LYFVE Summer Camp

Guacamole!!!

2010-08-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

After a morning of French cooking - crepes, omelettes and tarts we shared the afternoon with chefs from Chipotle! They were kind enough to join us and teach our chefs how to make their guacamole! All the chefs helped scoop out the fruit of the avocados, added salt, cilantro, jalepeno, onion and lemon/lime juice. The outcome was DELICIOUS!

Here are some pics from today - scroll down to meet our newest campers and for a link to some of the music the chefs enjoyed in yoga!

Scooping avocado!

Adding ingredients......

Look at all the happy chefs!

And now meet our newest chefs!

Chef Molly is a spunky 7 year old girl who wants to be a teacher. She loves to eat ice cream and has a cat named Speedball. Since she gets so tired from cooking meatloaf she likes to her free time she loves to sleep. She loves to make meatloaf in the kitchen.

Chef Haley is a crazy ten year old. Chef Haley is very active and enjoys soccer and ice-skating. Someday Haley hopes to use her soccer skills to coach kids soccer.

When it comes to the kitchen her favorite food to eat is brownies and she loves to bake cookies with her friends. One of her friends is her dog named Buddy - but don’t worry Buddy doesn’t bake cookies!

And here is a link to some of the songs we listened to in "shavasana" including "Butterfly".

http://www.kaleidoscopesongs.com/

Fun with Franco!

2010-08-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

We had a very special guest join us in the kitchen, Franco, from Franco's Osteria restaurant. The chefs helped him make a delicious Italian dish, Vegetable Primavera. The chefs had a lot of fun julienning vegetables and getting a mini-history lesson about Italy from Franco.

Franco gave some very useful kitchen tips: when salting pasta water it should taste as if you have mouthful of sea-water! Also he showed the chefs how to use garlic to season the oil in the saute pan.

Franco joined the chefs for a most delicious lunch, followed by home-made biscotti from the restaurant.

THANK YOU Franco for cooking with us! Be sure to check out his restaurant

FRANCO'S OSTERIA

3900 City Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19131

215.473.3900

http://www.francosteria.com

And meet Mollie - our newest chef!

Chef Mollie is an awesome 9 year old who loves pasta and baking brownies in the kitchen. She has one fish named Fifi.

Chef Mollie spends the hot summer days swimming (but not with her fish, Fifi). She hopes to be a lawyer someday.

Rain Barrels and conserving energy!

2010-08-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

Today in addition to time in the kitchen, we had a special guest, Kristina from Montgomery County Conservation. Christina talked to our chefs about different types of pollution and used a model board to show them runoff into our water sources. She also showed a rain barrel and talked about ways of conserving energy and not polluting.

Our Recipes

Bobby Flay Bistro Burger http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bistro-burger-recipe/index.html

Notes: We used lean ground turkey instead of beef and we paired the burger with Broccoli Slaw http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/broccoli-cole-slaw-recipe/index.html

2. Mexican Lasagna (by Rachel Ray) http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/mexican-lasagna-recipe/index.html

Lunchtime!
Burger mania!

Rain barrel!

Our delightful garden growing.....growing....growing!

Thanks Christine for your knowledge and time!

TV Chef Cook-off and International Food week!

2010-08-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our final week of summer camp. This week we have been joined by some wonderful new chefs!

After the new chefs decorated their aprons, it was off to the garden as usual to water our growing plants! We have tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers all happily growing in the back.

This morning's kitchen adventure revolved around two of our favorite TV chefs: Paula Deen and Emeril Lagasse. The chefs made a classic comfort-food - chicken pot pies! While in the kitchen the chefs learned a bit more about the TV chefs while preparing the classic dish.

Lady & Sons Chicken Pot Pie (Paula Deen)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/lady-and-sons-chicken-pot-pie-recipe/index.html

The chefs were transported to Morocco in the afternoon - making a Moroccan stew.

