Try It! You'll Like It!

Every change your mind about a food you thought you hated? Send you comments below!

The thought of meeting up with my biggest enemy—cauliflower—at the house of chef and author Rozanne Gold didn't make my taste buds too happy. But I went anyway. After all, I was on assignment.

I meet Rozanne and her 14-year-old daughter, Shayna DePersia in their kitchen in Brooklyn, New York. They are the co-authors of the book Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs.

I learned a lot from these two fresh food advocates. For example, Rozanne and Shayna taught me a trick for how to add flavor to Carrot-Ginger-Tomato Soup, which is on page 40 of Eat Fresh Food.

If the soup—or any other dish—isn't gingery enough for you, take a fresh ginger root, peel, and grate it. Put the grated pieces into a paper towel and start squeezing over a bowl. You will be amazed at how much ginger juice comes out! Voila! Your soup is done! Bon-appétit!

After I interviewed Rozanne, she told me that we could dig into the food she had already prepared as examples from her cookbook. Even though I was on the job, I felt like I had suddenly been invited to a Thanksgiving dinner with my friends and family.

We sat down to wonderful Watermelon Lemonade, scrumptious Cinnamon-Sugar Wontons, and great Grape-and-Pignoli Breakfast Cake. And then there was the cauliflower.

Little did I know that I would be face to face with the dreaded cauliflower and no way out.  There in front of me was a pasta dish called Mac-and-Cheese With Cauliflower and Creamy Red Pepper Sauce. And guess what? It looked magnificent!

When I tasted it, I went wild! I had met the enemy, and it was…good. In fact, it was the most delicious vegetable dish ever!

That day I learned that before you turn your nose up at something, you should try it. You may just surprise yourself. Rozanne inspired me to eat better and from now on I will only have a bag of potato chips in an emergency.

Have you tried any new foods lately? Send in your fun food story below!

—Grace McManus

At Work With My Dad

Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day. Did you participate? Comment below!

On April 22 I spent the day with my dad on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. The day is sponsored by the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation. I was able to learn what my dad does every day on his job.

My dad is a project manager for Vision Electric, an electrical construction firm in St. Louis, Missouri, His company installs commercial and industrial electrical services, fiber-optic cable, fire alarms, and voice, data and control access systems. He is involved with bidding, pre-construction, and the daily management of each job.

I visited several job sites with my dad, one of which is a job he is finishing at the St. Louis Zoo. His company, along with others, transformed the old Elephant House at the zoo into a new exhibition hall called Peabody Hall.

We also visited the expansion of Francis Howell High School, a multi-million dollar project, which is his company’s largest project to date. The new addition will consist of several state-of-the-art classrooms that will educate several hundred students. There I learned just how many people are involved in a single construction project.

For most projects, one general contractor hires several subcontractors, including electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. One of my dad’s jobs is daily coordination with the different trades as well as the electricians that work with him.

After we visited his job sites, my dad took me back to his office where I learned a little about the bidding and pre-construction process. To bid a project my dad needs a complete set of blueprints and pricing for the materials that he will use on a job.

It was fun to spend the day with my dad and to get a better understanding of what he does at work. The best part of the day was lunch at Fitz’s Root Beer in the famous Delmar Loop (called "one of the 10 great streets in America" by the American Planning Association).

—Jordan Kahrhoff

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Jordan Kahrhoff on a job site with his dad for Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day on April 22, 2010. (Photo Courtesy Jordan Kahrhoff)

Future Tennis Stars Are Great Role Models

Do you have a favorite role model? Tell us in the comment section below!

I was asked to cover a tennis tournament at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open in Queens, New York, recently.

As I watched the players on the court, I was amazed. Yellow fuzzy tennis balls whizzed by at great speeds during long volleys back and forth between the players. They grunted and groaned as they returned powerful serves.

But I wasn’t watching a professional match with top seeded players like Serena and Venus Williams. I was watching girls my own age! Actually, they are a little younger than me!

