Written by Jodie Fitz

We are excited to launch the New Year with a whole new menu of recipes at the Price Chopper/Market 32 Kids Cooking Club. We are kicking off January with a tasty start.

What’s on the menu?  A Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie complete with peanut free alternative suggestions, Snowy French Toast with a Blackberry Puree for dipping and Pico de Gallo Egg Bites that you can make ahead so that weekday mornings are quick and easy!

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

1 banana, frozen

1 cup PICS low fat milk

¼ cup PICS peanut butter

1 tablespoon PICS maple syrup

1 teaspoon Full Circle vanilla extract

Peel the banana.  Place the peeled banana, milk, peanut better, maple syrup and vanilla into a blender.  Blend well and serve. 

Peanut allergies?  Swap the peanut butter with WOWButter® located in the allergy friendly aisles at your Price Chopper/Market 32 Supermarkets.

 Dairy Allergies?  Swap the milk for your favorite dairy free alternative.

Lessons for children:

  • • Freezing and peeling bananas
  • • Measuring ingredients
  • • Blending
  • • Blender safety

Snowy French Toast

Snowy French Toast

2 PICS eggs

3 tablespoons PICS maple syrup

2 tablespoons PICS low fat milk

1 teaspoon Full Circle vanilla extract

4 pieces your favorite PICS bread

1 tablespoon PICS confectioner’s sugar

Whisk the eggs, maple syrup, milk, and vanilla extract together. Dredge the bread in the egg mixture on both sides.

Cook the bread on a coated nonstick griddle style pan over medium to low heat. Toast one side before flipping and then cook/toast the other.

Slowly pour the confectioner’s sugar into a fine mesh strainer.  Tap the side so that it “snows” on top of the French toast.

Serve with my blackberry puree on the side for dipping yum.

Jodie’s Blackberry Puree

½ cup fresh blackberries

1 tablespoon PICS honey

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Rinse the blackberries.  Place the blackberries and honey into a mini food processor or blender and puree.

Lessons for children:

  • • Cracking eggs
  • • Measuring ingredients
  • • Dredging
  • • Stovetop safety
  • • Cooking French Toast
  • • Sifting
  • • Food processor/blender safety

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Pico de Gallo Egg Bites

1 cup diced grape tomatoes

¼ cup finely chopped onion

¼ cup finely diced green pepper

4 PICS eggs

¼ cup PICS milk

½ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

PICS sliced Pepper Jack cheese

Avocado, sliced

PICS nonstick cooking spray

Coat your baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Note:  You can use a muffin pan.  I used a baking pan that’s actually meant for creating Whoopie pies.  You can typically purchase one at your local craft store in the baking aisle.

Preheat the oven to 375 °F. 

Evenly distribute the tomatoes, onions and peppers into the bottom of each of the baking cups on the pan.

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Evenly distribute the egg mixture by pouring it over the top of the vegetables. 

Bake for 15 minutes.

If serving immediately:  Remove them from the pan.  The eggs should come out of each cup easily with a mini spatula.

Add a slice of cheese to the top and let it melt.  Top off with avocado slices.

If preparing in advance:  Let the egg rounds cool completely.  Separate them with cut parchment paper.  You can store them in the refrigerator for several days or you can wrap each cooled egg round individually with parchment paper and place in the freezer in a freezer bag or airtight container.

Heating Frozen Egg Bites: Heat your egg bites on a microwave-friendly dish in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes until hot.

Lessons for children:

  • • Whisking
  • • Dicing
  • • Slicing
  • • Cracking eggs
  • • Cutting avocados
  • • Baking
  • • Oven safety
  • •Food storage

  • Note:  If you use a mini muffin pan or whoopie pie pan this recipe yields 12 egg bites.  If you use a regular sized muffin tin pan, this recipe will yield 6 egg bites.

The Kids Cooking Club is visiting the following schools/programs this month:

Woodlawn Elementary School – Schenectady, NY

Glencliff Elementary School – Rexford, NY

Head Start Preschool – Kingston, NY

Thomas O’Brien Academy for Science and Technology – Albany, NY

Greenfield Elementary School – Greenfield, NY

Our Lady of Victory Early Childhood Program – Troy, NY

If you would The Kids Cooking Club to visit your school or event please email me at [email protected]

Cheers to a Tasty Month ~ Jodie

P.S.  I can’t wait for next month’s recipes and Valentine’s food fun.