Morrocan Chicken Stew with Orzo (from Food Network)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/good-food-fast-with-family-circle/moroccan-chicken-stew-recipe/index.html

Here are some pictures from today!

(scroll down to meet the new chefs and their bios)

Chefs Halle, Eliana and Nikki preparing Paula Deen's chicken pot pie.

Chefs Elizabeth and Molly busy cutting chicken.

Busy little campers!!!

NOW meet our newest chefs!!!

Chef Molly is a very funny 10 year old girl. Who’s favorite food is chicken parmesan. Molly also enjoys spending time with her two cats Pierson and Fiona. In her free time she enjoys playing soccer and sleeping. Since she loves to play soccer so much one of the things she wants to do when shes older is be a soccer player.

Chef Halle is a 10 year old cookmazing girl who loves baking cupcakes. Because of her love for the kitchen, she would love to be a chef! Her favorite thing to make are cookies. And shes not alone in her house, she has two dogs named Tillie and Stevie, a turtle named Remmie AND two hermit crabs named Kermit the crab and Physical.

Chef Eliana is a very fantastic 10 year old who absolutely loves baking cakes! She spends many hours in the kitchen cooking things from her cook-book. Her favorite food is spagetti! Like Chef Nikki, Eliana hopes to be a famous chef someday.

Chef Eliana has plenty of company at home including a dog named Rosie, a cat named Sunshine and a bird named Joy!

Chef Elizabeth is a funny 9 year old who also loves to bake and cook. Her favorite food is cookie bar. She would love to be a cake baker when she grows up. She also enjoys making mashed potatoes.

Like our other chefs, Chef Elizabeth has pet too: 3 dogs: Mo, Farley and GG and a cat named Samie.

Chef Nikki is a “cookmazing” 10 year old who loves cooking! Her favorite food is edible cookie dough. Since she loves to spend time in the kitchen - you will find her making brownies, and fruit salad. Someday Chef Nikki wants to use her love of cooking to pursue a culinary career as a chef!

Outside of the kitchen Nikki has two cats, Pumpkin and Chloe.

WEEK 3, Day 4

2010-07-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

Phew - it's a busy week here at camp! The chefs were non-stop in the kitchen this morning making: oven-fried chicken, ham and cheese panini and carrot-apple juice. They enjoyed a quick snack of chips and home-made salsa before getting back to the kitchen for the preparation part of their lunch.

Everyone was hungry by the time lunch rolled around. After everyone was happy with the delicious meal they made and enjoyed together.

Chef Morgan looking adorable in her leaf hat.

Lunchtime with their fellow chefs.

WEEK 3, DAY 3

2010-07-14T08:28:00.001-07:00

This might be the busiest morning yet in the kitchen! The chefs are preparing a finger feast of banana-zucchini bread with chocolate mousse, mini-pizzas and curried deviled eggs. The chefs concentrated on presentation. The curried deviled eggs went into hollowed out green peppers for a beautiful presentation.

What a great morning! The chefs skills have truly evolved. Their creations just get better and better!

Chefs, Maddie, Niya and Anna making their banana-zucchini bread.

Yes, Chef Niya is singing in the kitchen:)

Notice the green pepper bowls - so creative!

WEEK 3, DAY 2

2010-07-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

The finger food fun continues! Today we made spinach nuggets, black bean quesadillas and mango salsa.

It was inside for yoga today since the chefs didn't feel like doing yoga in the rain:)

As promised here is our newest chef!

ANNA

Chef Anna is a 9 year old who describes herself as fun - and she is right! Chef Anna has one pet goldfish named Oliver. In her free time she loves watching America's Funniest Home Videos.

When it comes to food Chef Anna loves sushi - especially cucumber rolls. In the kitchen you will find her baking brownies.

WEEK 3, DAY 1

2010-07-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Finger food is fun, that is why we are devoting an entire week to just that!! This morning the chefs made chicken satay and mini burgers on sticks. They were careful to soak the sticks in water before using them so they didn't burn in the oven.

