January 2015 - THE ART OF NUTRITION

Fun Plum Pixie

By Judith | January 30, 2015 - 3:04 am | Dessert, Snacks

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Plum Pixie

Tonnes of different plums around at this time of the year so a shame not to use them!

Here’s my fun food, Plum Pixie …

Recipe

– Plums (different coloured flesh) or apple/peach

– Cherry

– Strawberry

Method

1. Use the cheeks of a plum to make two wings.

2. Add a face from a plum with lighter coloured flesh.

3. Add a cherry for a hat.

4. And a strawberry body.

5. Some floaty, plum legs.

6. With a strawberry skirt.

7. Then some plum arms and hands.

8. And a face from cherry and plum skin.

9. With some strawberry shoes.

10. And some snazzy jewellery.

11. A little decoration and she’s ready to fly …

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Vegecational Video Ventures 7 – Home-made Fruit Popsicles

By Judith | January 29, 2015 - 1:29 am | Videos

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Vegecational Video Ventures – Home-made Healthy Popsicles

High summer and it’s lovely and warm here. Still on school holidays so we thought we’d mix it up and instead of having just fruit for dessert we’d have some fresh fruit popsicles.

My neighbour very kindly gave us a sack of grapefruit from the tree. Divine!! Some were a little bruised on one side so I scooped out the pulp and the juice and decided to use this as the basis for my popsicles. Unusual yes but we all love citrus and that zingy flavour of grapefruit so we married this with some banana (for sweetness) and some plums that were a little over-ripe.

Check out the making on video:
https://youtu.be/kjqim-sn_2Q

Then we had a meltingly hot day (well for Wellington!!) so we did a taste test on video:
http://youtu.be/PeX5HD4ofYg

They were obviously very well received as the boys (big and small) nagged me to make more this morning!

Recipe

– Use whatever fruit you have to hand. Using banana/mango/pineapple etc. that are naturally sweet helps to give them more sweetness.

– We used 2 grapefruit (juice and pulp), 2 bananas and 2 plums. This morning I made another batch and substituted the plums for 2 handfuls of
berries.

Method

1. Wash and cut fruit.

2. Blend until as small as you like. We leave ours a little lumpy as the boys like chunks of fruit.

3. Pour into popsicle moulds or you can just use paper or plastic cups or pots and add a lolly stick if you’d like.

4. Leave overnight or less if you want it a bit “slushy”.

5. Eat!

It’s a lovely treat without any added sugar or additives and perfect to serve at parties or picnics.

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Fun Veggie Robot

By Judith | January 28, 2015 - 3:43 am | Main Meal, Snacks

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Veggie Robot

As it’s summer salads feature highly on our menu. And salad is perfect for pictures. I use lots of different veg as they will all be part of our meal – you can of course substitute in any veg you have on hand

Here’s my fun food Veggie Robot…

Recipe

– Daikon/Chinese/Japanese radish)

– Cucumber

– Celery

– Green capsicum/bell pepper

– Radish

– Carrot

Method

1. Cut a square of daikon for the body (if you haven’t tried this before it’s sold in Asian grocers or often at the markets. It has a very mild flavour, is crunchy and perfect in stir fries).

2. Use cucumber for the head.

3. And celery batons for the arms.

4. Green capsicum makes perfectly matching legs.

5. Then radish for feet.

6. And more radish for hands.

7. Carrot cut into circles makes the eyes and a rectangular piece of radish for the mouth.

8. Then I angled his arms in a bit.

9. And gave him celery and daikon antennae.

10. Joining everything together with radish “hinges”.

11. Finished and ready to eat!

The Art of Nutrition

Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Fun Mandarin Rooster

By Judith | January 26, 2015 - 1:21 am | Dessert, Snacks

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Mandarin Rooster

So much fruit around at this time of year we’re spoilt for choice. The mandarins are lovely and sweet and the perfect portable snack, they are also great for creating fun food!

Here’s my Mandarin Rooster.

Recipe

– Mandarin

– Strawberry

– Blueberry (or raisins)

– Pepitas

Method

1. Form a body shape from mandarin segments.

2. Add a strawberry wattle.

3. Then a comb.

4. With an open beak.

5. And a blueberry eye.

6. I made the legs from strawberry and then cut a mandarin segment to make the claws.

7. Slicing strawberry for a large tail.

8. Then half a strawberry for the wing.

9. I sprinkled pepitas for the ground.

10. But no rooster is complete without his crow … sliced from blueberries …

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Vegecational Video Ventures 6 – Simple Cheesemaking

By Judith | January 22, 2015 - 1:50 am | Videos

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Simple Cheese Making

Joe and I decided to make simple cheese yesterday. It is so quick, economical and easy that it’s something you can whip up for a meal or make weekly and store in the fridge. You also know that there are no additives!
We decided to make Paneer as we’re using lemon juice but change that to vinegar and it’s a “Farmhouse Cheese”. The acidic buttermilk that is the by-product can be used as the base for the most amazing pancakes.