I was at the tennis center to report on the Longines Junior Tennis Challenge. Eight girls between the ages of 10 and 12 competed against each other for a trip to Paris this June. There the winner will compete against players from several other countries for a chance to play against tennis great Mary Pierce at the French Open. It was no wonder they were playing so hard!

I was really impressed by these young players and their skills on the court. What happened after the tournament impressed me even more.

These girls had all just played their hearts out and only one of them won the trip to Paris. But when they were done playing, they all sat down and ate lunch together. They were talking and laughing and no one was even the slightest bit upset. They all clapped and cheered for each other during the trophy presentations.

Since they all came from different towns, I was wondering if they knew each other before this tournament. They explained to me that they have been competing against each other since they were about 8 years old, so they have become friends. These girls were great sports both on and off the court!

Earlier I had asked some of the girls who were their role models in tennis. Of course, they had mentioned tennis greats such as Roger Federer and the Williams sisters. They also named their coaches, who provide them with so much inspiration.

I have to wonder if these girls realize that they themselves are great role models!

—Jacqueline Minogue

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Jacqueline Minoque with Longines Junior Tennis Challenge winner Lauren Fishbein at the Billy Jean King Tennis Center in Queens, New York, April 2010. (Photo Courtesy Jacqueline Minoque)

Yards That Don't Drink Much

Xeriscaping uses little water and no fertilizers.

Gardening and watering trees and plants can be a lot of hard work. In my family, my job is to water our back yard in our home in New Mexico. Thanks to xeriscaping, that’s a pretty easy job!

Xeriscaping is the term used for growing plants that do well in the region where you live. The unusual word comes from the Greek word xeros, which means dry. Xeriscaping can be used for landscaping anywhere in North America, but it is popular in the Southwest because the climate is hot and dry.

Xeriscaping is great for the environment because it saves water and doesn't require fertilizers or pesticides. Plants native to your area will grow without the need for chemicals that can end up in ground water and pollute drinking water supplies.

Using native plants, shrubs, and trees can also create a wildlife habitat in your own backyard! We planted trumpet vines, which bloom with bright and colorful orange flowers that attract hummingbirds. Mourning doves build their nests in our evergreen trees. This year, we have a nest of newborn chicks living in our trees.

Best part of all this is that I don't have to mow the lawn because we don't have grass! Instead, we have gravel in a variety of colors and sizes. We covered the ground with a fabric before putting down the gravel so that we could keep weeds from growing through. Weeds can steal water from your plants and they are not fun to pick.

We made a garden path with stones and used patio tiles and rocks for decoration. We still have lots of color in our back yard and it looks great, but we don't have to water much.

In New Mexico, we only get about nine inches of rain each year, so the local water authority sets restrictions on watering lawns. Rules are made for how much water can be used from spring through fall, and also what times of day you can water. When I water our yard, I try to water only in the morning or evening because if you water when it's hot in the middle of the day, a lot of the water evaporates.

At my house, we planted lots of trees. Trees are good because the shade helps slow down water evaporation after you’ve watered. Another good tip for xeriscaping is to plant a little bit of tall grass around your trees. This can help retain moisture and you only have to water once, because you're watering the trees and grass at the same time.

Whether you live in a dry place or a wet place, I recommend xeriscaping. It is a great way to save time on yard work while helping the environment. You will have fun learning about native plants while doing something great for the Earth!

—Jacob A. Schroeder

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Jacob Schroeder surrounded by plants native to the southwest U.S. (Photo Courtesy Jacob Schroeder)

Celebrity Earth Day Tips

What are your tips for how to save the planet? Comment below!

I found out a lot of good information about how to be a better citizen of the planet while talking to celebrities at the Oceans blue carpet premiere this week.

Oceans is the new Disneynature movie opening this Earth Day, April 22. Last year, Disneynature premiered the movie Earth. For Earth Day’s 40th anniversary this year, it’s all about the water!

While talking to experts, I found out that kids can be powerful change agents. The celebrities who came to the premiere had advice on how to make Earth Day every day.

