A Healthy Snack For Kids...

For the most part our schools are doing a great job feeding our kids a healthy lunch, at least here on San Juan Island.  It's my opinion that kids are becoming unhealthy when they get off school, around 3:00pm.  This is when they're alone at home, or with their friends, and they tend to get stuck into the bad stuff, like candy, chips and cereal, which is highly processed.

Here's a healthy little snack you can prep in the morning so it's ready for when they get home!

Thinly sliced apple or pear, and Parmesan cheese, with a balsamic drizzle.  Deb's kids love this snack food, it just takes the edge off, while dinner is underway...

If you prep this in the morning, squeeze lemon juice on the apple or pear to stop it turning color.  Remember fruit is fructose (sugar), so avoid eating to much.

Bon Appetit!

Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella Salad with Basil...

Balls to Winter, I'm just not ready for it.  So I'm having Summer!

Slice mozzarella cheese and tomatoes with basil, salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and a balsamic drizzle!  Serve with homemade croutons...

Bon Appetit!

Baby Leeks with Feta Cheese and a Balsamic Drizzle

This is a killer Fall lunch treat.

First set your oven to 350 degrees. Trim and clean your leeks -- with a knife take off the roots and the green tops, then lengthwise with your knife cut the leeks in half about 1" from the root end, which means you will have a leek that is cut in half but still attached! Holding the leek with root end or white end up, wash leek under running water so the dirt runs away from the attached end, then dry.

Place leeks in a roasting dish and drizzle with olive oil, then salt and pepper. Place in the oven and cook for about half an hour, turn if needed, you don't want too much color, just a little.

When done, place leeks on a plate and crumble room temperature feta cheese on top, then drizzle with Balsamic drizzle and serve...

To make Balsamic reduction/drizzle: In a pan bring one bottle of balsamic vinegar to a boil, then simmer until reduced by about two-thirds of the volume. When the vinegar starts to stick to the spoon, turn off the heat and add a big tablespoon of honey and stir. You may not get this right the first time, but when you do, well baby, this is liquid gold! You Will Have To Hide It!!!

Bon Appetit!