Earth Day Menu

Top: Chocolate-oatmeal cookies with cheese
Left: Mac and cheese Puffs

Earth Day Menu

Mac & Cheese Cloud Puffs
Broccoli and Cauliflower Earth Toss with Honey Dressing
Dirt Cookies with Cheese
Sun Tea



Tip: Decorate with globes, earth day stickers and other trinkets. Make a strip of vegetation down the center of the table with green flowering limbs, bird nests made from rice cereal snack mix and candy chickens, gummy worms, rock and shell candy. Plan to work with family to participate in a clean-up project or repair project. Place this meal in correct temperature storage containers and serve as a picnic. Use blue and green paper plates, cups and cutlery. Store left over cookies in airtight containers. Share Chocolate-oatmeal Dirt Cookies with the other workers.

Food for Thought:
In the beginning God made the world…and it was good! Genesis 1:1

Family Meal Planning

Carbohydrates
One serving of starch is one exchange of bread in diabetic recipes. Breads, cereals and other starches are converted into sugar and are stored in the liver until needed for energy. At least 20-40 minutes of exercise is needed daily to use the carbohydrates in the body. Other carbohydrates are found in vegetables. Those that are high in fiber are good for the digestive tract. The body needs carbohydrates for energy. If all the carbohydrates that are taken into the body are not used, they are stored (thus adding weight to the body). It is necessary to balance exercise with the intake of foods that are high in carbohydrates.

Cereals and Grains
Since Bible times grains and cereals have been nutritious food sources. Christians will remember Christ walking through grain fields and making references to grains in the Bible. Whole grain products and cereals are nutritious sources of carbohydrates. Most packaged cereals are high in sugar content. Diabetics should eat a low sugar or cereal without sugar to control carbohydrate intake. A serving of cereal in a diabetic recipe is one exchange of bread. Fructose is the natural sugar found in fruits and vegetables. Sucrose is the sugar found in table sugar. Lactose is found in milk. Starches are also carbohydrates and are found in potatoes, rice and grains.
Family meal planners should choose cereals that provide some of the daily requirements like granola. Family meal planners should choose whole-wheat noodles, pasta and flour for diet food recipes.

From the Nutritionist: This is a meal that can be done ahead of time and served on a busy earth day. The Mac & Cheese Puffs can be finger food. It is easy to take for a picnic and served under a beautiful shade tree. Puffs may be served warm or cold. The macaroni and the oats of the cookies serve as carbohydrates. Calcium is found in the cheese in the puffs and the extra cheese. Protein is in the tuna and eggs of the macaroni and cheese dish. Vitamins and minerals are in the green peas, onions, broccoli and cauliflower. Use as many organic foods as possible.

Recipes:

Tuna Mac & Cheese Puffs
With Green Peas

2 cooks elbow macaroni
3 eggs
1 small can evaporated milk
1 small can tuna
¼ c. green peas
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
½ stick butter
¼ t. salt
¼ t. white pepper

Cook macaroni and drain. Mix tuna and ¼ c. cheese and melted butter. Salt and pepper. Toss well and place approximately ¼ c. in 12 muffin cup- pan that has been sprayed with butter oil or greased with butter. Beat eggs and milk together. Pour about 1 Tablespoon over top of each macaroni mixture-cup. After this evenly divide the remainder of egg mixture among the muffin cups. Top with remainder of grated cheese and sprinkle paprika on top, if desire. Cooks approximately 30 minutes @ 350 º. Cool and run knife around edge and remove. Store in airtight container.


Broccoli and Cauliflower Toss with Honey Dressing
May used packaged broccoli and cauliflower for the salad.


Honey and Yogurt Salad Dressing

8 oz. Plain yogurt
2 T. honey
¼ c. sesame seeds

Blend all ingredients and chill. Store in an airtight container and carry in cooler for the salad. Dip or toss vegetables in it.


Dirt Cookies with cheese

2 c. sugar
4 T. cocoa
½ c. evaporated milk
1 t. vanilla flavoring
1 stick butter or margarine
1 c. oatmeal

Bring sugar to a boil with cocoa and milk. Boil 2 or 3 minutes or until comes to softball candy stage. Remove from heat and add vanilla flavoring, margarine, and oatmeal. Drop by teaspoons on wax paper. Allow to cool. Slice favorite cheese in small squares and serve with the cookie for an extra delightful treat. If allergies permit, may add 1 c. peanut butter, 1 c. coconut or 1.4 c. nuts to hot mixture, if desire. Yield about 4 dozen-teaspoon sizes. Store in airtight container for future use.



Sun Tea

4 cups water
2 c. sugar
1 large family size tea bag

Allow to set in sunlight at least and hour or until desired strength. Stir in sugar. Cut lemon slices and garnish sides of glasses for extra flavor and appeal. Serve over ice.