Outside activities included an egg toss and opposite-hand catch to keep everyone active and healthy.

The afternoon chefs took a walk and then spent the afternoon making quesadillas and used the extra plums to make a tart. YUM!

See you tomorrow!

Our newest chef, Anna making her chicken satay (we'll post her profile tomorrow!)

Lunch outside - with our grateful moment, of course!

WEEK 2, DAY 4

2010-07-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

"Getty Eggy with It" is the Friday food challenge today at LYFVE Summer Camp. The chefs started off in a scavenger hunt to find their ingredients and got right down to business.

Chef Jenine and Chef Dana used the egg theme and created "Tropical French Toast" with a scrumptious mango, peach and pineapple sauce. They added oatmeal to their french toast - a great way to incorporate whole grains.

Team 2, Maddie, Erin and Niya created delicious Wild West Eggs Muffins with Corn Salsa and Sunny Side Fruit Salad with granola! They did a wonderful job of using left-overs (yesterday's salsa) to not waste food!

It was close....but in the end Team 2 won with their creation! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The Friday food challenge isn't the only exciting part to our Friday. Philabundance Fridays started today! Thank you for those of you who contributed cans (please keep them coming!)! The chefs donated their time and skills and spent the afternoon baking oatmeal raisin cookies and carrot muffins for Philabundance. Check out the website to see who we are helping! http://www.philabundance.org/

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Sunny side Fruit Salad

Wild West Egg Muffins

Tropical French Toast

Team 2 - Chefs Niya, Maddie and Erin

Chef "Danine" with their Tropical French Toast

WEEK 2, DAY 3

2010-07-08T15:55:00.001-07:00

The smell of banana and cinnamon pancakes filled the morning air at LYFVE Summer Camp. The chefs waited patiently for their pancakes to bubble in the pan before flipping them to their other side. The pancakes turned out extra fluffy because the chefs used seltzer water instead of flat. What a fun pancake tip!

In yoga each chef made up their very own yoga pose inspired by nature. The poses were very creative! Great job yogi chefs! There was an extra long Shavasana with two beautiful songs, Butterfly (by request) and John’s Lennon’s Imagine.

Waffles and smoothies were on the menu for lunchtime along with fresh strawberry sauce....yum!

The afternoon kitchen time included hash-browns and mini carrot muffins. The chefs spent extra time outside in the afternoon including a “celebration circle” where the chefs sat in a circle sharing one positive thing about each chef.

Here are today's pics!

Chef Lily and Chef Niya in the kitchen.

The chefs cooking together.

Chef Katherine in "chick" pose.

Chef Erin in "elephant" pose.

Chef Niya in her "puzzled snake" pose.

Chef Maddie in her pose Praying Mantis

Chef Dana channeling her energy into her "monkey" pose.

Chef Jenine in her creative "vine" pose

Chef Morgan showing off her "panda" pose

"Danine" all full of flour!

The morning crew showing off their smiles.

Mmmmm.....pancakes!

Chef Katherine doing dishes.

Chef Erin pouring her pancake.

Chef sisters!

Chef Morgan prepping the pancakes.

WEEK 2, DAY 2

2010-07-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

The breakfast celebration continues here at camp. After watering the garden and a quick game of “forks” the morning started off with oatmeal brulee and fresh fruit.

The chefs got right back to business in the kitchen learning how to make omelettes, chopping and cutting veggies, cracking plenty of eggs and understanding just the right time to add ingredients and flip their fluffy creations.

The morning continued to be a busy one. The chefs began yoga practice in a community circle where they each shared a special person in their life. Back in the kitchen they also built healthy yogurt parfaits with the granola they made earlier in the morning.

As always, a grateful moment started off their lunch time meal. What a busy and wonderful morning!

The afternoon shift was busy making falafel using leftovers (and chick-peas of course!). They chefs also whipped up a batch up lime-aide with fresh lime juice, perfect for a hot summer afternoon.

