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A Tree Grows in East Harlem

By EILEEN BARETT

Special to the AmNews, @AromasBakery

As I made my way through the Jefferson Gardens on 2nd avenue, I heard someone say, “We’ve got a beautiful day for planting, and once we plant trees together we are friends for life.” The self-declared “TreeEO” and co-creator of The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, Cem Akin, was welcoming the group of volunteers to the final planting of the calendar year.

This event was made possible by the collaboration between Vitafusion Fruit Tree Project and Concrete Safaris. The day began with the ceremonial planting of a pear tree at the entrance of the garden followed by a detailed demonstration and tutorial on how to properly plant a tree. Volunteers worked in teams to dig the holes, release the young trees from the containers in which they were grown, plant them, and cover the planted trees with protective mulch.

Once the hard work was complete, the trees are now left in the hands of participants of the Concrete Safari, ages 7 through 24, who will care for the garden and its crops throughout the year; by next summer, Jefferson Gardens will have its first crop of blueberries and blackberries.

So how does a vitamin company end up planting trees? I caught up with Michael Vercelletto, the marketing director of Vitafusion Gummy Vitamins. He said, “It’s simple. We believe in delicious nutrition for all, and we get involved where there is a disparity for access to delicious nutrition.”

While it will take two to three years for the apple and pear trees to bear fruit, these trees will feed the neighborhood every June to October for generations to come. It looks like my years of heading up to the Hudson Valley for apple and berry picking will soon be a thing of the past.

Join me for a virtual cooking session on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the American Culinary Federations Childhood Nutrition Day. Register for free at http://bitly.ws/hbfv.

(Eileen Barett photos)

Pop up a celebratory snack

(Family Features) Popcorn lovers rejoice: October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, a seasonal celebration of one of America’s oldest and most beloved snack foods.

As farmers head into the fields to harvest crops, families and friends gather to enjoy this ever-popular treat. Whether it’s prepared on the stovetop, in the microwave or ready to eat from the bag, Americans consume 15 billion quarts of this whole grain each year.

Celebrated for its seed-to-snack simplicity, popcorn is also non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, sugarfree and naturally low in fat and calories, which makes it an easy fit for dietary preferences—and it’s budget-friendly.

Add in popcorn’s irresistible smell, taste and versatility, and it’s easy to understand its popularity. With so many different ways to eat it—plain, buttery or loaded with goodies like these Toffee Almond Chocolate Popcorn or Churro Popcorn versions—popcorn fits many moods and occasions.

Pop up a bowl and join the Popcorn Poppin’ Month celebration with more recipes at popcorn.org.

Toffee Almond Chocolate Popcorn

Total time: 15 minutes, plus 30 minutes chilling time

Servings: 4

4 cups popped popcorn 3/4 cup chopped toasted almonds, divided 6 tablespoons toffee bits, divided 6 ounces milk chocolate, melted 1 ounce dark chocolate, melted blespoons toffee bits. Drizzle with melted milk chocolate; toss until well coated.

Transfer to parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with dark chocolate; sprinkle with remaining almonds and toffee bits. Refrigerate about 30 minutes, or until set; break into clusters.

Substitution: Use dark chocolate for milk chocolate, if preferred.

Churro Popcorn Servings: 2-3

2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 tablespoon powdered sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons butter 6 cups popped popcorn

In small bowl, mix granulated sugar, powdered sugar and cinnamon.

In small saucepan, melt butter; stir in 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar.

In large bowl, toss popcorn with cinnamon butter until well coated. Sprinkle evenly with remaining cinnamon sugar; toss to coat well.