LCCAA Head Start Nutrition Staff brought back their popular Out of the Box cooking series last month with a pair of winter-friendly recipes: Vegetable Barley Soup and Easy No Knead Bread.
The demonstrations are held online using videos featuring dietician Marge Robison and LCCAA Head Start chef Luis Aguilar. After the meeting, registered families receive a box with all ingredients and materials they need to recreate the recipe at home.
Barley was introduced to students at a Try Day event earlier in December. Robison explained that barley has a chewier, nutty flavor that works will in soup or salads. Pearled barley, used in this recipe, has had its husks removed and cooks faster. Whole grain barley is also available and provides additional fiber. Most grocery stores stock barley near rice, she added.
Robison added that soup is a great dish to make with children and helps them with trying new foods. Soup is also a great dish to make ahead and freeze making it ideal for busy families.
“Soup is a great way to get kids introduced to different veggies, even if they are just picking out a few of the veggies,” she said.
“Soup is so versatile,” Aguilar said. “You can add or subtract things as you like. It’s very forgiving.”
During the second demonstration, a few participants shared how they had made the soup and made it their own. Genesis Rodriguez shared she changed some seasonings and added cheese.
“It was very delicious. I added smoked sausage to ours,” said Tana Panter. “And I have some left in the freezer so it made a lot. My kids absolutely loved it.”
The bread recipe contains only four ingredients and is a great way to show kids how bread is made, Robison said, without the someone intimidating steps of activating yeast and kneading. She also noted that the cost of the loaf made by the team is only 30 cents.
“I think this recipe is really an example of patience,” she added. “It’s easy but it takes some waiting time.”
Robison and Aguilar also noted that adding cheese, herbs, garlic or other mix ins to the bread is an easy way for families to customize it. Different types of flour can also be used to change the flavors. The recipe uses instant yeast which does not require an activation process but it does require 12 to 18 hours of resting the dough.
Save the dates for the next Out of the Box Series featuring Homemade Favorites. Baked macaroni and cheese and pizza will be shared on Feb. 5 and 12. Watch your email for invitations to register or click here.