Finally everyone pitched in for a mid-week clean up!

Chef Erin cutting onions!

Chef Sophie doing dishes!

Chef Niya and Chef Lily cleaning the lunch room.

Sister chefs!

Chef Dana and Jenine teaming up on dish duty!

The chefs omelettes getting cozy on the stove.

Chef Katherine working on her omelette.

WEEK 2, DAY 1

2010-07-06T17:17:00.001-07:00

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day - it is our fuel to start our day. That is why we are celebrating it with an entire week of camp devoted to BREAKFAST!

The chefs started the hot day by first fueling their garden with extra water to prepare for the 100 degree weather! Then it was off to the kitchen to prepare egg sandwiches on English muffins with cheese, tomato and egg.

The chefs also made a banana bread, deviled eggs and learned how to poach an egg! The egg theme continued into the afternoon with frittata with veggies and fruit kabobs.

There was also a lot of fun inside to beat the heat! Today’s yoga included a meditation in shavasana (everyone’s favorite position!). Art was inspired by artist Tara Donavan - the chefs made q-tip sculptures.

We are also celebrating two new campers! Let’s meet them!

CHEF ERIN

Chef Erin is a nice 7 year old. In her spare time Erin loves to play in her room, she also loves bunnies.

Like a lot of 7 year olds Erin’s favorite food is mac and cheese. And she loves to make pizza in the kitchen. Erin hopes to make her love of food into a career as a chef.

CHEF KATHERINE

Chef Katherine is a happy seven year old. She loves to read books and hang out with her dog, Dixie.

In the kitchen Katherine loves to make mac and cheese, and her all time favorite food is mashed potatoes! Someday Katherine hope to use her culinary love and skills to be a baker!

Here are some pics from today - enjoy!

Art by Tara Donavan (our inspiration) It's paper plates! WOW!

More art by Tara Donavan - these are plastic cups!

Still more art by Tara Donavan - this time it is styro-foam. Beautiful!

Lunch time!

The chefs getting their hands dirty!

Shavasana (with a beautiful song from Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band, Butterfly)

Q-tip time!

DAY 5

2010-07-02T15:06:00.001-07:00

DAY 5

It’s Friday - what better way to celebrate than with pizza? The chefs prepared personal pizzas from scratch with their choice of toppings and fresh home-made sauce.

But before they got to the kitchen, they headed to the garden with Coach Sharon. They watered their growing plants and added newspaper and mulch to help prevent weeds from taking over their garden.

After a lunchtime break it was back to work for a Food Challenge. The chefs were broken up into teams and had to prepare a side dish to make for their fellow chefs and coaches using assigned ingredients. The challenge dishes were absolutely delicious! The chefs made, Burritos with Kissy Face Salsa, Rainbow Bruschetta and Apple Tarts. The Burritos won the challenge with the other dishes not far behind. Great job chefs!

It was a great first week of camp - thanks to all the chefs for sharing yourselves with us!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!

Bonus time - Chef Oni showing off "Pineapple under the Sea".

Apple tarts - gorgeous presentation chefs!

Yummy Rainbow Bruschetta!

Bean Burritos with Kissy face salsa - our challenge winner!

The team show off their burritos!

Apple tart team - Maddie, Sophie, Asia and their helper, Kai

Chefs Oni and Niya ready to serve their Rainbow Bruschetta....sooooo good!

A finished pizza!

The chefs making their pizzas!

Chefs Maddie and Asia getting their dough ready for the pizza.

DAY 4

2010-07-01T18:04:00.001-07:00

DAY 4

The kitchen has been transformed into a poultry palace today. The chefs were busy making lemon chicken, chicken fingers and stuffed Cornish hens for dinner. They learned how to saute the chicken first and then bake instead of frying for a healthier alternative. Of course all the chefs also learned the importance of washing hands, surfaces and utensils to avoid contamination. The chefs also prepared a watercress and carrot salad for lunch and corn muffins and fruit kabobs for dinner!

