Family Meal Plan: Midnight Marvel Cocoa Cookies + Yogurt Delightful Drizzle + Smooth Raspberry Refreshers

Midnight Marvel Cocoa Cookies

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• bake :

  to cook food with dry heat, as in an oven.

• blend :

  to stir together two or more ingredients until just combined; blending is a gentler process than mixing.

• drizzle :

  to trickle a thin stream of a liquid ingredient, like icing or sauce, over food.

• mash :

  to reduce food, like potatoes or bananas, to a soft, pulpy state by beating or pressure.

• measure :

  to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

• mix :

  to thoroughly combine two or more ingredients until uniform in texture.

• pour :

  to cause liquid, granules, or powder to stream from one container into another.

• slice :

  to cut into thin pieces using a sawing motion with your knife.

• whisk :

  to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

History of Cookies!

• The earliest cookies were baked as far back as the 7th century in Persia (now Iran) when sugar became common.
• One of the earliest printed recipes for a cookie can be found in the 1596 cookbook Goode Huswife's Jewel by Thomas Dawson. This recipe was for a square short cookie enriched with egg yolks and spices, baked on parchment paper.
• The first recording of gingerbread made in the shape of people was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England in the 16th century. The gingerbread figures served at court represented the queen's important guests. 
• By definition, a cookie can be any kind of hand-held, flour-based sweet cake with a crispy, chewy, or soft texture. It is usually described as a small, thin, and flat cake. 
• Cookies are usually made with flour, sugar, egg, and fat, like oil or butter. Additional ingredients are often added, including chocolate chips, cinnamon, cocoa, coconut, coffee, nuts, peanut butter, raisins, and vanilla.
• Each country has its own word for cookie. In America, of course, we call them "cookies." The English word is derived from the Dutch word "koekje," meaning "little cake," and in the Netherlands, cookies are called "koekjes."
• In England and Australia, cookies are called "biscuits." In Spain, they are "galletas," and in Germany, they are "keks" or "plätzchen." In France, cookies are called "biscuits" or "gâteaux." In Italy, they are "biscotti."

Cookies may be categorized into the following types: 

• "Bar"—cookie dough is spread into a pan, and after baking, the cookies are cut into rectangles and squares.
• "Drop"— soft dough is dropped from a spoon onto a baking sheet. 
• "Filled"—rolled dough is filled with fruit, jam, or candy. 
• "Molded"—stiff dough is pressed into a shape by hand or in a mold. 
• "No-bake"—made by binding melted chocolate or peanut butter with cereal, like oats or nuts. 
• "Rolled"—dough is rolled out, and a cookie cutter is cut into the dough to create specific designs and shapes. 
• "Sandwich"—two cookie layers with chocolate, cream, curd, or jam filling "sandwiched" in between.

Let's Learn About Iran and the Persian Empire!

