Northwoods Tahoe August 2023

Publisher: harryJONES

Editors: allisonJONES

MelanieCano

Layout design: aaronJONES

Contributing Writer: MarkMclaughlin

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The Big Bore: Conquering the Sierra

Mark McLaughlin

Modern highways and all-wheel drive vehicles enable motorists to whiz back and forth over Donner Pass with barely a glance at the extensive tunnel network constructed by Central Pacific Railroad in the 1860s. But the effort that it took for the engineers and Chinese labor force to blaze a railroad over the Sierra Nevada is still impressive today.

In order to conquer the Sierra crest, the most challenging section of America’s first transcontinental railroad, C. P. hired thousands of Chinese men to pick, shovel and blast their way through the Sierra’s formidable granite spine. Contracted from China specifically to build Central Pacific’s railroad, the men were paid $30 to $35 in gold per month. During the winter of 1866-67, construction workers endured 44 storms that dumped a total of nearly 45 feet of snow on the upper west slope, which unleashed a swarm of deadly avalanches upon the workmen.

Newspapers and some historians have claimed that more than a thousand Chinese were killed during the construction of the railroad, but experts today say that less than 150 died in accidents and avalanches. Despite the formidable obstacles of ice and granite, rail by rail, the hard-working Chinese crews pushed the track east, reaching Donner Summit on November 30, 1867.

Engineering and constructing a railroad through the Sierra Nevada had long been considered an impossible folly. William Tecumseh Sherman, who later became a Union General in the Civil War, was an experienced engineer and surveyor familiar with the Sierra Nevada. He wrote his brother of the project; “If it is ever built, it will be the work of giants.” Even Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune and ardent advocate of westward migration who exhorted “Go west young man!” came to the same conclusion: “If Congress had common sense, they would not discuss such a subject…but those men in Washington seem to be more disposed to make fools of themselves, at the price of $8 per day to the people, than go to work and do their duty to their constituents.”

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Train sheds on Donner Peak. Photo courtesy of Aaron Jones

Continued from page 3

It took Theodore Judah, a brilliant engineer from Connecticut, and an army of 12,000 diminutive Chinese workers to prove the skeptics wrong. China had built the Great Wall, now her people would accomplish another tremendous feat of construction. Judah was able to convince the U. S. Congress that he could snake a railroad through the treacherous California Mountains, but despite his savvy business acumen and engineering expertise, he had no real understanding of the great danger, power, and frequency of avalanches. The track through the mountains was built along steep-sided, avalanche-prone slopes.

Sometimes the railroad clung to bare granite cliffs. To protect the tracks and trains from slides, Central Pacific was forced to construct 37 miles of expensive, wooden snowsheds. Where a roadbed could not be built, a tunnel was chipped and blasted out. In the heavy snowbelt between 6,000 and 7,000 feet, nine tunnels were excavated, totaling 5,158 feet in length. At Donner Summit, Tunnel No. 6 was carved through 1,659 feet of solid granite. Despite the constant digging and the use of 300 kegs of black powder daily, the rock was so hard that the Chinese laborers working around the clock by lanterns and firelight could gain only about a foot per day. To expedite the work, a vertical shaft seventy-five feet deep

was sunk so that crews could work four headers, two from the middle out and two inward towards the shaft. The cap on the shaft can be seen today off Donner Pass Road, just west of the Sugar Bowl Academy parking lot.

To understand how impenetrable Sierra granite is, consider this description of the resistance encountered boring the railroad tunnels: “The majority of the tunnels were in hard granite, which is often thought of as being similar to marble or limestone. It is actually a very common metamorphic stone even harder than steel or glass, and impervious to virtually all chemicals. It can be polished to a mirror finish, and can bear a compressed load of over 1,000 tons per square foot. A block of granite [the size of a business card] will support a 46-ton locomotive without being crushed.”

Black blasting powder had sufficed for the railroad construction until crews reached the obdurate Sierra granite. Black powder burns at a rather slow speed and the gas produced tends to heave the rock, but if there are any fissures, the gas and the explosive energy can escape and greatly lower the effectiveness of the blast. After more than a year of twenty-four hour days using black powder on the long Summit Tunnel, Central Pacific Director Charles Crocker ordered his foreman to begin using a new high explosive called nitroglycerin. First discovered in 1846, an improved manufacturing process for nitroglycerin was patented in the U.S. by Alfred Nobel on October 24, 1865. Nitro is a clear, odorless, volatile oil thirteen times more powerful than gunpowder and is the active ingredient in dynamite. Unlike black powder, which combusts slower and follows the line of least resistance,

Blasting using dynamite for maintenance on the Union Pacific, 1905.

