Please plan to escort your own kids or arrange for another adult to be
responsible for them. You are also responsible for supplying your
kids’ modes of transportation be it bike, trike, scooter or wagon.
Just remember that if they are riding they need to wear helmets! And
remember to wear your Columbia Kids and Sprouting Seeds T-shirts!

We will gather at the Battle Ground High School Parking Lot between 8:30 and 9:15
am. The parade starts at 10 am. We are spot # 10. Look for our school
banner.

“Technically” no one is suppose to be admitted to the assembly area
after 8:30 am; however the Chamber has given us some extra wiggle
room time since we have small children. And in the past no one has
had any trouble getting in before the parade started. If you do have
any trouble getting in after 8:30 – try getting in from around the
back – off of Parkway and 3rd. Plan to park at another site than
the assembly area and walk in.

I will be looking for a few volunteers that morning: two parents to
carry the school banner; and four parents or Seed’s students to help
distribute the Seed Packets we’ll be giving away. As an FYI I will be
bringing up the rear of our group during the parade.

Here are a few ideas to make the experience more pleasant for you and
your family…

• Please bring décor for your kids’ mode of transportation if they’d
like that –e.g. balloons, streamers. There will be a few more of these
items there when we meet up in the staging area that morning. One idea
for Seeds kids is to bring the rain sticks they made.
• Don’t forget to bring water, snacks, and sunscreen for your family.

Hope to see everyone!

Sneaking Vegetables into Your Kids’ Food: A Review of Cookbooks
You may have heard about the cookbook wars between Jessica Seinfeld, wife of comedian and cultural icon, Jerry Seinfeld, and Missy Chase Lapine, “The Sneaky Chef” of morning-television show fame. Their public battle over plagiarism and egos has been epic and while I usually shun celebrity worship and don’t even allow tabloids in my house to line animal cages, I’m glad I paid attention to this brouhaha because it led me to recipes with wholesome ingredients that my children (and husband will eat). The best part: they all contain vegetables hidden within the recipes.
Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food by Jessica Seinfeld and The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids Favorite Meals by Missy Chase Lapine share the premise that healthy eating means eating a variety of fruits and vegetables of different colors. Each author suggests having a selection of different-colored purées handy to sneak into foods of similar color for an added nutrition boost. For example, Lapine adds an “orange purée” make of carrots and sweet potatoes to both homemade macaroni and cheese and also suggests adding it to the boxed variety in a pinch. Similarly, Seinfeld adds a cauliflower and banana purées to baked goods.
Lapine also has a section on which purées to mix into instant foods such as Spaghettios, pre-packaged Jello and even instant hot cocoa.
Both authors suggest that purées be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator or freezer in recipe-sized portions so that mealtime isn’t consumed with making the purées.
Each author is a parent and the recipes have passed “kid scrutiny” in their homes and with friends. Each recipe I’ve served has passed muster with my kids (and finicky husband).
The only drawback is that, if you’ve let your purée stashes dwindle—as I so often do—prep time increases by 20 minutes per dish. If your stash is routinely replenished, recipes are quick to prepare—many in under 30 minutes. Each book comes with stellar endorsements too. Dr. Mehmet Oz, co-author of You: The Owners Manual and You on a Diet has publicly praised Seinfeld, while Lapine’s boasts an endorsement from Arthur Agatston, noted cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet.
Lapine has also written two follow-up books, The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man (In the Kitchen!): Hiding Healthy Foods in Hearty Meals Any Guy Will Love and The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue: 101 All-New Recipes and “”Sneaky”" Tricks for Creating Healthy Meals Kids Will Love, which includes sections for those with special dietary needs such as food allergies and lower-calorie fare.
Each author has a blog and website with additional recipes and tips: http://www.thesneakychef.com and http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com.

Thanks Andrea!

Thanks to everyone for contributing to the success of the 2009 plant sale! Especially the unflappable Kelsey Kissinger, who coordinated the planning, promotion, sales tracking and finally, distribution, where she tactfully made sure nobody mistook oregano for rosemary. At the end of the day Saturday, all plants had been united with their new owners and Kelsey and the last shift of volunteers were still smiling. This is our co-op’s second biggest source of revenue, after the auction. Final sales still being tallied. Thank you!