Alabama's Green Chicken Wrap & Fruit-tacular Salad

Alabama! Since we are following the 2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge Cookbook we are starting off by making Lael Jefferson's Green Chicken Wrap and Fruit-tacular Salad.  We had the pleasure of meeting Lael at the Kids' State Dinner - she sat at Table 10 with us, but on the other side of Rachael Ray. Along with Jude's Teeny Zucchini Triangular Panini, Lael's Fruit-tacular Salad was also featured on the Kids' State Dinner menu.

                                 And here's a photo of Rachael Ray enjoying Lael's yummy dessert

After the Kids' State Dinner, Jude and Lael, along with Kaira Grace Pan (from Hawaii) were featured on ABC News Politics Live Facebook post video about their experience.  Check it out!

In addition to making all of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge recipes from every state, I wanted the kids to learn what each state's capitol is as well as a little something special or unique about the state.  We checked out Scholastic's "America The Beautiful: Alabama" book by Barbara Somervill from our local library. Did you know that Mardi Gras actually started in Mobile, AL and not in NOLA?

My middle child, Jonah, loves to play Park Ranger, so we learned about the Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport, AL. We read this story about how the Native Americans were hunters and gatherers, lived off the land, and used the cave as their home base.

We also read that there is a US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville where Jude wants to attend summer camp next year.  We'll see buddy…

Now onto the award-winning Green Chicken Wrap and Fruit-tacular Salad recipe that took Lael Jefferson to the White House.  We started by reading through the instructions and gathering utensils and food:

And away we went!

 And yes, our kitchen is from 1970 something, but I've got the good ol' yankee frugality in me that says if it ain't broke, why fix it?

 And it was delicious - all the kids chipped in to help create this meal.  We added a few sprigs of mint to the Fruit-tacular salad from our garden as our own little take on it.

And that's Alabama!  We will be making this meal again.  Thanks Lael!