Let's do lunch

Teenage taste buds
By Earl Johnson

In February 2003 we published a story about chef Earl Johnson's cafeteria food at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg. Chef Earl's challenge - and he considers this the greatest challenge of his illustrious career — is to turn the 1,000 students' love of junk food into one of healthy, nutritious noontime breaks. We received so many requests from readers for chef Earl's recipes that we asked him to share some of his successes. Here is a selection, many of which reflect the ethnic diversity of his students. If the recipes work in Winnipeg, they're sure to get your kids off to a delicious start to a real-food lunch.

Potage Paysanne
When Earl Johnson first came to the school, he tempted students with sampler cups of soup. "I really had to push it in the beginning. I used to tell them it won't kill you! But now they trust me." This soup is one that encourages teens to eat a variety of vegetables.

Mexican Pork and Rice
Rice is a popular ingredient and menu item at Café Earl, as the students call the cafeteria. Here it combines deliciously with pork and sausages.

Meat and Potato Pie
Earl serves sour cream and carrots with this version of shepherd's pie that hails from the Korsakov region of Russia.

Mexican Lasagna
"Students like the spice in this lasagna," says Earl. "It outsells our regular lasagna." As in many of the cafeteria's dishes, the chef enlisted the help and taste buds of one of the students — this time a girl from Mexico.

Pizza Buns
This is chef Earl's version of the popular frozen pizza meals, and it is a generous serving with plenty of topping. At home, freeze the topping in convenient amounts to have on hand to satisfy pizza cravings.

Streusel Apple Raisin Muffins
With moist, spicy muffins like these, students are not tempted by doughnuts.

Catalan Soup
Earl Johnson collaborated with two students — one Spanish and one Portuguese — to refine this vegetable-and-chorizo soup.

Black Bottom "Muffins"
Although called muffins, these treats are really cupcakes in disguise. They are just one of the varieties served at the cafeteria.