Arrrggghhh mateys! What did the ocean say to the pirate? Nothing, it just waved! Pirating is hard work and gets you hungry.This recipe is as fun to make as it is healthy and delicious to eat. 

What You Need:  

• Your favorite salad veggies (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, etc.) 
• Mini swords (found in cocktail section of grocery store) or toothpicks 
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 
• 1 teaspoon cider vinegar 
• 1/4 tablespoon salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon dried or fresh dill 

 What You Do:  

1. Wash and chop the veggies into bit size pieces. Younger kids can help by washing and drying vegetables and tearing leafy vegetables.  Practice scissor skills by using clean kid scissors to cut leafy or soft vegetables. 
2. Assemble the salad swords by adding 2-3 veggies to the sword.  
3. To make High Seas Ranch for Dipping:  Mix together the yogurt, vinegar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and dill.  Mix until well blended.  

Words to Use:  

• Measure: To determine a particular size, length, or amount. 
• Blend: To thoroughly mix together soft or liquid substances to form a single smooth substance 
• Herbs:  A small plant used to season food 
• Seeds: A small hard object produced by plants, from which a new plant of the same kind grows. 
• Root: Part of a plant or tree that grows under the ground and gets water from the soil. 
• Leaf: One of the flat green parts of a plant that are joined to its stem or branches. 

What to Talk About:  

• How many veggies are on your skewer? Try to say how many without counting.  Not sure, count together pointing to each veggie. Take it further by asking how many you have if you add one more. 
• Do you see any seeds? How do you know they are seeds? What do you think seeds do? 
• Do you see any roots? How do you know it’s a root? What do you think roots do? 
• Do you see any leaves? How do you know it’s a leaf? What do you think leaves do? 

Change It Up:   

• Try making a pattern on your swords with veggies. 
• Do you have an herb garden? Or fresh herbs in your refrigerator? Taste test different herbs and try adding them to your ranch. 
• Experiment with your recipe. Try sour cream instead of yogurt or lemon juice instead of vinegar. What if you added a splash of buttermilk?  Write down your changes and make the recipe your own. 
• Play with the measuring cups and spoons using water or flour and compare how much each can hold. Example: Which is bigger? 1/3 Tablespoon or 1 Tablespoon. How do you know?

Learning Connections:   

• Collaboration   
• Creativity  
• Fine Motor Development   
• Using Tools   
• Career Exploration 

Curriculum Connections:
NC Standard Course of Study  

• Math: NC.K.CC.4, NC.K.OA.1, NC.4.MD.1 
• ELA: RI.2.3 
• Science: 3.L2.1, EX.3.L.2.1