All About Apples

September is the start of apple picking season in New England.  Apple picking is a great way to spend your afternoon with families and kids.  They can see where the apples grow and look at all of the different kinds.

It’s not only fun to pick the apples, but they are good for you too!  Apples are a great, low calorie fruit with no saturated fat or cholesterol. They are also filled with great vitamins such as vitamin C and B-complex vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium, and phosphorus which make you healthy and strong.  It’s no wonder why they say an apple a day keeps the doctors away! 

There are many different types of apples that grow in the New England area that are great for apples, sauces and other snacks. 
C.N. Smith Farm in East Bridgewater has a great list of apple varieties, harvest dates and uses.  You can check it out here.

Here are some yummy treats you can make with apples:

 

Apple Cider

Nothing says fall like enjoying a nice cup of apple cider.  This cozy beverage can either be served hot or cold.  Many apple orchards and stores sell apple cider, but if you are looking for a nice drink to make with your kids and want your house to smell delicious, you can make it at home. For a recipe, click here!

Apple Pie

After a nice big dinner, apple pie is the best dessert to serve in the fall and a great way to use all of the apples you picked!  Your kids can help you mix the ingredients together as a great introduction to cooking in the kitchen.

Suggestion- Serve hot with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream! For a recipe, click here!

Apple Sauce

A delicious snack or even a healthy baking substitute for oil, this apple sauce is supper easy and everyone will love it!  All you need is some apples, cinnamon, a Crockpot and mason jars to store. For a recipe, click here!

Caramel Apples

This fall treat is often seen at fairs and carnivals, but you can also make it at home.  With this mini caramel apples recipe, you can serve them at fall parties or gatherings and kids will be coming back for more. For a recipe, click here!

Apple Chips

This crispy and crunchy snack is super easy to make and a healthier alternative to potato chips. Just thinly slice your apples, pour on some cinnamon and bake them in the oven for about two hours.  These are great to put in your kids lunchbox or an after-school snack. These chips are so good that you might want to make a batch for yourself too! For a recipe, click here!

Apples and Peanut ButterIf you aren’t in the mood for baking, kids will love their apples with peanut butter.  You can even make these cute little sandwiches and add in some granola or raisins.

Here are some great orchards to visit in the Southeastern Mass area to visit with your family this fall:

• ·         C.N Smith Farm Inc- East Bridgewater, MA
• ·         Fairmount Fruit Farm- Franklin, MA
• ·         Downse Orchard- Sherborn, MA
• ·         Wijcik Farm- Blackstone, MA
• ·         Belkin Family Lookout Farm-Natick, MA

Written by Stephanie Starbard- PR and Communications Intern

Healthy Winter Living for the Whole Family Part 1: Eating Right

        This winter, don’t let the cold freeze your healthy way of living! There are many simple ways to keep you and your family healthy through this chilly season.

        One of the best ways to save your money and improve your health is through home cooked meals. While going out to eat sometimes seems like the easier option, it is one of the top three causes of the increasing problem

of child obesity. On a snowy winter day when you are stuck indoors, cooking may not seem too bad. It can even be enjoyable if you find ways to get the whole family involved in the process. It is the perfect time to talk about your day and bond as a family overall. Here are some examples of meals to consider cooking with your kids:

Meal Choices List 1

Meal Choices List 2

Meal Choices List 3

Busy nights are unavoidable and we all have them sometimes, but that’s what quick and easy recipes are for! There are still many options for you to cook when you are short on time. You can also help yourself out by preparing the meal the night before or the morning of, so you will have less to do in the small time frame before everyone gets hungry for dinner.

        Everyone likes something to snack on when they are stuck inside all day, but there are ways to be smart and healthy about what you choose to eat. If you leave fruit and vegetables within reach, they will seem like the simple choice of snack for your family. It’s possible that you could even get your kids excited about vegetables by teaching them about “the rainbow” that they should be eating every day, which includes the various choices and colors of fruits and vegetables available. Some popular vegetables among children include zucchini, cucumbers, broccoli, red peppers, carrots, and celery. There are also many healthy dips that they might enjoy, like ranch, black bean, and hummus.

One enjoyable and healthy snack requires:

-1 can garbanzo beans or chickpeas

-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

-1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon

 Blend these ingredients together until it is smooth and creamy and serve it with fresh cut vegetables immediately.

