Veggie Buds Club
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact

Honey Roasted Radish "Coins"

6/13/2018

0 Comments

 
Roasting radishes dramatically mellows it’s naturally spicy flavor and the little bit of honey in the recipe adds a touch of sweetness that we all love. Enjoy the roasted “coins” as a simple side dish or snack. We also love them as a topping for fancy toast: toast bread then top with mashed avocado (or cream cheese) and the radishes. Yum!
Picture
This recipe was developed by Heather Staller, a mom of two boys, ages 5 and 3, 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

Honey Roasted Radish "Coins"


Getting kids excited about a new veggie often starts while shopping! Have your child choose which bunch of radishes they’d like to take home from the store or farmer’s market. The crunchy veggie comes in so many wonderful colors and shapes!
​Ingredients
  • 1 bunch radishes, washed, greens removed, and ends trimmed
  • 1 teaspoon neutral oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon honey
  • Pinch of coarse salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper or grease with non-stick spray.
  2. Cut radishes into 1/4-inch slices and add to a bowl.
  3. Drizzle with oil and honey then sprinkle with salt. Toss to combine.
  4. Lay radish slices out individually on the prepared baking sheet. Roast until lightly brown around the edges, 12-15 minutes.

Want your kids to eat more veggies?

Check out our shop for kid-safe knives, interactive placements, and veggie-themed activity boxes!
0 Comments

Green Bean Sticks with Green Dip

5/17/2018

0 Comments

 
We are excited to bring you a new monthly series from Katie Blauser, the creator of Eat Pretty Darling. Each month on our blog we will feature a "Color of the Week" that corresponds with Veggie Buds Club's veggie of the month. We're featuring BEANS this month so we can't wait to focus on GREEN veggies!
Picture
Katie Blauser is the mama of two 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.

Color of the Week - GREEN

​Let’s face it, we don’t all have access to farm stands and gardens year round to source our fresh produce each week. It’s not always feasible to have our kids helping to grow the food we eat either. Most of us have to count on the grocery store to fill our bellies, but there’s still a fun way to get the kids involved!

Each week we head out to to grocery store with a color to find! We stick to the produce section and try to pick 4-5 items that fit our color. Sometimes it’s the color on the outside, sometimes it’s the color on the inside. It’s a great way to get the kids excited about trying new things! Let your kids pick the items out. We try to get at least one thing he likes and some other things he hasn’t tried or is still learning to like. Even if I’ve offered him something a million times, he gets more interested in trying it if he had a hand in picking it out. Getting kids involved every step of the way can help your picky eater become a little more adventurous. Now go explore your grocery store! A colorful bounty awaits.

Green Food Ideas

There are more out there, but here’s a list to get started! 
  • Green beans
  • Green onion
  • Avocado
  • Basil
  • Chives
  • Kiwi
  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Lime
  • Spinach
  • Green pepper
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Artichoke
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Kale
  • Peas
  • Green apple
  • Zucchini
Picture

Green Bean Sticks with Green Dip

Now what to do with all of your colorful food? Try to incorporate these items into your weekly meals. How about a totally green meal such as these Green Bean Sticks with Green Dip?!

Ingredients
  • 1 lb fresh green beans ends removed and cut in half
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 avocado pitted and diced
  • 3 green onions, remove roots and dark green
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  Instructions
  1. Blanch green beans in lightly salted boiling water 2-3 minutes until beans are tender. Quickly plunge beans in ice water. Once cooled, drain beans and place in a large bowl and set aside.
  2. Put basil, lime juice, avocado, green onions, honey, Parmesan, and garlic in a food processor. While pulsing, drizzle olive oil through top until dressing is smooth, scraping down sides if necessary. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
  3. Serve the bean sticks & dip right away or place covered in the fridge until chilled.
The dip can also be used as a sauce over zucchini noodles (another all green meal!) or even spread on a piece of toast.
 
Get the kids involved in cooking!
​Here’s some ways they can help for this recipe:
  • Tear up the basil leaves
  • Break off the ends of the green beans
  • Press the button on the food processor
  • Pull the beans out of the ice bath
Picture
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!
0 Comments

Superfood Spinach Pesto

2/17/2018

1 Comment

 
This pesto packs a ton of spinach power into a single spoonful. Kids will love smashing the garlic clove, adding ingredients to the food processor, and pushing the buttons to grind the pesto.
Picture
This recipe was developed by Heather Staller, a mom of two boys, ages 5 and 3, 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.

