umommy

How to Keep a Good Thing Going

Last June, my son's elementary school joined over 300 groups in celebrating the first Flavored Milk Dayof Action. With support from the school principal and the local pediatric medical office, students were given free cartons of white milk and white bracelets imprinted with “MOO.” Our goal was to help kids make healthy choices in a positive environment. If kids mooing and drinking white milk is any indication of success, then it was a great day.

At the Lowell School, we are taking our early success and running with it. With the continued support of the school principal and pediatric office, we will be celebrating Milk Awareness Day for a second time on March 7^th, 2012. But this time, it will be bigger than before:

Everyone loves FREE: As we had done last year, we will be giving out free white milk to all the kids during lunch

Accessorize: We are also giving out free white silicone wristbands with "MOO" imprinted on them

Make it fun: We will be giving out white milk mustaches to the students to wear after lunch

Make it memorable: There will be two school-wide assemblies featuring the school principal and pediatricians. The assembly will feature a demonstration on sugar consumption and why it is important to make healthy food choices.

Healthy partners: The school is also partnering with ChopChop Magazine, a children's cooking magazine focused on combating childhood obesity and making healthy food choices

Make a statement: Students will help create a giant milk carton and sign a pledge in art class. The giant milk carton and student signatures will be on display in the cafeteria

Share at home: Students will be sent home with an informational flyer to share with parents a week prior to Milk Day

The goal is to continue to raise awareness in a positive way, but also to prepare the community for the Massachusetts regulations that will take effect in August (changing what is on school menus, including the elimination of flavored milk in August 2013). Massachusetts is taking steps to fight childhood obesity. And it’s a welcome change, but we think we can do better. At the Lowell school, we hope to set an example for other schools in the community and surrounding towns. Why wait when change can happen today?

Stay tuned to find out how Milk Awareness Day turns out and our plans to keep the momentum going!

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, by umommy

In AZ, Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ: Home of the country's best pizza?

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, by umommy

In California, shortcakes

Valentine's Day Heart-Shaped Strawberry Shortcakes

Before kids, I could take or leave Valentine’s Day. Cheesy cards, overpriced meals and a second mortgage for long-stemmed roses – no thanks. Chocolates, strawberries, champagne – yes, please! And now that I have kids, I adore homemade valentines and look forward to making special treats with my boys. And yeah, chocolates, strawberries and champagne are still up there.

So when I found out there was going to be a “Friendship Day” Party (is this a sign that Valentine’s Day is going the way of Christmas Trees?) at my son’s first-grade class, I started to search for food ideas that were delicious but not overloaded with sugar (I do like my son’s teacher after all). That’s when I found a recipe for heart-shaped strawberry shortcakes. Festive? Yes! Healthy? Yes (with some tweaks). Delicious? Oh yeah! Check out the recipe after the jump.

Strawberries in February?

I used to buy strawberries in New England only during the summer months. But after attending “Paint Boston Red with California Strawberries” event hosted by the California Strawberry Commission and MommyNiri, all my preconceptions were thrown out the window. Some quick facts*:

California’s unique coastal environment, western ocean exposure and moderate temperature are the perfect conditions for growing strawberries year-round
All California strawberries are hand-picked for the highest quality berries, then rushed to coolers within 24 hours
Flavor is influenced by growing conditions, stage of ripeness and variety. Size is not a factor in determining flavor

Heart-Shaped Strawberry Shortcakes

Adapted by Joanne Chang’s Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe

INGREDIENTS

2 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ sticks cold, unsalted butter, cut into 12-14 pieces
3 eggs
½ cup heavy cream
2 pints strawberries
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
3 tablespoons sugar
Whipped cream (canned or fresh)

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat over to 350 degrees F. Using stand mixer (with paddle attachment), mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt on low speed until combined (10-15 seconds).

2. Scatter butter over the top and beat on medium-low speed for 30 seconds, until butter is broken down and the mixture becomes mealy.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 eggs and cream. On low speed, pour in egg mixture all at once and beat for 10-15 seconds, until dough comes together.

4. Dump the dough onto a floured work surface and press it out into a circle about 10 inches in diameter and 1-inch thick. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts, re-rolling scraps until dough is used up. Place them on a ungreased baking sheet several inches a part. Makes about 2 dozen hearts.

5. In small bowl, whisk remaining egg and brush tops of dough hearts with the egg.

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until light golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes and transfer onto a cooling rack.

7. While shortcakes are in the oven, stem and cut strawberries. In a medium bowl, toss strawberries with lemon zest and sugar.

8. Top each heart shortcake with whipped cream and strawberries with their syrup and enjoy!

What are your favorite strawberry recipes? Are you a fan of Valentine's Day?

*Source: California Strawberry commission. I was not compensated for this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products or services mentioned. Opinions are my own.

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In chinese, family-friendly

Restaurant Review by My 6-Year-Old: Little Q Hot Pot (Arlington, MA)

Here's another restaurant review through the eyes of my kid. This time, we visit his new favorite restaurant: Little Q Hot Pot on Mass Ave in Arlington, MA. All pictures were taken by my son using my phone (as I sweat bullets while he held my fancy phone over the bubbling cauldron of broth).

6-year-old: First we wait for our food. This restaurant is nice. Because they have a stove connected to where the hole is in the table.

Little brother trying to decide if he should launch his car into the 'pit' as we wait for our food.

6-year-old: First the peanuts and other spicy stuff come. And carrots. They taste good, except for the spicy stuff.

Condiments of peanuts and spicy cabbage. Plastic bowls, cups, and spoons are ideal for feisty kids.

6-year-old: Finally the soup comes and they put it in a little hole in the table. They don’t let it splash on us so we don’t get hurt.

Complex and delicious Black Bone Chicken Broth equipped with ladles and basket.

6-year-old: This is the spring roll and dumplings you can order from the menu. It tastes so good. And we don’t have to cook it – they cook it for us. You can’t cook this in the soup bowl.

Large menu includes traditional Chinese appetizers and entrees for those that do not want hot pot.

6-year-old: You can order meat. It looks like they are ground. They come to the table cold. You have to cook these foods in the soup bowl.

Paper-thin cuts of raw pork, chicken and beef.

6-year-old: You cook it by dropping it inside. And when you think it is ready, you take it out and try it. It is fun cooking the food. Grownups cook it – it is dangerous for kids. But I like to watch.

Chinese fondue - cooking chicken in savory broth.

6-year-old: The vegetables taste good. Some of these are super foods I think.

Chinese broccoli, carrots and watercress.

6-year-old: This is my soup. There are some noodles in it. You can cook the noodles. Kids can drop the noodles in. It is fun touching the noodles!

Cellophane noodles with pork, chicken, Chinese broccoli, and carrots in broth. The boy had two helpings.

6-year-old: If you feel a little sad, like if you were crying and bumped your head, someone that works here can bring you a lollipop. But it is a only for a special treat if you finish your dinner or lunch. I’m not sure if they serve breakfast.

(note from umommy)

In my quest to raise my boys to be adventurous eaters, we dine out a lot as a family. We try to avoid ordering the boys the typical kid fare (chicken fingers and fries for example) whenever possible. We seem to have the best luck introducing our kids to more exciting foods when we go to places that have "family-style" dishes. So what better place to get our kids to be adventurous than Chinese hot pot? Bubbling cauldron of broth set in the middle of your table for cooking raw meats and vegetables. Seconds later you get to fish out your food using chopsticks. Exciting? Yes. Healthy? Yes. Tasty? YES!