“We recycle, we watch our water consumption, we make sure that when we’re brushing our teeth we get the tooth brush wet then turn off the water then turn it back on to rinse,” said Greg Baker, who plays Burger Pitt on Disney Channel’s I’m in the Band. “When we go to the grocery store and we don’t need a bag for that one or two things that we get, we don’t get a bag. We just say that it will just end up in a landfill. We really try to pay attention to Mother Earth. This is the only Earth that we have.”

Ryan Newman, who plays Ginger on Disney XD’s Zeke and Luther, had three words for what to do. “Recycle, recycle, recycle,” she said.

David Lambert from Disney XD’s Aaron Stone says kids should go online to find out more about what they can do.

“This is a really good time, because people are becoming more aware of what’s happening,” he said. “I think it’s becoming easier and easier to do more and help.”

Kelsey Chow, who will be appearing in Disney Channel’s movie Den Brother with Lambert recommended Disney’s Project Green website as a good source of information.

“You can make your voice count; you can decide,” she said. “Disney will make millions of dollars in donations and you can decide how to divide that money to whatever environmental cause.”

The Disney stars are all part of Disney’s Friends for Change, which also includes Chelsea Staub. Chelsea plays Stella Malone on the series Jonas.

“I’m really honored to be a part of Disney’s Friends for Change, which is where all the talent from the Disney channels come together to teach kids these simple lifestyle changes that make a big impact on the environment,” she said. “So I’ve learned a lot being a part of that.”

She also recommended the Friends for Change web site for easy tips. After her second season on Jonas, Chelsea will be working on a new cartoon series Fish Hooks, where she plays a goldfish.

Another suggestion came from Ryan Ochoa, who will be appearing in Disney XD’s Pair of Kings this fall.

“Instead of using water bottles, use a reusable water bottle,” he said. “The ocean is a very big habitat for animals and life underwater and I think it’s very important for people to help the environment.”

Another Friends for Change on the blue carpet, Jennifer Stone from Wizards of Waverly Place, also advocated reusable water bottles and cloth grocery bags. She also drives a hybrid car.

“It’s every little thing you can do that makes a huge difference,” she said.

Allisyn Arm from Sonny with a Chance says we all need to pick up after ourselves, and sometimes others.

“When you’re walking down the street and you see a piece of trash, pick it up, so it doesn’t go into the gutter and pollute our ocean,” she said.

Roshon Fegan of the Camp Rock movies also showed concern for our liquid assets.

“Water is a big issue these days,” he said. “I was at another event—the UNICEF Tap Project, which is something to save water and clean it up for everybody. We really need a lot of fresh water, so one thing you can do is not to let the water run so long—just be conscious of your water usage.”

He also suggested capturing rain water in a tub to use to water your grass.

What are some of your ideas for how to save the planet? Send you comments below!

—Mariam El Hasan

PHOTOS: (TOP) Kid Reporter Mariam El Hasan with Allysin Arm from Sonny With a Chance. (MIDDLE) Mariam with Chelsea Staub from Jonas. (BOTTOM) Mariam with Roshon Fegan of Camp Rock. (Photos Courtesy Mariam El Hasan)

What I Learned for Earth Day!

What are you doing for Earth Day? Comment below!

I learned a lot at the 40th anniversary of Earth Day at a green lifestyle expo in New York City recently. It  was a blast!

I got to see the only highway-capable electric automobile currently for sale. The Tesla Roadster is an amazing sports car. It's an all-electric car, has zero emissions, and is very fast. The Roadster's 0–60 mph acceleration time is 3.7 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 125 mph and weighs about 2,700 pounds.

The Roadster is the first production automobile to use lithium-ion battery cells. Compared to a regular car, the Roadster has a much simpler motor. It is powered by an electric motor that weighs about 70 pounds. It is amazing that such a small motor can produce so much speed.

The Tesla Roadster is an example of how eco-friendly technology can be stylish, fun, and cool. I felt like I was riding in a superhero car. It’s truly a green car, it gets about 236 miles per charge at a cost of about $5.