Superfood Spinach Pesto

Ingredients
  • 3 packed cups baby spinach (about 3 ounces)
  • 1/4 cup raw walnut pieces (or any nut you like or substitute additional pumpkin seeds for a nut-free pesto)
  • 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 1 small garlic clove, peeled and smashed
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon honey (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
  • 1/3 cup olive oil or avocado oil

Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to a food processor.
  2. Pulse mixture until finely chopped then process until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl one or two times.
  3. Taste for seasoning and add more salt or lemon juice as needed.
  4. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze in small portions for up to 3 months. 

Here are some ways to use pesto!

  • Stir into cooked pasta
  • Use as a base for pizza
  • Spread on a sandwich or grilled cheese
  • Thin with additional oil and use as a dressing or dip for veggies
  • Marinate chicken then roast or grill
  • Toss with roasted veggies or cooked potatoes 
  • Stir into soup or tomato sauce for an extra flavor boost
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!
1 Comment

Easy Alphabet Veggie Soup

12/11/2017

0 Comments

 
This delicious soup will have your children "eating the rainbow"! Dry alphabet pasta makes this recipe souper kid-friendly but if you can't find any at your local grocery store any small pasta shape will do.

This recipe was developed by Happy Kids Kitchen for Veggie Buds Club.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

Get your kids involved in the kitchen! They can peel the carrots, chop the veggies, add the veggies to the pot, and stir in those fun alphabet noodles.
Easy Alphabet Veggie Soup

Easy Alphabet Veggie Soup

Author: Happy Kids Kitchen
This delicious soup will have your children "eating the rainbow"! Dry alphabet pasta makes this recipe souper kid-friendly but if you can't find any at your local grocery store any small pasta shape will do.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 small onion, diced
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 stalk celery, trimmed and diced
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher or coarse sea salt, plus more to season
  • 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium sized waxy potato (red or yellow skinned), diced
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes (about 3/4 cup)
  • 3 cups vegetable broth, chicken broth, or water
  • Handful of green beans, trimmed and cut into small rounds
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas, frozen corn, or a combination of both
  • 1/2 cup alphabet shaped pasta*
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or micro basil
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • Parmesan cheese, for the top (optional)​

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and cook until vegetables have softened slightly, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and potatoes. Stir an additional minute.
  3. Add tomatoes, broth or water, green beans, and alphabet pasta. Bring pot up to a simmer and cook until vegetables are tender and pasta is cooked, about 10 minutes.
  4. Stir in frozen peas then turn off heat and stir in fresh basil.
  5. Taste soup for seasoning then add in pepper and additional salt, as needed.
  6. Ladle into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of extra basil, if desired.

Notes:

*Cooked pasta will absorb lots of liquid if left in the soup for an extended period of time. If you’d like to make this soup in advance or freeze a portion to enjoy another time, you will want to cook your pasta in a separate pot, drain, then add to the portion of the soup you will be eating right away.


Did you make this recipe?
Tag @veggiebudsclub on instagram and hashtag it #veggiebudsclub
Picture

​Check out our shop for products that teach kids to learn to love veggies! This includes veggie activity boxes, kid-safe knives, interactive placemats, and more.
Picture
0 Comments

How to Grow Micro Basil

11/27/2017

1 Comment

 
Micro basil is a type of basil that has been harvested when it is very young and the leaves are small. Another name for micro basil is baby basil! They are most commonly used as an herb to add flavor to a variety of dishes, the basil flavor is more concentrated and very delicious.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

​Growing your own veggies can be so rewarding for kids and it is a great sensory activity for toddlers too. Research shows that kids are more likely to try new veggies if they know they have grown them themselves!
How to Grow Micro Basil

How to Grow Micro Basil

Author: Veggie Buds Club
Micro basil is a type of basil that has been harvested when it is very young and the leaves are small. Another name for micro basil is baby basil! They are most commonly used as an herb to add flavor to a variety of dishes, the basil flavor is more concentrated and very delicious.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon basil seeds for sprouting
  • Plastic grow tray (a clear to-go food container with a locking lid works great)
  • Growing medium such as a grow pad, coconut coir, or soil
  • Recommended: spray bottle for watering

Instructions

  1. With sharp knife, poke holes on the lid of the grow container for airflow.
  2. Place grow pad, coconut coir, or a thin layer of soil on the bottom of the grow tray.
  3. Sprinkle the basil seeds on the growing medium evenly in a single layer.
  4. Water the basil seeds (it is recommended to use a spray bottle so the seeds are not disturbed).
  5. Close the lid and place in a warm sunny spot, keep grow tray closed except when watering.
  6. Water every 1-3 days after seeds have germinated so they remain moist but are not drowning in water.
  7. Your micro basil is ready to eat in 10-14 days when shoots are about 2 inches tall, snip with scissors at the base to harvest. You can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @veggiebudsclub on instagram and hashtag it #veggiebudsclub

Growing Micro Basil in Pictures


​You Grew Micro Basil... Now What?!

