October Harvest of the Month: Winter Squash

October is time for harvest, and one harvest that makes October special is the Winter Squash. You may be wondering, "Winter squash? But it's not even Winter yet!", and yes, it is only Autumn, but please believe that this hard-shelled fruit is ready to help your body this season!



Many people think of pumpkins during this month. Did you know that the pumpkin is a variety of the Winter Squash? Other varieties include:
- spaghetti
- banana
- acorn
- turban
- butternut
- buttercup
- hubbard

These varieties of Winter Squash all come in different colors, from deep orange to tan to green! This means that squash can help our bodies in different ways.

ORANGE fruits and vegetables help keep eyes healthy.

TAN fruits and vegetables help keep the heart healthy.

GREEN fruits and vegetables help bones and teeth strong.

On top of all that, Winter Squash contains:

- Vitamin A to help our eyes today

- Fiber to scrub our stomachs and digestive system clean

- Vitamin C to keep us healthy and give us immunity from sickness

You can even buy butternut squash already cut and cooked in the frozen section!

Whether you put it in a soup or a saute, Winter Squash will give you the nutrients you need to keep healthy as the weather changes. Check back for delicious and easy recipes using this harvest of the month!

Source: Harvest of the Month

Harvest of the Month: Tomatoes

Welcome back to school!

Now is the perfect time to cook with tomatoes! If you have a garden, you might have tomatoes ripe and ready to harvest now. If you don't have a garden, take a trip to the local farmer's market or the grocery store to get a taste of this delicious fruit!














Fresh tomatoes from the Schafer Park School Garden.

Tomatoes are high in Vitamin C to protect our bodies from getting sick. Vitamin C also prevents bruises and is great for your skin and your heart!

Did you know.....that the tomato is a FRUIT? Tomatoes have seeds inside, making it a fruit. What other fruits do you know with seeds inside?

If you have cooking in the classroom at your school, you might have tasted this recipe that uses fresh tomatoes and other healthy fruits:

SALSA FRESCA
(Makes about 10 1/2 cup servings)

INGREDIENTS:
6 medium tomatoes
2 bell peppers (red, yellow)
1/2 small red onion
1/2 bunch of cilantro
2 limes
1 clove garlic
1 bunch green onion
1 jalapeno pepper
1/2 teaspoon Sea salt and pepper to taste

Using fresh ingredients is best!

EQUIPMENT:
Large bowl
Big spoon
Knife
Cutting board

Remember to have adult supervision when using a knife. Always "Claw and Saw".

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut tomatoes into small squares and add to bowl.
2. Take the seeds out of bell peppers and cut into small squares. Add to bowl.
3. Cut red onion into small squares. Add to bowl.
4. Pluck cilantro leaves from stem and rip into small pieces. Place in the bowl.
5. Squeeze limes over the bowl. Squeeze all the juice out.
6. Mince garlic and add to the bowl.
7. Have an adult cut the jalapeno and take out the seeds and add to the bowl.
8. Add salt & pepper to taste.
9. Stir, mix, and serve!

This salsa can be served with many different foods:
- tortilla chips
- tacos
- burritos
- baked fish
- steak
- rice
- pasta
- salad
- and more!

ITALIAN BRUSCHETTA
Serves 8 (4 crackers with 1 Tbsp each)
It's kind of like pizza-flavored salsa. Made with fresh tomatoes and basil, bruschetta is a popular summer Italian appetizer. Try it atop of flatbread or pizza or use it like salsa on tacos or quesadillas. Right now, tomatoes are at the peak of their season in Hayward, and the school gardens are bursting with all sorts of varieties and colors.

INGREDIENTS:
3-4 tomatoes
1/2 bunch fresh basil
1/2 small onion
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh pepper to taste
32 crackers, flatbread, or melba toasts

Optional: splash of balsamic vinegar

DIRECTIONS:
1. Wash produce.
2. Peel and chop onions.
3. Peel and finely mince garlic cloves.
4. Finely chop tomatoes.
5. Rip basil into small pieces.
6. Sauté onions and garlic with 1 Tablespoon olive oil.
7. Mix tomatoes, basil, cooked onions and salt and pepper in a medium sized bowl.
8. Spoon tomato mixture onto cracker or flatbread and serve.

Adapted from Harvest of the Month