I'm the mom of 3 teen girls. They have alway been active and creative in everything that they do or try. It has been fun over the years to see them develop and fine tune their God given gifts. One thing that I have tried to teach them is that they need to learn to take care of themselves and some day others being that a husband and children, friends, aging parents (yes I'm counting on them to care for me) or others who will come in their path. Here is one of our favorite post, Cooking with Teens.
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| Vegetable Toast |
I love sharing recipes on my blog and that desire came out of wanting a place to have my recipes for them to go to when they need them. I also share cookbook reviews which is why I'm featuring The Green Teen Cookbook on my blog today (check back later today for another book review for teens and kids).
Book: The Green Teen Cookbook from Zest Books has been written by teens, for teen with recipes for all seasons and edited by Laurane Marchive and Pam McElroy. Ms. McElroy, co-editor of The Green Teen Cookbook, an editor and caterer living in San Francisco, California. She edits books of all genres and caters under the name Meatball Maven. She has also been involved in the food industry since she was a teen--in restaurant kitchens, as a caterer, and as an editor for dining magazines. Her hobbies include reading cookbooks cover-to-cover, shopping at farmers markets, and cooking epic and seasonal meals for friends and family.
Provided BOOK DESCRIPTION
The Kitchen can be one of the trickiest places for young adults to navigate—add trying to be healthy, eco-minded, and budget-conscious, and things get even more complicated! Now there is The Green Teen Cookbook (Zest Books; ISBN 978-1-936976-58-4; $14.99 PB) to help guide teens through the mysteries of the kitchen and create some amazing meals. With inspiring tips on how to cut through the chaos of going green as well as master over 70 recipes, including a seasonal key that ensures optimal freshness (and a minimal carbon footprint), any teen can become a green culinary expert and learn how to: shop on a budget; get the most out of your pantry; cook more consciously; eat healthier, and more! Featuring full color photos throughout, The Green Teen Cookbook is an all-in-one guide for eating green and eating well—by teens and for teens!
This book is for people who enjoy cooking great, seasonal food for themselves as well as for other people—on a budget. It’s a guide for customizing recipes for each season, and for learning how to appreciate the different foods available each month. And readers looking to educate themselves on the food industry will enjoy the essays about globalization, vegetarianism, imports/exports, farming in the US and abroad, and much more.
This cookbook is very impressive. It would be perfect for any tween -boy or girl- all the way through college age and even beyond. I was most impressed by the wide variety of foods and 70+ recipes which I will include some of our favorites below in the chapter descriptions.
The book is a perfect guide to help teens navigate through the kitchen, teaches how to shop on a budget, healthy eating ideas, shopping for local, fresh ingredients and buying and using those unfamiliar seasonal ingredients. I love how each recipe has a photo of the teen with a quote.
Breakdown of Chapters and a few favorite recipes to try
Chapter 1: A Rough Guide to Healthy, Environmentally Conscious Cooking- Eating healthy tips, seasonally foods, eating organic, vegetarianism, eating locally and discusses fairtrade.
Chapter 2: DIY Kitchen Staples-Love this chapter on basic homemade recipes which are healthier and more budget friendly- Bechamel Sauce, Mayonnaise, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Spread and Salsa.
Chapter 3: Breakfast and Brunch- Yogurt Muesil, Energy Bar, Vegetable Smoothie Huevos Rancheros and Seasonal Mini Frittatas.
Chapter 4: Soups, Salads & Sandwiches- Squash Salad, Chicken Noodle Soup with Cheese Muffins, Healthy Burgers with a Kick, Sarah's Ramen
Chapter 5: Snacks & Sides: Hummus, Fava Beans, Begetable Toast, Scallion Pancakes, Mini Piza, Fried Tofu with Peanut Dipping Sauce.
Chapter 6: Main Courses- Green Pesto Tagliatelle, Sushi, Grilled Fish with Chimichurri Sauce, Lemon Tarragon Chicken, Chicken Chorizo Casserole.
Chapter 7: Desserts- Creme Brûlée, Rose Petal Sweets, Apple Chips, Oreo Cupcakes, Seasonal Pies, Crepes with Orange Sauce, Carrot Cake.
Do these sound like recipes a teen would think of making or ask for? Most of them are not which is what totally impressed me with this book. People think that teens only eat junk food but the times are changing and they are reaching out to eat healthier, more aware of the environment and the impact on the food they eat as well as getting the best and healthiest deals for their money.
Vegetable Toast by Jeremy Lickery
Ingredients
4 plain English muffins
1 zucchini, julienned (cut into matchsticks)
3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can tomato puree
4 tablespoons soft goat cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Directions
Cut each muffin in half and lightly toast. (Two halves per person is good for a snack or appetizer.)
Spread out the zucchini on a baking sheet, drizzle with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil, and place under the broiler until tender. (Leave the broiler turned on.)
Heat the remaining teaspoon of olive oil in medium saucepan over medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add the crushed tomatoes and simmer until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato puree, stir and simmer until everything is incorporated.
Once the sauce has thickened, spread it on the muffins. Top with the goat cheese and zucchini. Transfer to a clean baking sheet and place under the broiler until the goat cheese just starts to brown and melt. Sprinkle with basil and serve.
This book is a definite winner for teens and young adults and would make a great gift for any occasion.
This post is sponsored by Zest Books. My own opinions are expressed here. It is part of their Summer Bloggin Summer Bloggin Blog Tour where you can go see what the other blogs have shared.
ABOUT ZEST BOOKS: Zest Books is an award-winning publisher of smart and edgy titles for young and new adults that cover timely topics in creative ways by incorporating solid life advice, practical how-to instruction, and humorous commentary. Distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, you can learn more about Zest Books.
GIVEAWAY: You can enter to win The Green Teen Cookbook and/or Sticky Fingers in the Rafflecopter form.
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