Posted by Jennifer Lee on May 08, 2012 2 Comments
Plan a "build your own dinner" night with healthy
chicken lettuce wraps, featuring fresh mint from the garden.
As much as I love my greens,
I am certainly not a green thumb! So when it comes to our garden I always
pick easy to grow, hearty plants that can tolerate a beginner like me. Mint is
one of my best friends in this regard. Early this spring, we planted a small
pot of mint and within a few weeks it was brimming over the pot, literally
crawling it’s way into our kitchen. We decided to make it a feature in our new
food of the week: Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
Feature Recipe: Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps from
The Family Dinner
The Family Dinner has become
one of my go-to books for easy, family friendly recipes. I can always rely on
the fantastic Laurie David to come through with dinner suggestions that my
whole family will love. Her recipe for healthy chicken lettuce wraps is no
exception. We simplified the recipe a bit to work with what we already had in
the pantry. Here’s how we made them:
Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Prep time: 15
minutes
Makes 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients for
the chicken filling:
1 lb ground
chicken
¼ cup chicken
stock
¼ cup chopped mint
leaves
1 clove garlic,
finely chopped
1 slice fresh ginger,
finely chopped
Juice from 1
lime
2 tsp brown
sugar
2 Tbsp Asian
fish sauce
1 Tbsp
vegetable oil
Ingredients for
the wraps:
1 lettuce head
1 cucumber, cut
into long thin strips
1 large carrot,
peeled and shredded
A handful of
mint leaves
1 lime, sliced
into wedges
Directions:
1)
Heat a wok, then
add the vegetable oil, garlic and ginger. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
2)
Add chicken
stock, then the chicken, breaking it up into small pieces until browned.
3)
Add the fish
sauce and mix well. Sauté a few minutes longer.
4)
Transfer the
cooked chicken to a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients for the chicken
filling and mix well.
5)
Serve the
fixings in individual bowls and let each person build their own wrap. Include a
side of spicy green beans for an extra boost of color.
Crunch a Color Kids Vote: It’s a wrap!
What we liked: It’s flexible and fun! We started out with the Thai version of Laurie’s
dish. With a simple tweak of the ingredients, swapping salsa for the fish sauce
and including black beans in the mix, we created another version of this easy
dish that was perfect for our Mexican fiesta night.
What is your favorite easy weeknight dish? Do tell!
Next up: Artichokes
Despite their prickly
appearance, artichokes were a winner at our table. Next week, we’ll feature an
easy recipe that will make artichokes a welcome guest at your family dinner too!
Craving more new recipes to try? Catch up on last
week’s recipe: Pineapple Smoothie.
About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom
of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color™ -- the
award-winning game that makes healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she
struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to
make it into a healthy eating game and she’s
giving back to support non-profit children’s nutrition programs including Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution and FoodCorps. Watch her picky eaters tell the story of how they turned into healthy eaters playing the game.
Follow @crunchacolor on Facebook and Twitter to tune into Crunch a Color's healthy eating adventure
and Jennifer’s tips and kid-friendly, easy recipes.
Read More
Posted by Jennifer Lee on May 01, 2012 0 Comments
A recent trip to Hawaii left us longing for the
tastes of the islands. What better way to bring back a sweet Hawaiian breeze
than with a healthy pineapple smoothie!
Sun, sand and lazy days
spent playing in the surf. It was a recipe for a perfect Spring Break vacation.
This year we took the kids to Hawaii, and one of our favorite snacks (and a new
food for my daughter) was the deliciously sweet pineapple that was in abundant
supply. One taste of a virgin Pina Colada and my kids were hooked. Not
surprising given the sugary syrup, so I decided to create a healthy version of
our favorite island drink that we could all feel good about enjoying.
Feature Recipe: Pineapple Smoothie
Most kids would happily jump
at the sweet, juicy flavor of a fresh pineapple. For reasons beyond my ability
to understand, my daughter was hesitant. It took a visit to Hawaii to change
her mind. Whether it was the warm island breezes or the myriad ways that
pineapple works into island cooking, my daughter ventured to try this sweet
fruit on a recent family jaunt to Hawaii – and she loved it!
