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Rockin' Broccoli Salad

4/29/2021

It's "Broccoli for Me" month at Veggie Buds Club and this delicious recipe from VegeCooking is the perfect recipe to celebrate! And a name like "Rockin' Broccoli Salad" is sure to make this salad sound exciting to kids who may not be too keen on salad ;)

Dawn Hutchins is the founder of VegeCooking- healthy cooking classes for kids, teens and adults. Dawn has an extensive knowledge of the power of plant-based cooking and nutrition. She has a certificate in plant-based nutrition through Cornell University and the T. Colin Campbell foundation, and is certified in nutritional therapy with a focus in epigenetics. She's been developing healthful, delicious recipes since 2009.This recipe was developed by VegeCooking Club.

Rockin' Broccoli Salad

Serves 4-6
Ingredients

4 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped finely (about 2 medium heads)
1/4 cup diced red onion
2 large apples, finely chopped (I used gala apples)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raisins
1 carrot, chopped finely, optional

Creamy Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise or vegan alternative
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon agave
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Add the broccoli, onion, apples, raisins, sunflower seeds, and carrots to a large bowl.
Whisk the dressing ingredients and pour over broccoli mixture.
Mix well.

Broccoli for Me

Teach your kids that broccoli is fun and tasty with our "Broccoli for Me!" Box. Inside you'll find hours of broccoli crafts, games, growing projects, recipes, and more!

Epic Broccoli Burgers

4/22/2021

These Epic Broccoli Burgers are sure to turn all of your family members into veggie burger lovers!
This recipe was developed by Gratefully Vegan for Veggie Buds Club. Please lettuce know if you make it by leaving a comment!

Epic Broccoli Burgers

Ingredients

1 big head of broccoli
1 can of chickpeas
1 carrot
1 onion
1/2 bell pepper
3-4 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of flour
2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
1 tablespoon ground pumpkin seed or 1 additional tablespoon ground flaxseeds
1 tablespoon mustard
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil
Optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumbers, barbecue sauce, ketchup, etc.

Instructions

Cut the broccoli into small pieces and wash it. Bring some water to a boil in a pot, add the broccoli florets, and simmer for 10 minutes.
On a cutting board, mince the carrot, pepper, onion, and garlic. In a pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and saute the veggies until they are cooked.
To make a flax egg: in a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds and 4 tablespoons of water. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Once the broccoli is done cooking, rinse it with cold water and place it in the food processor. Add the chickpeas, mustard, ground pumpkin seeds, and flax egg. Mix until it becomes dough-like. Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil if it's hard to blend.
Add the roasted veggies to the food processor and mix just a bit. Make sure that at least half of the veggies are not fully blended.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl, add the flour and mix. If the mixture looks too wet, add more flour.
Separate the mixture into 8 parts and form them into burger patties.
In a pan, add a little bit of oil and cook the patties for a few minutes on each side until they are golden brown.
Place the patties in a bun, add toppings (tomato, onion, cucumber, lettuce), and barbeque sauce. Enjoy the burgers!

Broccoli Tree

4/17/2021

Broccoli looks like trees just as it is but it’s even more fun to make a whole scene for
your forest! This super simple food art is a great way to make broccoli more fun.

This recipe was developed by Katie Blauser: mama of three boys, wife of a picky eater, and food lover at Eat Pretty Darling. She believes in making food fun, healthy, & pretty! Katie’s not only outnumbered by boys in her little family, but also by picky eaters. She loves trying to find new ways to get both kids and adults to eat healthy while making food pretty yummy, pretty healthy, and pretty fun! Find Katie on Instagram (@eatprettydarling), where she shares colorful and cute food ideas for both picky and adventurous eaters.

Broccoli Tree

Ingredients

Head of broccoli
Ranch dip
Pretzel sticks

Instructions

Take a head of broccoli and trim off just under the florets.
Paint clouds of ranch dip on the plate. Put the broccoli on the plate and add pretzel sticks below as a trunk.
Dip the broccoli and pretzels in the clouds and enjoy!

Broccoli for Me!

Teach your kids that broccoli is fun and tasty with our "Broccoli for Me!" Box. Inside you'll find hours of broccoli crafts, games, growing projects, recipes, and more!

Easy Broccoli Soup

4/14/2021

This is a great broccoli recipe to make with kids because they can practice cutting and breaking broccoli florets into pieces. The pieces then get cooked and blended so it doesn’t matter if they are all the same size. This green soup is great served with grilled cheese for dipping, crackers, or plain toast. You can also top it with a little extra cheese or some broccoli “sprinkles”!

