There are several plum-apricot hybrid varieties that kids can grow, with pluots being the most common. Pluots are first generation crossbreeds of 75% plum and 25% apricot. These hybrid trees are the result of pollinating the flowers of plums with the flowers of apricots. Both are stone fruits and grown widely in California. They are…
Category: Kids Cooking
Kids Blended Salad Dressings
Classic homemade salad dressings are made with organic extra virgin olive oil, salt, and lemon or vinegar. Kids can add nutrition and flavor to their salad dressing by blending in an organic fruit or veggie. Kids can choose between apple, orange, red bell pepper, or tomato and chop 1 cup to blend with ⅓ cup…
Kids Grind their Spices
Kids can get more flavor and spices last longer and are more potent when they are stored whole rather than after they are ground. Fresh ground spices improve dishes with more nutrients, vibrancy, and aroma. Jarred whole spices are at their best for two years, while ground spices stay fresh for about a year. Mortar…
Kids set the Table
Modern hectic lifestyle has eroded family meal traditions. Table manners can help create that special environment for parents and kids to show gratitude and respect for the meal. How we experience food in our homes and environment, changes our bodies and our metabolic process. When kids grow an organic backyard veggie garden, they are excited…
Kids Cooking Camps
Summertime offers lots of different camps for kids, including camps that teach kids how to cook. Kids can sign up for a fun cooking class and learn basic skills, like following a recipe and using kitchen equipment safely. Some camps are held in gardens or farms, like the one in the picture above at Plumcot…
Kids cook with Leeks
Leeks are easy for kids to grow in their organic raised bed gardens. Kids in California can plant them in the fall for a late spring harvest. During the growing season, kids need to mound compost and mulch around the plant to create the long white portion that is good to eat, as the sun…
Kids Pickle the Beet Harvest
Kids can grow beets during the winter in California and harvest them in the late spring. During the winter, kids can begin to harvest the beet tops by cutting them with scissors and preparing them like spinach in salads, soups, and casseroles. Beets are an annual cool season crop that contain 5 to 10 percent…
Kids cook with Whole Grains
Most Americans eat white flour and white rice that are stripped of their bran and germ. This removes 50% to 90% of the nutrients and photochemicals in the grain. Once this protective layer is removed, the grains and flour ground from them remain shelf stable indefinitely, making them convenient for suppliers and grocers. Instead kids…
Kids Ferment Foods
Living in this age of processed foods grown with poisons and filled with chemical additives, it is very easy for kids to have their systems thrown out of balance. Introducing fermented foods, with their beneficial living microorganisms, into kids diets can bring the immune and digestive systems back on tract. These healthy fermented foods have…
Kids Pie Dough Tips
Pie dough can be daunting to make, but patience and practice are rewarded with flaky tender crusts. Crusts are the reason everyone loves pies. First, all the dough ingredients must be cold. Pie dough needs time to chill, relax, and get flaky. Assembly all the ingredients on the counter. Using organic whole wheat pastry flour…
Cooking Magic for Kids 