The photo below shows the finished product (we just made a small amount for the video) which can be flavoured with salt and pepper, herbs, pineapple or whatever takes your fancy.

Check out the video to see just how simple it is:
https://youtu.be/zngxv8ywwC0

Recipe

– Milk

– Lemon juice or vinegar

Method

1. Boil milk in a heavy pan. Stir to stop it sticking to the bottom.

2. Once the milk has boiled turn the heat right down.

3. Add lemon juice until curds start to separate from the whey.

4. Pour the milk mixture into cheesecloth with a bowl underneath to catch the buttermilk. I don’t have cheesecloth so used a new cleaning cloth with a sieve underneath.

5. Squeeze out the whey and let the cheese cool. Chop and add seasoning to taste.

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Fun Mushroom Jellyfish

By Judith | January 21, 2015 - 1:05 am | Main Meal, Snacks

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Mushroom Jellyfish

I was preparing an Asian dish and the bean sprouts/mung beans just looked just like tentacles. I had the mushrooms, brown rice and veg ready so this fun food Mushroom Jellyfish was born!

Recipe

– Mushrooms (I used the dark caps)

– Bean sprouts/mung beans

– Brown rice (or cous cous or chopped veggies)

– Carrot

– Red Capsicum/Bell Pepper

– I used spinach & celery for the sea bed

Method

1. Cut the sautéed mushrooms in half (or you can eat raw if you prefer).

2. Add the bean sprouts/mung beans as tentacles.

3. Add the rice for the sea-bed.

4. Then add other veg to give the seabed colour.

5. Cut a few fish from carrot and capsicum …

Simple, quick, crunchy and delicious.

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Vegecational Video Ventures 5 – Jelly Orange Cups

By Judith | January 20, 2015 - 7:16 am | Party / Extravaganza !!, Videos

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Jelly Orange Cups

My boys haven’t eaten jelly/jello before so are excited to try. I don’t buy the store bought as it’s either full of sugar or sweeteners so decided to experiment making my own. My husband reckons it contained too much fruit to be a true “jelly” but it tasted fabulous and you can of course alter the ratio of fruit to liquid.

Check out the video of us making it:
http://youtu.be/EwnUWxblxec

Then the boys road testing it:

http://youtu.be/pG-KTaNs54c

Recipe

– Orange

– Other fruit

– I added nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla

– Water

– Gelatin

– Blueberries to decorate

Method

1. I cut the orange in half and scooped out all the flesh.

2. I combined the orange flesh with a sweet nectarine (any sweet fruit will work) and a little water. I added some spices and simmered on the stove-top until pulpy.

3. Allow the mixture to cool then add some gelatin to enable it to set.

4. Spoon into the orange cups and place in the fridge until ready.

The boys thought it tasted delicious. It would make a fun food, healthy party or picnic dessert. You can of course customise with any fruit that’s in season (and set in a cored out apple or melon) and then decorate with berries or nuts.

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Fun Cherry Mice

By Judith | January 19, 2015 - 2:11 am | Party / Extravaganza !!, Snacks

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Cherry Mice

Cherries are in season – yeah!! They have got to be one of the most decadent treats available. So delicious and yet can transform easily into fun food Cherry Mice.

Recipe

– Cherries (with stalks)

– Almond flakes

– Sunflower seeds

– Pineapple (or cheese)

– Pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Method

1. Slice the bottom off the cherry and place on a plate.

2. Make two slits in the cherry and add almond flakes for ears.

3. Then cut three more slits to insert half sunflower seeds for eyes and nose.

4. Bring to life as many mice as you’d like.

5. Then add a wedge of pineapple with holes cut into it for cheese.

6. Roughly chop some pepitas and sprinkle on the plate.

7. Finished. Eeek!

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Fun Coleslaw Fox

By Judith | January 16, 2015 - 4:11 am | Main Meal, Party / Extravaganza !!

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Coleslaw Fox

This fun food Coleslaw Fox is lots simpler than it looks. I made a light mayonnaise and mixed it with some grated carrot then added the cabbage. It’s a perfect centrepiece for a party or a picnic and who could resist having a little …

Recipe

– Grated carrot

– Cabbage

– Red cabbage

– Cucumber

– Olives

– Mayo (or other dressing)

Method

1. Mix the carrot with the dressing and form a basic head shape.

2. Make holes for the eyes.

3. Add more carrot to build up the nose section to give it a 3-D effect.

4. Use cabbage to make the fur around the side of the face and ears.

5. Slice cucumber to make the eyes.

6. Then more cucumber for the nose.

7. Use olives for the pupils and black nose.

8. And more for the mouth.

9. Then use red cabbage for the whiskers and detail.

It’s as simple as that!

