Friday, May 15, 2015

Jamie Oliver´s Food Revolution Day 2015: Foraging for Wild Garlic, a Quiche & a Picnic


Today, Friday May 15th, 2015 marks the fourth annual Food Revolution Day. This is a day of global action created by Jamie Oliver and the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation to engage and inspire people of all ages to learn about food and how to cook it. This year, Food Revolution Day is a global campaign to put compulsory food education back on the school curriculum. Jamie Oliver passionately believes that by educating children about food in a fun and engaging way, we can equip them with the basic skills they need to lead healthier, happier lives, for themselves and their future families.

So today´s task for the French Fridays with Dorie group is to choose a recipe or a technique we have learned from Around my French Table that we think is a “must know”.




First off, I have to admit that around here getting (other people´s) children interested in learning about the foods they eat and the way to prepare them, is not always the easiest of tasks and it is a bit like walking a fine line between wanting to teach children and being considered a bit of a show-off. My dear fellow compatriots always look for what they call "qualifications" - what exactly "qualifies" you to teach my children about food...you are what...a food blogger...who is Jamie Oliver (he does speak English after all)...what exactly is the "what do you call this"...Food Revolution Day...(I shall spare you the rest, which oftentimes includes some very discernible smirks...). Unfortunately, there was also no way I could have cooked with children in the school´s kitchen. No such luck as there are the present holidays, the lack of insurance, etc. And my own personal kitchen is most definitely too small.

But I have participated for the third time this year, albeit in a more quiet way. I believe that I have taught our own children so much about food in the last couple of years, that I am quite sure that they will grow up to make a lot of right choices when it come to their eating habits.




So, to stay true to my own philosophy about food, food preparation and ingredients and to share a passion of mine - we decided to particpate this year by inviting a small group of our children´s friends over for a walk through our favorite park and some "hands on education" about local herbs and wild plants - for today we chose to concentrate on wild garlic.




Wild garlic can be found in meadows all over this country in April and May. It has a wonderful earthy flavor. Around here you can even stumble across some at a local park, as we did, so make sure to keep your eyes open. But if not, you should be able to get hold of some wild garlic at good green grocers or your local farmer's market. You can also sort of mimic the flavor of wild garlic by adding some fresh young spinach and a couple of cloves of regular garlic to this quiche, so you still get a wonderful garlicky taste.




We were lucky with respect to the weather - a gorgeous day - and spent the day playing, learning about lots of different local wild plants and herbs, picking fresh wild garlic and enjoying an absolutely delicious Wild Garlic and Ham Quiche. Here is where today´s assignment comes in, I used Dorie Greenspan´s Tart Dough (page 498-9) that I think absolutely every child/student can learn how to make and should know - there is no, absolutely no end to the possibilities of what you can add to quiche. But I have a very soft spot for this particular quiche. I love, love using seasonal, local herbs in my cooking and try to share that passion with our children. It is so important to show children that some of the best ingredients grow right in front of their noses, all they have to do is learn about them and always keep their eyes open. An important lesson. No doubt.




There is no better place to enjoy a piece of still warm quiche (I wrapped them in towels and more towels) while sitting in your favorite local park - just ask my very happy picnic participants.




Time to relax with good, homemade food and share it with family and friends must be one of the great luxuries of life.




Taking our Food Revolution activities outside was a great idea - something that I am looking forward to repeating - Mother Nature has so much to offer and it is certainly a more relaxed environment for everyone than my teeny, tiny kitchen.




So, equipped with copies of Dorie´s Tart Dough recipe (in the translated version, of course)  as well as The Kitchen Lionesses Wild Garlic and Ham Quiche recipe and bags full of freshly picked wild garlic - to make their own quiches at home -  I believe our own reflective, more quiet version of the Food Revolution Day 2015 was a nice success.




To see what initiative the other members of the French Fridays with Dorie group came up with on this day, please go here.

To take a look at Dorie Grenspan´s recipe for the Tart Dough, you can go here.

To get s copy of my Wild Garlic & Smoked Ham Quiche, just stay tuned.

By educating children about food in a practical, fun and engaging way, we can provide them with the knowledge and skills they so urgently need to lead healthier, happier lives. We need to make practical food education a compulsory part of every school curriculum across the world, and that’s why I’ve launched a petition calling on all G20 countries to action this. With enough support from millions of people around the world, I truly believe that we can create a movement that’s powerful enough to make governments take action.” Jamie Oliver

Hear, hear!

