Dinnertime Doesn't Always Go The Way You Planned

By Mark Bishop, Deputy Director

I decided to make a light veggie dinner the other night, and I needed something that Henry would eat for sure. I thought I had the greatest idea. I made spinach tacos, an item that has been can't-miss in the past, and, I thought this was ingenious, I made pepper boats.

You see, when you slice off the top and bottom of a bell pepper, you end up with a ring that can be separated into small sections, each of which can be filled with something.  So I filled them with leftover galactic green sauce, hummus, and a few raisins -- figuring we can have a simple counting lesson too. I thought it was perfect.

Henry wouldn't touch them. 

But he devoured what I made for Jill and me, zucchini ribbons. 

Ingredients

• 2 medium zucchini, cut into strips with a carrot peeler -- don't use the core of the zucchini
• 1 diced onion
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 red and 1/2 yellow pepper, sliced
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Caramelize onions and garlic in the oil. Add the peppers and allow to soften. Then add the zucchini and allow to soften a bit.

It's a great side dish, presents really well, and by stripping the zucchini with a peeler makes a fun pasta-like shape. Good for both big and little kids.

Note in this photo that Henry is ignoring his plate and going straight for the zucchini. 

Jill and I ate the pepper boats, Henry counted the raisins, sucked down a bunch of zucchini and all was well at the dinner table. 

Comments

[Gwynn]

oh,that looks like a fun, kid friendly meal... thanks so much for sharing, I'm gonna try that next week for sure!! :-)