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress, J. H. Mentz

nitroglycerin detonates almost instantly, producing a large volume of gas and a powerful shock wave that blasts the rock apart. (After his death, the will of Alfred Nobel bequeathed money to establish five monetary awards each year, including the Nobel Peace Prize.)

When CPRR began using the dangerous high explosive to bore the Summit Tunnel in January 1867, they were probably the first to do so in the United States. Nitroglycerin was much more powerful than black powder, but it also had a nasty reputation for exploding at unexpected times. In April 1866, the San Francisco Chronicle described a terrible tragedy that resulted when someone tried to open a leaking case of nitroglycerin that had just arrived by steamer from Hamburg, Germany: “The explosion occurred in the office of Wells Fargo & Company by which eight persons lost their lives. It also caused a quarter of a million dollars in damage to the commercial district. A man passing by the Wells Fargo office heard one of the employees address a man riding past on horseback, ‘Doctor we have got a case of oil and it seems to be smoking, I wish you would step in and advise us what had better be done with it.’” Minutes later the case of “oil” exploded.

Crocker was understandably reluctant to transport nitroglycerin any distances, so he arranged for it to be manufactured at the construction sites, where it doubled the speed of tunnel excavation. Despite twenty-four hour digging and the power of dynamite, the Summit Tunnel was not completed until May 3, 1867; nearly two years after the work began. Even today, motorists and casual hikers on Donner Pass Road can easily admire the work done nearly 150 years ago, including the tunnels, the China Wall, and the Dutch Flat – Donner Lake toll road. Constructing a railroad 88 miles over the rugged Sierra summit between Newcastle and Truckee, California, had taken 12,000 men 38 months (February 1865 to April 1868). In comparison, the railroad from Truckee across the desert to Promontory, Utah, a distance of 571 miles, took only 5,000 men just one year and 27 days. General Sherman was right — conquering the Sierra did take the work of giants.

Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and photographer. His award winning books are available at local bookstores or at www.thestormking.com

The remnants of a train car carrying unstable dynamite, 1913

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress, Bain News Service

TRENDY TAKES ON KITCHEN

AND BATH DESIGN

Designing a new home, remodeling your own or simply rethinking aesthetics and decor all require a little imagination and a lot of inspiration. A quick online search brings up hundreds if not thousands of thoughtful ways to make your kitchen or bathroom match your desired style from modern to traditional or anything in between. All those results can be slightly overwhelming, however. Rather than having a go at it alone, rely on the professionals to guide you toward looks that are all the rage and fit a variety of budgets. Consider these on-trend design ideas from the kitchen and bathroom experts at Wellborn Cabinet, whose whole-home solutions double as functional and beautiful.

Kitchen Trends

Let it Flow: Open concepts have become quite common as it allows the kitchen to feel like one large room where loved ones and guests can intermingle as opposed to an enclosed space. This flowing openness lends continuous

visibility to the area ranging from the (seemingly) always active kitchen to gathering spaces in the dining and living rooms. An open floor plan also helps connect design aesthetics from each room to the next.

Opt for Concealed Storage: Pots, pans, knives and all your favorite kitchen gadgets need to be hidden somewhere. Rather than taking up valuable pantry space, turn to a stylish storage solution from Wellborn Cabinet’s line of pullout cabinets that give you the room you need. With options ranging from pullout peg boards to sleek tray dividers, these clever contraptions can help you stay organized while making functionality beautiful.

Incorporate Smart Tech: Trends aren’t exclusively about aesthetics – practicality via technology is equally important for those looking to update their kitchens to the 21st century. Devices like smart refrigerators that allow you to take inventory from an app, smart lighting that brightens and dims to save on electricity and voice assistants that help you keep track of recipes are all trendy paths toward a top-of-the-line kitchen.

Bring in Organic Touches: Organic modern is in, which means adding organic touches using natural materials like stone and wood in your cabinets, countertops, Continued on Page 10

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flooring and more. Achieve a warm vibe with these organic elements paired with a neutral color palette (soft whites and earthy tones) and natural light.

