Dishing It Up!

by Victoria Mattson

Victoria Mattson is a local cook, confectionaire and writer. She offers healthy and nutritious recipes and food tips in each issue of North County Outlook. Phone (360) 658-9903 or e-mail victoria@northcountyoutlook.com.

I am excited to announce that cooking classes have started at Let's Dish! The summer season began with Nutrition Ammunition Workshops taught by Pam Koons.

Pam is teaching both "Explore the Fun of Juicing" and "Explore the Fun of Making Smoothies." Her workshops feature the transformation of a variety of fresh fruits and veggies into tasty, healthy drinks. Class participants will learn to make a variety of delicious concoctions, full of veggies, protein and fruit, as well as dairy-free drinks and specialties like nut-butter smoothies made with both everyday and unusual ingredients.

Instructor Pam Koons has been eating healthfully and juicing for about 20 years. She adopted this lifestyle after a serious illness compromised her immune system and she needed a smart way to re-gain her health. Pam has continued the practice daily, and feels the joy of healthful effects should be shared with everyone.

Pam is well-known in the local area. She teaches juicing and smoothie classes for many of the local Parks departments including Marysville, Arlington, Everett and Mt. Vernon. She founded the NW Children's School in Arlington, where she served as the owner/director for over 20 years. She can be contacted via her Web site, www.preschoolmentor.com.

Also at the Dish! this summer is the Little Chefs Mini-Camps for children ages 6 to 9. Campers will make easy, fun and nutritious meals that can easily be re-created at home. Kids can make Ooey Gooey Granola Bars, Bottom-of-the-Box Breakfast Sundae, Eat-a-Pita Pocket and Dirt Cups.

The 5-week mini-camps are enthusiastically taught by Dawn Smith, herself a busy mom and owner of Dawn Smith Events. Visit http://dawnypoo.blogspot.com, her entertaining blog, for pictures and descriptions of the many events that she has produced.

To find Nutrition Ammunition Workshop and Little Chef Mini-Camp details, visit www.letsdish.com, click on "Special Offers and Events" and choose Marysville.

If you have a juicer, make Pam's Green Pick-Me-Up by juicing together 4 handfuls spinach, 1/2 lime (zest and all), and 2 apples. Make her smoothie with a blender.



Tropical Five Fruit Smoothie

by Pam Koons



1 large banana, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces

2 kiwi fruit, peeled and quartered

1/2 cup peeled and diced mango

1/2 cup peeled and diced papaya

1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

3 ice cubes



Combine all ingredients in blender, blend until smooth and enjoy!