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Vegecational Video Ventures 4 – Home-made sauerkraut

By Judith | January 15, 2015 - 6:56 am | Videos

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Sauerkraut

Being from an English background, Sauerkraut is not something I have grown up with. Chutneys and pickles yes (and I love making them) but this is my first go at fermented cabbage!

I am informed that it’s really simple to make and I know that the beneficial bacteria contained in fermented foods are great for our bodies (we already have yoghurt for those great probiotics) so today was the day to see if I could make it.
Check out the video to see the Sauerkraut being put into the jar.

http://youtu.be/Z07hJ5lTCXY

Recipe

– Finely shredded green cabbage (1/2 head of a large one)

– Tbsp salt (not iodised)

Mix together in a large bowl with the hands until the cabbage gets soft and “soupy”. Place into a sterilised jar and push down the cabbage until it’s totally immersed in the liquid. Cover and leave at room temperature for 3 days (or longer dependent on taste).

The Testing (7 days later)

We left ours for 5 days to ferment and then refrigerated it. Tonight we cooked it up with some roast pork, grated carrot and cannellini beans that I had pre-soaked plus some other veggies. Before putting the sauerkraut into the pan I rinsed to remove the majority of the salt.

Check out the video to see what the crash test food dummies thought of the sauerkraut. As it’s high summer here we are making the most of the weather and eating on the balcony so excuse the hats!

The Art of Nutrition

Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Fun Pancake “Cakes”

By Judith | January 14, 2015 - 4:01 am | Breakfast, Dessert, Party / Extravaganza !!

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Pancake “Cake”

We were having a bit of a celebration so I decided to make a fun food little “cake” and served it to four boys. It lasted about the same time as it took me to get my camera ready ….

I made some buckwheat pancake batter then cooked them individually in egg rings to make small circles. These were then stacked and layered with fruit and yoghurt. A big hit and a great alternative to a traditional cake – especially as there is no sugar but loads of colour, flavour and of course you can make to personal specifications!

Recipe

– Pancakes (I used buckwheat)

– Yoghurt (or coconut cream)

– Fruit – I used strawberries and blueberries

– Mint leaves to decorate

Method

1. Make the pancakes into any shape you wish. I used an egg ring to create small circles.

2. Add a layer of yoghurt.

3. Then some strawberries.

4. And another pancake.

5. Then more yoghurt and strawberries.

6. Until the stack is completed.

7. Add fruit to the top for decoration.

8. A few mint leaves to pretty it up and it’s ready to eat.

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Fun Tomato Ladybirds

By Judith | January 14, 2015 - 3:35 am | Party / Extravaganza !!, Snacks

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Tomato Ladybirds

High summer so we’re feeling like lots of salads, the tomatoes are plentiful and the flowers and insects are blooming. We combined them all with these bright, fun food Tomato Ladybirds.

If you’d like to watch the video check out the link:
http://t.co/97wpCAu2K2

Recipe

– Lettuce leaves (or other green leaves)

– Tomatoes

– Olives

– Green stems (I used rosemary leaves but parsley stems/chives would be good)

Method

1. Wash some green leaves.

2. Slice tomatoes to make the ladybird’s bodies.

3. Use an olive to make the head.

4. Cut olives to make the divider between the wings and add olive spots.

5. Do that for all the tomatoes.

6. And add rosemary leaves for antennae.

7. So easy and ready to eat.

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Vegecational Video Ventures 2 – Home-made tomato ketchup

By Judith | January 14, 2015 - 3:18 am | Videos

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Vegecational Video Ventures 2 – Home-made tomato sauce

We don’t buy tomato ketchup from the store as it contains too much sugar and other additives. However, when we were catering the school sports day BBQ and needed something to accompany our vegan sausages we knew that having some ketchup would be excellent. We tested a few recipes and finally settled on our own version of a sugar (and sugar substitute) free ketchup that is super easy to make, cost effective, keeps well and yet tastes delicious. 70 kids at the BBQ agreed with us!

Check out the video link for the recipe and instructions on how to make:

http://t.co/CuRLed4XDk

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small

Vegecational Video Ventures 1 – Introduction

By Judith | January 14, 2015 - 2:30 am | Videos

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Vegecational Video Ventures 1 – Introduction

This year we’ll be trying something new via Vegecational Video Ventures. There will be an eclectic mix of topics, everything from experimental recipes to home-made sauces and simple food art. Check back regularly to find out what we’re doing in the kitchen and how my favourite crash test food dummies (Max and Joe) are liking what we’re whipping up!

Click on the link for a short introduction and what to expect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSooiIklmQo

The Art of Nutrition
Fun, healthy, creative food for kids big and small