You can also keep your children healthier through the choices you make at the grocery store. Instead of choosing a juice full of sugar, maybe you can find one that tastes just as good but is 100% juice with no added sugar. It can be hard to say no when your child asks for a treat, but try to give them a healthier option and only say yes to the treat once in a while. If you are able

to find a healthier option that they enjoy eating, you may even see a difference in how often they ask for the treat, meaning you will be forced to say no less often. It also helps if you teach your children which snacks they should ask permission to have, like cookies, and which ones they can take on their own, like fruit and vegetables. Click here to view the 20 best snacks for kids!

Another component of healthy living is being active. Look for tips to stay active this winter in part 2 coming soon!

Quick, Easy, Healthy! (Recipes for the summer!)

Inspired by Rolie Polie Guacamole (a kid-friendly band whose songs promote healthy living – check here for more info) the Children’s Museum in Easton has decides to put together a 3-course menu for healthy barbecue eating! These recipes are both good for you and easy to make with your kids. Get ready for some no-fuss food and a full tummy!

Course 1: Instead of chips and crackers, opt for a healthier dipping option!

Fruit Dip:  Original recipe here!

            Ingredients:

-          8 oz. cream cheese (you can use light to make it healthier if you choose)

-          2 cups of frozen whipped topping, thawed (Cool Whip/Cool Whip  works wonders!)

-          ½ cup marshmallow cream (Fluff!)

-          ¼ cup unsweetened pineapple juice

Directions:

1.      Help your kids blend together the cream cheese, marshmallow cream and thawed topping. Add enough pineapple juice to make it dipping consistency. Chill for 1 hour.

2.      Pick your kids’ favorite fruits, cut them into bite-sized pieces and serve on a platter!

 

Course 2: Kabobs are easy, customizable, and on a stick…what more could your kids ask for?

            Kabobs: Original recipes here!

            Ingredients:

-          Pick any meats you want! Lean meats like chicken are tasty and rich in protein. Choose one or a combination of meats!

-          Three or four colorful vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini, onions, carrots, new potatoes, bell peppers or cherry tomatoes

-          Wooden skewers

Directions:

1.      Have the kids choose their favorite meats and veggies.

2.      Help them put it on wooden skewers.

3.      Place the kabobs on the grill.

4.      Cook the kabobs over the grill until the meat is fully cooked and the vegetables are tender.

5.      Take the kabobs off, let them cool a little, and enjoy!

6.      (Optional) Add some spice with different dipping sauces or even adding fruit!

Side Dish! “Mom’s ‘Healthier’ Pasta Salad”: This side offers a traditional summer side dish with a healthier twist using whole-wheat pasta, provolone cheese and kid-friendly veggies; you can even use the homemade dressing to dip your kabobs in! This might be hard for your kids to help out on, but it’s definitely worth trying out on your own! Check it out here!

Course 3: A sweet, cool dessert for the hot summer days, minus all the fat and calories!

Popsicles:

Ingredients:

-          Your kids’ favorite fruit juice!

-          Fun shaped ice trays:

o   You can find popsicle trays at your local Target or WalMart OR you can find a lot of really cute ones online! Check out these intricate ones at amazon.com here:

http://www.amazon.com/Hog-Wild-Idea-Kitchen-Pops/dp/B00169P36K

Directions:

1.      Help your kids pour their favorite juices into the molds

2.      (Optional) Add some blueberries to freeze in the pops for a nice surprise!

3.      Place gently in the freezer until frozen through

4.      Check that the pops are frozen, take out and eat before they melt!

** If you want a creamier popsicle option, try the Can’t Be Beat Banana Ice Cream Pops! (A recipe from Sneaky Fitness by Missy Chase Lapine)

            Can’t Be Beat Banana Ice Cream Pops:

           

            Ingredients:

                        - 1/2 cup low-fat milk

                        - ½ cup vanilla (or banana) yogurt

                        - 2 large bananas

                        - 2 tablespoons sugar

                        - (optional) ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, ideally “mini”

           

            Directions:

1.      Blend all ingredients except chocolate chips in a blender until smooth.

2.      Pour equal amounts in popsicle molds.

3.      Drop about one tablespoon of chocolate chips into each pop, if desired.

4.      Insert stick.

5.      Freeze for at least 3 hours.

 

We hope you enjoy these kid friendly recipes! Remember, all of these are generally easy to make and customizable so your kids are bound to love them! Make them for a family party, a barbecue, or just to spice up a regular summer day.

Don't forget, these healthy eating recipes were inspired by the messages Rolie Polie Guacamole sings about! Check them out at http://www.roliepolieguacamole.com/ and stop by the Children's Museum in Easton on July 25th at 10am for a concert put on by the band!

