Two Chefs and a Radio Station

A couple of weeks ago Chef K and Chef Jasper got together for Jaspers radio show LIVE! From Jaspers Kitchen, except this time it should have been titled LIVE! From Jaspers radio station.  I (yours truly “Blogger Phil”) made the trek from the home office to the radio station to capture the hour for the sake of history and as usual Jasper was his gracious self, bringing in some fresh King Crab from the Bering Sea in Alaska.  (By the way you can pick up that wonderful crab at your local Hen House)  Plus he made an awesome Fondue which I have to say was fantastic.  Chef K absolutely loved the fondue, which she decided was going to be hers and hers only.  Who was I to argue…..forks to hands hurt!    They interviewed a gentleman from a company called crabbrokers.com, as well as Joe DiGiovanni, who is the co-owner of a new restaurant called Zest located at Mission Farms.  Joe’s new restaurant is a unique dining experience and  is as he calls it “comfort food with a twist.”  Be sure and vist Zest and give it a try.  Or you can visit their site at www.zestkc.com

Of course Chef K shared a couple of Bistro Kids recipes.  One which is posted on the blog now under the title YUMMY!  It’s the creamiest and easiest pudding and one you and your family will love. 

Here’s some pics from the show at the studio’s of KCMO 710am.

Oakhill Fun Friday

Kim McChesney was a guest at Oakhill Day School on Friday Nov. 14th.   She is affectionately known as “The Salad Dressing Lady”.   Kim makes healthy, nutritious salad dressings from all natural ingredients, and of course we love food with the words healthy, nutritious and delicious!  The kids at Oakhill tested all the samples and Kim brought along some folks to help survey our taste testers to see what their favorite dressing was?  So far the unofficial results are……………..sorry, you’ll just have to stay tuned to the final results which should be out soon.  In the meantime, enjoy some pics from Fun Friday.  The smiles should tell you how good these dressing are! 

For more information regarding Kim and her fabulous salad dressings, you can email me at phil@bistrokids.com and I’ll be happy to get you some information.

The Famous Blueberry Shake. It might not be right now…but trust me…these two will make it famous

Thanks to Lindsay and Addie for the great blueberry shake recipe.  Everytime I watch it I want one!  I’m sure our readers do too!  GREAT JOB GIRLS!

YUMMY!

Looking for something to make that fits in to the Season?  Then we’ve got just the recipe for you.  It’s called The Creamiest Easiest Pumpkin Pudding. 

Being that yours truly is not a certified chef (I make awesome toast) I can attest that this is the easiest and the most creamiest Pumpkin Pudding.  (There’s a recipe title in here somewhere)  Okay……here’s the recipe:

• 1 (16-ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1 (3-ounce) package vanilla or lemon pudding
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Dash ground nutmeg

Directions (Good luck with this part)

1. Mix all ingredients together and chill.
2. You can add bananas, nuts, or coconut also
3. Call your loved ones to come and get it!

It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Coming to a radio station near you…actually coming to KCMO radio 710am

 Recognize this Logo?  If you do then you know it means one thing.  If you don’t recognize it then here’s what you do.  Tune in to 710am KCMO Radio on Saturday November 15th at 11:00a.m for the LIVE! From Jasper’s Kitchen with Jasper Mirabile.  Our very own Chef “K” will be there to discuss what she loves best……our Bistro Kids.  Plus she’ll be mixing up something yummy that you can fix at home for your loved ones this holiday season.  Don’t miss out on this fun show as Jasper always brings an enthusiasm to cooking that is out of this world.  A true Kansas City treasure! 

If you live outside the Kansas City area and can’t get KCMO on your radio dial you can still listen to the show on the internet at www.710kcmo.com

 

LIVE!  From Jasper’s Kitchen is sponsored by Hen House.  Be sure and check them out for great holiday cooking and baking ideas at www.henhouse.com.