This recipe was developed by Heather Staller, a mom of two boys, ages 8 and 6, and cooking instructor specializing in bringing cooking into preschool classrooms. After college, Heather knew she wanted to be a teacher, but first followed her lifelong dream of going to culinary school. Teaching cooking combines both of her passions, and she truly enjoys introducing young children to the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients. Find Heather on Instagram (@heather.happykidskitchen), where she shares inventive kid-friendly recipes and ideas for cooking with kids at home.

Easy Broccoli Soup

Serves 4-6
Ingredients

1 pound Russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
10 to 12 ounces broccoli florets, tender stalks and leaves included (5 heaping cups)
4 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Instructions

Add potato and broccoli to a large pot. Pour broth over top then stir in the teaspoon of salt.
Bring up to a simmer then cover and cook until the vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes.
Use an immersion blender (stick blender) to puree the soup until smooth. If using a traditional blender, carefully transfer the vegetables and broth into the blender and blend in batches until smooth.
Stir in garlic powder, lemon juice, and cheese, if using. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.

Broccoli for Me!

Teach your kids that broccoli is fun and tasty with our "Broccoli for Me!" Box. Inside you'll find hours of broccoli crafts, games, growing projects, recipes, and more!

Radish Planets

3/16/2021

Turning a snack into something that’s out of the world is super simple with just three tasty ingredients! These radish planets are sure to be a hit and are a really easy way to make some food art.

This recipe was developed by Katie Blauser: mama of three boys, wife of a picky eater, and food lover at Eat Pretty Darling. She believes in making food fun, healthy, & pretty! Katie’s not only outnumbered by boys in her little family, but also by picky eaters. She loves trying to find new ways to get both kids and adults to eat healthy while making food pretty yummy, pretty healthy, and pretty fun! Find Katie on Instagram (@eatprettydarling), where she shares colorful and cute food ideas for both picky and adventurous eaters.

Radish Planets

Ingredients

Radishes
Cucumber
Cream cheese

Instructions

Cut your cucumber into thin slices. You can keep the skin on or discard. Cut the top and bottom off of the radish and cut it down the middle.
Put a little bit of cream cheese on each radish cut-end and put the cucumber slice in the middle. Squish it together until it sticks and you have a planet!

Want some great products that teach kids to learn to love veggies?
Check out our shop for kid-safe knives, interactive placements, and veggie-themed activity boxes!

Roasted Radishes with Pea Hummus

3/16/2021

Have you ever tried roasting radishes?! Roasting really brings out the sweet qualities of this yummy veggie. Pairing radishes with some other (possibly more familiar) veggies such as potatoes and carrots is an excellent way to introduce this veggie to kids. Dip lovers rejoice, these roasted veggies taste delicious dipped in Pea Hummus!

This recipe was developed by Gratefully Vegan for Veggie Buds Club. Please lettuce know if you make it by leaving a comment!

Roasted Radishes with Pea Hummus

Ingredients
Roasted Radishes

1 bunch of radishes
5 potatoes
3 carrots
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Pea Hummus

3.5 cups frozen peas
2 Tablespoons Tahini
Juice of 1 lemon
1 clove of garlic
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup water

Instructions
Roasted Radishes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Wash the radishes, potatoes, and carrots. Peel the potatoes and carrots.
Chop the radishes into quarters and chop the carrots and potatoes into a similar sized dice as the quartered radishes. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet and spread out the veggies.
Sprinkle the spices on top of the chopped veggies.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the veggies are "fork tender".
Serve the roasted veggies on a plate next to the pea hummus and enjoy!

Pea Hummus

Pour the frozen peas into a pan. Add water and cook over medium heat until thawed.
In a blender, blend all ingredients except for the peas.
After the peas are cooked, drain the water and wash them with cold water until they are chilled.
Add the cooked and cooled peas to the blender and blend everything together.
Serve in a small bowl with the veggies and use it as a dip. Yum!

Want your kids to eat more veggies?

Check out our shop for interactive and fun products that teach kids that veggies are fun and tasty! In our shop you can find kid-safe knives, interactive placements, veggie-themed activity boxes, and more!

Magical Green Mac & Cheese

2/11/2021

Add a few ingredients to a blender with a couple handfuls of spinach and *poof* your Mac and Cheese is magically GREEN! Little chefs will love to help make this fun and delicious pasta dish that’s packed with spinach.

This recipe was developed by Heather Staller, a mom of two boys, ages 8 and 6, and cooking instructor specializing in bringing cooking into preschool classrooms. After college, Heather knew she wanted to be a teacher, but first followed her lifelong dream of going to culinary school. Teaching cooking combines both of her passions, and she truly enjoys introducing young children to the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients. Find Heather on Instagram (@heather.happykidskitchen), where she shares inventive kid-friendly recipes and ideas for cooking with kids at home.

