The theme: Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Challenge
Today's recipe: Roasted Lamb Shoulder & Smashed Peas and Edamame Beans on toast
The twist to the recipe: Edamame Beans
The author: Jamie Oliver
Let's face it, America is desperate for a change in the way it uses, consumes and indulges in food. We see it in the way kids are growing in size in alarming quantities. It's really tough to see the future of our society go trough life with health issues as early as 12 years of age; or having problems breathing when going up a flight of stairs. We are no longer talking about child obesity, we are talking about overall child health. Many kids whose metabolism is good enough to keep them looking thin, are still malnourished and face health concerns a child that age should never have. So what do we do? and most importantly, how do we go about fixing this?
This is the mere question Jamie Oliver, renowned British chef and Food Network Star, posed to the world. Jamie decided to partner with the America Gives Back foundation and subsequently created a TV show, the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution, that takes us through his quest on revolutionizing the way kids are being fed and taught about food nutrition at school and at home. His work has departed from a basic challenge, to a revolution and thankfully now to an even bigger change, involving both parents and school staff in the process.
This is the mere question Jamie Oliver, renowned British chef and Food Network Star, posed to the world. Jamie decided to partner with the America Gives Back foundation and subsequently created a TV show, the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution, that takes us through his quest on revolutionizing the way kids are being fed and taught about food nutrition at school and at home. His work has departed from a basic challenge, to a revolution and thankfully now to an even bigger change, involving both parents and school staff in the process.
My agency was also a part of this revolution. We not only helped create Jamie's Food Revolution Facebook page; but also pledged to the cause as a group and created a weekly challenge having each of us at work make at least 1 healthy meal at home. Using Jamie's diverse recipes, we would each submit our works of art that counted as a ballot to enter a draw. The more ballots, the more chances one had to win the big prize. Very cool.
It's no wonder I would not only pledge to Jamie's Food Revolution, but also take the challenge and try to...well, win :)
My 1st week in the challenge consisted of a first try at one of Jamie's most "challenging" recipes - Roasted Lamb Shoulder.
The Roasted Lamb Shoulder was a challenge not only because this dish required a 4 hr cooking process, but also because it turns out in North America lamb shoulders are sold without the blade. According to the butcher I went to, it's against some kind of agricultural regulation and he actually asked me if I had gotten the recipe from a European cookbook (my ding ding moment). I was therefore only able to get the shoulder chop, I imagine this dish could have been tastier if I had the whole shoulder, but either way, I got it to do exactly what Jamie said - pull the meat apart easily with two forks (no knife), yey!
If you are interested in this recipe, you can get it from Jamie's site. The key here is to cook healthy, so please skip the easy route and use fresh garlic, do not use garlic powder. Make sure what you make is as tasty as it is healthy, and if this takes a bit more time, so be it. Trust me, it's worth it.
The following week, I decided to go with the Smashed Peas and Edamame Beans on Toast.
The key to this recipe is making it with fresh ingredients. If you use frozen peas or beans, it defeats the purpose. You can also get your creative juices flowing if you find there are ingredients you are not particularly a fan of. I for instance switched Jamie's fava beans for edamame; same end result, just different type of beans. The sourdough bread, the peas, the mint, the pecorino cheese and all other ingredients used in this recipe made the dish a delicacy. And don't forget about the lime juice (that you squeeze yourself), it does bring the whole story together.
For anybody who is interested in Jamie's Food Revolution, wants to learn more and even make a pledge, you can watch Jamie's TED Prize speech video. He really does bring it back to basics for us. And as Jamie says "Eating well starts with cooking from scratch".
Until next time Foodies.
Buen Provecho,
Foodies Inc.
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