rafael 7 thru 18 June–August www.operationchef.com


Apple Blossom Day Camp, Sebastopol K-5 June-August 707.823.3463


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6/2/09

Sneak Peek at Stone's Soup Corner

Announcing Edible Marin Wine Country Magazine Premiere Issue (drum roll please)

edible Marin and Wine Country Summer 2009

We here in Marin, Napa and Sonoma are thrilled to be contributing to a great new magazine. Read Stone's Soup Corner my kid centric foodie column. See The fabulous cover that Matthew shot, and find out about seasonal foods and recipes. Grab one at your local natural foods store or farmers market, you can always subscribe. We hope you enjoy it!


Because peas are coming into season I changed this recipe to accommodate fresh peas but if you are unable to get them use frozen.

On the searing summer days of my childhood, I spent

long hours outside with other kids, playing hide

and seek, getting dirty, and making mud pies. The

moment we heard the bells of the ice cream truck, our ears

perked up in unison and we raced off to get our ice cream treat.

Now, 30-something years later, I hardly ever see an ice cream

man. Maybe it's because grocery stores today are stocked

with so many more ice cream choices, or maybe it's because

kids play indoors more. Whatever the reason, the summer

school break presents a great opportunity to spend time with

your kids, cooking with them and teaching them about food

and family. It should be easy to entice them into the kitchen

to help create these unique and deliciously cooling Minty

Pea Pops and Veggie Corn Pops.

They may not get to chase

the ice cream man, but they will be having fun, enjoying

their dessert, and eating their veggies, too!

Sweet Veggie Pops

A New Twist On an Old Treat

By Jenifer Carden



Minty Pea Pops

Peas on a Popsicle stick? Just tell them it tastes like mint–chocolate

chip ice cream—but these are not quite ice cream and not quite vegetable.

They are now a staple in our house—a great dessert, snack, or

treat on a hot day. Have your kids help shop for and shell the peas.

You'll love it when your child asks for a Pea Pop!

Makes 6 cube-shaped pops

8 ounces cream cheese

1 cup shelled sweet English Peas

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/8 to 1/4 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

6 Popsicle sticks or wooden craft sticks

Place the cream cheese, peas, and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl

and microwave on high for 20-second intervals until the cheese is

softened to room temperature.

Using a blender or food processor, puree these first three ingredients

into a smooth paste. Add the extract and mix again, scraping the

bowl frequently. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.

Place the mixture into a food grade plastic bag and cut about 1/2 inch

off of one of the bottom corners. Squeeze the puree into an ice cube

tray or mini muffin tin, place 1 Popsicle stick into each serving and

freeze until solid, about 1 hour. You may also spoon the puree into the

molds. Depending on your freezer, you may have to let them freeze for

up to 4 hours. For best results, make and freeze these overnight.

Once the pops are frozen, remove them from the molds by twisting

just like ice cubes. You may need to go around the edge with a warm

knife if you used a muffin tin. Sealed in an airtight container, these

will keep for up to 1 month.

Variation: Sprinkle a layer of graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of the ice

cube trays or muffin cups and place the corn puree on top; the result will look and

taste similar to a mini cheesecake on a stick.



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