From the Kitchen

Apples

2012-10-26T16:23:00.000-04:00

Apples - School they go hand and hand. Fortunately for us here in the cafeteria students love them! We try to take advantage of "Apple season" and offer a variety of apples. For us here at SSVT did you know that most students like "green" granny smith apples!

Apples have lots of nutritional value, bet you didn't know that the age old saying" an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is actually true! Apples have a number of prominent health benefits. Fiber to help promote a healthy digestive system, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol.

Although we love our raw apples there's nothing like a NE apple pie! Tis' the season but who has time. I have enclosed a quick fun recipe for you & the kids! Enjoy.

Baked Whole Apples
Preheat your oven to 375

Take whole apples, and use a paring knife to remove the core, leaving a cylindrical hole in the center of the apple, but taking care not to cut through to the bottom.

Combine brown sugar and butter in a ratio of 3 parts sugar to one part butter. For every half cup or so of sugar/butter mixture, you’ll want to use about a ½ tsp of sweet spices – I like an equal mixture of ground cloves and cinnamon. You can also add walnuts or raisins to this mixture if desired.

Fill the holes you made in the apples with the butter/sugar mixture and bake for 30 – 40 minutes, or until the apples have softened throughout, and then serve hot from the oven, with some good vanilla ice cream.

The timing on these is about perfect so that if you just get these in the oven before you sit down to dinner they are done when you’re ready for dessert. For something a little different, but just as easy, you can try whole baked apples, also served with vanilla ice cream.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2012-10-12T14:17:00.000-04:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We should all stop and reflect on how blessed we are. Statically 1 out of 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Although genetic predisposition plays a huge role in this, a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables has been known to decrease the risk of breast cancer. We all know eating healthy and exercise is the key to a better life. Try some rich in vitamin foods to reduce your risk!

Broccoli, garlic,pomegranate, walnuts, tomatoes and berries. These are some of the veggies you will find in our cafeteria.Try to incorporate a new fruit or veggie in your healthy lifestyle this month.

Go Pink!

Cucumbers

2012-10-12T10:24:00.001-04:00

Cucumbers......... One the main ingredients in our salad here in the cafeteria. I thought I would share a little tidbit on how to use them & store them!

Cucumbers should be stored in the warmest zone in your refrigerator, I recommend close to the door if you don't have a vegetable crisper. This vegetable can easily get "chill damage" this is what we call it in the foodservice industry. When this chill damage happens it causes the inside to become translucent and "mushy".

A little known fact is the inner cucumber seed is actually 20* ( degrees) cooler that the outside temperature.

Cucumber are also a great source of Vitamin K, this is good for bone growth! So next time you want the kids to eat a healthy snack, score your cucumber rind with a fork and cut the cucumber in 1/4" slices for cucumber wheels! Have a lite ranch dip for them to enjoy :-)