Planning and illustrating a New Year’s resolution to conserve electricity at home was the task assigned to hundreds of elementary school students participating in the Home Energy Challenge, sponsored by the state Department of Education and Hawaiian Electric Co.
The contest is one facet of a yearlong program that includes classroom instruction and student projects. The schools whose families’ collective conservation of electricity at home is greatest receive grand prizes of $10,000, $6,000 or $3,000.
To view the winning resolutions, visit www.heco.com. Then, start your new year in good taste with the following energy-saving, keiki-friendly recipes.
MINI BROCCOLI, CHEDDAR AND CHICKEN POT PIES
Nonstick cooking spray
2 10-count cans refrigerated biscuits
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
2-1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 cups frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 2 12-hole muffin pans with nonstick spray. Separate biscuits and place each biscuit in a cup of the muffin pan, pressing dough up sides to edge of cup.
In 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until well blended.
Gradually stir in broth and milk, cooking and stirring until bubbly and thickened. Stir in chicken and broccoli. Remove from heat.
Spoon chicken mixture into biscuit-lined pan and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serves 10.
Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 330 calories, 16 g fat, 7 g saturated fat, 50 mg cholesterol, greater than 800 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 15 g protein
S’MORES PUDDING PARFAIT
2 cups cold milk
1 (3.9-ounce) package chocolate pudding mix
2 cups coarsely crushed graham crackers (about 24 squares)
1 cup miniature marshmallows
4 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
In bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand 2 minutes or until soft-set.
Spoon 3 tablespoons each into four parfait glasses. Layer each with 1/4 cup cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons pudding, 1/4 cup marshmallows and 1 tablespoon chocolate chips. Top with the remaining pudding and crumbs. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving. Serves 4.
Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 460 calories, 13 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 350 mg sodium, 82 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 46 g sugar, 9 g protein
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More Hawaiian Electric Co. recipes are available at www.heco.com.