Eggs – The Creative Kitchen

Product Review: Organic Valley Eggs

TCK — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 12:00:29 +0000

Not all eggs are created equal. The Creative Kitchen loves Organic Valley cage free eggs because we know their chickens are the happiest and healthiest, which results in better quality eggs for you and your family. With access to organic pastures, their chickens spend their days eating from the earth and being cared for by Organic Valley farmers. Ready for more good news? Organic Valley eggs are GMO-free and have no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or toxic pesticides.

The Creative Kitchen is excited to feature Organic Valley eggs in our Whole Foods classes this week, where we’ll be making this Organic Mama Veggie Frittata!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

Mommy says the chickens that made these eggs are happy and healthy! They make yummy eggs for me to eat.

From the Eyes of a Parent:

Choosing organic products for my family is very important to me, and I feel good about choosing Organic Valley eggs because there’s no antibiotics or synthetic hormones. I also like the Organic Valley egg whites in a carton for my omelets; I don’t feel wasteful throwing away yolks and it’s so easy to just pour into the pan.

The Icing on the Cake:

Not getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids? Organic Valley’s Omega-3 Eggs provide more than twice as many omega-3 fatty acids as regular eggs – just by feeding their chickens flax seeds.

Time to Eat?!

Eggs are a great way to start your day, but can also be incorporated into lunch and dinner, or your post-workout snack.

Mix it Up!

Try making a Buddha bowl for dinner tonight with your choice of grain, vegetables, protein, and top it off with a poached egg and voila! You’ve got a well-rounded, nutritious AND delicious meal!

https://www.organicvalley.coop

https://www.facebook.com/OrganicValley/

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Cooking Light: Shirred Eggs with Marinara and Feta

TCK — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 14:00:27 +0000

Looking for a simple yet special breakfast that will please every member of the family, both big and small? Look no further than this recipe for Shirred Eggs with Marinara and Feta from our friends at Cooking Light. Simply crack an egg in a ramekin or mini cocotte, add the other ingredients, and wait for it to bake. With bold flavors and healthful ingredients, this is a breakfast (or dinner!) you can feel good about eating.

Ingredients:

4 ounces sourdough bread, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup lower-sodium marinara sauce

4 teaspoons crumbled feta cheese

2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Place bread cubes on a sheet pan; bake at 375°F for 13 minutes or until browned and crisp.

3. Rub 1/2 teaspoon oil into each of 4 (8-ounce) mini cocottes or ramekins to coat inside. Divide bread cubes among cocottes. Crack one egg into each cocotte. Season each egg with 1/8 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper. Spoon 1 tablespoon marinara into each. Sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon feta. Place cocottes in oven; bake at 375°F for 12 minutes or until whites are set. Sprinkle with oregano. Drizzle with additional oil, if desired.

Tips and Tricks:

Have your little chef help with cracking eggs and placing other ingredients in the cocottes/ramekins!

Opt for a different kind of cheese if feta isn’t your thing, such as mozzarella or cheddar.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Back-to-School: Breakfast – Eggs to the Rescue!

TCK — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 09:30:46 +0000

With busy mornings and kids headed back to school, it can be difficult to serve a nutrient-packed breakfast every day and easier to grab a sugary cereal or skip breakfast altogether! Breakfast is an important meal that gives your body and mind the boost they need to get going in the morning. Studies show that eating breakfast has great cognitive benefits, including improved memory recall time, improved grades, and higher test scores – meaning a healthful breakfast is not only important for your kids’ bodies to grow, but also important for their brains to grow. Help your kids start the school year off right by beginning their days with a high-quality protein breakfast to provide them with the energy and nourishment they need to make the grade!

Sugary Cereal Facts

Many kids’ breakfast cereals contain over 60% of the recommended daily amount of sugar in one serving, and some contain as many as six different types of sweeteners!

Breakfast cereals are one of the biggest sources of added sugars in young kids’ diets – ranking 5th – just after sugar-sweetened beverages, cookies, candy, and ice cream. Cereals with cartoon characters on the box usually contain the most added sugars, with a typical serving containing as much sugar as three chocolate chip cookies!

Eggs to the Rescue!

Stop that morning sugar high and prevent the afternoon crash by selecting a high-protein breakfast, like eggs, over cereals and yogurts that contain added sugar.

Eggs are naturally sugar-free and provide one of the highest quality proteins of any food available! A single egg has more than 6 grams of protein, with almost half of the protein found in the yolk. Not only is protein an important nutrient that is necessary for muscle growth and body repair, high-protein meals have been shown to keep you feeling fuller for longer than low-protein meals.

Quick and Easy Recipes

Get your daily dose of high-protein eggs with these delicious, simple recipes by Cricket Azima:

Breakfast Cake

Breakfast Pizza

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

ArchetypeMe: Breakfast Cake

TCK — Tue, 06 May 2014 09:30:07 +0000

With its round, cake like shape and cheese melted over the top like frosting, it’s understandable how this classic egg dish go the nickname “Breakfast Cake.” Though this recipe by Cricket Azima from our friends at ArchetypeMe looks and sounds decadent, breakfast cake is a simple way to serve a healthful, nutrient-packed breakfast!

What Matters to Mom?

For one thing, feeling great about serving a homemade breakfast without having to get up at the crack of dawn to cook! What’s more, this dish can be whipped up on Sunday, then frozen into individual portions for reheating on hectic weekday mornings- a time- saver. To make it extra-appealing to the kids, this “cake” can be made as “cupcakes” by baking it in a muffin tin for handy single-serving portions. Then there’s the satisfaction of sneaking nutrient-rich vegetables into their morning meal.

Breakfast cake can be prepared according to the recipe below, or customized to include other family-favorite vegetables. For example, if your gang is crazy about red peppers and not the biggest fans of zucchini, go ahead and substitute! And since kids are more likely to eat vegetables they’ve selected themselves, offer an array and have them weigh in. Cook with what you have on hand, or according to individual dietary needs. For a lactose-free version of this dish, simply leave out the cheese. Similarly, for a heftier rendition, stir in leftover pasta.

Yields 8 servings

Ingredients

1/3 cup olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium potato, diced

1 small zucchini, diced

1 cup broccoli florets

1 teaspoon salt, divided

Freshly ground black pepper

12 eggs

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet

2. Add onion and cook 2 minutes

3. Add potato, zucchini, and broccoli. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.

4. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, to taste.

5. Beat eggs in a bowl. Add remaining salt, to taste.

6. Pour egg mixture over vegetables and stir to combine. Cover and cook approximately 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat without stirring.

7. Sprinkle with cheese and cover. Cook until cheese is melted and eggs are completely set. Cut into wedges.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Cooking Light: Easter Brunch

TCK — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 09:30:52 +0000

Happy Easter!

Easter is almost here, and what better way to celebrate than with a delicious brunch for family and friends? The Creative Kitchen has taken the guesswork out menu planning with some help from our friends at Cooking Light. We have put together two perfectly-paired brunch menus to please every palate, both young and young at heart. Have kids help out in the kitchen by sprinkling the cheese, tossing the fruit, and decorating the cookies!

For Kids and Adults Alike

Crustless Smoked Turkey and Spinach Quiche

This five-star favorite is a reader recipe from Wendy McMillan of Longmont, Colorado. She advises to sprinkle some of the Swiss cheese in the pie plate first before adding the ham and egg mixture. The thin layer on the bottom gives another hit of flavor when you bite into a piece.