Bathroom Trends

Add Accents that Pop: Obvious accents like bold pops of color and unique patterns come to mind, but you can also make your bathroom stand out by experimenting with materials, accessories and shapes. Think eyecatching cabinet hardware, fun mirror shapes and openshelf decor that grabs attention without overdoing it.

Show Off Wood Vanities: As an important area you’ll use to get ready for each day, vanities should be purposeful and practical but can also brandish your personal style. Types and sizes may vary but one look seeing an upward trend, according to Wellborn Cabinet’s design experts, is the use of natural tones and textures like woodgrain to complement the rise in popularity of warm colors in recent years.

Go for Decorative Lighting: The same tired light fixtures in bathrooms can feel drab and dreary. Evaluate the amount of natural light available (often at a premium in bathrooms) and decide if you can go more subdued or need to effectively and efficiently illuminate the area. Bell-shaped, wall-mounted sconces next to mirrors are in vogue, as are glass globes to complement ample natural light. For a true touch of modern flair, consider dramatic accent lighting like underlights on a floating vanity that do double duty as a convenient nightlight.

Make it Spa-Like: Lavish luxury is the goal with a spalike bathroom in the comfort of home. Organic materials, natural light, traditional decor and, maybe most importantly, an oversized soaking tub are at the core of this look. While it may sound counterintuitive, you can actually create your own oasis with some simple, budget-friendly aesthetics. The first step for many is to incorporate more storage using sleek cabinets, shelves and wall-mounted hooks to achieve a decluttered look. Next, simply replace your old showerhead and faucet with spa lookalikes and stock up on plush, fluffy towels for that luxurious appearance without a complete remodel. Find more design inspiration by visiting Wellborn.com.

4 Alternative Uses for Kitchen Cabinets

If you love the look of beautiful kitchen cabinets and appreciate their functionality, try incorporating them throughout the house with these ideas.

• Home Office – As working from home continues to rise in popularity, you might need that extra storage space around or above your desk whether it’s in a full-blown office or a nook in the den.

• Laundry Room – Uppers and lowers alike can help you stow away detergents, cleaning products, laundry baskets and even last season’s wardrobe.

• Mud Room – All those shoes and jackets need space somewhere, and kitchen cabinets in the mudroom can help you contain the mess.

• Garage – Whether your garage serves as a secondary entertainment area, home gym or simply storage for outdoor tools and toys, cabinets allow you to organize (and hide) that equipment.

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Calendar of Events

September - November 2023

Truckee

Sept 16, 2023

MEXICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

https://foxchall.org/

In our third year, Fox Cultural Hall (formerly Arts For The Schools) is expanding the festival, with the kick-off activities that you won’t want to miss! The event will start with a parade into the festival grounds and live music! Grab a bite for lunch, dinner, or a drink. Activities on Saturday the 16th from 12pm-8pm will be bigger and better this year, with live performances; arts n crafts; food, drink and treats, and tons of traditional games including, Loteria, Futbol and many more from your childhood. Live performances announced soon!

Oct 12, 2023

TRUCKEE’S HISTORICAL HAUNTED TOUR

http://www.truckeehistorytour.org/

Join us for a BIG LIFE Connections event for one of the best events in Truckee - the Truckee Historical Haunted Tour! This event sold out in one day, but we have a limited amount of tickets for our own private BIG LIFE posses. We’ll have two private posses of 16, starting at 6:15 p.m. and then 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 12. Participants will have a blast with one of their storytelling guides to visit 6 historic sites, enjoy period music and live enactments of stories. All participants must be 21 years of age. ID required

Oct 15, 2023

28TH ANNUAL TRUCKEE RIVER DAY & FAIR

http://www.truckeeriverwc.org/

Join us for a day of river, meadow and wetland restoration. You will work side-by-side with other volunteers to plant native vegetation, improve wildlife habitat, and protect sensitive areas. Sponsored by the TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL. Pre-registration opens in mid-September. Projects start at either 9am or 11am and end between 2-3pm at various locations around the watershed. Also join us at the Truckee River Day Fair at Granite Flat Campground from 1pm to 4pm to celebrate the Truckee River! All are welcome. Live entertainment, environmental education activities, art projects and more! Granite Flat is 1 mile south of Truckee on Highway 89. Presented in partnership with Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships.