“Healthy” and
“Hawaii” don’t always go hand in hand, so I decided to create a healthy version
of a Pina Colada that features fresh organic pineapple (to avoid the chemicals and
concerns sometimes associated with this fruit).
Alotta Colada: A Pineapple Smoothie
Prep time: 5
minutes
Makes 4
servings
Ingredients:
½ organic
pineapple
½ organic banana
1 cup orange
juice (preferably fresh squeezed)
6oz coconut
milk yogurt (or substitute with non-fat Greek yogurt)
6 ice cubes
Directions:
1)
Slice the
pineapple into wedges, making sure to remove the tough center and any pieces of
the rough outer skin.
2)
Load all of the
ingredients, ice cubes first, into a blender.
3)
Blend for 1 to 2
minutes, or until smooth.
Serve with a
wedge of pineapple on the side of your glass. Enjoy!
Crunch a Color Kids Vote: Blend it up!
What we liked: This tasty treat makes a refreshing afternoon snack. The coconut milk
yogurt (found at most natural foods stores) can easily be substituted with
Greek yogurt for an extra boost of protein. It’s reminiscent of a Pina Colada,
but much healthier!
What is your favorite healthy smoothie recipe? Do
tell!
Next up: Thai Chicken Wraps
The mint we planted earlier
this spring is bursting out of our little garden. What better way to use it
than as a feature in Laurie David’s tasty Thai Chicken Wraps! Who’s joining us
for dinner?
Craving more new recipes to try? Catch up on last week’s
recipe: Healthy Caesar Salad.
About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom
of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color™ -- the
award-winning game that makes healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she
struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to
make it into a healthy eating game and she’s
giving back to support non-profit children’s nutrition programs including Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution and FoodCorps. Watch her picky eaters tell the story of how they turned into healthy eaters playing the game.
Follow @crunchacolor on Facebook and Twitter to tune into Crunch a Color's healthy eating
adventure and Jennifer’s tips and kid-friendly, easy recipes.
Read More
Posted by Jennifer Lee on April 26, 2012 1 Comment
Move over mayo! Jamie Oliver’s healthy Caesar salad is
coming to dinner.
Last week I started on the journey of introducing Caesar
salad to my kids, so I was thrilled when I came across Jamie Oliver’s healthy
version of this classically delicious dish. Made with Greek yogurt instead of
mayonnaise, this healthy Caesar salad dressing is a winner and a Crunch a Color™ family favorite
in the making!
Feature Recipe: Jamie Oliver's Healthy Caesar Salad
Finding healthy alternatives to mayonnaise is difficult, so
the advice from nutrition experts is often “enjoy it sparingly.” Many recipes
suggest substituting yogurt in dishes featuring this creamy creation, but could
the tantalizing tang of a deliciously homemade Caesar Salad dressing be
achieved with any ingredient other than mayonnaise? I was skeptical, and
thoroughly delighted when Jamie’s recipe for healthy Caesar salad turned out to
be even better than I expected! I tweaked the recipe slightly to suit my
family. Here’s how I made it: `
Jamie Oliver's Healthy Caesar Salad
Ingredients:
1 bunch organic Romaine lettuce
1/3 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 small clove of garlic, finely chopped
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 anchovy filet
1/8 tsp table salt
½ loaf of herbed Italian bread
Directions:
For the dressing:
1) Place the garlic, anchovy,
yogurt, Parmesan cheese, 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt and lemon juice in a food
processor. Blend for 2 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use.
For the croutons:
1) Slice the bread into ¼” cubes.
2) Toss in the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt.
3) Bake in a 250 degree oven for about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until
lightly browned.
Pull it all together:
1) Wash and dry the romaine lettuce. Tear into bite size pieces.
2) Add the dressing and croutons and toss until fully coated.
Crunch a Color Kids Vote: Tasters all around!
