Could You Cook For 30?

Alma Schneider, founder of Take Back the Kitchen, said she had the honor this week of cooking with former Mayor Jerry Fried for the MESH program. The two, assisted by a friend, Victor, who is visiting from Barcelona, fed 30 community members Wednesday night who were in need of a healthy, tasty meal.

"Montclair has really stepped up to cook for the MESH program this summer and some of the volunteers have surprised me because many of them would not consider themselves cooks," Schneider said.

"It made me wonder:  When you really know you are nurturing others with food and showing them you care, does it make you less self conscious and allow you to just get in the kitchen and make it happen? Does it help if they are strangers?," she asked.

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section and PLEASE register to cook for the MESH program by emailing alma@takebackthekitchen.com. For more on the MESH program go here.

Thanks to all who are volunteering and Schneider hopes to hear from the rest of you locals!!

Chicken with Maple Soy Marinade:

30 boneless chicken breasts and tenderloins

2 bunches fresh, washed and chopped cilantro

Marinade:

Maple Soy Marinade:

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup canola oil

8 TBS soy sauce

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

Whisk all marinade ingredients together and pour over chicken breasts and tenderloins. Coat chicken by stirring and leave to marinate overnight or just a few minutes!

Grill until opaque in the center. Test with a knife in the fattest part of the breast.

Top with chopped cilantro. Yum!!!