North Lake Tahoe

Sept 1, 2023

KINGS BEACH DRONE SHOW

https://northtahoebusiness.org/lights-in-the-sky/

Join NTBA for this special night with amazing live music from GrooveSession followed by a custom drone light show over the lake. Music starts at 6:30pm with the drone light show to follow at 9pm. NTBA is thrilled to announce our Lights In The Sky Drone Show to kick off Labor Day weekend! Our show will be brought to you by Sky Elements Drone Shows, and will feature 300 drones to Light Up the Sky over Lake Tahoe. Our family, friends, business community, neighbors, and visitors! NTBA wants to celebrate our incredible community! This event is NTBA’s way of saying thank you for supporting one another, for supporting our businesses and employees, for welcoming our visitors, and for continuing to support NTBA and all our efforts through thick and thin. We will be serving beer from Alibi Ale Works and wine from Truckee River Winery, in addition to non-alcoholic beverages. Local food vendors including MOGROG Rotisserie and Tacos Herrera will have food available for purchase from 6-9pm. No outside alcohol or pets are permitted.

Sept 23, 2023

TAHOE CITY OKTOBERFEST

https://visittahoecity.org/

Tahoe City Oktoberfest at the Gatekeepers Museum in Tahoe City, is a free family-friendly event, with food and drinks available for purchase. Commemorative Oktoberfest beer glasses will be available along with beer tickets for guests ages 21+. Bavarian-themed food items will be available from local food trucks. Children attending Oktoberfest are invited to paint a pumpkin. Pumpkins will be free (first come, first served), and art supplies will be provided. Face painting will also be offered. Featuring craft beers from some of the region’s best microbreweries, live music, great food, traditional Bavarian-themed games, and a craft vendor village.

NOv 3, 2023

33RD ANNUAL TAHOE CHOCOLATE & WINE FESTIVAL

https://one.bidpal.net/tahoechocolatefestival/welcome

We are excited to celebrate Sierra Community House’s achievements together with a delightful evening of decadent chocolate creations, wine tasting, heavy appetizers, music, exciting auctions, and an engaging program. This year’s theme is Glitter and Gold, promising a glamorous and festive evening. Sponsorships and tickets are still available. For all questions, contact Allison at aedwards@ sierracommunityhouse.org.

South Lake Tahoe

Sept 23, 2023

LAKE TAHOE COMIC CON

https://laketahoecon.com/

On Saturday & Sunday, September 23 & 24, the Tahoe Event Center will host the inaugural Lake Tahoe Comic Con. Celebrity visitors will be present both days. An amateur cosplay competition will also be held on BOTH days (Saturday for adults and Sunday for children). Tickets can be bought online at Ticketmaster.com, at the box office in the Event Center, or on the day of the performance at the door. With contests, elaborately designed costumes, merchants, and attendees from all over the world, we are confident that this Comic Con will be a huge success and a lot of fun.

NOv 17-19, 2023

ANNUAL VALHALLA HOLIDAY FAIRE

https://valhallatahoe.com/holiday-faire/

28th Annual Valhalla Holiday Faire. This event is FREE! Join us in the Valhalla Grand Hall for this annual, three day holiday celebration and craft fair! Check out more than 30 local vendors, enjoy holiday music and goodies! November 17 – 19, 2023.

• Friday, November 17, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Friday Only – Listen to live music while you shop! The first night of the faire is geared more toward adults than kids. Members Only preview will be at 3:00 pm.

• Saturday, November 18, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Bring the little ones down to get pictures with Mr. & Mrs. Claus in front of a roaring fire!

• Sunday, November 19, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Bring the little ones down to get pictures with Mr. & Mrs. Claus in front of a roaring fire!

For 25 years, Valhalla Tahoe has hosted an annual Holiday Faire at the Heller Estate for the enjoyment of the community. Valhalla Tahoe and our volunteers celebrate the season by decking the Grand Hall for everyone’s enjoyment. A favorite tradition for many local families, you can get a glimpse of Tahoe’s past while shopping for handmade crafts, taking free photos with Mr. and Mrs Claus, and enjoying local entertainment and holiday libations. Tahoe’s Children’s Choirs line the balcony to sing holiday songs throughout the day.

