This week’s recipe reflects its name exactly: Terrific Turkey Chili. Yes, this chili is terrific, incredibly healthy, and has a great story behind it too. The recipe was given to me by Mary Anne Burkman, Director of The Dairy Council of California. The Dairy Council of California has been a proud sponsor of Hey Kids, Let’s Cook! for the past 5 seasons. As the show has grown so has The Dairy Council’s sponsorship, and marketing of the show. Mary Anne adds, “Hey Kids, Let’s Cook! demonstrates that cooking can be a shared family event, with families working together in preparing and sharing a meal.”

This year The Dairy Council will begin promoting Hey Kids, Let’s Cook! to educators and schools throughout the state with the help of their three supervisors, and 15 territory managers. As stated on their website “The Dairy Council of California provides programs for elementary, middle, and high schools, that are research based, and align with the California State Standards in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Health Education.”
Their website also features the companion website, mealsmatter.org, (this is where the Terrific Turkey Chili recipe came from). It’s a fantastic tool for moms, dads, and their kids to help with healthy meal planning, recipes, shopping lists and more. Mary Anne also says, “mealsmatter.org is available to families to help make healthy meals happen, and using familiar ingredients that are often on hand.” Check it out when you get a chance. And as the cold winter evenings begin in your hometown, try the Terrific Turkey Chili recipe and tell me what you think.

I just love going out into the community and meeting the viewers of Hey Kids, Let’s Cook! This past Friday I had the opportunity to do just that at the Lucky Supermarket in San Bruno, California. Kaila tagged along and we demonstrated fruit salsa and pizza salad, then handed out samples to everyone who walked by. I was so excited to meet viewers Martha, Brandi, and Sally. Sally has two daughters ages 9 and 10. Sally says her kids “really enjoy the show and listen. They identify with the cast members, and watch to see which one is doing which job: the measuring, the cutting, and the stirring.” Sally added that “the show has great life skills.” Brandi has a 15 year old son who loves to cook, and they often cook complicated recipes together. Brandi shared that they “often take the Hey Kids, Let’s Cook! recipes, and add more things to them.” Brandi also added, “I think if you get more kids more involved and cooking in the kitchen, then they eat better”. Martha mentioned that she “just loves the children on the show. They seem like they’re really enjoying it, and it doesn’t seem like a chore, because they seem to be enthused and learning.” (I agree with Martha – the kids are really cute!) I’ll be out again with the kids this Sunday, October 17th at The Big Fresno Fair, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the Pavilion Stage. Hope to see you there!

This week I want to give a big shout out to Save Mart Supermarkets.  With Save Mart Supermarket sponsorship and marketing support, Hey Kids, Let’s Cook! is now in it’s 5^th season airing throughout California and Nevada.  Since 1952 a corporate goal for Save Mart Supermarket has been to work with communities and businesses that they serve.  In addition, “Save Mart’s giving is targeted towards children’s humanities, education, health needs, and food for children and families with children.  They are happy support and sponsor many major marketing events including:

• Toyota/Save Mart 350
• AMGEN Bicycle Tour of California
• Thanksgiving Day Run to Feed the Hungry in Sacramento
• Oakland Art & Soul Festival,
• Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco
• Sacramento Gold Rush Days
• The Big Fresno Fair
• & The California State Fair

 Be sure to check out their website @savemart.com and you will find money saving coupons, upcoming events, and information to help you plan your own meals, parties and special events.  A special thank you to Chairman and CEO – Bob Piccinini, and the whole team at Save Mart Supermarkets.

Series #5 is finally here,  with 16 new, mouth-watering recipes for kids to learn how to cook.  I am so excited for you to watch along with your children these fun new episodes.  You will meet the new cast members; Grant, Brennan, and Samantha, and see the most entertaining and engaging new segments:  Farrah on Manners, PyRamid – the rapping mypyramid,  and even take fieldtrips with Emma.  One highlight is Episode #2, filmed at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.  We were so thrilled to be able to set-up our kitchen right on the edge of turn 11, (known as the most exciting turn at Infineon).  We arrived at 5:30 a.m. and began filming right away, because the cars were set to practice at 8:15 a.m.  During this episode you will hear engines roaring in the background, and see the cars taking laps around the track while the kids and I prepare tasty tailgate recipes.   And , what an exciting moment to have NASCAR driver, Marcos Ambrose, come on the set and share with the kids the importance of athletes eating healthy foods.  Join with us on facebook and twitter for more on Hey Kids, Let’s Cook!