JULY SATURDAY(EARLY MORNING!) PANCAKE FEED! STUDENTS WILL BE COOKING UP FIVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PANCAKES FOR FAMILIES!

We are going to get creative here, past the basic pancake, although we will serve that up too!
Here is a 'sample' photo...lookin' tasty!

We will be also be using apples, strawberries, oranges, and a few other naturally sweet ingredients!

So, we want you all here before all the kiddos are off to their baseball or soccer games!  More info coming your way!

August End of Summer Family Luau! Food, music, firepits, contests, games!

All students and their families are invited to ONE BIG END OF SUMMER PARTY at the farm!  Invites are going home in next few weeks via classes, emails, blog, snail mail, we want you all here!

DAD'S...we need you...we will need help setting an in ground pit for...a PIG ROAST!  I will have a list of 'jobs', digging the pit, lining the pit, building the fire, wrapping the meat, loading the pit, and a crew to help in two-three hour time blocks to 'watch' the pig from 2am through 4pm!!

More info to follow, as well as deadline to RSVP!  Get your flowered shirts, flip flops, straw hats, and join all of us for a great early evening!

Strawberry Mojito Sorbet (Fruit-Juice Sweetened, Vegan, Raw, Paleo)

Is this the best use of fresh strawberries or what?!  FOUR ingredients, easy for the students...we made plenty in each class...with no leftovers!  Yum!

 Icy cool and refreshing!  We sat outside the barn(kitchen!)and enjoyed the summer sounds while enjoying our 'dessert'!  Remember...all our recipes are sent home in a cute booklet the students make over the course of the month!

• 1 c Pineapple Juice
• 1 Tbs Lime Juice
• 1 lb Frozen Strawberries
• 1 c Fresh Mint

Our 'family' of alpacas have been 'shorn'! Surprise 'wooly' classes coming in the Fall!

We loved these guys so much last year, that we added several more!  I do have to say that six are using our property as temporary 'renters', but we love them just the same!  See our new baby? : )

Canastitas Caprese (Open-faced Empanadas with Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella)

My Mexican heritage had me introducing some of the most delicious dishes possible!  The students loved these!  They are fairly easy to make, they all did a great job, and for most it was the first time using empanada shells : ).
ANOTHER FIVE INGREDIENT DISH!  Cherry tomatoes coming in from our student gardens, mozarella cheese, empanada shells, salt, and plenty of basil...from our garden!

Always teaching our little students about HEALTHY CHOICES! This is our main motto, as well as snacks in moderation!

Our students are beginning to understand what a 'Healthy Choice' means.  They are learning to make substitutions here then take this knowledge back home with them!  

Posters of this were given to all students.  Yes, we do occasionally bake desserts and teach about "AGAVE", honey, and prune substitutions without affecting the sweetness/taste.  In fact some groups in each class bake/cook with 'subs', then we do the Taste Test!

Picked Strawberries in our patch...then made an EASY Five-Ingredient Dessert!

We have been cooking quite healthy lately...thought we should add strawberries to a dessert this time!  FIVE, I repeat, FIVE ingredients is all that is needed, and most all ages can create this dessert...with mom being the 'helper' :)

No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake

serves 8 to 12

2 pounds fresh strawberries, washed
3 1/4 cups whipping cream, divided
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 sleeves (about 19 ounces, or 24 to 28 whole crackers) graham crackers
2 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped

Some of our veggies are starting to come up!

We pan roasted carrots, zucchini, potatoes, garlic, onions.  Sprinkled with Parmesan before putting in the oven!
The students really enjoy harvesting what they planted, AND creating a meal with these tasty healthy easy-to-grow vegetables : ).

Option to a Beef Burger!...SWEET TATER BLACK BEAN BURGERS!

yum.  plain and simple!

AS THE STUDENTS LEARN BACKYARD GARDENING, WE ALSO WANT THEM TO BE CREATIVE IN LEARNING TO COOK FAMILY MEALS WITH WHAT IS HARVESTED!

THIS RECIPE WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS, AND WELL-LIKED BY 95% OF THE COWPOKE COOKS! (WE DID SUBSTITUTIONS OR REMOVED A VEGGIE HERE AND THERE, ONE GROUP ALSO OPTED TO PUT THE 'LESS-LIKED' VEGGIES IN A BLENDER SO THEY COULD 'NOT SEE IT', IN THE FOOD!  IT WORKED, AND THANKS TEAM FOR STILL GIVING SOMETHING NEW A TRY : ).

Ingredients ~~~
 

• 15oz black beans, drained + rinsed
• 3c cubed sweet tater, cooked + skin on [~1.5lbs]
• 1/2c frozen or fresh corn
• 2/3c finely chopped onion [1/2 medium onion]
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1/2c cooked quinoa
• 6T rolled oats, partially ground
• 2T sunflower seeds
• 1/2t salt
• black pepper
• 1t cumin
• 1t oregano
• 1/4t coriander
• 1t chili powder...we left this out!
• 1/4t cayenne [optional]...we left this out!
• 1T olive oil 

so healthy!  now to work on getting that photo posted  : )


 

Older students did some Blog hunting on iPads today! Here was a tip they thought we could use here! NIce choice!

How to Choose a Mango

We’re at the height of mango season! The sweetness of fresh, ripe mango adds a counterpoint to savory dishes and a bit of tropical flair to your cooking. Here are a few tips for selecting a luscious mango for use in salads, salsas, smoothies and more.

• Don’t rely on color as a reliable indicator of ripeness. Mangos come in many different hues, depending on the variety, so color isn’t the best way to judge ripeness.
• The mango should give slightly when gently squeezed, just as a ripe peach would. Avoid mushy fruit.
• Give the mango a whiff at the stem end. The aroma should be fruity and fragrant, not sour.

Keep in mind that a mango left out at room temperature will get sweeter and riper over the course of a few days, so it’s OK to choose firmer fruit at the market if you’re not planning to use it immediately.

Tomato Teepees everywhere!

 

Our tomatoes are taking off this Spring!  Wow! Our older students, 10 years and up, helped put together the teepees, to keep tomatoes growing UP! : )

Chicken Coops up and running!

We put these a bit out of the way, from Barn and house!  Planning on trying a few styles, this is the first one!