Montana Team Nutrition Program and Montana Office of Public Instruction have released six recipes for school nutrition programs as part of the Harvesting Montana Recipes project featuring Montana grown foods— barley, beets, bison, lentils, and sweet cherries. The recipes were selected as winners of the Harvesting Montana Recipe Contest in January 2021. Six recipe test schools—Belfry, Phillipsburg, Gardiner, Somers, Monforton, and Belgrade—tested the recipes with their students, conducted nutrition education, and provided serving suggestions to help create the final recipes. 

Picture of Cherry Berry Sunrise

Cherry Berry Sunrise

This recipe, featuring locally grown Flathead cherries, was submitted by Louise Chandler from Noxon School District. 

Download the Cherry Berry Sunrise recipe in 50/100 servings

Download the home-sized (6 servings) recipe

Lentil hummus

Luscious Lentil Hummus

This recipe, featuring locally grown Montana lentils, was submitted by Kori LaLiberty, Kyle Morlan, and staff at Shodair Children’s Hospital. 

Download the Luscious Lentil Hummus Recipe in 50/100 servings 

Download the home-sized (6 servings) recipe

Bison barley soup

Bison Barley Soup

This recipe, featuring locally grown bison and barley, was submitted by Marsha Wartick from Ronan School District. 

Download the Bison Barley Soup Recipe in 50/100 servings 

Download the home-sized (6 servings) recipe

Bison lentil chili

Bison Lentil Chili

This recipe, featuring locally grown bison and lentils, was submitted by Lindsie Hurlbut at Big Sky School District. 

Download the Bison Lentil Chili Recipe in 50/100 servings

Download the home-sized (6 servings) recipe

Purple Pirate Potatoes

Purple Pirate Potatoes

This recipe, featuring locally grown beets, was submitted by Laura Toeckes from Powers School District. 

Download the Purple Pirate Potatoes Recipe in 50/100 servings

Download the home-sized (6 servings) recipe

Sweet Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats

Sweet Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats 

This recipe, featuring locally grown Flathead cherries, was submitted by Shelli Boggess at Deer Lodge School District. 

Download the Sweet Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats Recipe in 50/100 servings

Download the home-sized (6 servings) recipe

 

Success Stories

Bison lentil chili

Gardiner School Features Montana Bison 

Gardiner school nutrition staff highlighted some of Montana’s best with their special lunch featuring local Montana bison and lentils on March 8, 2022. 

Lentil Hummus

Somers Middle School Prepared Montana Lentils 

Somers school nutrition staff prepared a delicious meal featuring Luscious Lentil Hummus for the middle school students in March of 2022.

Photo of student with lunch tray

Belfry School Serves Montana Grown Sweet Cherry and Beet Recipes

Belfry celebrates Veteran's Day with a special holiday meal featuring local Montana recipes.

 

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the six exceptional and talented School Food Service Directors and their staff at the Recipe Test Schools that made this project possible:

  • Belfry School District, School Food Service Director Tura Gruel
  • Belgrade School District, School Food Service Director Brittany Moats
  • Gardiner School District, School Food Service Director Anna Holloway
  • Monforton School District, School Food Service Director Ashley Darling
  • Philipsburg School District, School Food Service Director Erin Moore
  • Somers School District, School Food Service Director Robin Vogler

Sponsors of the Harvesting Montana Recipe Contest cash prizes:

  • Dr. Jane Gillette
  • Montana School Nutrition Association
  • Montana Team Nutrition
  • Northern Pulse Growers Association
  • Sprout Oral Health

A special thank you to Chef Leah Smutko and the Fork and Spoon Kitchen who verified and standardized all the recipes. The Harvesting Montana Recipes Project was conducted by Montana Team Nutrition with support from the Montana Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition Programs. This project was funded by a 2021 United States Department of Agriculture Team Nutrition Training Grant awarded to the Montana Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition Programs. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Contact Information

For more information or additional training on how to use these recipes please contact: 

Molly Stenberg, RDN, LN

Project Co-Director

Email: stenberg@montana.edu 

Phone: 406-994-7217 

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