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Edible Dallas Fort Worth
RECIPE ALERT!! Kvarøy Arctic Salmon #adDive into this flavor-filled Kvarøy Arctic Salmon dish that brings together a delectable trio of tastes...the citrusy-spiced salmon filet “en papillote” is paired with roasted seasonal veggies, on top of a hearty traditional bulgur salad full of locally-grown goodness. Even better, it’s quick to make!We teamed up with Kvarøy Arctic Salmon and Almog Peleg at Collin College Culinary to craft an autumn meal that’s delicious, beautiful and healthy. Kvarøy Arctic is a third generation family salmon farm in the Arctic Circle, where the waters are cool and clear, giving this beautiful fish a pristine, clean flavor. Add to this the wide range of health benefits you get by adding salmon to your weekly diet, and our recipe gives you more than just an elegant, tasty meal. Rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and various vitamins and minerals, this salmon is an excellent addition to any healthy diet and can help improve heart health, brain function, and overall well-being.You can find this yummy recipe (and learn more about where you can purchase Kvarøy Arctic Salmon) on our website: www.edibledfw.com/recipe/entrees/mediterranean-salmon-en-papillote/📸 by Jessie Hagan photography- - - - -#TasteTheArctic #KvaroyArctic #ArcticSalmon #SustainableSeafood #SustainableSalmon #Salmon #Sustainability #SustainableAquaculture #EdibleCommunities #EdibleDFW ... See MoreSee Less
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3 days ago

Edible Dallas Fort Worth
One of the best annual Chef Competitions in the area! Okrapalooza 2023, benefitting Promise of Peace Gardens, held this year at Dallas College Culinary Pastry Hospitality, was again a showcase of local culinary talent and creativity!Hats off to the many volunteers, and to Favorite Brands, Crazy Water, Mijenta Tequila, Remington Vodka, T-Rex Pickles, Dallas College, and everyone who donated to the Silent Auction! Also thanks to Judges who had the hard job of deciding on a winner! #foodfestival #okrapalooza #edibledfw #chefcompetition #supportlocalfood #dfwfoodies ... See MoreSee Less
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3 days ago

Edible Dallas Fort Worth
35+ wineries in the North Texas Wine Country welcome you to each of their unique tasting rooms for a special tasting of award-winning wines during the entire month of October! Wine tastings include a minimum of 3 tastes at each winery. Visit any or all wineries during the month of October and taste up over 100 wines made in the beautiful North Texas Wine Country! Scan your printed or digital QR code at your first winery visit to check-in and redeem your wine tasting passport. TICKETS and more info here: www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-wine-trail-tickets-663811085827Visit northtexaswine.com/wineries for a list of participating wineries, addresses, and hours of operation. ... See MoreSee Less
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6 days ago

Edible Dallas Fort Worth
Explore the tastes of Portugal at Central Market through September 26! Enjoy an immersive culinary celebration of the Portuguese traditions and richly diverse cultural influences that includes custard-filled Pastéis de Nata, spicy Piri-Piri, a stunning seafood selection, sips of vinho, and so much more.Register for a Sampling Stroll on Saturday, September 16 from 2-6pm at all Central Market locations: www.centralmarket.com/passaporte-portugal-stroll-2023Beautiful photos by Teresa Rafidi ... See MoreSee Less
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KID’S CORNER: FIRST YOU PLANT THE SEED

kidsCorner
Danna Johnston of Central Market-Plano
helps Ben select His fish.

Story by Robin Plotkin • Photo by Melissa Boon

Sixteen months ago, I was a brand new mom at age 39. Fearful of everything new moms fear, I found that the one thing that didn’t scare me was feeding my son Ben. As a registered dietitian and self-proclaimed foodie, I knew the who, what, where, when and whys of “proper” feeding and how to find the resources I needed to assist me throughout the process. Feeding children can be an overwhelming and daunting task. Feeding Ben, though not without a few challenges, has been, for the most part, fairly easy.

BIRTH TO FOUR MONTHS

My first challenge was breastfeeding, for which I developed a love-hate relationship. I wanted to breastfeed and prepared for it before Ben’s arrival. There was no denying its benefits. Good nutrition for growth and immunity were critical to me as was the bonding aspect of the process. I had all of the contraptions at home and was to begin my tenure as a lactating mommy.

Fast forward to Ben’s one-month birthday. I had fed, pumped, popped Fenugreek seed, pumped, drank beer, pumped and visited with two lactation consultants—all to no avail. No milk! Realizing that my job was to feed my baby first, I made the switch to 100% formula, and he thrived. I never looked back.

FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS

Our pediatrician said “When he starts lunging towards your food, it’s a sure sign he’s ready to start real food.” I took my cue and out came the rice cereal when Ben made his move. Soon after, we graduated to peas, carrots, green beans and applesauce. I used a mix of homemade and jarred organic baby foods. It made me feel happy and motherly to make Ben’s food and frankly, I was surprised at how easy it was to make a pureed batch of the good stuff. In reality, the only tools needed were a microwave and an immersion blender. Ingredients? Fresh or frozen fruits, vegetables and water. Freezing small (two, three or four ounce) portions in plasticware made life easier. Also, there was no need to purchase an expensive baby food maker.

Ben made his inaugural visit to the Dallas Farmers Market when he was five months old. We rambled up and down the aisles of the various sheds, stopping often to smell the herbs, feel the baskets of fruits and vegetables and marvel at all of the colors. It’s critical to remember that kids—and adults—eat with all of their senses. We see, hear, touch and smell our food well before we taste it. Think about it. We see a red bell pepper. We hear the crunch of the pepper when we bite into one. We smell the sweetness of a pepper and we feel the outside skin of the pepper. My goal was to encourage the appreciation of food and ingredients from an early age—something that I was unable to do until adulthood.

SIX TO NINE MONTHS

Cinnamon in oatmeal. Vanilla in yogurt. Bay leaf in lentils. Basil in marinara sauce. Refusing to become a short order cook, I began to give Ben the deconstructed versions of the same foods we ate. Our Caprese salad became tomatoes, mozzarella and avocado for Ben. Our turkey lasagna became, well, turkey lasagna in miniature form. We pulled his chair up to the table with us and started family dinners. Creating happy food memories was our goal.

Trips to different markets and grocery stores were routine activities for us, and we quickly became friends with the fishmonger at Central Market in Plano. Each Tuesday morning, Ben and I would select a fish for dinner that evening. Often, we would pick out a mild, white fish in order to satisfy everyone in the family. Seasoned simply with a touch of olive oil, salt and pepper, I would bake it and then drizzle lemon juice over the fish. Ben ate nearly an adult portion of fish each time I made it for dinner. Exposure—from start to finish—is critical in raising a healthy eater.

NINE TO TWELVE MONTHS

“How do we know if he’s eating too much?” my husband would ask. My answer: “He’ll stop eating when he’s full.”

It was important to teach Ben and those who were responsible for feeding him how to honor his hunger. When he stopped eating, threw food on the floor or started dawdling, the meal was over. Impressing this fact on him was a cinch. It was the others around him that were tough to convince. Food is not love. Love is love. Both my husband and myself grew up in homes where the two were confused at times.

When Ben was nine months old, he ate a pickle. He devoured it, and those who saw him stared—and then laughed—in disbelief. At 12 months, he was eating nearly everything he was offered. I roasted vegetables, scooped out spaghetti squash and made our take-out leftovers into his meals. By 12 months, Ben was an aficionado of Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican and some Asian foods.

SIXTEEN MONTHS AND COUNTING

Today, sautéed spinach, roasted cauliflower, fish and a never-ending supply of black beans are routine staples on Ben’s highchair tray. He will wail if I try to take a spoon or fork away from him as if to say, “I’ll do it myself!” I’m sure those words and more independent behavior are not too far away. He heads to the fridge when he’s thirsty, and an audible “Muh? Muh?” is heard throughout the house.

We routinely cook together in the kitchen. He has his two cabinets full of his equipment: a child-sized cutting board, mini jars of spices (unopened), plastic measuring spoons, a whisk and a large soup pot. Ben is a master at stirring and likes to blow on everything to cool it down before eating, regardless of the actual temperature.

Cake, cookies and sweets? Of course. On occasion, but not as an everyday occurrence. Snacks to keep the whining and crying at bay? Ninety-five percent of the time I do not pacify him with food, but I see how easy it could be to fall into that trap. Redirecting him is a skill we practice faithfully. Hopefully, our efforts will translate into Ben finding things other than food to soothe himself when he’s bored, angry, frustrated or even happy.

While I’m not naïve to the possibility of food rebellion as Ben ages, my hope is that the foundation for appreciation of good, wholesome food is ingrained somewhere in his brain. His cabinets, cutting boards, measuring spoons and jars of spices will always be waiting for him.

www.robinplotkin.com

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Edible Dallas & Fort Worth is a quarterly local foods magazine that promotes the abundance of local foods in Dallas, Fort Worth and 34 North Texas counties. We celebrate the family farmers, wine makers, food artisans, chefs and other food-related businesses for their dedication to using the highest quality, fresh, seasonal foods and ingredients.

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