The chefs led the morning yoga routine, taking turns with different poses. Later Chef Oni was kind enough to bring in water balloons and she led a fun game of water balloon toss! Thanks Oni!

A new chef joined our crew today, meet Chef Kai!

KAI

Chef Kai is a very athletic 10-year old - naturally in his spare time he enjoys playing sports. Kai wants to channel his athletic ability into a professional career as an athlete. GO KAI!

In the kitchen it's all chicken for Kai, it is his favorite thing to make and to eat. Besides chicken, Kai likes dogs - but to play with, not to eat :)

Chef Sophie hard at work juicing carrots.....YUM!

Oni's balloon toss.

Chef Kai and his chicken!

The rest of the crew and their chicken friends.

A pretty fruit bowl....extra points for pretty presentation!

The chefs and the fruit kabobs.

Chef Oni and Chef Niya using the melon baller.

The chefs hard at work preparing the fruit for their dinner.

DAY 3

2010-06-30T18:19:00.001-07:00

It was fish day at LYFVE Summer camp. Toady’s menu included tuna cakes and egg salad for lunch - with a delicious mango salsa. And it was a classic English dish: fish and chips for dinner. The chefs learned how to cut a mango by scoring the fruit and had a lesson in fresh herbs from Chef Lisa. They are quickly becoming culinary geniuses!

It was so much cooler today so the Chefs took advantage of the lovely weather and spent some extra time outside - including lunch! In yoga they worked on some poses they learned earlier in the week and learned “warrior 2” and “bridge”. Later in the afternoon a game of dodge-ball kept them active and fit.

The Chefs also channeled their creativity into collage art using old magazines to make - what else - FRUITS and VEGETABLES! They strung their creations together to decorate the mess hall.

It was another great day at LYFVE Summer Camp!

Lunch outside - the weather is glorious today!

The chefs taking some time for yoga, in "child's pose".

The chefs hard at work making fish and chips for dinner.

DAY 2

2010-06-30T04:28:00.000-07:00

The chefs were busy in the kitchen again today. They were busy in the morning making a scrumptious lunch of stuffed baguettes and cold cucu

mber soup served in a pretty orange peel bowl. Before they ate their masterpieces, they had a yoga class with Coach Cari outside under the trees.

Lunch began as usual with a “grateful moment”. The chefs and coaches go around the table and everyone shares one thing they are grateful for. What are you grateful for today?

After lunch it was back to the kitchen to make pasta primavera. The chefs were busy cutting veggies and learning little tips - like using the water from blanching the vegetables to make the pasta (it adds flavor to the pasta!).

The campers spend the rest of the day making jelly-fish (or squid) art to hang in the purpose tree.

WELCOME TO LYFVE SUMMER CAMP

2010-06-30T04:06:00.001-07:00

WELCOME to our LYFVE Summer Camp blog! Camp started off this week with our chefs getting right down to business: cooking. On their first day Coach Faith and Sharon helped the chefs make a delicious (and easy!) bruschetta, explored the world of cous-cous AND made a fluffy broccoli and cheese quiche. YUM!

Outside of the kitchen the Chef’s kept busy planting the Summer Camp Garden with Coach Sharon. Everyone is looking forward to nurturing the garden and watching our vegetables grow!

Coach Cari taught the first yoga class of the summer. All the Chefs were natural yogis - channeling their energy into kid-friendly yoga poses, like “sun-rise, sun-set” and of course “down-ward facing dog”.

Now let’s meet our Chef’s!

JENINE

Chef Jenine is a very active 10 year old. She enjoys hanging out with her pets Gwen, Ernie, and Mighty. In her spare time she loves to hang out with her hermit crabs and to be outside.

When it comes to food Chef Jenine loves bacon! You will find her in the kitchen baking sweets with her Mom. Someday you might enjoy one of Jenine’s culinary masterpieces in Paris since she aspires to be a famous chef in the beautiful French city.