40 comments:

  1. OK but yum! And what an idyllic background for your post! Beautiful pictures as always!

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    1. Trevor - OK but yum...means...be that as it may, the weather was awesome, the herbs plenty, the food great, the kids in a relaxed mood and everyone was happy to have particpated at the end of the day - that´s all that counts!

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  2. What lucky children to have you and the beautiful food you prepare. Is wild garlic Bärlauch?

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    1. Liebe Gerlinde - ja, "wild garlic" ist "Bärlauch" - da gibt es so viele Bezeichnungen in der englischen Sprache, aber "wild garlic" trifft es (meine Meinung nach) am besten. Man sagt aber auch "wild ramp", "ramson", "wood garlic" oder "bear´s garlic". Ganz herzlichen Dank für deinen lieben Kommentar!
      Alles Gute nach Santa Cruz!
      Andrea - have a lovely weekend!

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  3. What a perfectly wonderful and endearing Post. I have little doubt that your children already have a fine appreciation of good food, fresh food, and healthy food. They seem to have distinct likes and dislikes and know what they want and when they want it. It's always worth a smile when one of them has a special occasion to celebrate (how DO you keep track of all of those) and suggests what they'd like to have on the menu. Imken's list was rather long and involved, as I recall. Muffins and birthday cake??? They must be very, very proud of their Mother and the festivities and experiences she, meaning you, usually plans around each meal. Their is nothing more exhilaratng than a yummy picnic with willing participants on a beautiful day. I'm glad you apparently put any wounded feelings aside and just concentrated on putting together a wonderful happening for your children and their friends. Just keep doing what you're doing with your cooking and your photography and your write-ups which we all look forward to seeing and always enjoy.

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    1. Mary, sorry about that whining part but it can get a tad frustrating around here - I had hoped to host a different event this year and make somewhat of a bigger impact but, at the end of the day, we had an absolutely fabulous time and I was taught a lesson myself - smaller and more quiet is way better sometimes, even for a "global revolution". The day felt just right with the weather being gorgeous, the kids having a terrific time while learning something they will remember having enjoyed. Who could ask for more?! And then, at the end of this day, a wonderful, kind and thoughful comment from you, my friend - thank you so much and feel yourself hugged!
      Andrea

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  4. Andrea - what I would give to be a part of that picnic.

    I have a feeling that your children will all be able to fend well for themselves in the kitchen and make good food choices in the future. I think you have already won your food revolution.

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    1. Cher, oh, so nicely said - thank you very much - this is a comment that I will certainly carry with me for quite a while!
      Hope your Food Revolution Day 2015 went well! In the end it is always an experience that I would not want to miss out on.
      Andrea

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  5. Picnics are such a wonderful way to share food. When my grandkids come for visits, we always pack a lunch, go to a local park and enjoy mother nature. Love your post! It’s so nice that your picnic was also a learning experience. The photos, of the children enjoying their lunch, are charming! Sounds like a great day was had by all! Happy Food Revolution Day, Andrea!

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    1. Kathy, aren´t picnics the best? Sounds like we agree on those parks and bringing kids there for lunch - that´s what they were created for, to spend time there, enjoy nature and maybe even learn a thing or two while being there.
      Hope you had a wonderful Food Revolution Day 2015 as well!

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  6. So remarkably beautiful. You created a day that the children will always remember and you are teaching them more than just skills for a lifetime, you're teaching them to love and appreciate nature and the foods we get from nature. Perfect- xoDorie

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    1. Dorie, thank you kindly for dropping by and for your kind and thoughtful comment! I truly appreciate it!
      Andrea

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  7. Beautiful post. Thanks for taking part this year!

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    1. My pleasure, Mardi - it was nice particpating again for the third year in a row.

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  8. The quiche looks fantastic and how fun to use wild garlic! Your children are precious and look like they thoroughly enjoyed the day!

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    1. Chris, all the kids loved being outside, they always do. And thankfully they enjoy nature, plants, wild flowers and a bit of a lesson on what to do with some of this green stuff.

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  9. Wunderschöne, stimmungsvolle Fotos! Dein Einsatz wird Fruechte tragen, da kann ich dich hoffentlich beruhigen. Unsere Tochter 'infiziert' andere Studenten mit ihren Einkaeufen vom Markt und richtig guten Rezepten. Meine Hoffnung ist auch, dass das Essen wieder puristischer wird, weg von all diesen prozessierten Lebensmitteln. Dein Blog animiert doch sehr mit den verlockenden Rezepten. Danke!