Magical Green Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

2 cups small-shaped pasta
Salt
1/2 cup milk (any kind)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 Tablespoons flour
2 cups baby spinach
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water up to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions.
While pasta cooks, add milk, cheese, flour, spinach, and garlic powder (if using) to a blender. Blend until no flecks of spinach remain.
Drain pasta into a colander then return the empty pot to the stove. Pour the green sauce into the pot and cook over low heat, stirring often, until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cooked pasta. Taste and add additional salt as desired. Enjoy!

Want some great products that teach kids to learn to love veggies?
Check out our shop for kid-safe knives, interactive placements, and veggie-themed activity boxes!

Spinach Cookies

2/7/2021

It's "Superhero Spinach!" month at Veggie Buds Club and these delicious 4-ingredient Spinach Cookies are a very kid-friendly way to get your children excited about eating spinach!

This recipe was developed by Katie Blauser: mama of three boys, wife of a picky eater, and food lover at Eat Pretty Darling. She believes in making food fun, healthy, & pretty! Katie’s not only outnumbered by boys in her little family, but also by picky eaters. She loves trying to find new ways to get both kids and adults to eat healthy while making food pretty yummy, pretty healthy, and pretty fun! Find Katie on Instagram (@eatprettydarling), where she shares colorful and cute food ideas for both picky and adventurous eaters.

Spinach Cookies

Ingredients

1 ripe banana
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Handful of spinach

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F. In a blender, combine banana and spinach. Puree until smooth. It will become like a liquid.
Add in oats and chocolate chips and mix until combined. Scoop the mixture onto a lined baking sheet. I like to make them into balls and flatten the tops a bit once they are on the sheet.
Bake for 18-20 minutes. Makes 6-8 cookies.

Want your kids to eat more veggies?

Check out our shop for interactive and fun products that teach kids that veggies are fun and tasty! In our shop you can find kid-safe knives, interactive placements, veggie-themed activity boxes, and more!

Garlic Buddy Body Game

1/22/2021

Garlic is a nutritional powerhouse and we have a fun and simple game and song to teach your children about the health benefits of garlic! Pair this game with one of the tasty kid-friendly garlic recipes from Veggie Buds Club and we guarantee that your children will love (or at least try...!) garlic. Search "Garlic" in our blog archives to find your new favorite garlic recipe.

The Awesome Power of Garlic

Garlic helps your body in lots of ways! Here are just a few:

Garlic has antibacterial properties and antioxidants that help your hair and skin
Garlic helps your digestion when your stomach is hurting
Garlic protects your heart
Garlic helps your body fight off germs that can cause your lungs to cough

Garlic Buddy Body Game

Materials Needed

"Garlic Buddy Body Game" print out <-- click here to print!
Optional: Garlic cloves

How to Play

Place each Garlic Buddy* on the body part that it helps out!

*You can also use garlic cloves instead of the paper cutouts for playing pieces to get your kids excited about eating garlic!

Onion Fun & Garlic Yum!

Teach your kids that onions and garlic are fun and tasty with our "Onion Fun & Garlic Yum!" Box. Inside you'll find hours of onion and garlic crafts, games, growing projects, recipes, and more!

Mujadara

1/21/2021

It's "Onion Fun & Garlic Yum" month at Veggie Buds Club and this delicious recipe from VegeCooking is the perfect recipe to celebrate! Mujadara is a pilaf featuring lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. This protein-rich combination of rice and lentils is a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine.

Dawn Hutchins is the founder of VegeCooking- healthy cooking classes for kids, teens and adults. Dawn has an extensive knowledge of the power of plant-based cooking and nutrition. She has a certificate in plant-based nutrition through Cornell University and the T. Colin Campbell foundation, and is certified in nutritional therapy with a focus in epigenetics. She's been developing healthful, delicious recipes since 2009.This recipe was developed by VegeCooking Club.

Mujadara

Serves 6
Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more, if needed)
Water or broth to unstick onions from pan
3 cups onions, sliced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups cooked rice
2 cups cooked lentils
1 teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup parsley, finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

Heat a skillet with 2 tablespoons olive oil; cook onions, stirring constantly, for 15 minutes. Add water or broth, as needed, to unstick onions from pan. Season with salt and pepper; add some additional oil, if needed, and add garlic; cook for an additional minute.
Stir in cumin, cooked rice and lentils to that skillet. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, as needed. Cook for 5 minutes. Top with fresh parsley, if desired.

Onion Fun & Garlic Yum!

Teach your kids that onions and garlic are fun and tasty with our "Onion Fun & Garlic Yum!" Box. Inside you'll find hours of onion and garlic crafts, games, growing projects, recipes, and more!