My Crazy Kitchen

After 15 years of running Epicurean Foods International with my husband, Greg Sprout and 17 years of raising children, I find again and again it’s the “little things” that count.

As a mom, I am constantly confronted (affronted?) with all the things I should be doing for my children. After all, we all want to raise healthy, well-adjusted, athletic, intelligent, responsible contributors to society (breathe, please).

The pressure to spend thousands of dollars on schools and educational toys and athletics and nutritional additives is truly overwhelming. The range of  must-haves truly tip the “am I a good mother?” guilt scale.

After many years of beating myself up every time I heard what I should be doing, I realized that there are so many “little things” we can do for our children that will make us immeasurably satisfied with our life-long job of child rearing.

Children gain all sorts of confidence when Mom or Dad surprises them with their favorite meal. Children learn respect when they wait for everyone to sit down before they start eating. Children learn to give thanks when they pray before meals. Children learn social graces when they are asked to abide by their manners at the table. Most of all, children learn about the bond that holds family together through thick and thin as they travel down life’s highways.

In general, I stick by the “KISS” concept – Keep It Simple Sweetheart). One to two steps of processing (chopping, boiling, canning, etc.,) and you’ve probably lost a lot of the nutritional value and you’ve spent a lot of time doing it.

On the other hand, just because its simple it doesn’t mean it has to be tasteless. The Italians have known this for centuries with their pasta sauces and salad dressings.

Salads are a good example of this. One of my favorites is the creation of my very creative mother-in-law, Barbara Sprout. It has been very popular for over 10 years:

Mango-Citrus Kiwi Salad

1 head of lettuce

¼ sliced red onion

½ cup baby tomatoes sliced in half

2 or 3 kiwis sliced*

¼ cup pine nuts*

Dressing:

6 Tbsp Mediterranean Jewel Citrus Oil

2 Tbsp Mediterranean Jewel Mango Vinegar

1 Tbsp Maple Syrup (or to taste)

*Substitutions:

Green seedless grapes and strawberries or raspberries, orange segments (cut in half); red grapes, diced pears can be used instead of the kiwis

Walnuts or pecans or almonds can be used instead of the pine nuts

This salad has a plethora of flavors that jump out at you. The sweet kiwi mixed with the strong onion is an excellent combination. The citrus aroma blends amazingly with mango. The touch of sweetness with the Maple Syrup makes for happy people (young and old) all round.

The best part is, you’ve added a dish to your meal that includes raw vegetables and fruit (lots of fiber) and doesn’t include all of the additives and fillers that come with commercial salad dressing. Simple? I hope so,

Be Good To Yourself,

Phyllis