Chef's Tasting Table Day 8 // Real Shamrock Shakes

Jump UP! It was a really good day in the lunchroom (here is the video link if you can't see it above).

We had near 100% participation in the tasting and the blender was cleaned out! The majority of the students enjoyed it, which was awesome too.

The luck of the Irish was with us:)

At the last tasting event, a few 7th grade girls had a suggestion for me. "Why don't you try hiding the ingredients from us so we'll be more likely to try it?"

So that's exactly what we did. When the students came up to grab a cup, the ingredients were under a tent. (No pretty vege arrangement, it was a very bare table!). This tactic effected the 7th and 8th grader participation dramatically. And I noticed some of kids come through the line that had not in the past in all of the grade levels.

Now that was super great idea. Thanks girls!!!!

After everyone tasted, the lunchroom tried to guess what was in the smoothie. There was a ton of good guessing and it was fantastic to talk about the spinach (from our 1st tasting event) and the avocado (from our 3rd tasting event) and use them in an entirely different way.

Minds blown. Minds opened. Minds a little & a lot more excited to try new foods thanks to the Chef Ann Foundation Project Produce Grant funding!

Bring that luck HOME today and blend up some of this liquid gold:

D76 Diamonds Real Shamrock Shakes
Inspired by this recipe

1 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana
1 big handful of spinach
15 fresh mint leaves
3/4 tsp peppermint extract
1 cup milk of choice (I used rice milk)
1 cup ice
honey to taste (at least 2-3 tbsp for kids' palattes)

Blend until smooth. Add a few tablespoons of honey at a time until you've hit your sweet spot. You can also add more milk or ice to thin it out. Add a squirt of real chocolate syrup and enjoy!

To the mullies we go...
xoxoL

ps

I warmed up some shake making skills in Tommy's 2nd grade classroom on Thursday.  We were onto to something good if over half of the kids wanted seconds! Thank you for having me Ms Duffy!!