Micro basil is a delicious garnish on many dishes such as pasta, tomato salad, pizza, and salads. Here at Veggie Buds Club we focus on kid-friendly meals, below are some kid-approved ways to enjoy micro basil!
  • Boil any shaped pasta and add frozen peas for the last 2 minutes of boiling time. After draining, mix in butter and Parmesan cheese. Serve with micro basil on top.
  • Top veggie soup with micro basil! Check out our Easy Alphabet Veggie Soup recipe.
  • English muffin pizzas topped with micro basil! This is a fun one to get your kids involved with. Make a pizza topping station: lay out English muffins, pizza sauce in a bowl, mozzarella cheese in a bowl, and topping options. Have your child spread the sauce with a spoon, sprinkle the cheese, and top with preferred toppings. Next, bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 12 minutes. Top with micro basil after they come out of the oven.

Check out our shop for products that teach kids to learn to love veggies! This includes veggie activity boxes, kid-safe knives, interactive placemats, and more.
Picture
1 Comment

Broccoli Nuggets

11/17/2017

3 Comments

 
These Broccoli Nuggets are a huge hit with kiddos! Eat them for lunch or a snack anytime of the day. This recipe was developed by Happy Kids Kitchen for Veggie Buds Club.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

Get your kids in the kitchen! They can break a broccoli head into florets using their hands and then add everything to the food processor. Make sure they press the button (kids love this step!) and then they can scoop the batter into a prepared muffin pan.
Broccoli Nuggets

Broccoli Nuggets

Author: Happy Kids Kitchen
Prep time: 8 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 20 Min
These Broccoli Nuggets are a huge hit with kiddos! Eat them for lunch or a snack anytime of the day.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups small broccoli florets (about 1 medium head of broccoli)
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa or 1 1/4 cups cooked brown or white rice, cooled
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup finely shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Brush a 24-cup mini muffin tin with oil or spray with non-stick spray. Using a silicone muffin tin is recommended, but if you don’t have one, make sure to grease your metal pan very well to avoid sticking.
  2. Place broccoli florets in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, stopping a few times to scrape down the bowl and pulse again.
  3. Add quinoa (or rice), egg, cheese, garlic powder, and salt. Continue to pulse until all of the ingredients are combined and uniform in size (this will only take a few pulses if you are using quinoa but will take 8 to 10 pulses if you are using rice).
  4. Scoop about a tablespoon of the broccoli mixture into each muffin cup then push down the top with the back of the spoon to pack the mixture down. Sprinkle the tops of each ‘nugget’ with a little extra cheese, if desired.
  5. Bake until lightly brown around the edges, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  6. Allow nuggets to cool completely. If using a metal pan, you may need to loosen the edges of the nuggets with a butter knife to help remove them from the pan. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @veggiebudsclub on instagram and hashtag it #veggiebudsclub

Here are some great photos from our members that have been shared with us on our Instagram and Facebook pages, keep the Broccoli Nugget love comin'!
Picture
Photos from IG accounts: @sweetraspberries, @maschiopartyoffive, @icook_theyeat, @lunchesandlittles, @heather_kidskitchen, and @thekidseatkale

Check out our shop for products that teach kids to learn to love veggies! This includes veggie activity boxes, kid-safe knives, interactive placemats, and more.
Picture
3 Comments
Forward>>

    Categories

    All
    Appetizers
    Apples
    Arts And Crafts
    Asparagus
    Avocado
    Baked Goods
    Basil
    Beans
    Beets
    Bell Peppers
    Berries
    Boy Choy
    Breakfast
    Broccoli
    Brussels Sprouts
    Cabbage
    Carrots
    Cauliflower
    Celery
    Chickpeas
    Corn
    Cucumbers
    Dessert
    Dinner
    Dip
    Food Art
    Games
    Garlic
    Growing Projects
    Herbs
    Kale
    Lettuce
    Lunch
    Lunch Box
    Melon
    Onions
    Peas
    Potatoes
    Pot Luck
    Pumpkins
    Radishes
    Rutabaga
    Salad
    Side Dish
    Smoothie
    Snack
    Snacktivity
    Soup
    Spinach
    Summer Squash
    Sweet Potatoes
    Tomatoes
    Turnips
    Veggie Buds Book Club
    Watermelon
    Winter Squash
    Zucchini

© 2017 Veggie Buds Club LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact