St. Patrick’s Day: Green Eggs and Ham

By Dennis Linden

Children in this country consume an estimated 12 percent of their calories from fast food and 20 percent of all American meals are eaten in the car! The consequences are predictably unhealthy. Competing schedules in the day-to-day lives of a busy modern family make it difficult to share a home-cooked meal together, but not impossible. In fact, with a little planning, cooking together can become a fun family event and learning opportunity. This feature will focus on providing a child or a group of children, working together under the supervision of an adult, with one uncomplicated, healthy and delicious side dish recipe. The dishes will be centered on seasonal fresh produce items; the recipes will always contain tasks will allow even the youngest kitchen helper to contribute to the family meal. Parents should always read through each recipe carefully to judge the division of labor based on age and ability as well as to identify where adult attention might be especially needed.

Many of the recipes presented here will seem very basic, this is by design. It is hoped that these simple preparations will provide the culinary foundation and confidence to inspire kids to try more challenging recipes as their experience and confidence in the kitchen develops. Melissa’s encourages parents to find the time to gather as a family unit at least once a week for a dinner that everyone pitches in to prepare. It’s a wonderful way to teach a child some basic culinary skills and, more importantly, cooking with your children will build memories in all your hearts forever. Enjoy your kids in the kitchen, they will be grown & gone before you know it! “No one is born a great cook; one learns by doing” – Julia Child.

While most of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations involve the clinking of mugs filled with adult libations, the day could also begin with a fun breakfast dish come true lifted straight out of a favorite children’s book that will allow your young kitchen helpers to also take part in the day’s festivities. This dish is not only appropriately shaded green with a nutritious veggie, but it also demonstrates a real-life lesson of being open-minded to new ideas. 

Basically, the fable starts with the main character vowing to never eat the worst dish imaginable – green eggs & ham. Nevertheless, eventually, the dish was tried and liked. The theme of the story is not to make up one’s mind about something without trying it. Pre-prep idea: Read Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham out loud to the whole family the night before, then surprise everyone with the ingredients to bring the story to life for the next morning’s breakfast to kick off St. Patrick’s Day. Making cooking fun instills culinary confidence that will only develop in the years to come in your kids’ own kitchens. 

Also consider having your helpers prepare the ingredients and purée the egg mixture right after the reading, then chill in the fridge overnight. Afterall, while some would have it otherwise, St. Patrick’s Day is not a national holiday. This year, it falls on a Monday; hungers must be quenched before school and work days begin. Everyone needs to be about their business and quickly. Left TO DO in the morning – the task of one child standing on a chair at the stovetop, first heating up the ham, then carefully adding in the egg mixture for the scramble. And this dish is delicious. Said Sam, I am! 

Green Eggs and Ham
Serves 4

Ingredients
8 eggs
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 ½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup Melissa’s cleaned and sliced leeks
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons butter
½ lb. ham, cubed

What the supervising adult should do:
While very simple, this recipe calls for a child with knife experience to practice “cubing” the ham under close supervision. Sure, a less precise small chop works, but it does not contribute to a novice cook’s hands-on experience. A younger child who knows some numbers could be tasked with measuring out the supporting ingredient. Only the adult in the room can judge when a child is capable of stovetop work and should be left alone with an open flame.    

What the kids can do:
 
Put ingredients into a food processor except butter & ham, and blend to a purée.

Melt butter in a skillet on the stove over medium heat. Cook the ham for a few minutes. Add the egg purée to the skillet. Let the mixture cook for a few minutes
 
Once eggs start to cook at the edges, scramble until eggs are cooked thoroughly, then remove from heat, divide and serve