The Next Generation of "Chopped"

I watch Chopped on the Food Network.  If you aren't familiar with it, the program goes like this:  there are 4 contestants that go through three rounds to become the Chopped champion and win $10,000.  With each round they are presented with a basket of "mystery" ingredients that they must use in their dish.  At the end of each round, the dishes are evaluated by three judges and then one contestant is eliminated, or "chopped". 

Our two older girls have gotten used to me watching Chopped while prepping lunch on weekends.  Now, they get excited to catch glimpses of who gets 'chopped', and they cheer for certain contestants (usually any "girls")!  So, yesterday they started digging through the pantry taking out items.  I asked what they were doing and they said they were making up their own Chopped show.  Later in the morning, the girls presented me with this Chopped recipe (written exactly this way):

Ingredients for Pasta Fun
2 spoonfuls of tomato sauce
1 handful of Dandies air puffed marshmallows
1 squeeze of ketchup (organic)
a little drizzle of tamari
half a handful of organic capers
two handfuls of kelp noodles

This is a keepsake for sure, I just love it to bits.  But... then... they announced that they want to test the recipe "for real life".  Oh dear.  Give me strength grinning through that taste-test!

Maybe I can convince them to use the tomato theme to make this lasagna.  It is layered with a new recipe, a Artichoke Spinach Spread.  When I created this recipe, I had the idea of those party spinach dips in mind (you know, the ones that are served inside a large crusty bread?).  Anyhow, I wanted something like this dip, but with a thicker consistency that could be spread for a pizza base or layered in lasagnas, as well as eating as a cold or heated dip.  It's delicious, but, hmmm, might it be better with a handful of Dandies marshmallows?  ;)

(Source: The China Study, T. Colin Campbell)

The solution to losing weight is a whole foods, plant-based diet, coupled with a reasonable amount of exercise. It is a long-term lifestyle change, rather than a quick-fix fad, and it can provide sustained weight loss while minimizing the risk of chronic disease.