Dinner belle

Talk about getting things done. Stef­ani Saka­moto, an 11-year-old Punahou student, wanted a chance to visit the White House. So when first lady Michelle Obama announced a nationwide kids recipe contest, Stefani decided to throw a recipe in the ring. That was in July.

On Aug. 20 the Manoa resident found herself seated at a Kids "State Dinner" held for the 54 winners of the "Healthy Lunchtime Challenge," comprising representatives from each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

The recipe that won Stef­ani a place at the table was "Scrumptious Salmon Salad Lunch," featuring pan-fried salmon on a bed of organic spring mix surrounded by fresh fruit.

"I love to eat salmon, and I thought salad was the perfect complement to salmon," said the young cook. "I put all my favorite fruits around the dish — lychee, strawberries, bananas, grapes, oranges, apples and pineapple. Then I added half a cup of brown rice to complete the food plate."

Stefani also sent in her rendition of a strawberry-banana smoothie, which ended up being featured on the dinner menu.

"It was really good," she said of the White House kitchen’s preparation, adding that the drink included honey from White House bees.

The two-day visit also included an excursion to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to see the Julia Child exhibit, a pizza party, a bus tour of the city, a visit to the White House garden and an appearance before "paparazzi — that was fun."

The culmination of the visit took place in the East Room, where the youth dined on kale chips (representing the winning recipe from New York), a quinoa salad (Arizona), Cabbage Sloppy Joe (Kansas) with Baked Zucchini Fries (North Caro­lina), Summer Fruit Garland (South Dakota) and Stef­ani’s smoothie.

Guests were entertained by tween boy band Big Time Rush and got to meet Reed Alexander, who plays Nevel on the Nickelodeon series "iCarly."

But nothing could top an unscheduled moment.

"After we ate, the president came out! He said he was crashing the party," Stef­ani said. "I wanted to meet him since I go to his school."

Obama quickly worked the room, shaking hands with all the winners, and then he was gone.

But not before he flashed Stef­ani a shaka.

Not a bad return on an idea for a salmon lunch. And not a bad visit to the White House, either.

WINNING RECIPES

Avid cook Stefani Saka­moto, an 11-year-old Punahou student, won a place at Michelle Obama’s Kids “State Dinner” earlier this month with these recipes for salmon salad and strawberry-banana smoothie, which she entered in the first lady’s “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.”  

The salmon dish includes many of Stef­ani’s favorite foods, and since she also enjoys smoothies, she created her healthful version using yogurt and low-fat milk.

“My lunch is gluten free, nut free, yummy and healthy,” she wrote when she submitted the recipes for the challenge.

SCRUMPTIOUS SALMON SALAD LUNCH

4-ounce salmon filet
1 tablespoon canola oil
Garlic salt and pepper, to taste
1 clove garlic
1 cup organic spring greens mix
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 teaspoon furikake (seasoned seaweed)
1/2 cup fruit, such as pineapple, strawberries, seedless grapes, banana, lychee, oranges or apples

On medium, heat oil in sauté pan. Meanwhile, season salmon with garlic salt and pepper.

Add garlic to pan and sauté until browned; remove, then sauté fish until golden brown on both sides. Remove from pan, drain on paper towel.

Place salad mix on plate and top with salmon. Surround with fruit. Serve with brown rice topped with furi­kake. Serves 1.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving (not including garlic salt to taste): 500 calories, 28 g fat, 3.5 g saturated fat, 70 mg cholesterol, 125 mg sodium, 36 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 27 g protein

STRAWBERRYANA SMOOTHIE

1/2 cup low-fat milk
1/2 cup yogurt
1/4 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 cup frozen bananas
Honey, to taste (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serves 1.

Approximate nutritional information (not including optional honey to taste): 170 calories, 5 g fat, 3.5 g saturated fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 100 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 18 g sugar, 9 g protein

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Nutritional analysis by Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S.,