What we liked: This healthy Caesar salad dressing is
deliciously easy to make. I dialed down the garlic and anchovies to create a milder
version of the dressing that would be easier on the palates of my burgeoning
Caesar salad fans. Blending in the food processor ensures a consistent, creamy dressing, which is key for my kids. Like the last dressing I tried, I worked in a few appearances of the recipe over the
course of the week, letting them try it with some familiar favorites like teriyaki chicken wings. Slowly, they are coming around. Remember, it
can take up to 10 times of exposure to a new food before some children will
like it, so don’t give up! If they don’t like it the first time, wait a few days, bring it to the
table again and suggest, “Give it another try. Your taste buds may have grown!”
Do you have a favorite healthy homemade dressing? Share the details!
Next up: May is the month for Mothers. To celebrate, we’ll
be featuring a fun lineup of my favorite recipes. Be sure to tune in.
Craving more new recipes to try? Catch up on last
week’s recipe: Easy, Italian chicken
About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom
of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color™ -- the
award-winning game that makes healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she
struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to
make it into a healthy eating game and she’s
giving back to support non-profit children’s nutrition programs including Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution and FoodCorps. Watch her picky eaters tell the story of how they turned into healthy eaters playing the game.
Follow @crunchacolor on Facebook and Twitter to tune into Crunch a Color's healthy eating
adventure and Jennifer’s tips and kid-friendly, easy recipes.
Read More
Posted by Jennifer Lee on April 21, 2012 0 Comments
Spin up a healthy side! Teach your kids how to make a Caesar
Salad your whole family will love and add this classic dish to their list of
new food favorites.
Salad is the Mount Everest of new foods at our house. It remains a mystery to me what is so
daunting about the notion of a bowl overflowing with beautiful green leafy
ruffles drizzled in creamy, homemade dressing. It seems so simple and
enjoyable, but it’s a trail my kids haven’t been willing to hike. How will we
get over this mountain together?
Feature Recipe: Easy, Caesar Salad
As with any adventure (culinary or otherwise), it’s always
more fun and interesting to put the kids in charge of the journey – it’s a
surefire way to get them having fun making, sharing and trying new foods. Salad
is no exception, so this week my kids and I had great fun learning how to make
Caesar Salad. `
How to Make Caesar Salad
Ingredients:
1 bunch organic Romaine lettuce
½ tsp minced garlic
½ cup organic mayonnaise
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp table salt
Juice from 1/2 lemon
½ loaf of herbed Italian bread
Directions:
For the croutons:
1) Slice the bread into ¼” cubes.
2) Toss in 1 Tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt.
3) Bake in a 250 degree oven for about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until
lightly browned.
For the dressing:
1) Place the garlic, mayonnaise, cheese, olive oil, salt and lemon in a food processor. Blend for 2
to 3 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Pull it all together:
1) Wash and dry the romaine lettuce. Tear into bite size pieces.
2) Add the dressing and croutons and toss until fully coated.
Dressing recipe inspired by Amy The Family Chef.
Crunch a Color Kids Vote: I’ll try a “taster”
What we liked: This easy Caesar salad dressing is fun for
the kids to make with no worrisome ingredients like raw eggs. At its first
appearance on our table, my kids hesitantly tried a “taster”, but they weren’t
sold. So I worked in a few other cameos over the next few days: as a dipping
sauce for snacktime vegetables, as a spread on fresh, chewy herbed bread, and
as a dip for their favorite chicken wings. Slowly but surely they are warming to
the taste, so we’ll keep trying. It’s important to remember, it can take up to
10 times of exposure to a new food before some children will like it, so don’t
give up if they’re not gobbling up the dressing on the first try.
Do you have a family favorite salad dressing? Share the details!
Next up: May is the month for Mothers. To celebrate, we’ll
be featuring a fun lineup of my favorite recipes. Be sure to tune in.
Craving more new recipes to try? Catch up on last
week’s recipe: Easy, Italian chicken
About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom
of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color™ -- the
award-winning game that makes healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she
struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to
make it into a healthy eating game and she’s
giving back to support non-profit children’s nutrition programs including Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution and FoodCorps. Watch her picky eaters tell the story of how they turned into healthy eaters playing the game.