Sept 13-17, 2023

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AIR RACES

https://airrace.org/

This is the fastest motorsport on Earth – a one-of-a-kind thrill you have to see, hear and feel to believe. This is classic, cool and contemporary all rolled into one. This is life at 500 miles per hour. This is the National Championship Air Races. The 2023 National Championship Air Races are full speed ahead to return to Reno next September, featuring head-to-head air racing at speeds exceeding 500 mph! Don’t miss amazing performances by the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, military displays, the STEM zone, STOL, an impressive variety of aviation exhibits and more.

Oct 7-8, 2023

WORLD FAMOUS OUTHOUSE RACES

https://visitvirginiacitynv.com/event-directory

This is one time and place where potty humor is accepted and encouraged – the annual World Championship Outhouse Races. This free event dates back to when outdoor plumbing was outlawed in Virginia City, angry residents took to the streets with their outhouses in protest, and a tradition was born. This hilarious event pits teams of costumed outhouse racers against each other in an all-out potty race pushing their homemade outhouses down C Street toward the toilet paper finish line to claim the latrine title.

Carson Valley

Aug 25 - Sept 29, 2023

FOURTH FRIDAYS GENOA WINE WALK

http://thegenoagallery.com

4th Fridays: 4 PM - 7 PM. August 25, and September 29 (Fifth Friday Due to Candy Dance on the Fourth weekend). Sip and walk the Main Street of Historic Genoa, Nevada while connecting with local businesses, artists, makers, and vendors. This year we have two locations for check-in and wine glass pick-up; The Genoa Gallery at 2292 Main Street, Suite 101 Genoa, Nevada (Parking on Nixon Street) and Genoa Spa and Boutique at 2285 Main Street, Genoa, Nevada. $20 will get you a 2023 Genoa Wine Walk Glass and a wristband to participate in your first wine walk of the season. Bring your 2023 Genoa Wine Walk Glass back and pay $10 for a wristband to participate in future wine walks. Local businesses, makers, artists, and vendors pour the wine of multiple varieties and origins for walkers. When you check-in, you will receive a wine walk map that will give you the pouring stations’ locations. The Genoa Wine Walk is sponsored by The Genoa Gallery and proceeds benefit Austin’s House Charity, which helps children in crisis.

Oct 27-28, 2023

NEVADA DAY WEEKENED

https://nevadaday.com/

Each October, Nevadans turn their attention to the state capital, Carson City, home of the “official” Nevada Day Parade. Since 1938, the Nevada Day Parade in Carson City has been an annual coming together to celebrate Nevada’s heritage and the founding of this great state on October 31, 1864! This holiday is dedicated to celebrating the resilience of Nevadans throughout their years of hardship and paying respect to the people responsible for their admission to the United States. Here in Carson City we celebrate our birthday big all weekend long!

CA Foothills

Sept 16-17, 2023

CONSTITUTION DAY 2023 NEVADA CITY

https://www.nevadacitychamber.com/ nevada-city-events/constitution-day-parade/

Nevada City’s Constitution Day Parade has been a tradition since 1967 and is reported to be the oldest and largest Constitution observance in the western United States. Highlights of the weekend include a parade, Revolution-

ary War Living History, the Gold Country Duck Race on Deer Creek, and a concert in the historic district. The 57th Annual Constitution Day Parade will be held in the heart of historic Nevada City, a quaint and scenic Gold Rush town. The parade which makes its way through downtown includes marching bands, floats, antique autos, equestrians, politicians and the perennial favorite–the Famous Marching Presidents of Nevada City, a humorous but reverent depiction of each U.S. president.

Oct 7, 2023

PLACERVILLE OKTOBERFEST

https://visit-eldorado.com/event/ main-street-oktoberfest/

Celebrate Oktoberfest in Placerville at this free event from 3-9 pm on Main Street by the Bell Tower! It will feature all the classic Oktoberfest favorites. This is a family friendly, free event! We’re bringing a little bit of Bavaria to Main Street! Fresh bratwurst dinner plates, warm German pretzels, cold beer and outstanding local wines will be available for you to enjoy. There will be a Kid’s Zone with lots of activities for all ages.

Preserving Veterans’ Stories of Service and Sacrifice

Whether it’s pride, pain, inspiration, nostalgia or a combination of sentiments, any time veterans tell their stories, there’s a good chance they’ll evoke strong emotions from both the tellers and their audiences. Those feelings are often well-warranted as many veterans have been through intense experiences in the name of service to their country.

