March Newsletter
MARCH IS....
National Craft Month
National Frozen Food Month
National Noodle Month
National Nutrition Month
National Peanut Month
March 12-18, 2017 is National CACFP Week
This is a national education and information campaign sponsored annually by the National CACFP Sponsors Association. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of how the USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger and bring healthy foods to the table for adults in day care and children in child care homes, centers, and in afterschool and summer feeding programs across the country. I have attached several flyers for CACFP week.
Shamrock Handprint
Cut out a large Shamrock for each child. On a darker green paper trace each child’s handprint. Cut our handprint and glue to middle of the large shamrock. (most children can do the glue part. Let children try to make shamrock designs with the glue, and then sprinkle green glitter over these designs. Make sure to date them so parents know what year those little handprints came from.
History of St Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for parades, shamrocks and all things Irish. From leprechauns to the color green, find out how symbols we now associate with St. Patrick’s Day came to be, and learn about a few that are purely American invention. St Patrick’s Day recipes include Irish recipes, green food, kids fun recipes, and leprechaun's bringing luck. St Patrick’s Day is an holiday honoring an Irish saint who died on March 17th. However you celebrate it, it is a day to have fun, wear green and pretend your Irish (even if you're not).
LEPRECHAUN MILKSHAKE
INGREDIENTS
4 Cups milk
1/2 Cup or one large pistachio pudding mix package
4 Scoops vanilla ice cream
DIRECTIONS Add ingredients together in blender and mix.
Go for fruit. There is a lot of green fruits that you can cut up into small pieces or make into a green fruit salad. Green grapes, green apples, kiwifruit, avocado. Vegetables. The great thing about green is there are a lot of healthy green things to eat! Lettuce, cucumbers, celery, broccoli, green peppers, spinach and green beans. Snack on these individually or have kids make their own salad.
Check Schedule
Claim Month
March - Due Date April 5 Claim Date April 18
April - Due Date May 5 Claim Date May 16
This is a projected schedule. Actual dates may vary.
Get your claim checks in early and checks get out early!
Corned Beef and Cabbage
INGREDIENTS
2-3 lbs. corned beef brisket
1 medium onion
6 small red potatoes (1 lb.)
1/2 green cabbage, cut into wedges
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 carrots
3 cups of water
SAUCE: 1 container (7.5 oz) chive & onion cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup milk
3 tbsp prepared horseradish
DIRECTIONS
Trim any excess fat from the brisket and place it in the crockpot along with the pressed garlic. Peel and chop the onion and carrots, then cut the potatoes into quarters. Add the vegetables and water to the Crockpot. Cook on LOW for 8 hours. add the cabbage after 6 hours, cook until the cabbage is tender. Slice the corned beef. In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the sauce. Serve with the corned beef and vegetables.
Broccoli Bites
This recipe is full of nutrition with chopped broccoli and also great fun for a green St. Patrick's Day recipe.
INGREDIENTS
2 10-ounce packages frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and drained.
2 Cups crushed seasoned stuffing
1 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 Cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon Salt and 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
DIRECTIONS
In mixing bowl add cooked, chopped broccoli. Crush stuffing with meat mallet or rolling pin. Add to broccoli. Stir in cheese, eggs and soft butter. Season with salt and pepper. Stir together until well combined. Shape broccoli mixture into balls. Place each ball on a greased baking pan. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington , D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
