Bibimbap--my way

(photo and variation of recipe from bon appetit)

No matter whether I make this at home for my family, or make this with my kids at school, I get rave reviews. My students were patting me on the back, exclaiming, "Delicious!", and throwing their kissed fingers in the air.
So maybe this isn't a traditional Bibimbap, but who cares? Kids are scarfing down nutrient dense, wholesome food--where's the problem? It is tasty and adds a bit of culture to their repertoire.

  BIBIMBAP- serves 8
We made this delicious Korean meal in Mrs. Politi’s 6th grade FACS class. After taking the ELA and reading a passage on Korean foods, our young inquirers wanted to know and taste more---Bravo kids!

Ingredients:

Bulgogi (the meat)

• 1/2 cup good quality soy sauce (kikkoman or tamari)

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 pound ground beef

• 2 TBSP olive oil or toasted sesame oil

Rice and Assembly

• 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil, divided

• 8 cups cooked brown rice (from 2 1/2 cups dry rice) *SEE PERFECTLY COOKED BROWN RICE

• Bibimbap Veggie Add-Ins (Your choice) (Kale, Carrot Matchsticks, Garlicky Spinach, Shiitake Mushrooms, Sauteéd Zucchini, Scallions, Stir fry mix,) We used Kale and Raw Carrot Matchsticks

• 8 fried eggs

• Kimchi

Preparation

Bulgogi (the meat)

• Whisk first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add beef; toss to coat. Cover; chill for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.

Rice and Assembly

• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add beef and cook, Stirring until cooked through and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add chopped kale. Saute until kale is soft and bright green.

• If you are making individual dishes-- Divide rice among bowls or you can make 1 big bowl then serve. Top with beef, Bibimbap Mix-Ins, and eggs. Top with Siracha (Asian hot chili sauce as you like)

• Chop eggs and thoroughly mix your rice bowl.

• Serve kimchi (pickled/fermented Asian cabbage available in a jar in your local supermarket)alongside.

*PERFECTLY COOKED BROWN RICE

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...A Very Good Place to Start

Nick's grandfather, Pop-Pop, gave us his old organ when we moved into the new house a year ago and it has provided hours and hours of entertainment for us and anyone who visits. It also came with a music book featuring Rogers' and Hammerstein's best including our personal favorite, The Sound of Music.
Julie Andrews is an idol to little girls...and apparently to big boys too (Dad loves her, too).
Today, while working in the kitchen, I heard MaryJane singing, "Edelweiss." I dropped what I was doing and grabbed my camera. 

Fingers and Toes

MaryJanes was delighted to present her Grandpa with fingers and toes as an appetizer at dinner last week. And she made toe jam to dip it in!

Spooky Things

 We used our regular mashed potato and mashed sweet potato recipe then piped them through a pastry bag fitted with a cake decorating tip. We shaped them into ghosts and pumpkins, respectively of course, then used a paint brush with black food dye to decorate.
A small festive treat.

Nana -Our Newest Edition

After much discussion, debate, and planning... we picked up our new baby Saint Bernard, Nana in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Of course she was named after the famous nursemaid from Peter Pan.
MaryJane shrieked the whole way home in sheer delight.
At 10 weeks old, she's already bigger than her, but is a very gentle giant and almost housebroken.
She plays with her toys, putters around the lawn, and takes plenty of naps. She is a dream baby.
And I'm very confident she will be an amazing dog.

Mulberries

I fall more and more in love with my new house each day. The folks that lived here before me took a lot of pride in this place and landscaped so that there is something new and interesting blooming from early spring all the way into fall. Nick and I have been adding perennial fruits to that landscape (we planted blueberry and raspberry bushes along the east side of the house) , so that we can harvest our own fruit each summer and "live off the land" so to speak.
We moved in right after the last big winter storm this past winter. When we got here this tree looked like it had seen better days and Nick wanted to take it down for safety purposes. I'm glad we decided to give it a chance because it is covered with mulberries.
We spent a good portion of the morning picking the berries. Its hard to collect a large amount while we're all stuffing them into our faces, but that's part of the fun.

If you've never tried a mulberry before, they resemble a blackberry in looks but are much juicier with a melon-like flavor. They contain all the antioxidants your average berry contains, just a little less common.







I've been throwing a handful in my morning smoothie.
I make one serving in the large magic bullet for my breakfast.
1/2 cup Stonyfield organic vanilla yogurt
1 banana
1 handfull mulberries
1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 Tablespoon probiotic powder
1-3 ice cubes (quantity is your preference)
Fill the rest of large magic bullet container to the top with milk (approx. 2/3 cup) and pulse until blended.

One side will make you grow taller...

All the fancy toys money can buy don't add up to the simple pleasures that can be had in you own backyard. Our neighbors, Haley & Erica picked some wild mushrooms with their Grandma and just had to come over and share them.

They loved the texture of the different caps and their long stems.

They played for ages and then chased each other around the lawn barefoot.

How to make: Green Eggs & Ham

First, you put your eggs in a small pot and fill with warm water.

Then, have Mom boil them on the stove.
While you're waiting for the eggs to cook, you can lay the ham out on the plate. Have a look around to see if anyone is watching...
If not, taste some or a lot of the ham. Every good chef samples her ingredients to make sure they're fresh.
Tastes goo-ood!
Next, prepare your greening ingredients. We put scallions, avocado, and a little bit of mayonnaise in the food processor.
Make sure you lick all the leftover avocado out of its shell, it's very good for you, you know...

Now, wait patiently while Mom cracks and splits the hard boiled eggs.
Add the yolks to the food processor with the green stuff and a little salt and pepper. Mix it up good!
Then stuff your eggs with the mixture and place them on the plate with the ham.
Would you eat them in a house?
Would you eat them with a mouse?
We will eat them here or there, we will eat them anywhere!
Even though they are a bit messy.
Voila! Green Eggs & Ham...well maybe not green...chartreuse is more like it, but you get the point. Very tasty to eat and entertaining to make. Hope you enjoy making it with your little one!