• The Islamic Republic of Iran is a country in the Middle East. It has also been known as Persia. The Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan border Iran on the north; Azerbaijan and Armenia on the northeast; Iraq and Turkey on its western border; the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf are to the south; and Afghanistan and Pakistan border Iran to the east.
• Iran is the second largest country in the Middle East. Its total area is 636,372 square miles. That is about the size of Alaska and Washington State combined. The population is over 87.5 million. Tehran is the capital and largest city.
• Iran's government is a unitary authoritarian theocratic presidential Islamic republic. It has a Supreme Leader, who has ultimate authority, a president, a vice president, and a chief justice, and the legislative body is the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Shia Islam is the official religion. The currency is the Iranian rial. 
• Iranians primarily speak Persian, also known as Farsi, the official language used in education and government. The other recognized language of religion is Arabic. The three most widely spoken languages are Persian, Azerbaijani or Azeri, and Kurdish. 
• Most of Iran is on the Iranian Plateau. The exceptions are the Caspian Sea coastline and the province of Khuzestan. Although it is called a plateau, its terrain is not flat. It contains several mountain ranges, and its highest peak is 24,580 feet. Mount Damavand, a dormant stratovolcano and Iran's tallest mountain is 18,402 feet high.
• The northern part of the country, near the Caspian Sea, has lush lowlands and mountain forests. The eastern part is desert with a few salt lakes, including Iran's largest desert, Dasht-e Kavir, also known as the Great Salt Desert. 
• Iran's climate varies from arid to semi-arid to subtropical to alpine. Summer temps can reach over 100 degrees F. In winter, temperatures are severely cold in the Zagros mountains in the western part of the country, and snowfall can be heavy. 
• Wildlife native to Iran includes the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah (or Persian cheetah), the Persian leopard (the largest leopard subspecies), and the Asian black bear. 
• Ancient Persia was an area in southwestern Asia that included the region of modern Iran. It was one of the oldest civilizations.
• The Persian or Achaemenid Empire lasted around 200 years and was considered the most powerful civilization in history. It was founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BCE after the Persians revolted against the Median Empire. It comprised modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
• For its time, the Persian Empire created a well-organized government with road systems, a postal system, official languages, civil services, and a professional army.
• The five capital cities of the Persian Empire were Persepolis, Susa, Babylon, Pasargadae, and Ecbatana.
• Archaeological sites in Persepolis and Pasargadae can be visited today, displaying the art and architectural ruins of the empire. 
• The various languages spoken were Aramaic, Elamite, Greek, and Old Persian.
• Alexander the Great, a king of ancient Greek Macedon or Macedonia, conquered the Persian Empire around 330 BCE.
• A goblet from the third millennium BCE discovered at an archaeological site is said to be the first attempt at animation. Its design displays sequential images of a goat jumping up in different stages to eat tree leaves. The bas-reliefs at Persepolis from 500 BCE are a popular tourist attraction.
• Though Persia continued to expand and conquer neighboring countries, it tolerated the customs and religions of those countries. It allowed them to live as they always had, as long as they paid their taxes and obeyed their new rulers. Because of this cultural tolerance, the people of these countries generally accepted their Persian conquerors.
• Creativity flourished as Persian civilization reached its peak. Palaces were filled with elaborate and beautiful mosaics, rugs, and artwork by artisans (craftspeople). 
• Persians built the first windmills and utilized wind energy long before the rest of the world discovered it!
• Herodotus, a historian who lived in a Greek city in the Persian Empire, wrote about the great birthday feasts celebrated by Persians that included several desserts. 
• Persian culinary regions are deeply interconnected. Although Persian people speak many different languages and follow various religions, they share a common history that dates back to the time of Persian Empire rulers Cyrus and Darius. Persian culinary traditions have influenced cuisine worldwide, including the food of India, Morocco, and Northern Europe. 
• Three types of food are almost always served in a traditional Persian meal: grilled meat, rice, and stew.
• Rice is often seasoned with saffron or is "jeweled," which means many foods are added so that the rice looks like it is stuffed with diamonds and colorful jewels.
• "Khoresh," or Persian stew, is often made with dried lemons, fenugreek, and herbs like parsley and mint. Soups and stews are typically served as the main course and are accompanied by cheese, bread, and a heaping plate of fresh herbs.
• Shirazi salad, consisting of cucumber, tomato, onion, and mint, dressed with lemon or lime juice or verjuice (a sour juice), is often served with meat or rice dishes or stews.

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Iran?

• Family life is extremely important in Iran, and families spend much time together. Children feel supported by their families. Religion and traditions are highly valued.
• Most Iranian kids live with their father, mother, and siblings. They are expected to respect their elders and to be good students. 
• Generally, boys and girls go to separate schools, and there are strict dress code policies.
• Kids may play football (soccer), volleyball, basketball, handball or participate in wrestling or athletics (track and field). They like to play "Tileh bazi" or marbles.
• Families enjoy picnicking and playing at parks, especially in spring and summer. There are palaces, ancient ruins, and other historical places to visit in Iran. To see fish, sharks, snakes, and amphibians, families can go to the Isfahan Aquarium in Isfahan province.    
• In Tehran province, kids may enjoy going to the Eram Amusement Park, a theme park with a zoological garden and a 20-acre lake, where you can water ski, canoe, or kayak. Tehran Jurassic and Spider Park is an amusement park with life-sized, moving models of dinosaurs and giant models of insects. Education and fun are combined at the Human Park, a museum that teaches families about the human body. Kids can even stand inside a huge model of a human mouth!
• Kids in Iran may eat "koufteh ghelgheli" or "tiny meatballs," served with rice. They can be made of ground beef, lamb, or turkey and cooked with sliced onions, carrots, and potatoes. 
• For sweet snacks, they may have "koloocheh" or Persian New Year Bread (a stamped cookie or bread), "nan-e berenji" (rice cookies with poppy seeds), or "gaz" (a nougat candy made from sugar, pistachio or almond kernels, rose water, and egg whites).