Friday, May 16, 2014

FFWD - Food Revolution Day - Lemon Steamed Spinach


Today is French Friday with Dorie and it is Food Revolution Day, so Mardi has asked us all to join in to "get kids excited about food".  She has asked us to choose a recipe from Around My French Table that we think every child should know how to make, and explain why.

My choice is not going to be necessary popular with children, but I think it is one every child should know how to make.  I chose the Lemon Steamed Spinach from p331 of Around My French Table because (a) it is super healthy; (b) it is tasty; (c) it is bright and colourful; and (d) it is easy to make.

I used baby spinach as I think it is easier to swallow and nicer than fully grown spinach, which I believe is a plus for children.  It is definitely easy to make - you just boil a pan of water, put a steamer basket over it, fill the basket with spinach flavoured with olive oil, lemon zest and salt and pepper, and steam it for around three minutes - and ta da, ready to serve. 

Spinach counts towards your "five a day" target for veges, and it tastes really good cooked like this.   

To see what the other Doristas  made for Food Revolution Day, check out the LYL section of the FFWD website.

22 comments:

Mardi Michels said...

Yay I LOVE this choice! I've been making green smoothies with my students all week and they are surprising fans of spinach! I think they would love this!

Catherine said...

Looks healthy and good! Blessings, Catherine

Kari said...

I am so glad you did a Food Revolution Day post - it's such a great initiative. This dish certainly appeals to me, and you're right, it's one children should master as an easy and effective vegetable side!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

I'm not sure what I would have thought about this as a child but as an adult I'd love it! :)

Ei said...

You're right--this one is a really easy recipe for kids to make. Nice choice.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Spinach is the ONLY veggie my daughter will eat...crazy, right??? Loved this dish!

Unknown said...

Spinach might not be a popular choice with some kids but this is certainly a delicious version!

Kathy said...

This is a great dish to share with kids…my grandkids love spinach! Good choice!

Anonymous said...

I think it's a really great choice - I find that a lot of people think vegetables are "difficult" to cook. Love this - your spinach looks yummy!

Trevor Sis Boom said...

I am a weird one in that spinach was one of the few veggies I would eat without complaint. Loved it!

Mary Hirsch said...

What a great choice, Gaye. I don't think I made this recipe - it was either before I joined or when I skipped a week. But, now that you've provided all the reasons I should make and eat this, I will. Next week. Happy Food Revolution Day 2014.

mou said...

Yes ! This is definitely a dish that I'll teach my son to cook. Healthy, nutritious and tasty !

Emily said...

A great dish to go with oven roasted sweet potatoes!

Diane Balch said...

My kids have always liked spinach and this recipe makes it particularly tasty... now kale that's another story. Great choice.

2paw said...

I am in love with baby spinach. As a child we only ate silver beet, so being able to buy baby spinach in the supermarket means I can eat it any time I like. We have locally grown spinach and rocket. Yum, I must try this!!!

Betsy said...

Nice choice, Gaye. I actually liked spinach even when I was young. Maybe kids don't anymore.

Andrea_TheKitchenLioness said...

Gaye, what a lovely and delicious choice for Food Revolution Day 2014! We love everything spinach!

Diane Zwang said...

If it is good enough for Popeye...Great food choice.

Teresa said...

Great choice! I think kids' wariness of spinach comes from eating too much that's been over-cooked. Dorie's method certainly doesn't do that - it's perfect.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

My oldest and his best buddy always begged me to make them spinach when they were about 4 or 5. They wanted muscles, but then loaded it up with salt and butter. So I'm thinking this was a great chocie!

TeaLady said...

Nope would not be popular with either one of my kids. Green is simply not their color - for food! But it is a good choice.

Kayte said...

It would have gone 50/50 here with popularity with the kids, Matt yes, Alex no. Alex is allergic to green...not really, he just always says that. Looks delicious to me! Nice photo.