After I enjoyed the electric sports car, I ate the most wonderful treats made by Chef Sandy Kraehling of the Pan Latin Cafe. Chef Kraehling is known for her nutritious, organic, Latin-inspired foods, beverages, and specialty items from every corner of the Latin world. She was not only serving lunch at the expo but also educating the public about eco-friendly and healthy food choices and cooking methods.

I also learned about the health benefits of green cleaning. Dino Leva, president of Green Residential Cleaning and David Kistner, the founder of Green Apple Cleaners both explained to me how harmful chemicals are common in general consumer cleaning product, home construction, and clothing. By using more ecologically-friendly products and services, including green cleaning technology and products, we may be able to reduce health risks by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals.

What have you learned about how to live a more eco-friendly life-style this Earth Day? Send in your comments below!

—Cecilia Gault

PHOTO: (TOP)The lithium-ion batteries in the Tesla Roadster cost only $5 per 236 miles to operate. (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Cecilia Gault with David Kistner, the founder of Green Apple Cleaners, and his hybrid car. Green Apple Cleans not delivers dry cleaning in an eco-car, it cleans clothes in an environmentally friendly manner. (Photos Courtesy Cecilia Gault)

Jason Castro's Advice

American Idol star gives helpful tips to Kid Reporter who is a future Idol hopeful.

It was inspiring to meet American Idol star Jason Castro. I love his music. He is an enormously talented artist. I also thought he was thoughtful and kind.

Castro starred in Season Seven of American Idol. (Season Ten is now in full swing.)  He releases his first CD and kicks off his first nationwide tour today!

His tour begins in his hometown of Dallas, Texas, on Saturday. When I interviewed Castro at Scholastic Headquarters in New York City recently, I told him that I am also a singer and want to eventually tryout for American Idol. He kindly gave me some practical advice.

Castro told me I can’t audition for American Idol until I am 16, and between now and then I must practice, practice, practice! The key to his success, he said, was following that same advice.

He also told me I should record and listen to myself singing. Plus he advised me to get used to singing in front of an audience.

Castro did not get formal training when he was my age, but he recommends having a voice teacher. I am fortunate because I have piano, choral, and voice lessons. I also practice almost every day. I have also performed in front of audiences both solo and with my choir.

I guess I’m on the right track to become an American Idol! I just need to increase my practice from “almost every day” to EVERY DAY!

Are you watching American Idol this season? Who do you think is going to be the next American Idol? Or who do you think is the BEST artist this year? (They are not always one and the same.)

Send in your comments below.

Also, check out my video interview with Jason Castro by clicking on play!

—Cecilia Gault

Green Efforts at My School

Is your school going green? Kid Reporters want to know!

Did you know that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours?

I learned this recently at an assembly at my school, which was announcing a new eco program. Called the Green Challenge Project, the program is a fun competition with other local schools to go green.

I am in the fifth grade at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. I am proud of my school’s year around activities to go green.

In December, Bullis added 540 solar panels to the roof of the art center. These panels will provide 18 to 20 percent of the electricity the building will need in a year.

We also use wind power for electricity. Bullis has become partners with Clean Currents Solar, which is owned by Washington Gas Energy Services.

Fifth grade teacher Jennifer Houston told me that she thinks the school, including all of the students, works really hard on recycling. She thinks the Green Challenge makes “everyone a lot more conscious of turning off lights, of recycling, of protecting our environment.”

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership for schools ranked Bullis fourth in the country!

“I have never been to a school before that used all renewable energy for their school and I think it’s exciting,” fourth grade teacher Shannon Hieger told me.

Bullis also has a garden on campus. This garden produces vegetables for our lunch salad bar.

“We’re trying to create food for our kitchens so that the food doesn’t have to travel as far,” said Principal Amy Jones. “If the food doesn’t have to travel as far, then it’s going to help the environment.”

Ms. Hieger gave me an important reminder. “The resources for the Earth are so limited,” she said. “We need to be a lot more careful with what we have.”