KIWI Magazine Article featuring Oakhill Day School

Oakhill Day School

This Missouri school focuses on healthy, local lunches.  by Shannon Grotzinger

     When Oakhill Day School in Kansas City, Missouri, made the switch to organic meals, more changed than just the lunch food.  The school ushered in a slew of programs to teach kids about the foods served, as well as nutrition and environmental studies.  Instead of eating trans-fatty foods from Styrofoam containers, kids spend time in the school’s garden, watch cooks prepare seasonal treats, and learn how to recycle and compost.

     Things started changing in 2007, when Head of School Suzanne McCanles asked caterer Kiersten Firquain to make the school’s lunch program healthier and greener.  Through her company, InHome Bistro (www.inhomebistro.com), Firquain–”Chek K” to students–overhauled the food for Oakhill’s 261 students.

     This school’s menu is heavy on fresh fruits and vegetables, but also incorporates the classics.  The most popular entree?  Pizza, of course, but Firquain makes hers with a whole wheat crust, locally sourced sauce, homone- and antibiotic-free cheese, and grass-fed meat.  Other improved goodies include homemade chicken strips, broccoli-Cheddar quiche and sweet potato fries.  She also entirely cut out white grains, trans fats and processed foods.

    The school even spotlights one seasonal food every month.  September featured apples, complete with a field trip to an orchard.  October brought pumpkins–and pumpkin bread with pumpkin butter.

     As any parent will appreciate, it can be hard to get kids to taste new nibbles.  “Foods were questioned last year,” McCanless admits.  “Some, such as frittata, were not necessarily items the students were familiar with.”  But after enjoing recognizable foods like buffalo burgers and turkey meatloaf, kids began trying the more unfamiliar dishes as well.

     The results have been positive.  “Our teachers will tell you the kids are not as tired in the middle of the day,” says Firquain.  “The kids tell us they are making healthier choices at home, like choosing fruit instead of potato chips,” adds Firquain.

     An end-of-year student survey ensures that kids will see favorite meals return.  “We want to empower them,” says Firquain.  In addition to asking kids what they want, schools working toward healthier lunches should convert skeptical students by offering samples of new foods, Chef K says.  Also be sure to include teachers and let the community know about your changes.  The more support your healthy lunches have, the better.

To find out more about KIWI magazine visit them at www.kiwimagonline.com to subscribe.  You may also order the December issue that this article appeared in at www.amazon.com

7 Tips to a Greener School

Our friends over at KIWI magazine came up with a list of 7 things to do to make your school greener. 

 

1. According to the EPA, 75% of the electricity used to power electronics is consumed when they are turned off.  Have students take turns serving as a weekly Energy Monitor, making sure electronics are turned off and unplugged when not in use.
2. Encourage your cafeteria to partner with local farms for fresh,  organic food.  Or start a school garden and grow the produce yourselves! 
3. Use natural cleaning products to fight the grime at your school, and stock bathrooms with natural hand soaps (no antibacterial).  The eco-friendly options avoid harsh chemicals.
4. Instead of print mailings and paper copies, utilize e-mail and other forms of electronic forms of communication.  Reduce your schools trash with computer-based servers such as Moodle and Blackboard, where students can upload homework assignments, papers and quizzes.
5. Talk to your district about restricting or banning bus idling, which will help cut back on pollutants.  If your school has a lane designated for parents picking up children, enforce a no-idling rule there as well.
6. Rather than using trash bins as catch-alls for cleaning out lockers and classrooms at the end of the school year, encourage students and faculty to collect items to reuse, donate or recycle.
7. In the school library, set aside an area for green reading materials.  Stock the shelves with local nature guides, kid-friendly resources on global warming and recycling, and books that promote responsibility for the planet (see www.kiwimagonline.com/bookclub for recommended books)

For more ways to green your school visit MyHealthySchool.com, KIWI’s new resource for educators and parents.

You can also pickup KIWI magazine at your local Barnes and Noble, Borders Bookstore or green stores such as Whole Foods and Wegmans.  For more information, you can visit KIWI at www.kiwimagonline.com