We have taught countless kids how to make our Minestrone Soup and it’s always a hit!

Minestrone Soup with Farro
Serves 8

2 cups canellini beans, cooked. You may use 1 15-ounce can
3 cups carrots, chopped
1 1/2 cups celery, chopped
1 bunch kale, chopped
1 whole onion, chopped
3 cups tomatoes, chopped or 1-28 ounce can diced tomatoes
2 quarts vegetable stock
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon fresh oregano
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
3 cups cooked farro. Follow the directions on the package.
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

In a stockpot, sauté onion, garlic, celery & carrots for 5 minutes.

Add kale & cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes and herbs and cook 10 minutes longer.

Add cannellini beans & stock. Let simmer 30 minutes.

Optional: Puree 1/3 of soup with immersion blender or use food processor. (We always do this…)

Add farro & serve with drizzling of olive oil and parmesan cheese.

Farro
Farro is an ancient form of wheat and is generally soaked before using. A hearty grain, also wonderful in grain salads. Just add vinaigrette, seasonal raw veggies and you’re set! Substitute brown rice if necessary.

Eating Seasonally
Spring: Dandelion greens, green garlic, green peas, spinach
Summer: Fresh basil, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, leafy greens, celery, carrots
Autumn: Bell peppers, pumpkin, broccoli,
Winter: Bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, kale, carrots, winter squash

We are thrilled to have been asked to teach at Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley Valley in Petaluma! We begin our 6-class after school program in October and we’re thrilled to be there! Registration is available on the Home page.

Yes, we will be making this delicious Stroganoff recipe in class!

See you then!

Well, Summer Camp for Kids is over and we’re pleased to say, it was a success! The kids learned a lot about their health while creating great meals. At D5 our mission statement says it all: Our Mission is to improve the health of kids so they can lead healthier, happier, more productive lives.

Here are some photos from the last week’s camp. Now we look forward to our after school program-is your school signed up? Let us know!

Do you believe in DirectionFive’s mission to help our kids lead healthier, happier lives? If so would you be willing to give 30/30? Just 30 minutes in 30 days helping to get the word out about D5 would be a big help and much appreciated! Invite all your Facebook friends to ‘like’ our page. Ask all of your family and friends to sign up for our newsletter on the home page of the web site. Introduce us to your children’s school principal. None of these things would take more than 30 minutes, just one time a month. Would you help us? Please email Patty James at patty.james@directionfive.org

Well, week three of Summer Camp is over tomorrow and our last week of Summer Camp is the week after next. DirectionFive has five programs and we touch on all of them in Camp. DirectionOne covers the basics such a macro and micronutrients, the body systems and antioxidants and free radicals. DirectionTwo is the Body/Mind Connection and we chat about stress and positive thinking. DirectionThree is the Body/Earth Connection and we chat about organic food, GMO’s and our food supply. DirectionFour is Fitness and lastly our final program is Culinary where everything comes together.

Our first week of camp has come and gone. We had a fantastic group of 6-9 year-olds and D5 student chefs and D5 teachers had a great time!

These photos pretty much say it all!