I agree, how about you? Is your school going green? Any suggestions for how your school can help save the planet? Send you comments in the comment section below.

—Jonas Hosmer

PHOTO: Displaying one of the solar panels for the art center at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, are (from left) Todd McCreight, Business Officer, Bullis School; Harry Warren, President, Wshington Gas Energy Services: Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Maryland's 8th District; Rob Garagiola, Maryland State Senator, District 15; Lee Keshishian, President, Clean Currents Solar, Tom Farquhar, Head of School, Bullis; and Jason Topercer, Partner and Installation Project manager, Clean Currents Solar. (Photo Courtesy Sherri Watkins)

Bindi Irwin Fights for Animals

New Free Willy movie all about saving whales.

I recently spent an afternoon with Bindi Irwin, who is starring in a new straight-to-DVD movie, Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove.

Bindi has been in the public eye since she was a toddler. Her father was the famous, enthusiastic animal expert, Steve Irwin. Also known as “The Crocodile Hunter,” Irwin died in 2006 after he was struck in the chest by the tail of a stingray.

Since then, Bindi has followed in her father’s footsteps protecting animals and teaching people about them on TV. Bindi became the youngest person to ever receive an Emmy award when she was only 9 years old! She has appeared on many TV shows and in movies. She even had her own TV show, Bindi the Jungle Girl, on the Discovery channel.

After meeting her, it was easy to see why she is a star. She has great confidence and is very lively. She is also smart and even more talkative then some of the adults that I have interviewed!

During the interview, Bindi let me in on a little secret. When she works closely in scenes with Willy, there is a lot of “movie magic” involved. The whale still looks very life-like. (See my review of the movie here.)

My interview with Bindi came at the perfect time. It just so happens that one week before I met her, I saw whales in the Pacific Ocean off of Laguna Beach, California, where I live. Sometimes we see dolphins, but it was a rare and exciting experience to see so many whales.

The huge black and white mammals swam gracefully, spouting water. It was a remarkable sight to behold! When you see whales in their natural habitat, you can understand why Bindi’s character Kirra would struggle so hard to put Willy back where he belongs! Whales really do need room to swim and be free. I felt like I shared something with Bindi: a love of animals.

—Mariam El Hasan 

School in a Garden

Miami elementary learns in outdoor classroom.

Students in the Pangaea Program at Sunset Elementary in Miami, Florida, have taken their classrooms outside.

Pangaea is Sunset’s gifted program for advanced science and math classes. In 2008, Sunset Elementary's Pangaea Program received a $10,000 grant from the Department of Education to create an outdoor classroom. We call it, the Pangaea Garden.

The garden was created to teach students about preserving the environment. The work was done by teachers, students, parent volunteers, and community members.

Some people may think that the Pangaea Garden is a boring place full of greenery. But the students at Sunset Elementary beg to differ. We think of this place as a sanctuary where children can truly learn about the wonders of life.

This fascinating place is full of native trees as well as exotic flowers. It also has a lovely pond with tons of vegetation and life hidden beneath the water. This is where the environmental activities take place during Earth Day celebrations.

Earth Day in Pangea Garden features multiple activities to teach kids about caring for the Earth. The children are divided into groups and each group is assigned to an activity. After a while, the groups rotate so that at the end of the day each group has participated in each of the games and experiments.

Some of these activities include learning about composting and how earthworms help the soil. To learn these things in a fun way, the students try composting, smell and pick herbs, experiment with and handle bugs and earthworms. We also test the pond’s PH levels.

Pangea Garden has been a part of the lives of Sunset Elementary students for two years now—and we are still learning from it!

—Maria Ordoñez

PHOTOS: (TOP) Students at Sunset Elementary in Miami, Florida, celebrate Earth Day in Pangea Garden, an outdoor classroom. (BOTTOM) Earthworms are part of the fun and learning in Sunset Elementary's outdoor classroom, called Pangea Garden. (Photos Courtesy Maria Ordoñez)