United States Army Staff Sergeant Shilo A. Harris’ story is no exception.

Although he wanted to be a soldier his entire life, it wasn’t until after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 that Harris felt compelled to enlist in the Army. He went to basic training at age 27 and began his career as a cavalry scout stationed in Germany. During his second deployment to Iraq, his life forever changed.

On Feb. 19, 2007, Harris was on patrol when his military vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED). The estimated 700pound IED, which was buried in the road, blew the vehicle “to pieces,” killed three soldiers and critically injured Harris and the vehicle’s driver.

He survived the explosion but Harris spent the next 48 days in a medically induced coma while doctors worked

to heal the third-degree burns covering 35% of his body and multiple fractured bones. Harris lost both ears, three fingers and the tip of his nose. He underwent more than 75 surgeries and three years of intensive rehabilitation to regain basic abilities and maintain an independent lifestyle.

Harris retired from the Army in 2010 and is determined to keep a grateful outlook despite struggling with posttraumatic stress and ongoing care needs.

“I do have bad days, but for the most part I live my life because life is worth living,” Harris said.

He now shares his experiences through motivational speaking and writing books. He also submitted his oral history to the Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP).

The Veterans History Project is a national effort to collect, preserve and make accessible the first-hand remembrances of U.S. military veterans from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacetime missions so future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service.

The stories veterans carry with them are powerful and shape who they are. Stories can hold valuable lessons, details of accomplishments and battles won or memories of friendship and camaraderie. They can also serve as reminders of sacrifice and hardship.

Participating with VHP can be as simple as recording a 30-minute (or longer) video or audio interview sharing details of your service. Veterans, or families of veterans, may also submit a minimum 20-page diary, journal or unpublished memoir and/or 10 original photos or letters. Each collection is added to the permanent archives of the Library of Congress then made accessible to the public online and in-person.

To get started, visit loc.gov/vets and click “How to Participate” to download a field kit and access more details and instructions. Photo of soldier courtesy of Library of Congress Veterans History Project. Shilo Harris Collection, AFC2001/001/113534.

Meal-Prep Tips for a Manageable Back-to-School Menu

The hustle and bustle of back-to-school season can cause chaos in households. Class time, field trips and homework typically rule each day, which can make sitting down for a meal seem like a far-off dream. One easy way to save time is simplifying family recipes and prioritizing meal-planning.

Choose the meals you plan to make for the week. Cut down on prep time by planning dishes with overlapping ingredients then write out a grocery list to keep from overbuying. Recipes like this Southwest Quiche Muffins Bento Box that include a brief list of widely used ingredients can help you avoid buying items you may only use once.

Stock the kitchen with ingredients your family often uses. Ensure you have the spices, seasonings, condiments, sauces and canned foods to prepare favorite meals at a moment’s notice.

Save time by washing and prepping produce once each week. Prep all at once so they’re ready when it’s time to cook. Just be sure to store in an airtight container.

Serve quick snacks that won’t spoil dinner. Kids often need a little fuel for homework, but complicated snacks can cut into already busy schedules. Keep ingredients on hand for simple options like trail mix, fruit parfaits and meat and cheese wraps.

Use kitchen tools that speed up the process. Pressure cookers and air fryers can help you put nutritious meals on the table faster while slow cookers let you prep in the morning and come home to a hot, delicious dinner.

Southwest Quiche Muffins Bento Box

Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Servings: 12

8 large eggs

1/2 cup milk

nonstick cooking spray

3/4 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup chopped Nature Fresh Farms Tomz tomatoes

1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 small RealSweet sweet onion, chopped

1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt

1/4 cup granola

1/2 Zespri SunGold kiwi, chopped

1 Bee Sweet Citrus mandarin, peeled and segmented

Preheat oven to 325 F.

In large bowl, whisk eggs and milk.

Coat 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray or use silicone muffin liners. Evenly divide beans, tomatoes, cheese and onion among cups. Pour eggs over top.

Bake 20-25 minutes, or until eggs are set and lightly browned.

Remove from oven and cool in pan 2-3 minutes. Use knife to loosen edges and remove.

In cup or bowl, mix yogurt, granola and kiwi.

Assemble bento box with two quiche muffins, kiwi parfait and mandarin slices. Visit HealthyFamilyProject.com to find more back-to-school recipes.