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    1. Wally, wie lieb von dir - ganz herzlichen Dank - du weißt ja sicherlich, dass es hier nicht allzu einfach Menschen etwas zur "Essens-Erziehung" ihrer Kinder zu erzählen...aber das braucht man manchmal auch garnicht. Ein Ausflug, ein Picknick im Park, Pflanzen erklären und Rezepte teilen war und ist auch mal schön.
      Ganz liebe Grüße,
      Andrea

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  10. I agree with everyone, such a beautiful post and such lucky children. They will always remember all of this for the rest of their
    lives. I can still remember picking blackberries with my Mother and siblings so that she could make jams and jellies. A wonderful
    treat. Your photos are gorgeous.

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    1. Rosemary, what a wonderful thing to say, thank you! Sometimes it seems so important to back to our roots and remember the things we treasured as children like picking blackberries with your mother or making juice from the berries in her garden with my grandmother. These are often the best things we can share with our children.

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  11. This is a perfect way to get into the spirit of Food Revolution Day - connecting kids with the food growing around them, then showing what it can be used to make. Beautiful post, Andrea!

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    1. Teresa, ah, that feels nice - my thoughts exactly. And when it feels right, it usually is the right path to take anyways.

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  12. What a fabulous initiatve Andrea - and I bet the kids loved it.

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    1. Gaye, the kids did indeed love it - thank you for your comment!

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  13. Your picnic looks perfect! I think that you have done an amazing job with your children, and there is a good trickle-down effect! It is so important to teach our children about the food we eat, where it comes from, and the importance of sharing meals with our family and friends. You are on the cutting edge of that, my dear friend! Liebe Grüße - von einem schönen sonnigen Sonntag in Tucson! David

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    1. David, thank you so much for your very kind words - I truly appreciate them. Not always that easy standing up to other people´s opinions but there is often an alternative way of handling things and I think we managed alright. Everyone was happy and we spent a wonderful afternoon and we even learned something along the way.
      Liebe Grüße an dich und Mark,
      Andrea

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  14. What a beautiful post, in so many ways, Andrea! The photos, of course, but also the sentiment and cooking with the kids! I totally agree about Dorie's tart doughs as they are easy and a wonderful vehicle for so many good things. I also really love the foraging for local wild herbs. Around these parts, we have fennel, wild arugula, mustard, and mint (everywhere with the mint, argh). I look forward to reading your recipe as that quiche sounds very good! (P.S. Sorry people were being a bit snotty about the whole thing. Sigh.)

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    1. Katie, so very kind of you, thank you very much. Wild arugula and fennel sound amazing - I would love to be able to find some around here - no such luck though. But I am learning as much as I possibly can about the herbs and plants around us to be able to teach our children well. They enjoy my "lessons" and they make me proud and happy.
      Hope you had a wonderful FRD 2015,
      Andrea - thank you for your encouragement, I greatly appreciate it

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  15. The beauty.
    The lovely details.
    You. Are. Like. A. Small. Prayer. xx

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    1. Kim, you are such a kind person - love all your comments, dear friend! Every single one.

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  16. I have a feeling your children will share the love by educating their friends! Love your message here---and your quiche looks spectacular!!!

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    1. Liz, what a lovely comment, dear friend - I certainly appreciate it so much!

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  17. Wonderful post. I too love that tart dough. What a great day in the park with a picnic. These days will create fond food memories that all the kids will remember. What a great teacher and mother you are. Have a great week.

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    1. Diane - just trying to pass on as much love for good homemade food and ingredients as reasonably possible.

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  18. Andrea, these pictures are so pretty...soothing...peaceful...precious...I am sure these will be one of the many especial moments that you and your children will remember...
    The quiche looks fabulous...perfect!
    Hope you are having a wonderful week :)

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    1. Juliana, so very kind of you dear friend! I so hope that the kids will carry some of those foodie adventures with them throughout their lives.

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  19. The quiche looks wonderful, and the children are so sweet!

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    1. Thank you, Beth . this is one of my favorite seasonal quiche recipes.

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  20. I always love reading your posts about cooking with kids (yours or others), and I thought that this year's idea was particularly brilliant! Foraging for their own ingredients and a recipe to take home for their own fun! It looks like it was an amazing day, hosted by an amazing person!!

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    1. Candy, thank you kindly, dear friend - foraging for ingredients that are familiar to us and that we can turn into something delicious turned out to be one of the better ideas of mine - be that as it may, the kids loved it and that makes me happy!

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