DANA

Chef Dana is a ten year old who describes herself as “strange” (but in a good way!). She has a passion for dogs and animals. In fact Dana hopes to use that passion to be a zoo-keeper someday. Dana also enjoys soccer and loves to play with her hermit crab, Bubbles.

Chef Dana is a bacon lover. She likes to be in the kitchen baking cakes with friends.

LILY

Chef Lily is a kind 10 year old who loves to cook and bake! When not in the kitchen Lily likes to spend time with her hermit crab, Bert.

Chef Lily hopes to put her love of food to good use and be a chef someday. Maybe you will dine at her restaurant and enjoy one of her creations - like sushi, her favorite food!

GEORJE

Chef Georje is a nice ten year old. You will find her listening to music or acting in her room. Someday she will follow her Hollywood dreams and to be a movie star.

Georje loves panda and watermelon. And in the kitchen her favorite thing to make is cupcakes.

SOPHIE

Chef Sophie is an artsy 9 year old. Most kids like dogs, but Sophie prefers lynxes. In her spare time Sophie enjoys using her glue gun. Sophie is a serious artist and will be attending Moore College of Art again this summer for their summer program.

When it come to food Sophie loves coconut and can’t get enough of baking pies.

NIYA

Chef Niya is a wonderful high-schooler to be! She is very serious about her culinary endeavors - and will be attending Edward Bok high school in the fall for culinary arts! Bravo Chef Niya!

When she isn’t in the kitchen making seafood (among other delicious concoctions) - you will find her playing sports or walking her dog, Binky.

ASIA

Chef Asia a fun eight year old. Like a lot of kids Asia loves dogs. She also likes to spend her time reading or channeling her creativity into art. Look for Asia in the Olympics someday as it is her goal to be an Olympic swimmer!

In the kitchen you will find Chef Asia making cookies or just enjoying her favorite food, watermelon.

ONI

Chef Oni describes herself as “ a lot of things”. Like most 16 year olds, she loves to hang out with friends. Chef Oni is also an actress and hopes to use her singing and acting talent someday for a career in the lime-light.

In the kitchen you will find Oni busy making sweets and all sorts of food, perhaps with shrimp her favorite food.

MADDIE

Chef Maddie is an interesting 9 year old. She has a wide range of interests including soccer, dogs, art and reading. Maddie hopes to be an artist someday - using her creativity to design clothes, art and whatever she feels inspired to make! You might wear her clothes someday - or hang one of her paintings on your wall.

In the kitchen you will find Maddie busy making all sorts of baked goods or maybe just enjoying her favorite food: pizza!

Tell it like it is.

2010-05-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome!

I have been meaning to write a blog for a long time, but the time is now ripe and I am pressed to do so with such urgency even as we come to the close of another National Nutrition Month (2010)... The face of feeding our families and school lunches is taking on a new persona and our First Lady Michelle Obama is at the helm of getting the attention of the family, the educational institutions and even the big food manufacturers. OBESITY has spoken! and the numbers speak for themselves...that our children are in danger of shorter lifespans that thier parents, if they are not given healthier foods to eat... at home, at school and in our communities.
When our company started 4 years ago, as a result of a crisis of my own, I had only hoped and prayed that there would be such a movement to revamp the kinds of foods that are passed off as "OK" for our children, so at 5 am on March 29th, I feel a sense of relief and have renewed hope that our nation is waking up to the mission that we have embraced since 2006, to make healthy food available, accessible and fun for our children to eat... YEAH AMERICA!! Thanks to so many who have blazed the trails, who stood up to the food giants and the school lunch militia...I am speaking of the likes of Chef Ann Cooper, the renegade lunch lady! and thanks to all the lunch ladies across the country who had been silently praying for deliverance for our children from food they will not eat themselves nor give to thier own children... Its a great day to be alive in America!
Walk good. Cook, Eat, Live Well!

Faith

(founder of Love Your Fruits and Vegetables)