Category Archives: Community Service

Jun 9Chefs Move to Schools - My White House Experienc...

When I was growing up, my parents taught me that it is customary to be grateful and polite when you are invited to somebody’s house. The rules would be no different for the White House, of course. Maybe that is why I have been hesitant to write about my trip to DC until now. I have been struggling with how to capture the whole event – the thrill, the honor, the inspiration…and also some of my concerns and constructive feedback. I don’t have any real dirt to share and I am not leaking...

Jun 4Powerful Lyrics: Mouths To Feed

On an already emotional day of service and community building, I nearly went over the edge when our school principal dedicated this song to me. He wrote the song after taking a tour of the farms in West Marin with MALT (Marin Agricultural Land Trust). He has been very supportive of my work trying to change our school lunch program and wanted to publicly acknowledge how important it is to know where our food comes from and support our local farmers. I was touched when he shared the lyrics with...

May 5Cooking with Kids: Turkey Meatballs

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be sharing recipes from our amazing Kids Cook for a Cause workshop at the IACP Conference (International Association of Culinary Professionals) in Portland. I thought I'd start with the one that was the most intensely hands-on and fun for the kids to make: Turkey Meatballs! Turkey Meatballs Recipe courtesy of Joel Olson, Hemmachef (& Co-chair of the Kids in the Kitchen section of IACP) 1 pound ground turkey 1 small onion, minced 2 cloves garlic, pasted 1...

Apr 27IACP Portland - Empowering, Inspiring and Delici...

I have a sneaking suspicion that the week I spent at the IACP Conference in Portland will be life changing. I made new friends, met online pals in person, and learned from some of the best in the business. And I ate. A lot. Before the conference started, I visited the Oregon Food Bank, where I did a training about Cooking with Kids for volunteers who work with families in nutrition education programs. It was wonderful to connect with these women, hear their stories and help them with some...

Apr 16Snickerdoodles with 3rd Graders: Great American ...

Every year, I look forward to the Great American Bake Sale. It is a perfect event for me and my students. We already cook together - and this gives us an important reason to make some sweets for a change. All of the money we raise from selling our treats goes to Share our Strength, an organization dedicated to fighting childhood hunger. Today I made some cookie dough with my daughter's 3rd grade class for our bake sale next month. They were sorely disappointed that they wouldn't get to taste...

Feb 7Fancy Food Show - Project 7 Is My New Favorite C...

My head grew dizzy as we walked the aisles of the Fancy Food Show a few weeks ago. Samples of chocolate were followed by samples of cheese...and then maybe some hot sauce, chips and beer. There were foods in all shapes and colors, along with whiz-bang marketing campaigns intended to catch the eye and draw us in for a taste or a marketing spiel. Maybe that's why the understated and tasteful Project 7 booth caught my eye. This is one of the most generous companies I have ever seen. Project...

Feb 413-Year Old Fights Hunger with Cards for Cows

Never underestimate the power of a child. Heifer International holds a special place in my heart, especially after my educator study tour to visit their projects in Honduras. Thanks, Zach, for making a difference and for fighting hunger!

Jan 25Buy a Virtual Slice of Dessert…and Help Haiti

How much would you pay for a piece of one of these decadent desserts? What if they were guilt-free and didn't stick to your hips ribs? Click on the First Giving widget below to make a donation in that amount, and I'll "serve you a slice." All of the funds we collect from our virtual bake sale will be donated to the American Red Cross, who has contributed nearly $171 million dollars to this cause so far. Many thanks to these wonderful people for sharing their photos for this worthy cause: Amy...