We hope to see you at the Children’s Museum soon! Let us know what you think.:)

An Apple a Day!

We recently started our Cooking With Kids series! We tested out different spreads and toppings such as yogurt and caramel to see what you liked best, and even made apple, cheese and chicken paninis.
We asked you how you eat your apples, and this is what you had to say!

• Add apples to your coleslaw to give it a tastey crunch!
• Make homemade applesauce, it's easy and delicious.
• Slice apples and spread either almond butter or peanut butter on top.
• Dice up an apple and add it to tuna salad, you can add cranberries too!
• Dice up an apple and add it to your holiday stuffing.
• Bake an apple pie.
• Make caramel or candy apples.
• Slice up an apple and drizzle honey on top for an easy snack.
• Make a grilled cheese and apple sandwhich.
• Make some apple pancakes for breakfast!
• Add apples to any salad.
• Make apple popcorn balls.
• Brew some mulled apple cider.
• Bake your apples and put icecream on top!
• Bake some spiced apple bread.
• Make a peanut butter and sliced apple sandwich.
• Make an apple gravy for a pork dinner.

Some reasons why we should eat apples

• They make for a quick, easy, and portable snack!
• They are high in fiber and low in calories.
• Apples are rich in antioxidants.
• Apples are known to be "brain food".
• They are easy to cook and bake with.
• They help fight against certain cancers.
• Apples are a good source of boron, which helps bone growth and density.
• Let's just say an apple a day really can keep the doctor away!

Some great places to go apple picking!

• Tougas Family Farm, in Northboro MA
• Honey Pot Hill Orchard, in Stow MA
• C.N Smith Farm, in East Bridgewater MA
• Red Apple Farm, in Phillipston MA
• Russell Orchards, in Ipswich MA
• Cider Hill Farm, in Amesbury MA
• Highland Farm Orchard, in Holliston MA
• Marino Lookout Farm, in Natick MA

Don's miss the next event of our series, Canning with Rosa. Join us and learn how to can and preserve fresh ingredients on Tuesday, October 23. Click here to check out Cooking with Kids!

Gardening for Beginners, By a Beginner - Part 2

It's been about 2 weeks since I planted my herbs and pea plants. If you look closely you can actually see some green! But in the meantime, I have found some simple yummy recipes to make with your homegrown herbs when they are ready. I planted basil (bottom right), parsley (no growth yet), and pea plants (top left). Herbs can be added to bring out flavor in pretty much any meal including: pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and soups. Yum!

It is a good idea to let your kids help out in the kitchen. Cooking with your kids is a way to spend time as you create a meal together. Plus, they will want to try whatever they make, so it's a great way to help them make healthier choices and eat more fresh food.

As a gluten free girl with a sensitivity to wheat, rye, and barley, hummus is one of my personal favorites. It is a delicious Mediterranean dip, that is easy to make and hard to resist! To stay gluten free, make sure you double check labels, and serve with your favorite fresh vegetables.

HOMEMADE HUMMUS

1 15 Oz. Can Garbanzo Beans, rinsed and drained
3 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp. Tahini (can be found next to the peanut butter)
1 Garlic Clove
1 Tsp. Salt
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
1 tea spoon chopped fresh parsley (from your garden)
1 tea spoon chopped fresh basil (from your garden)

1. Place all ingredients, except olive oil and basil, into food processor and puree. Add olive oil and continue to puree until creamy.
2. Garnish with basil and serve.

But, if you really MUST have gluten, (I won't be offended) then here's an easy recipe for homemade pita chips. Just make sure if you're sharing with gluten free friends you have two separate bowls of hummus for veggies and chips :)

PITA CHIPS

3 lg. pita bread rounds
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. minced fresh parsley
1 tsp. fresh basil
2 green onions, chopped
3 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Separate each piece of pita bread into 2 round single layers. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine butter, parsley, basil, and green onions. Mix well. Spread mixture evenly over the 6 rounds of bread. Sprinkle cheese over open pita rounds. Cut each into 6 wedges. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 12 minutes or until crisp. Serve warm.

Check out these websites for other recipe ideas to make with your kids:

http://allrecipes.com/

http://www.campbellskitchen.com/Home.aspx

http://www.childrensrecipes.com/

And, come back in two weeks for the third and final part of Gardening for Beginners...where we can try our luck at some outside gardening in the nice weather!

-Jennifer Nash
Public Relations and Development Intern, Children's Museum in Easton