Follow @crunchacolor on Facebook and Twitter to tune into Crunch a Color's healthy eating
adventure and Jennifer’s tips and kid-friendly, easy recipes.
Read More
Posted by Jennifer Lee on April 16, 2012 0 Comments
Need an easy recipe for busy weeknights? Here’s how
to make Italian chicken that's deliciously simple and tasty. Less than 15 minutes
to fabulous!
There’s no doubt that
Chicken Parmesan will please most crowds, including the crowd at my house. But
it’s a bear to make on weeknights and a healthier version without the
breadcrumbs and cheese would certainly be a welcome addition to our stable of
recipes. Here’s how to make Italian chicken that’s so simple, easy, and tasty it
is sure to become a regular on your weeknight menu!
Feature Recipe: Easy Italian Chicken from The Family
Chef
My kids love roast chicken
(and Chicken Parmesan, of course!) but tend to be hesitant to try chicken any
other way. Same goes for lots of other foods. So at our house, I award bonus
points for trying a food my kids already like, prepared in a new way. This
keeps me out of the recipe rut and makes it fun for my kids to try familiar foods
prepared in an unfamiliar way. When Amy The Family Chef showed me how to make
Italian chicken, I jumped at the chance to give it a try. Not only is it a new
twist on an old favorite, it is a simple recipe my kids can make in less time
than it takes to order a pizza!
How to Make Italian Chicken (the Easy Way!)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ready in: 20 min
Ingredients:
1 lb organic
boneless chicken breast
1 cup
mushrooms, chopped
½ tsp garlic
powder
½ tsp thyme
½ tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive
oil
¼ cup white
wine
2 Tbsp butter
Directions:
1)
Wash and trim
the chicken. Cut the breasts in half lengthwise to create thin slices. Dry
completely.
2)
In a small bowl,
mix together the garlic powder, thyme and salt.
3)
Sprinkle about ½
of the seasoning mixture onto the chicken (leave the remaining half for when
you turn the chicken in the pan).
4)
Heat a pan to
medium high heat. Once heated, add olive oil, then the chicken, seasoning side
down. Do not move the chicken in the pan.
5)
Add the
remaining seasoning mix to the chicken.
6)
Once the chicken
is browned and turning white on the sides, flip and cook the other side. Cook
another 3 to 5 minutes or until the chicken is firm when you press it, and
nicely browned.
7)
Remove the
chicken and set aside.
8)
Deglaze the pan with
¼ cup of white wine. Be sure to scrape up all of the tasty bits.
9)
Add mushrooms to
the wine mixture; simmer lightly for about 3 minutes.
10) Add butter to the sauce. Mix to melt completely.
Serve the
chicken with a side of fettuccine and garden fresh broccoli. Drizzle the
mushroom sauce over the chicken and pasta. Enjoy!
Crunch a Color Kids Vote: Fast and fabulous!
What we liked: This delicious recipe can be made start to finish in less than 15
minutes. A weeknight winner! Pair it with my easy, homemade tomato sauce and a
dash of Parmesan cheese, and you’ve got a healthier (and easier) version of
Chicken Parmesan. My favorite tip from Amy: “Put the chicken in the pan and
step away from the stove! Let the pan do the work.” Brilliant! Gives me enough
time to clean the dishes before serving up a fast and fabulous supper.
What is your favorite weeknight recipe? Dish it up!
Next up: Healthy Caesar Salad
Our Italian dinner party
wouldn’t be complete without Caesar salad! Tune in next week when we toss up a
fantastic recipe for Healthy Caesar Salad.
Craving more new recipes to try? Catch up on last
week’s recipe: Easy, homemade tomato sauce.
About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom
of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color™ -- the
award-winning game that makes healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she
struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to
make it into a healthy eating game and she’s
giving back to support non-profit children’s nutrition programs including Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution and FoodCorps. Watch her picky eaters tell the story of how they turned into healthy eaters playing the game.
Follow @crunchacolor on Facebook and Twitter to tune into Crunch a Color's healthy eating
adventure and Jennifer’s tips and kid-friendly, easy recipes.
Read More
