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Madysun Christensen, a fourth-grade student at Elk Run Elementary in Magna, was recently named the national winner in the 2016 Sodexo Future Chefs challenge, an annual event where elementary-school students are invited to create healthy recipes. Her boil-in-a-bag omelet, something her family makes on camping trips (see recipe), was selected as one of four finalists from some 2,500 submissions across the country. The public then voted for their favorite dish. Madysun received the majority of the 167,000 votes cast, more than triple the vote count from last year's event. She demonstrates her award-winning recipe on the Sodexo website at http://www.sodexousa.com/home/corporate-responsibility/future-chefs.html.
Boil-in-a-bag omelet
2 eggs (per omelet)
1 each, green, yellow and red bell pepper, diced
Spinach, chopped
Mushroom, diced
Onion, diced
Low-sodium ham, cut into cubes
Ground turkey sausage, cooked and crumbled
Shredded cheese
Special equipment:
1 (1-quart) freezer bag with a zip lock
Large pot of boiling water
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Open the freezer bag and (for each) omelet add two eggs, close bag and scramble eggs using your free hand. Reopen bag and add about a half a hand full of each filling ingredient. Using your hands, mix the ingredients into the egg. Lay your bag on a flat surface — be careful not to let your ingredients fall out — grab all the ingredients and then roll the bag until all the air is out of the bag. Zip up your bag and put it in the boiling water to cook for 15 minutes. Using tongs, remove bag from water and let cool for two minutes. Open the bag and let the omelet slide out onto a plate. Garnish with more vegetables and cheese, if desired.
Servings • 1
Source: Madysun Christensen, winner of the 2016 Sodexo Future Chefs contest
Culinary boot camp for veterans
Culinary Command, a free training program for veterans and active military, is enrolling students for its first 45-day "boot camp" in Utah. Class begins Tuesday, May 31, and will be taught by chef David James Robinson, who founded the Culinary Command program in 2014 in New York. The nonprofit program helps retrain veterans for careers in civilian life. Robinson, who believes there are parallels between a professional kitchen and the military, also is the creator of the video series "Learn How to Cook (and eat your mistakes)!" The Culinary Command program follows the cooking series, but also features workshops by leaders in the food industry and trips to local food purveyors and businesses. Participants will learn the basic skills they need to get a job in a professional kitchen, including knife skills, basic cooking techniques, master sauces, menu planning, recipe creation and food safety. At the conclusion of the program, students will celebrate their graduation by preparing a 12-course fundraising dinner.
When • The 45-day course starts Tuesday, May 31.
Where • Salt Lake Community Action Program, 2825 S. 200 East, South Salt Lake
Cost • Free for veterans and active military
Apply • culinarycommand.com
Utah brewers earn silver medals at World Beer Cup
The Utah Brewers Cooperative, which manufactures Squatters and Wasatch beers, won three silver medals during the 2016 World Beer Cup competition. Squatters Bumper Crop Honey Ale earned second in the Herb and Spice Beer category; Squatters Chasing Tail Golden Ale won in the Golden or Blonde Ale category; while Wasatch Polygamy Porter Nitro earned honors in the Brown Porter category. No other Utah brewers received medals. There were nearly 6,600 entries from 55 countries, representing 1,907 breweries, in this year's competition, sponsored by the Brewers Association, a trade group that promotes America's small and independent craft brewers. Awards were presented earlier this month at the conclusion of Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia.
South Valley Hidden Garden Tour
Utah State University Extension and Utah County Master Gardeners host the 20th Annual Hidden Garden Tour. Guests can visit 19 private gardens in Draper, Sandy, South Jordan and West Jordan. Besides the tour, ticket holders can attend four free gardening classes. Proceeds from the event support master gardener programs in Utah County.
When • Friday and Saturday, June 3 and 4
Where • Private gardens in Draper, Sandy, South Jordan and West Jordan
Tickets • $13 in advance, $15 day of tour
Free classes • Friday, June 3, Localscapes Landscape Design at 10 and 11 a.m. at Conservation Garden Park Education Center, 8275 S. 1300 West, West Jordan; Saturday, June 4, Plants for Small Spaces at 8 a.m. and Fairy Gardens at 9 a.m., Wasatch Shadows, 9295 S. 255 West, Sandy
Details • hiddengarden.org